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COMMEMORATIVE 



BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



OF THE COUNTIES OF 






Huron and Lorain, Ohio, 



CONTAINING 



Diogpaphical BketchE? oT Ppon^inEnt ai^d I^EpFESEi^tativE GitizEi^g, 
ai^d oT raany ol i\[z Sarly BEtlled Fan^iliB?. 

IliLiUSTt^flTED. 




CHICAGO: 

J. H. BEERS & CO. 

1894. 



r 7 



BARLOW-SINCL^IR PRINTING CO 
CHICAQO. 



^I^BPAGE. 



THE importance of placing in book form biographical history of representative 
citizens — botli for its immediate worth and for its value to coming generations — 
is admitted by all thinking people; and within the past decade there has been a 
growing interest in this commendable means of perpetuating biography and 
family genealogy. 

That the public is entitled to the privileges aflorded by a work of this nature needs 
no assertion at our hands; for one of our greatest Americans has said that the liistory 
of any country resolves itself into the biographies of its stout, earnest and representative 
citizens. This medium, then, serves more than a single purpose: while it perpetuates 
biography and family genealogy, it records history, much of which would be preserved 
in no other way. 

In presenting the Commemorativk I'iograi'hical Record to its patrons, the pub- 
lishers have to acknowledge, with gratitude, the encouragement and support their 
enterprise has received, and the willing assistance rendered in enabling them to sur- 
mount the many unforeseen obstacles to be met with in the production of a work of 
this character. In nearly every instance the material composing the sketches was 
gathered from those immediately interested, and then submitted in type-written form 
for correction and revision. The volume, which is one of generous amplitude', is 
placed in the hands of the public with the belief that it will be found a valuable addi- 
tion to the library, as well as an invaluable contribution to the historical literature of 
northern Ohio, fHB PUBLISHERS, 




^-</W>^ 



HUROI 





OHIO. 




JOHN GARDINER, 

NORWALK, OHIO. 



LOHN GARDINER was 
born September 15, 
1816, at Gardiner's 
Point (formerly known 
as " Millstone Point "), 
New London Co., Conn., 
where he spent his boy- 
hood days. He is a de- 
scendant of Sir Thomas 
Gardiner, Knight, of the 
county of Kent, England, 
whose youngest son, Jos- 
eph Gardiner, came to this 
country with the early set- 
tlers, and took up his resi- 
dence in the colony of 
Rhode Island. Sir Joseph 
was born in the county of Kent, England, 
A. D. 1601, and died in Kings county, 
Rhode Island, in 1679, aged seventy-eight 
years, leaving six sons and four daughters. 
Beroni Gardiner, the oldest son of Jo- 
seph, was born in Rhode Island, and died 
in 1731, aged one hundred and four years, 
leaving live sons, of whom William, the 
eldest, was born in 1671 and died at the 
homestead at Boston Neck, Rhode Island, 
December 14, 1732, aged sixty-one years. 
William Gardiner had seven children, of 
whom John was the eldest. John was 



born in 1696, and for his first wife married 
a Miss Hill, and, for his second, a Miss 
Taylor. By his first wife, Mary Hill, he 
had two sons and one daughter. He died 
July 6, 1770, aged seventy-four years. 
His eldest son, Col. Thomas Gardiner, was 
born in 1724, and married Martha Gard- 
ner (different family), who was a daughter 
of Henry Gardner, Esq.," of Block Island. 
He died on Plum Island May 21, 1786, 
and was buried there. His wife was born 
July 20, 1731, and died at Millstone Point 
February 21, 1793, at the home of her 
son, Benajah Gardiner. Col. Thomas 
Gardiner had six sons and one daughter, 
of whom Benajah, the second son, was 
born in Rhode Island March 8, 1754. 
Benajah married, April 10, 1783, Miss 
Charlotte Raymond, of Montville, Conn., 
born October 14, 1762, a daughter of 
Joshua Raymond, and who was a great- 
granddaughter of Elias Hyde. 

Benajah Gardiner, with his father. Col. 
Thomas Gardiner, and his wife, moved 
from Rhode Island to Plum Island, in the 
eastern part of Long Island Sound, where 
he remained a few years, and, after the 
death of his father, removed in the year 
1787, with his family, to Millstone Point. 
Millstone Point, which is situated five 



8 



iiURoy COUNTY, onio. 



miles west of New London, Conn., is 
washed by the waters of Loner Island Sound 
on two sides and front, and steamers and 
sailing vessels continnally pass each waj 
to and from New York. '1 he farm pur- 
chased hy Benajali Gardiner consisted of 
about three hundred acres of good tillable 
land, under a high state of cultivation, 
and the point extending into the sound 
contained very choice granite stone, and at 
the time of the purchase was considered 
almost worthless except as a sheep pasture, 
but about the time of his deatii the quarry 
was opened, and has now been worked for 
over sixty years, and but little impression 
has been made in the quantity of stone, 
whicli may be said to bo almost inexhaus- 
tible; the quarry affords a large annual 
income to Henry (iardiner, the present 
owner, who is a second cousin to the sub- 
ject of this sketch, a gentleman of leisure, 
an artist by profession, and the only male 
descendant from the other branch of five 
sons and four daughters of I'enajah Gardi- 
ner, the original purchaser of the Gardiner 
homestead in Connecticut. [The name of 
"Millstone Point" was derived from the 
fact that millstones were quarried there at 
an early day from granite blocks, and 
transported to other points for grinding 
wheat, corn, etc., before the French Burr 
stones came into use, the granite being of 
superior quality for that purpose.] Ben- 
ajah Gardiner, Esq., died at Millstone 
Point June 10, 1S28, aged seventy-four 
years, and his wife died at the same place 
April 26, 1854, aged ninety-one years. 
They had five sons and four daughters, of 
whom Capt. Lebbeus W. Gardiner was the 
oldest. Capt. T^ebbeus was born on Plum 
Island April 30, 1785, and married, March 
31, 1813, Eunice Latimer, a daughter of 
Pickett Latimer, of New London, and who 
died September 21, 1819, aged twenty- 
seven years, leaving three children, viz.: 
Charlotte E., borir February 20. 1814; 
John, the subject of this sketch; and Julia 
A., born July 28, 1819. Charlotte E. 
Gardiner married October 13, 1837, at 



Millstone Point, Jairus Kennan, Esq., an 
attorney at law of Norwalk, Ohio, making 
their residence in that city. Mr. Kennan 
died June 16, 1872, aged fifty-nine years; 
Charlotte E., his wife,^died May 13,'l888, 
aged seventy-four years, and was buried in 
Woodlawn cemetery beside her husband. 
They had seven sons and two daughters. 
Julia A. in 1849 married Henry L. 
Kellogg, of Hartford, Conn., and died at 
Newington Junction, near Hartford, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1804, leaving one son, Henry L. 
Kellogg, who is still living at said place. 

On the death of their mother, in 1819, 
the children of Capt. Lebbeus W. Gardi- 
ner separated, John and Julia living with 
their grandparents at Millstone Point, and 
(Charlotte E. with her grandparents, the 
Latimers, north of New London, the 
father, Capt. L. W. Gardiner, following 
the sea as captain of clipper schooners, 
which he owned at difierent times, sailing 
from New London to Baltimore, Wil- 
mington, New Orleans and South Amer- 
ica in the coastwise trade. He died at 
Norwalk, March 9, 1862, aged seventy-six 
years and ten months, and was buried in 
Woodlawn cemetery. 

As soon as Mr. Gardiner was old enouffh, 
he attended a district school at Dnrfee 
Hill, which was about a mile from his 
home, across lots, and which was kept 
about six months in the year, the teacher 
boarding around with the families who 
furnished the scholai-s. When not attend- 
ing school he worked on the farm sum- 
mers, going fishing occasionally with the 
fishermen who lived in the vicinity and 
made fishing their business for the sup- 
port of their families. In 1831 Mr. 
(iardiner went to school at Bacon Acad- 
emy, in Colchester, Conn., where he re- 
mained a year, making navigation his 
principal study, with the intention of fol- 
lowing the sea, as New London was at 
that time prosperously engaged in the 
whale fishery and West India trade, send- 
ing a fleet of ships annually to the Pacific 
Ocean for whale oil, and to the North Sea 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



9 



for whale and seal. At. Bacon Academy 
Mr. Gardiner forined the acquaintance of 
M. R. Waite, afterward chief justice of the 
United States; the Hon. John T. Waite, 
afterward member of Congress from New 
London; Hon. Lyman Trumbull, who was 
afterward a United States senator from 
Illinois, and Mr. Rogers, afterward com- 
modore in the United States navy, and who 
were then preparing for college. 

Ill the fall of 1832 Mr. Gardiner was 
persuaded bj his uncle, John M. Latiujer, 
Esq., to visit Oiiio, which in the end 
chancred his whole course of life. About 
three thousand acres of land near Belle vue, 
in Huron county, had been given by the 
State of Connecticut to Pickett Latimer, 
the grandfather, for losses sustained by 
fire, when New London was burned by the 
British during the Revolution, which 
grant had already brought Pickett Latimer, 
an uncle, to Huron county, where he was 
engaged in mercantile pnrsuits at Nor- 
walk. Leaving New London_ by steamer 
early in December, 1832, before the days 
of railroads, Mr. Gardiner journeyed west 
to Albany, where he took stage as far as 
Hamilton, N. Y., where he remained dur- 
ing the winter, and attended school at 
Hamilton Academy. In the early spring 
of 1833 he left Utica by canal boat for the 
West. Arriving at Buffalo the last days 
of April, he embarked on the steamer 
" Uncle Sara," the first boat to leave Buf- 
falo that spring for Detroit and interme- 
diate ports. At that time nearly the whole 
south shore of Lake Erie was skirted 
with primeval forests, and only occasional 
glimpses of light were discernible in the 
evening from the log cabins of the settlers 
along the line of shore, while the city of 
Cleveland contained only some two thou- 
sand inhabitants, living mostly below the 
public sqnare, and was without street im- 
provements and sidewalks. Scrub oaks 
were then growing on the present public 
square, and Superior street was a sand 
bod. On the first of May the steamer 
arrived at the port of Huron, which was 



then quite a shipping point, and a hack 
driven by a man by the name of Sweat 
carried Mr. Gardiner to the place of his 
future home. Noi'walk at that, time con- 
tained about four hundred inhabitants, but 
not a person or animal was visible in the 
streets on his arrival, and the village wa^ 
entirely surrounded by forests, except 
where the roads were cut through. Wild 
deer frequently crossed the road at each 
end of the village, and the county was 
dotted over with the log cabins of the 
early settlers, while the roads were almost 
impassable during the winter and early 
spring. 

Mr. Gardiner immediately commenced 
clerking in the store of P. & J. M. Lati- 
mer (who were doing a large business in 
general merchandise and produce, which 
latter found a ready sale in Detroit to 
supply the early settlers of Michigan), at 
a salary of seventy-tive dollars a year and 
board, which a young man of seventeen, at 
the present day, would think a very small 
compensation for his valuable services. 
In the spring of 1834 Mr. Gardiner was 
solicited to take a clerkship in the Bank of 
Norwalk, an institution which had com- 
m.enced business in 1833 with a special 
charter from the State of Ohio, with the 
Hon. Ebenezer Lane, president, who was 
one of the supreme judges of the State, 
and Martin Bentley, cashier. During the 
summerof 1834 the cashier died very sud- 
denly, leaving Mr. Gardiner, then hardly 
eighteen years of age, in charge of the 
bank for nearly two months, when George 
Mygatt, Esq., was appointed to the va- 
cancy. At this early day this was the only 
bank in northwestern Ohio, and its busi- 
ness extended south to Mount Vernon, 
Mansfield, Marion and Bucyrus, west to 
Fremont, Toledo, and Perrysburgh, and 
north to Milan, Huron, and Sandusky, 
bringing Mr. Gardiner in contact and 
acquaintance with all the leading business 
men of that region of the State, who then 
came to Norwalk for their bank accommo- 
dations. The bank went through success- 



10 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



fully the panic of 1837, and was one of the 

tirst institutions of the kind in Ohio to re- 
sume coin payments, after the failure of 
tiie Government deposit banks, and the 
Bank of the United States, and finally 
closed up, paying back nearly all its capi- 
tal stock to its original shareholders, and 
selling its franchise to Burr Higgins and 
liis associates. 

In 1835 and 1886 emigration was push- 
ing itself west by every leading road, and 
long lines of emigrant wagons were daily 
passing westward, the occupants in pur- 
suit of new homes, and the western land 
fever had seized upon nearly all classes of 
citizens. Mr. Gardiner, not yet of age, 
proceeded to the western counties of Ohio, 
and the eastern counties of Indiana, on 
horseback, over muddy roads and trails 
through the forest, and purchased some 
tracts of Government land. But as the 
panic came upon the country in 1837, 
sweeping all speculation before it, pros- 
trating banks and business men, it took 
over fifteen years for Mr. Gardiner to 
close out his investment in land, and then 
without much profit, after paying taxes 
and interest. The whole western country 
after the collapse of 1837 was land-poor. 
Mr. Gardiner, having finally been ap- 
pointed cashier of the bank, witii John R. 
Finn, president, and the bank, owing to 
adverse legislation, about closing its busi- 
ness, resigned the office of cashier in Sep- 
tember, 1840, and commenced the business 
of merchandising at No. 1, Brick Block, 
keeping a general stock of merchandise, 
and dealing very largely in produce; so 
much so that his combined business in 

1844 had reached over one hundred thou- 
sand dollars per annum. In the spring of 

1845 Mr. Gardiner took into business with 
him Kicliard I). Joslin, his brother-in-law, 
and leaving hiin in charge of the business 
went to New York, with the intention of 
engaging in the wholesale dry-goods trade 
the following January. But after spend- 
ing the summer in the city with a dry- 
goods firm, and not being satisfied with 



the prospects of the trade, he returned to 
Norwalk in November, and continued the 
mercantile business with his partner until 
the spring of 1847, when he disposed of 
his interest to Mr. Joslin, and with some 
friends established the Norwalk Branch of 
the State Bank of Ohio, with a capital of 
one hundred thousand dollars, afterward 
increased to one hundred and twenty-five 
thousand dollars. This bank commenced 
business in May, 1847, with Mr. Gardiner 
as cashier and manager, and for eighteen 
years did a prosperous and successful 
business, and notwithstanding large losses 
consequent upon the panic of 1856, and 
failure of the Ohio Life Insurance and 
Trust Company, the bank's New York 
agent and depository, and the general sus- 
pension of the banks in the United States, 
the bank closed up its business in 1865, 
returning its capital to its shareholders, 
after having paid in dividends over two 
hundred and twenty-eight thousand dollars. 
In March, 1865, Mr. Gardiner with some 
other friends organized the Norwalk 
National Bank, with a capital of one hun- 
dred thousand dollars, which succeeded to 
the business of the Norwalk Branch of the 
State Bank, and has up to this period 
(1893) done a successful business with 
Mr. Gardiner, president, and Charles W. 
Millen, cashier, having paid in dividends 
two hundred and fifty-one thousand dollars, 
and having over forty thousand dollars of 
undivided profitson hand. Mr. Gardiner, 
in 1847, was elected a member of the 
board of control of the State Bank of Ohio, 
that distinguished body consistino- of some 
of the most prominent lawyers, bankers 
and business men in the State, and contin- 
ued a member thereof until 1865, when 
the State Bank finally closed its business 
and was superseded by tiie national banks. 
While banking has been Mr. Gardiner's 
principal occupation, and in which he has 
lieen actively engaged for over half a cen- 
tury, probably longer than any other man 
now actively engaged in the" business in 
the State, he has not omitted other enter- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



11 



prises connected with the improvement 
and development of the conntry. He 
was one of the first to move in obtaining 
the charter of the Toledo, Norwalk & 
Cleveland Railroad Company, granted 
by the Legislature in 1850, and was one 
of the original incorporators of the com- 
pany. After the road was constructed 
and in operation, it was, in 1853, con- 
solidated with the Junction Railroad 
Company, forming the Cleveland & 
Toledo Railroad Company, of which 
company Mr. Gardiner was elected a 
director in 1856, and president in No- 
vember, 1860. At this latter date the 
company was carrying a large floating 
debt, and its securities were very much 
depressed ; so much so that its stock was 
selling at twenty cents on the dollar. But 
under Mr. Gardiner's supervision, and con- 
sequent upon the war and the large issue 
of paper money by the Government, and 
large increase of business, the floating 
debt was paid off, dividends resumed, the 
earnings of the company more than 
doubled, and the stock advanced in the 
market to one hundred and fifty cents on 
the dollar. In 1865, the capital stock hav- 
ing changed hands, Mr. Gardiner was su- 
perseded in the presidency, though he 
remained a director until the road was con- 
solidated in 1869 with the Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern Railway Company. 
The Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Rail- 
road was one of the first roads of which 
construction was commenced in the State, 
and was intended for the transfer of pas- 
sengers and freight to and from the inte- 
rior towns, in connection with the lake, and 
struo'sjled through financial difficulties un- 
til 1863, when Charles L. Boalt, Esq., was 
elected president, and Mr. Gardiner one of 
its directors. They proceeded to form a 
line for traffic from Sandusky to Balti- 
more and Washington by the Central Ohio 
and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroads, 
which arrangement met with such success 
that they were enabled, in 1869, to lease 
the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Rail- 



road to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad 
Company, since which time it has done a 
successful business as a part of the Balti- 
more & Ohio line to the lake at Sandusky, 
and to Chicago, in connection with its 
Chicago division. On the death of C. L. 
Boalt, Esq., in 1870, Mr. Gardiner was 
elected president of the Sandusky, Mans- 
field & Newark- Railroad Company, and 
is still its president, having served in 
that capacity for twenty-three years. Mr. 
Gardiner, in 1863, was elected a di- 
rector of the Columbus & Indianapolis 
Railroad Company, which road was in- 
tended, when completed, to form a line 
between Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapo- 
lis, Ind., and after being completed and 
consolidating with various lines, finally 
embraced about 600 miles of road under 
the name of the Columbus, Chicago & In- 
diana Central Railway Company. In the 
winter of 1868 Mr. Gardiner and ex- 
Governor William Dennison, with the 
president, B. E. Smith, were appointed a 
committee to negotiate a lease of the road 
to the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis 
Railroad Company and the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company, which lease, after much 
negotiating, was made on the 22d day of 
January, 1869, and duly ratified by the 
companies; though it was amended one 
year after, it was continued until finally a 
consolidation of the lines west of Pitts- 
burgh was eflPected, and it is now operated 
as one line. In Mr. Gardiner's railroad 
connections he became acquainted with 
most of the leading railroad magnates of 
the day — including Commodore Vander- 
bilt, of the New York Central; J. Edgar 
Thompson and Thomas A. Scott, of the 
Pennsylvania Central, and John W. Gar- 
rett, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad — 
for many of whom he still entertains a 
high appreciation for their energy and 
great ability in managing the large enter- 
prises committed to their charge. 

In 1879 Mr. Gardiner purchased at 
Sheriff's sale the XX Furnace property in 
Perry county, Ohio, comprising about 



12 



HUBOy COUN^TY, OHIO- 



800 acres of coal land and a blast furnace, 
and organized tlie Sliawnee 6z Sandusky 
Coal and Iron Company, associating with 
himself Mr. Francis Palms, of Detroit, 
and A. II. and J. O. Moss, ot Sandusky. 
Mr. Gardiner was president of the com- 
pany. The Furnace commenced making 
pig iron in tlie spring of 1880, but as iron 
ruled low in price, and the business did 
not prove as profitable as was anticipated, 
in July, 1881, Mr. Gardiner sold the prop- 
erty to a Boston syndicate at a good profit, 
and closed up tlie concern. In 188(j Mr. 
(iardiner erected in IS'orwalk tiie "Gardi- 
ner Block," a building one hundred feet 
scjuare, with a front of cut stone and 
pressed brick, three stories higli, with four 
stores on the ground Hoor, offices iti the 
second story and a large Music Hall in 
the third. The Music Hall is equipped 
with a stage and fine scenery, is seated 
with opera chairs, and is handsomely fres- 
coed and fitted up as a place of amuse- 
ment and recreation, more, as Mr. (irardi- 
ner intended, for the gratification of the 
people of Norwalk than for profit to him- 
self. Mr. Gardiner's business enterprises 
have generally been successful, particuhirly 
when under his own personal management 
and direction. By industry, integrity and 
perseverance he has accumulated a hand- 
some fortune, and is one of the largest 
laud owners in Huron county, having four 
farms under good cultivation and embrac- 
ing about fourteen hundred acres of land. 
Mr. Gardiner was married at Norwalk, 
Ohio, on the 31st day of July, 1843, to 
Miss Frances Mary .losliii, who was born 
at Troy, N. Y., on the 13th day of Au- 
gust, 1817. She was the daughter of Dr. 
Benjamin A. and Frances C. (Davis) Jos- 
lin, the latter of vvhoni was a daughter of 
Richard Davis, Jr. Mary Geer, the 
great-grandmother of Francis C. Davis, 
was one of the settlers at "Wyoming, Penn., 
and escaped from the massacre, July 3, 
1776, by secreting herself and children in 
the woods, while her house was burned 
and her husband killed by savages; and 



after the massacre she made her way 
through the woods to Poughkeepsie, N. 
Y. Four children were the offspring of 
Mr. Gardiner's marriage, viz.: Edmund 
G. Gardiner, born August 23, 18-4-1:; Jolin 
Gardiner, Jr., born February 28, 1847; 
Lucy Jane Gardiner, born June 4, 1848, 
and died April 12, 1854, and William L. 
Gardiner, born June 24, 1857. Of these 
Edmund G. Gardiner married Miss Susie 
J. Barnes, at Norwalk, June 13, 1872, and 
has four children: Charles Barnes Gard- 
iner, born December 26, 1874; Frances 
Mary Gardiner, born October 27, 1879; 
Annie Helene Gardiner, boru May 11, 
1885, and Lucy Agnes Gardiner, born 
September 17, 1886. John Gardiner, Jr., 
married Miss Louise Woodward, of Belle- 
vue, Huron Co., Ohio, October 3, 1877, 
and has three children: Amos W. Gard- 
iner, born at Bellevue September 12, 1879, 
John Joslin Gardiner, born at Norwalk, 
Ohio, September 12, 1881, and Douglas 
Latimer Gardiner, born at Norwalk, De- 
cember 28, 1887. William L. Gardiner 
married Miss Sarah Alice Althouse in 
New York, February 4, 1880, and has no 
children living. The Gardiner mansion 
on AVest Main street, in Norwalk, was 
purchased by Mr. Gardiner in 1848, and 
was occupied by his family March 20 of 
that year. He has added to the buildings 
from time to time, and increased the quan- 
tity of land, until he now owns a farm of 
160 acres, almost wholly within the cor- 
porate limits of the city. 

During nearly half a century that Mr. 
Gardiner has occupied his home, a gener- 
ous hospitality has always been extended 
to his friends, and all made welcome by 
his genial wife, and during this period 
many distinguished statesmen have en- 
joyed their hospitality, amongst whom he 
mentions, with great pleasure, the Hon. 
John Sherman, senator of the United 
States from Ohio, and Secretary of the 
Treasury during Mr. Hayes' acfministra- 
tion; Hon. Salmon P. Chase, Governor of 
Ohio, Secretary of the Treasury during 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



13 



Mr. Lincoln's administration, and Chief 
Justice of the United States; Hon. James 
G. Blaine, M. C, United States senator, 
and Secretary of State nnder President 
Harrison; Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes, 
Governor of Ohio, and President of the 
United States; Hon. James A. GarHeld, 
M. C, and President of the United States; 
Hon. M. R. Waite, Chief Jnstice of tiie 
United States; Hon. Charles Foster, Gov- 
ernor of (Jhio, Member of Congress, and 
Secretary of tlie Treasury under President 
Harrison ; besides many other public men of 
the Republican party, in whose successful 
career and devotion to the interests of the 
country Mr. Gardiner has always felt a 
just pride. Politically, he was an original 
Henry Clay Whig, but when the Whig 
party merged into the Republican Mr. 
Gardiner went with his party, has always 
remained a Republican, and contributed 
with his influence and means to its suc- 
cess, but without ever seeking an office, or 
soliciting the votes of his friends or party 
for political preferment or position. He 
was elected a trustee of the City Water 
Works in 1870, and remained a trustee for 
three years, during the construction of the 
works, and contributed to their success by 
advancing the city means until it could 
dispose of its bonds on favorable terms. 
Mr. Gardiner also served on the board of 
education of the city some fourteen years, 
during which time the schools reached a 
high state of proficiency. For many years 
Mr. Gardiner has been a vestryman in St. 
Paul's Episcopal Church, of which his 
wife has been a lifelong member, though 
he has only belonged to the paying side, 
and this church seems better adapted to 
his liberal views of church matters than 
any other denomination. 

Self-reliance is one of the strong char- 
acteristics of Mr. Gardiner, and in his 
business enterprises he has always relied 
upon his own judgment for results rather 
than upon the opinion and advice of 
others; and when his opinion has been 
once formed, he is never afraid to express 



it, without waiting for the views of others. 
Mr. Gardiner has lived in Norwalk 
sixty years, during which time he has ap- 
plied liimself to business pursuits, without 
wavering or faltering in his onward 
course, or ever failing to discharge his pe- 
cuniary obligations, and without a blemish 
on his business character or integrity, and 
during which time great changes have 
taken place. The early pioneers of the 
county, men of sterling integrity, with 
nearly all of whom he was acquainted, 
have gone to their long homes, having 
stamped their principles of industry, in- 
tegrity and perseverance upon their chil- 
di-en and successors. The business and 
leading men of that day are nearly all 
dead, but have left behind pleasant recol- 
lections of their honesty and fair dealing 
in their business transactions. The log 
cabins of the early settlers, in whose homes 
all received a hearty welcome, have disap- 
peared from the country, and good farm 
houses have taken their places, occupied 
by as thrifty and intelligent a class of peo- 
ple as are to be found in any other section 
of the United States. Mr. Gardiner grate- 
fully remembers many acts of kindness of 
these early settlers and friends, who oc- 
cupied positions which enabled them to 
assist him in his early business career, and 
who were ever ready to lend him aid in 
carrying forward his business enterprises, 
and to whose generous support, friendship 
and assistance he attributes much of his 
ultimate success. 

TIMOTHY R. STRONG, a leading 
criminal lawyer of Norwalk, pos- 
sesses a strong individuality which 
has proved most effective in his pro- 
fession. He was born April 7, 
1817, in Cayuga county, N. Y., a son of 
William and Lura Strong, and received his 
education at a seminary in Onondaga 
county and at Fredonia Academy, Chau- 
tauqua county, same State. 

After reading law for some time he was 
admitted to the bar in 1843, and began a 



14 



HURON COUXTY, OHIO. 



general practice at Norwalk, Ohio. He 
has conducted many extensive and difficult 
cases of a civil nature, but is especially emi- 
nent in criminal law. Possessing an in- 
exhaustible fund of dry humor and keen 
sarcasm, combined with a wonderful power 
of moving his audience at will, to laughter 
or tears, he is in great request as a pleader. 
He is undeniably the shrewdest and most 
vivacious lawyer of the Norwalk bar, hav- 
ing won success by native acumen, inde- 
fatigable application and characteristic 
genius. 

Mr. Strong was married April 3, 1845, 
to Ann Eliza Smith, a native of Tompkins 
county, N. Y., whose parents were born 
and married in AlbaTiy, X. Y., and to this 
union four children have been born as fol- 
lows: William H., a railroad man; Clara, 
wife of Dr. D. 1. McGuire, Alice, and 
Charlotte. Mr. Strong in his political 
predilections is a stanch Republican. 



d JUDGE FREDERICK WICKHAM, 
Norwalk, one of the editors and pro- 
) prietors of the Norwalk Befertor, 
may be classed as one of the oldest 
newspaper men in the State in active life, 
and is to be found at his desk and at the 
case daily. Ue was born in New York 
City, March 11, 1812, a son of William 
and Catharine (Christian) Wickham, of 
English descent. 

In the veins of the Wickham family is 
mingled the blood of the Winthrops, 
Wantons and Saltonstalls, some of the 
illustrious of the New Englanders of Co- 
lonial times. William Wickham, above 
named, was the son of Thomas Wickham, 
whose wife was Elizabeth Wanton. Will- 
iam was born in Newport, R. I., in 1778, 
and being of a race of adventurous sea- 
men he was before the mast in 1796, at 
the age of eighteen. In the year 1800 he 
sailed from rhiladelphia as master of a 
ship; at one time he was 0!i board a gov- 
ernment vessel, and late in life he received 
a land warrant for his services, which he 



located on land in Kansas. At one time 
he was a pro.^perous AVest India merchant, 
of the firm of William & Thomas Wick- 
ham, of New York, engaged in the India 
trade, and gathered great wealth for those 
days. Wlien the embargo was laid, they 
had ships loaded with molasses, either in 
Havana or on the way home, which were 
seized, and ships and cargoes confiscated. 
His fortune wrecked, he was persuaded to 
go West, in the hope of retrieving a por- 
tion of it. Gathering up the remnants, 
with his family he went to western New 
York, and stopped at Great Sodus, on Lake 
Ontario, now in Wayne county, and which 
was then the most promising point on the 
southern shores of the lake. Soon after 
he had settled there, in 1812, the war of 
that year having broken out, the English 
landed a force and burned his store and 
residence, with all outbuildings. Again 
everything he had in the world was de- 
stroyed, and becoming advanced in life he 
was left to his fate. To the shame of our 
Government, that boasts the largest pen- 
sion roll the world ever saw, it has persist- 
ently refused to recompense this old-time 
patriot. 

William Wickham married Catharine, 
daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth 
(Hodgkinson) Christian. Her ancestors 
were from Scotland, the name being oricr- 
inally Erskine, changed to Hodgkinson, 
and of this family was the Earl of Mar. 
William and Catharine "Wickham had 
seven children: Elizabeth (Mrs. Alden S. 
Baker), John, William, Thomas, Samuel 
Christian, Frederick (subject) and Samuel. 

The Wanton family are pretty well 
written of in Dean's " History of Scituate," 
published in 1881. Further particulars 
are gained from a manuscript book in the 
possession of Judge Wickham, which was 
examined by the writer. Edward Wanton, 
gentleman, as the records show, was in 
Boston in 1G58, having come from 
London, where, so tradition informs us, 
his father died of injuries received at the 
great London fire. Edward Wanton be- 





/X A/. 



/o^Vt^-<-^ 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



17 



came an officer in Massachusetts, and had 
to witness the execution of tlie Quakers in 
1661, and tlie horrors of the persecutions 
made a Qna]<er of him. Of the sons of 
Edward Wanton were William and John. 
William Wanton married Ruth Brj'ant; 
became a distinguished soldier, and was 
elected governor of Rhode Island in 1732, 
re-elected in 1733, and died at the end of 
his term of office. His successor in the 
gnbernatorial chair was his brother, John, 
elected in 1734, and re-elected six times. 
In 1769, Joseph Wanton, son of William, 
was elected governor; he was re-elected 
seven times. Governor Joseph Wanton 
married Mary, daughter of Gov. John 
Winthrop. His daughter, Anne, married 
Winthrop Saltonstall; his daughter Eliza- 
beth married Thomas Wickham. Another 
daughter married William Browne, gov- 
ernor of the Bermudas. This is a record 
for a family furnishing governors, and 
their frequent elections, that is unparalleled 
in our history. 

Frederick Wickham, when a boy, pur- 
sued a variety of occupations, clerking in 
stores and working on a farm in Wayne 
county, N. Y., whither his parents moved 
from New York City. At the age of 
twenty-one he associated himself with a 
brother who. had a stock of goods in a store 
in New York, and came to Ohio, locating 
in Norwalk, Huron county. Here they 
opened out a commercial business, and 
about a year afterward Frederick went on 
the lakes in the capacity of second mate 
from which he was soon promoted to mas- 
ter, the brother taking charge of the busi- 
ness during his absence. Meanwhile our 
subject was married, January 15, 1835, to 
Miss Lucy Bancroft Preston, a native of 
ISashua, N. H., born March 27, 1814. 
She is a daughter of Samuel Preston, one 
of the originators and proprietors of the 
Huron, Refl.ector, published at Norwalk; 
and lie concluded, being so prevailed on 
by his young wife, to abandon his roving 
sort of life on the lakes, and settle down 
to one of comparative domesticity. About 



the winter of 1840-41 Mr. Wickham en- 
tered the office of the Reflector, then 
owned by Samuel and Charles A. Preston, 
his father-in-law and brother-in-law, re- 
spectively, and here he has ever since re- 
mained, rising step by step from "devil" 
to editor and proprietor, having on the 
death of his father-in-law in 1852 bought 
the establishment. The style of the paper 
has been changed to Norwall' Reflector, 
and in recent years a regular daily issue 
has been published from the office, entitled 
Norwalk Daily Reflector. The judge 
now (as he has for years) sits at his 
case, and, without any previous writing 
or preparation, sets up from a column 
to a column and a half of editorial 
matter for his paper, a feat which but few 
men are capable of performing, and a most 
remarkable one for a person who has 
reached and j^assed the advanced age of 
four score years. His brain is as active 
as it ever has been, and his physical con- 
dition as strong and vigorous as with most 
men at sixty. During all these years of 
his useful life in Norwalk, Judge Wick- 
ham has been universally honored and re- 
spected. All his life he has been an 
indefatigable worker, both in his business 
and in the political arena, and in all his 
dealings with his fellow-men he has main- 
tained the strictest integrity, and has been 
the soul of honor. 

As a Whig and Republican the Judge 
has been a leader and a worker in his own 
party, no one having done more hard and 
constant lal)or for the success of his party 
principles than he. During his residence 
in Norwalk he has held with characteristic 
care and ability several public positions of 
trust and honor. He was first elected 
town constable of Norwalk and village re- 
corder; served as deputy sheriff of the 
county two terms; was appointed associate 
judge of the common pleas court, and 
served to the entire satisfaction of the peo- 
ple. In the latter years of the Civil war 
he represented iiis District in the Ohio 
Senate A few years ago, after he was 



18 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



seventy years of age, lie was elected mayor 
of Nor walk, and made so good an officer 
that lie had to jjereniptorily decline a re- 
noiiiiriatioii. 

Judge and Mrs. Wickham have had 
thirteen children, forty grandchildren, and 
nine great-grandchildren, all living but 
six who (lied in their infancy. Their 
twelve living; children are as follows: 
Charles Preston Wickham, e.x-judge of 
the common pleas court and ex-Congress- 
man; Katherine (widow of Thomas Chris- 
tian); AV. S. Wickham; Frederick C. and 
John T., twins (the latter deceased); Mary 
E. (wife of Lieut. -Col. E. K. Kellogg, of 
IT. S. A.); Sarah L.; Lucy P. (Mrs. A. J. 
Minard); Albert W. ; Carrie (Mrs. James 
G. Gil)l)s); Emma W. Peters; Jessie (Mrs. 
C. L. Merry), and Frank 1). Wickham. 
The family is the largest and one of the 
oldest in the city. Mrs. Frederick Wick- 
ham. beloved, honored and respected, has 
lived in Xorwalk seventy-two years; and, 
from a wilderness inhabited and trodden 
by savages and but a few white men, has 
seen tlie place grow into a handsome and 
thriving city of nearly ten thousand souls. 



jri( LONZO L. SIMMONS, one of the 
Lj^ wealthiest as well as one of the 
Ir\^ most highly respected citizens of 
■^J Fairfield township, is a great-grand- 

stin of. Edward Simmons, who was 
a miller in Uehoboth, Bristol Co., Mass. 
He was a soldier in tlie Revolutionary 
war, serving as captain in the Continental 
line of Massachusetts until the linal vic- 
tory at Yorktown insnred both peace and 
liberty to the Colonists. Eetnrning with 
the honors of a veteran, he found that the 
enemy had destroyed his mill and home; 
but unmindful of the financial loss, he 
again went bravely to work, and reared his 
family in comfort. Of his children, Ed- 
ward settled in New. Hampshire and be- 
came a Judge; Noble was a blacksmith 
and settled in New York State, where he 



died; Eliphalet B. is referred to below; 
William died in Massachusetts. 

Elifihalet B.Simmons was born in 1773 
in Bristol county, Mass., and passed his 
youth and early manhood there. In 1804 
he moved to Delaware county, N. Y., 
where for thirteen years he carried on the 
lumber business with quite a degree of 
success. Durincr his residence here be 
married Esther, daughter of Capt. Charles 
Brown, of New London, Conn. In 1817 
he started for the " Firelands " of Ohio, 
making the journey to Huron county by 
wagon, and arriving July 12. He pur- 
chased land in the second section of Green- 
field township, and took up his residence 
on Lot No. 22, where his grandson, John 
N. Simmons, now resides, and became a 
pioneer in the wilderness. He vvas a man 
of great industry, coupled with honesty of 
purpose, and good practical judgment, and 
eventually acquired a large pi'operty. His 
selections of real estate made in that early 
(lay in Greenfield and Fairfield townships 
have stood the tests of time, and stand ap- 
proved as the best individual farms to this 
day. He was twice married, and had a 
family of four children, viz.: Harlon E., 
Charles B., Albert and Washington L. 
Eliphalet B. Simmons died at his home in 
Greenfield January 26, 1836, in the sixty- 
third year of his age. In politics he was 
a Democrat, and took an active interest in 
party matters. In religion he was a Bap- 
tist. Of his children two are still living, 
viz.: Charles B., at North Fairfield, Ohio, 
and Washington L., a resident of Kansas. 

Harlon E., son of Eliphalet B. Simmons, 
was born December 14, 1798, in Eeho- 
both, Bristol Co., Mass. His youth was 
passed there, and like most boys of that 
period his time was divided between school 
and farm; for youths then were treated 
mostly to one-third school and two-thirds 
farm. At the age of twenty-one years he 
determined to make a home for himself in 
the then far-away West, and as his father 
and the balance of the family had miorated 
to the "Firelands" in Ohio some two 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



19 



years previous, that locality at once became 
his objective point. Thus in October, 
1819, with the accmnnlations of eight 
years work by the month, one horse and an 
open wagon, he started from Massachusetts 
alone to make the journey, arriving at his 
father's residence in Greenfield township 
in December following, thus making the 
trip in about six weeks. He purchased 
land adjacent to his father's home, and 
located on Lot No. 21, and in time added 
Lots Nos. 17 and 20, and parts of Lots 
Nos. 16 and 28 to the home farm. In 
1827 he returned to Massachusetts, and on 
July 17 was united in marriage with Ann 
Ide, daughter of Joseph Ide, of Attleboro, 
Bristol county, and she accompanied him 
to their new home in Ohio. To this nnion 
si.x children were born, viz.: Kufus A., 
Abby N., L. Curtis, Alonzo L., Emily and 
Ann, of whom Rufus A., Emily and Ann 
are deceased; Abby N., now wife of G. T. 
Stewart, resides at Norwalk, Ohio; L. Cur- 
tis, at Hastings, Minn.; Alonzo L., at 
North Fairfield, Ohio. Mr. Simmons 
came to the " Firelands " as a pioneer, and 
brought, as did many of those early 
settlers, sterling qualities, and with the 
helpfulness of wife and family a beautiful 
home was developed on what was in 1819 
a wilderness, in which he lived about fifty- 
five years, and where he died March 21, 
1875, aged seventy-seven years. Had his 
life been spai-ed a few months he would 
have reached the forty-eighth mile post in 
wedded life. He was universally esteemed 
for his integrity of character, and virt.nes, 
in all the relations of life. In business he 
was successful, and as his children settled 
in life he was able to present each with a 
purse of four thousand five hundred dollars 
without encumbering the home. We are 
told that the first singing school, as well 
as choir, in the township, was organized 
under his leadership, and in after years the 
home life was full of music, containing as 
it did a quartet of both instrumental and 
vocal (members of the family), and led by 
him. From the discourse of Doctor H. 



L. Canfield at his funeral we quote the fol- 
lowing appropriate tribute to liis memory: 
" For more than fifty-five years he lived 
in this township, and you who have known 
him best know how much his strong arm 
and tireless industry have done toward the 
removal of the primitive forests, and the 
development of the material prosperity of 
this region. But never in his devotion to 
material things did he forget the higher 
interests of life. Whatever tended to pro- 
mote moral or intellectual culture, or 
social reform, found in him a warm friend 
and ready helper. He was always to be 
found on the side of whatsoever things 
were true and honest; whatsoever things 
were ju.%t and pure; whatsoever things 
were lovely and of good report. Well may 
the thread of such a life run evenly, and 
hope be its constant inspiration." In poli- 
tics Mr. Simmons was in early life a Jack- 
sonian Democrat, but in 1856 swung into 
the Republican ranks, and kept pace with 
its progressive movements. 

The companion that had left her New 
England home and friends sotne fifty years 
before, and added her efforts to his in 
building this earthly home, survived bin: 
a little over two years, and on May 30, 
1877, she, as we trust, again joined him 
and the multitudes that have gone before, 
to agttin add her efforts to theirs in the 
work beyond. As regards religious views 
we may as well speak in the plural, as their 
hopes were practically the same. They 
cherished the broader views, ever believ- 
ing that to be a Christian was to become 
Christ-like. That a true religion is always 
a practical religion, and shows itself in all 
that its possessor does. 

Alonzo L. Simmons, youngest son of 
Harlon E. and Ann I. Simmons, was born 
in Greenfield township, December 6. 1835, 
and like most boys of his time, whose 
lives as men have been helpful in the 
community in which they have lived; 
helpful in creating higher public senti- 
ment; helpful that they have made the 
community in which they have lived the 



20 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



better for their having lived, his youth 
like theirs was passed on the farm, guided 
by good parental care, with plenty of work 
to teacli the important lessons of care tak- 
ing in early life, relieved in winter by a 
term at the district school. Thus the 
routine went on, varied by one term in 
graded school at North Fairfield, and one 
at the hii;h school at Xorwalk. In 1854 
he changed from attendant to teacher, and 
the new order continued some seven 
winters, first in the district and later in 
the graded schools. In the sprino; of 1855 
his father placed him in charge of an out- 
lying farm of KiU acres, which position he 
filled until the spring of 1859. when, by 
request of his parents, he returned to the 
home farm, and bought 200 acres of the 
same, receiving a receipt for four thousand 
five hundred dollars in part payment. The 
house on the home farm was destroyed by 
fire in March, 1858, and no permanent 
one rebuilt until the summer of 1861, 
when a larrfe double brick residence was 
constructed by the joint efforts of his par- 
ents and himself. 

On April 24, 1862, Mr. Simmons was 
united in marriage with Elizabeth M., 
daughter of John E. and Lydia F. Meiiges, 
then residents of Greenfield, and in due 
time the double residence had double occu- 
pants; and thus the two families dwelt 
peacefully side by side until the lieaper 
came in 1875 and called the father home. 

In 1871 Mr. Simmons bought an inter- 
est in the Phoenix mill, became interested 
in that business, and still retains his inter- 
est in it. After the father's death he 
bought his mother's and two brothers' 
interests in the old home, and at that 
time, without doubt, expected to pass the 
balance of his life there, amidst its familiar 
scenes. But in the spring of 1883, begin- 
ning to realize that so large a farm home 
must in time become burdensome to him- 
self as well as Mrs. Simmons (they two 
comprising his family), and having au 
available opportunity to sell the home, 
wisely as it would seem, did so, and re- 



purchased another equally pleasant, though 
smaller, near the village of North Fair- 
field, where they now reside. Mr. Sim- 
tnons was one of the incorporators of the 
JSIorwalk Savings Bank, and is a stock- 
holder and member of its board of direct- 
ors. His life work, however, has been 
that of a practical farmer, one who has 
found pleasure in the performance of his 
labor, and in leading a wholesome, inde- 
pendent life. Ever holding to the theory 
that whatsoever is worth doing at all is 
worth doing well, he has aimed to put its 
principle into practical effect, and in a 
broad sense has carried out this principle; 
and as a result, success, not only in ma- 
terial things but in the higher walks of 
life as well, has crowned his efforts. Suc- 
cess comes to no one by the mere revolu- 
tion of the wheel of fortune; to be obtained 
it must be coveted, striven for, and won. 
None may wear her laurels save those who 
have a strong earnest desire. But desire 
alone will never win; an aim that is high 
and honorable, a will and purpose that are 
unbending, an uncompromising integrity 
with untiring industry and economy — • 
these with other characteristics must unite 
with desire to win the trophies of success. 
Mr. Simmons is regarded as one of the 
substantially worthy men of his section, 
kind to all, generous to those in need, and 
honorable in all things; a man of strong 
convictions of right and wrong, and fear- 
less to speak or act his convictions when 
duty requires. In politics he is a Re- 
publican, coming upon the stage of action 
as he did when bleeding Kansas was the 
bone of contention between the then two 
leading parties, he cast his lot in the ranks 
of that party, and has ever been loyal to 
its principles. 

Any account of Mr. Simmons' life to 
those who have known him so long and 
heard him so oft, would be incomplete, if 
its musical features were omitted. Like 
the father, his home life has always found 
relief from its routine of duties in litera- 
ture and music, and for upwards of forty 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



21 



years his voice has been heard in song at 
the majority of the social, festival, 
church and funeral gatherings in his 
locality. 



/ 



CHARLES B. STICKNEY was born 
at Moira, Franklin Co., N. Y., Jan- 
uary 20, 1810, the eldest of twelve 
children — six sons and six daughters 
— of Charles and Betsey Stickney. 

Cant. Charles Stickney, father of sub- 
■ject, was born at Cornwall, Addison Co., 
Vt., May 17, 1785, and his mother, whose 
maiden name was Pierce, at JStew Salem, 
Franklin Co., Mass., April 11, 1790. 
They were married in the town of Dickin- 
son, Franklin Co., N. Y., April 11, 1809. 
Both are noAv dead. They were of English 
descent. His father's earliest ancestor in 
America was William Stickney, who 
came to this country in 1637 from Hull, 
Yorkshire, England, and settled with his 
family at Rowley, Mass. From him it is 
believed that all bearing the name of 
Stickney in America are descended. 

Mr. Stickney's early years were required 
by his father on his farm, where he re- 
mained until his twenty-lirst year, en- 
gaged in hard work, and receiving only a 
district-school education, when he was 
given his time, live dollars and fifty cents 
in money, and the blessing of his kind 
parents with which he started forth to 
seek his fortune. He entered the academy 
at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., then 
in charge of Rev. Asa Brainard, and here 
he remained nearly four years, supporting 
himself in the meantime by teaching 
school winters. 

His health having become impaired from 
close application, he reluctantly left the 
academy and came to Ohio. He reached 
Ashtabula county, where he was taken 
sick at the house of his maternal uncle, 
Jesse Pierce, in the town of Saybrook, his 
sickness continuing for nearly six months. 
Recovering his health somewhat, he 
adopted the teaching of penmanship as a 



means of livelihood, and taught in differ- 
ent places in western Pennsylvania, Vir- 
ginia, and southern Ohio. On his arriving 
at Wheeling, AV. Va., in 1835, Judge 
Stickney was by its directors elected 
principal of an academy there, conducted 
on the Pestolozian system of education, 
which he managed with credit to himself, 
and to the approval of its patrons for 
about two years. 

In 1841 he visited his brother, Hon. E. 
T. Stickney, at Scipio, Seneca Co., Ohio, 
and meeting with a former fellow-student 
of Potsdam Academy, the late Jairus 
Kennan, Esq., who was then practicing 
law at Norwalk, he was induced to enter 
his othce, and commence the study of law. 
He arrived at Norwalk November 13, 
1841, and pursued his studies with Mr. 
Kennan; was admitted to the bar August 
1, 1844, and subsequently to practice in 
the Federal courts, at Cleveland, April 12, 
1860. During his term of study he was 
associated with the late Ezra M. Stone in 
the preparation of a large number of 
cases in bankruptcy, under the then exist- 
ing bankrupt law of the United States. 
After he commenced practice he was sev- 
eral times a candidate for prosecuting 
attorney, always running ahead of his 
ticket, but not being able to overcome the 
party odds against him. The new consti- 
tution of Ohio created the Court of Pro- 
bate, and upon its going into operation, 
in 1851, Mr. Stickney was nominated on 
the Democratic ticket for the new office of 
judge of said court, and was elected over 
his competitor, Hon. F. Wickhatn, by 
thirty-one majority, having run ahead of 
his ticket about five hundred votes. He 
performed the duties of his office faith- 
fully and satisfactorily to all for the term 
of three years, and was again nominated 
in 1854. The newly-formed Republican 
and Know-Nothing parties swept the field, 
the general majority of the party in 
Huron county being about sixteen hun- 
dred, but the majority for his competitor, 
Hon. F. Sears, was cut down to about 



22 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



eight hundred. Mr. Stickney has served 
several terms as a member of the common 
council, and in April, 1874, was elected 
mayor of Norvvalk, in which office he 
served two years, being an acceptable and 
popular officer, lie was for several years 
school examiner for Huron county, and a 
member of the board of education of the 
Union school for four years, during wliich 
time he was clerk of the board, lie has 
at all times taken a deep interest in edu- 
cational matters. lie is also a member of 
the Whittlesey Academy of Arts and 
Sciences, of which he has been president. 

On Aj)ril 30. 1845, he became a mem- 
ber, by initiation, of Huron Lodge Xo. 
37, I. O. (). F., and has been a prominent 
and respected member of the Order, hold- 
ing man}' of its important offices. On 
February 20, 1856, he was elected most 
worthy grand master of the Grand Lodge 
of (Jliio, serving one term with distin- 
guished ability. For his faithful and 
efficient services in this office he received 
from the (irand Lodge its beautiful and 
costly medal. 

In 1858 Judge Stickney was apjjointed 
assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of 
Lieutenant-colonel, on the staff of Maj.- 
Gen. James A. Jones, Seventeenth Divi- 
sion Ohio Volunteer Militia, and was com- 
missioned by Gov. Chase. He also acted 
as Inspector-general of Division. On 
coming to Norwalk he became a boarder 
at the "Mansion House,"' then kept by 
Obadiah Jenney, Esq., and, to the surprise 
of all, has remained unmarried, and a 
constant boarder at public hotels there 
now over fifty- two years. Though not a 
communicant, the Judire has long been an 
attendant at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 
Norwalk, and has served several years as 
vestryman and clerk of the vestry, jet 
cl)arital)le and liberal in his reliirious 
views toward all church organizations. 

Judge Stickney has always had an ex- 
tensive law practice, and been especially 
successful as a collection lawyer, and, in 
the settlement of estates and matters of 



guardianship, he has been, through his 
professional life, regarded as an upright 
man. He is a gentleman of taste and 
culture, kind and benevolent, esteemed by 
all who know him, and is an eminently 
popular member of society. He is now 
one of the oldest residents of Norwalk. 
His name is a household oracle here. He 
is perhaps the only living man in northern 
Ohio who has shaken hands with Daniel 
Webster. Henry Clay and Andrew Jack- 
son. He is as already stated still a bache- 
lor, and in spite of liis age feels young. 
Of him the Norwalk Reflednr of March 
2, 1892, said: " What an interesting tale 
could be written of Judge Stickney's social 
life in this city. His name and face are 
indelibly and pleasantly connected with all 
our homes where sociability and good 
cheer abound. The genial Judge is a 
necessary part of all the social gatherings 
in our city, and he is as young and frisky 
as ever. Long live the Judge!" 



LIVER RANSOM was born at 
Lyme, Conn., November 3, 1800, 
or near the close of the eighteenth 
centuiy. He grew to manhood in 
his native place, and at the age of nineteen 
wedded Rachel Hollister, who was fifteen 
years of age at the time. They commenced 
housekeeping at Bolton, Conn., the bride's 
home, and here two of their children were 
born. 

In 1822 the still youthful couple pio- 
neered westward, and li.xed their wilderness 
home at Warrensville, Ohio, a little east 
of Cleveland. They made the trip in a 
lumber-wagon with o.xen, and were forty 
days on the lonesome way, bivouacking 
after their arrival until he could build 
their little pole cabin. Here the last seven 
of their children were born. AVhen their 
labors had opened a fine farm of 400 acres, 
the American spirit that ever has carried 
the star of empire westward induced them 
to sell, and go to Elkhart, Ind., where they 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



23 



made investments that would have soon 
made them wealthy. Mr. Kansom's health, 
however, became so seriously impaired, 
that they felt it imperative to sell at a 
sacrifice and return ; and they purchased a 
farm near Berlin Heights, in Erie county. 
Except the three years in Indiana, Mr. 
and Mrs. Ransom lived on their farm at 
Warrensville thirty-two years, and at Ber- 
lin Heights twenty-one years. In the year 
1877, both feeliuii that their business af- 
fairs were such they could well afford to 
retire from the peaceful pursuits of agri- 
cultural life, they came to Xorwalk and 
purchased their pleasant residence on 
Whittlesey avenue, which has since been 
the family home. They parted with the 
title of their fine farm of 400 acres in Ber- 
lin Heights, one of the best improved in 
the county. Mr. Ransom had then reached 
the age of seventy-seven, while Mrs. Ran- 
som was seventy-three; neither one in the 
"sere and yellow leaf," but rather in the 
serene afternoon of their days, when was 
numbered fifty-eight years of their mar- 
ried life, both I)lessing and beina; blessed. 
This family brought to Norwalk the frank 
and sincere friendship of a host of friends; 
and not only found in their new place of 
residence a comfortable home, but drew 
new friends, new circles of pleasant asso- 
ciations, and new ties of life such as only 
reward the broad and generous natures of 
those who make this world both good and 
wholesome. Mr. Ransom departed this 
life March 3, 1891, at the unusual acre of 
nearly ninety-one years; which year was 
the seventy-second mile post of their mar- 
ried life. Suppose the youthful couple, 
when they plighted their lives on the mar- 
I'iage altar, had been permitted a perspec- 
tive view of the seventy-two years that at 
that moment was opening before them! A 
span of life so rich in the world's history, 
so infinitely richer in the unwritten joys 
of "two souls with but a single thought, 
two hearts that beat as one!" The vener- 
able husband and father was followed to 
the grave by the love of family and friends, 



as well as the highest respect from all in 
the community. A man of long life and 
strong character; whose death at the ripe 
age of nearly a century came to all in the 
community much as a personal loss. 

The brave little gii-1 who at fifteen had 
stood at the boy-husband's side and 
plighted her love and her life, never fal- 
tered, never in the hour of severest pioneer 
life knew a twinge of doubt or despair, l)ut 
was the real heroine, comforting, encour- 
aging, sustaining, with a faith and work 
sublime, both husband and children. The 
accounts of pioneer life, of the days that 
tried men's souls, are brightened and hal- 
lowed by the far more tragic and sublime 
stories of the true, brave and loyal wives 
and mothers, whose unfalterincr courao-e 
were the shield and anchor of the physi- 
cally stronger men. 

Rachel (HoUister) Ransom was born in 
Bolton, Conn., November 14, 1804; mar- 
ried September 13, 1819; died December 
9, 1893; in faith a Methodist, and all her 
life an exemplary professor thereof. Up 
to about the time of her death her mind 
was unimpaired, her memory as clear and 
quick as if yet below the half-century mark 
of life. She had a family of ten children, 
of whom nine grew to maturity, as follows: 
Lucina (Mrs. Asa Dunham) had two chil- 
dren, Ludd and Lloyd; Lovisa (Mrs. Hervy 
N. Addison), of Michigan, had six children, 
Rachel, William, Isola, Nina, Bertha and 
Mary; Cornelia (Mrs. John Perkins) has 
three sons, Floyd, George and Earl; 
Weltha first married Andrew Taylor, and 
by him had one child, Marion, and after- 
ward married Erastus Ives, by whom she 
had one child, Maud; Philura (Mrs. Will- 
iam Gleason) had five children, William, 
Mary, Nora, Anna and Eddie; Mary (Mrs. 
Charles Lane) bad two sons, Gerdon and 
Morrill; Gerdon married Anna Jenkins, 
and had six children, Sarah, Emma, Elgie, 
Ella, Lucy and Myrtie; Sylvester (deceased) 
married Clarissa Allen, and left no chil- 
dren; Miss Eunice A. is unmarried. 

Miss Eunice A. Ransom, the youngest 



24 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



child, was compelled to take much of the 
burdens of financial affairs from her father's 
shoulders for ten years preceding his death, 
and in tliis respect she became the head of 
the house. She was the companion and 
aid to her father from her early girlhood 
times, and through thus growing into 
strong healthy business ideas she was soon 
able to relieve him of all cares. Her 
father must have detected the bent of the 
girl'.* talents, and he gave her the com- 
panionship and fatherly training which he 
hoped would some day fit her to take up 
his work; and he lived to see his fondest 
hopes in this respect fully realized. 



IfffON. GIDEON TABOR STE'PT- 
r5^ ART. The law gives us one of 
I !_ the learned professions, and in 
•^ many respects it is calculated to 

best equip the young man for dis- 
tinction in social, business and public life. 
Lawyer Stewart may be named as "the 
father"' of the Huron county bar. He 
takes this place by virtue of his age and 
his long and successful practice liere, as 
well as by his intimate knowledge of the 
subtleties of the law. These are not the 
mere idle words of a panegyrist, but they 
are verified by the general judgment of 
his cotemporaries; a man holding an en- 
viable place among the distinguished 
members of the bar of northern Ohio. 
During the last twenty five years he has 
been employed in more cases from the 
"Firelands," in the District, Circuit and 
Supreme courts, than any other lawyer. 
Some who studied law in his office have 
become eminent in the profession. Hon. 
S. W. Owen, who was judge of the Su- 
preme court, studied law with Mr. Stew- 
art. To excel, even in the ordinary vo- 
cations of life, is a proud distinction, but 
in the abstruse mazes of the law it marks 
a mental equipment of rarest excellence. 
Thoroughly grounded in the fundamentals 
of the law, he tries every case before he 
enters the court-room, and this careful 



preparation is backed by a tenacity of pur- 
pose that will brook no hint of ultimate 
defeat. In many positions of life rare 
genius may carry all before it, but pre- 
eminence at the bar must add to even un- 
usual gifts, those patient tasks of "the 
slave of the lamp," which bring the " pale 
cast of thought" to the devotee. 

The paternal ancestors of Mr. Stewart 
came from the North of Ireland, origin- 
ally from Scotland. On both sides his 
people were of the cultured classes. His 
paternal grandmother was a noted educator 
and scholar of her day, having taught the 
first school in Schenectady, N. Y., and 
founded the first academy of that place, a 
famed school, that was in time succeeded 
by Union College. His mother was a 
daughter of the eminent divine, Rev. 
Nicholas Hill, Sr., who was father of the 
distinguished lawyer, Nicholas Hill, Jr., 
of Albany, head of the eminent law firm 
of Hill, Cagger & Porter, and who at his 
death, which occurred just before the 
Civil war, was pronounce'd by the New 
York World " the greatest lawyer of 
America." Another of his mother's 
brothers, John L. Hill, is a leading law- 
yer of New York, and was a prominent 
counsel in the famed Beecher-Tilton trial. 
His brother James F. Stewart, one of the 
oldest and most esteemed members of the 
San Francisco, Cal., bar, died on Novem- 
ber 17, 1893. His eldest brother, Merwin 
Hill Stewart, graduated at Union College 
with the highest honors, but died when he 
was about entering on the legal profession. 

Mr. Stewart was born in Johnstown, 
now in Fulton county, N. Y., August 7, 
1824, and was named from Gideon Tabor, 
a judge of the courts there. When about 
eleven years old, in the fall of 1835, he 
removed with his parents to Oberlin, Ohio, 
where he was a student in that college ex- 
cept a year in the Elyria Institute. He 
began the study of law at Norwalk, Ohio, 
in the spring of 1842, but the next year 
he went to live with his brother, Alex- 
ander A. Stewart, a merchant at Columbus, 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



27 



and tlicre entered the law office of Swayne 
& Bates, of which hrin Hon. Noah H. 
Swayne afterward became a justice of the 
United States Supreme court. WhilQ 
there, when nineteen years of age, he wrote 
a poem on the occasion of the visit of ex- 
President Joim Qnincy Adams to Ohio, in 
November, 1843, to lay the corner-stone 
of the Cincinnati Observatory, which poem 
was published in the Ohio State Journal, 
entitled " Ohio's Welcome to John Qu'ucy 
Adams," and with some other poems from 
his pen was favorably received by the 
public. Tiie next year he entered actively 
into politics, was chairman of the " Young 
Men's Henry Clay Club," and published a 
campaign paper at Columbus in aid of the 
Whig party. In the fall of 1844, being 
in ill iiealth, he went to Quincy, Fla., and 
spent about eighteen months with his 
brother Nicholas Hill Stewart, who was a 
lawyer and an eminent teacher at tiie head 
of the Quincy Academy, the leading edu- 
cational institution in the territory. In 
tiie following year, 1845, Florida was 
admitted into the Union, and, having 
become of age, he cast his first vote 
at the first election held in that State. 
He had strong inducements to remain with 
his brother and go into business there, 
but he could not consent to become a 
slaveholder; and, returning to Oliio'in 
the summer of 1846, he was admitted to 
the bar of Ohio, on the 18th day of Aug- 
ust, 1846, and began the practice of law 
at Norwalk. He was also editor of the 
Refiecto7\ the Whig organ, for about three 
years, and in 1850 he was elected, by 
the Whigs, county auditor, to which of- 
fice he was re-elected in 1852 and 1854, 
the last time on tiie same ticket with 
Hon. John Sherman, who then for the 
first time was elected to Congress. He 
purclm-ed half of the Toledo Blade in 
1856, but remained in the law practice 
at Norwalk, and in about three years 
sold his interest in the Blade. He went 
to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1861, where he 
bought the Daily Times, the onlyUnion 



Republican paper then in the north half 
of that State, and published it until near 
the close of the war. He spent a winter 
at Washington in law business, and then 
became one of the proprietors of the 
Toledo Daily Coinmercial, of which he 
took the business management for the 
greater jjart of the year; then selling at a 
profit, returned to Norwalk and i-esumed 
his law practice at that place. On Janu- 
ary 26, 1866, he was, on motion of Hon. 
Caleb Gushing, admitted as an attorney 
and counsellor of the Supreme Court of 
the United States. 

Aside from twelve years spent in the 
auditor's office and on the press, Mr. Stew- 
art has been in law practice over thirty- 
five years. A long time to devote to ac- 
tive professional work, a prolonged period 
of trials and triiimpiis, vicissitudes and 
victories; labors ranging from the sacred 
claims of home, or the exactions of a pro- 
fession, to the occult problems upon whose 
just solution hangs the permanent weal or 
woe of the human race. So methodical in 
his mental movements was he that lie 
found rest and recreation from the exact- 
ing duties of his profession in the ec|itoria\ 
chair, and in discussing from the hustings 
the absorbing questions of civil govern- 
ment. In 1855 Mr. Stewart was a dele- 
gate to the State convention which organ- 
ized the Republican party in Ohio, and 
there took an active part. While he was 
from early life well grounded in the prin- 
ciples of anti-slavery reform, yet he was 
broad enough in his views to see there 
were other evils in society appalling to 
contemplate, one of them the grim and 
hideous Gorgon of intemperance. In 1851 
and 1853 he took a prominent part in the 
anti-license and Maine-law campaigns of 
those years. In 1857 a State convention 
met at the capital of Ohio to organize a 
Prohibition party, and Mr. Stewart was 
made president of the convention. The 
machinery of a new party was framed; 
every step was taken and work set afoot, 
when the Kansas anti-slavery troubles 



28 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



earae and Civil war became the supreme 
(piestion of the hour. Salmon P. Chase 
was up for election as governor, and he in- 
terviewed the Prohibition State committee, 
before whom he urged the perilous condi- 
tion of the country, pledging himself that 
if elected, he would in his message recom- 
mend to the Legislature a Prohibitory law 
against the liquor drink traffic. His prom- 
ises were accepted (which he afterward 
fulfilled), the new jiartj juovement was 
postponed, and thus he was elected by a 
small plurality. The Kansas- Nebraska 
troubles were soon followed by the dread 
throes of war, convulsing our nation and 
unhinging the order of society from cen- 
ter to circumference; when men, like 
storm-tossed mariners, advantaged the first 
calm to take their bearings anew. The 
temperance cause, for the time suspended, 
was renewed in politics. Mr. Stewart was 
three times the standard bearer of the 
Prohibition party for governor in Ohio; 
eight times its candidate for supreme 
judge; was its representative on the Na- 
tional ticket for vice-president in 1876; 
many times its nominee for Congress and 
also for circuit and common pleas judge, 
and often in local, county, State and Na- 
tional conventions he has been a repre- 
sentative delegate of that party. 

He was present and a delegate to the 
convention in 1869, M'hich organized the 
National Prohibition party, and was made 
a member of the National committee, of 
which he was chairman four years and a 
leading member fifteen years, serving un- 
til 1884, when he retired, feeling it neces- 
sary to give his unrestricted time to his 
profession. In 1876, 1880 and 1884 the 
Prohibition State convention of Ohio unan- 
imously instructed the Ohio delegates to 
present him in the National conventions 
of those years as their choice for Presiden- 
tial candidate, but each time he refused to 
hare his name offered. At the National 
convention of 1892 it was presented by 
the Ohio delegates in his absence, at which 
time he received next to the highest vote 



on the first ballot, and he would have been 
nominated if there had been a second bal- 
lot. Each time that he was a candidate 
for governor he campaigned the State, vis- 
iting, in one season, forty counties, and 
addressing meetings in all of them. His 
voice was heard in the hustings, and his 
vigorous pen found a prominent place in 
the literature of the day. He was grand 
worthy chief-templar of the Order of 
Good Templars three terms. As long 
ago as 1847 he was one of the charter 
members of Norwalk Division, No. 227, of 
the Sons of Temperance, which still exists, 
there being now but one older division in 
the State. His numerous nominations by 
the Prohibition party were unsought, and 
were accepted by him only as symbols of 
sacrifice, not of selfish aspiration. He re- 
gards public office as a public trust, and 
that the man who solicits it is unworthy 
of it. Hence he was never an applicant 
to Government for office, and never asked 
the personal support of a delegate or a 
voter. He has been identified with other 
reforms, moral, social and political. He 
was several years president of the Ohio 
Woman Suffrage Association, and drafted 
its first platform of resolutions, adopted 
at its first State convention, held at Co- 
lumbus in 1870. 

He has long been a public advocate of 
civil service, industrial and educational 
reform, of prison reform, and the 
abolition of capital punishment. Many 
of his speeches and writings on re- 
form topics have been published and 
widely disseminated. He was in 1856 one 
of the founders of tlie " Firelands Histori- 
cal Society," one of the oldest historical 
local Societies in the Northwest; he was one 
of its officers at its founding, a life mem- 
ber, and is now its president. He was 
also one of the foundei's and first offi- 
cers of "The Whittlesey Academy of 
Arts and Sciences," which gave Nor- 
walk the well-known " Whittlesey Hall," 
for many years the common meeting- 
place and foster-mother of the city's 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



29 



growth in schools, the arts, science and 
eenenil literature, and from this came 
many courses of public lectures and the 
present public library, with its 6,000 se- 
lected volumes. Of these enterprises Mr. 
Stewart has been one of the active authors 
and promoters, and he has been busily 
interested in various other public move- 
ments. He spent much of his time and 
over three thousand dollars of his means, 
without compensation, through ten jears 
of doubtful struggle, to secure the con- 
struction of the Wheeling & Lake Erie 
Eailroad, and was one of its early stock- 
holders and directors. He and his wife 
are life members of the American Bible 
Society. He is a pioneer member of the 
Scotch-Irish Society of America, a tri;s- 
tee of the Western Reserve Society of the 
Sons of the American Revolution, and 
president of the Huron County Law Li- 
brary Association. 

Mr. Stewart is of a race of men and 
women of prominence and of intellectual 
and moral progress, and has so outlined 
his own life and reared a family that has 
added thereto, rather than, as we so often 
find, detracted therefrom. Pliysically he 
is a little below the medium in stature and 
weight, with a personal toilet clean and 
careful as has ever been the garniture of 
his mental operations. He looks the man of 
books, the student of man who communes 
much with his own thoughts. Just such 
a man whom you would readily know had 
sacrificed for half a century his time and 
toil in behalf of his fellows, and for all his 
services in public reform lias never ac- 
cepted the least financial compensation. 
Such, briefly, are the outlines of a life 
that may well be honored of men, respected 
abroad and beloved at home — a blessing 
to the one, a benefaction to all. 

On March 30, 1857, Gideon T. Stewart 
was united in marriage with Miss Abby 
Newell Simmons, of Greenfield township, 
Huron county, daughter of Harlon L. 
Simmons and niece of Hon. Charles B. 
Simmons (former State Representative), 



of that place, both prominent pioneers of 
the " Firelands," and e.xtensive farmers. 
Of this happy union there were born three 
sons and one daughter, viz. : Charles Hill ; 
Harlon Lincoln, at present the youngest 
member of the Ohio State Senate; George 
Swayne, of the ISTorwalk bar; and Mai-y 
Stewart. In the literary and temperance 
work of the father, the daughter with her 
graceful pen has been his valuable assist- 
ant. In the polite and benevolent circles 
of the city she has a wide and appreciative 
circle of friends. 

The mother was born and reared on her 
father's farm, one of the largest and most 
beautiful in the county; and, notwith- 
standing the fact that for twelve years 
she has been afflicted with paralysis, de^ 
priving her of the power to walk, she has 
continued to own and operate her valuable 
farm near the city of Norwalk, though 
living in the city, and has educated her 
three sons to practical agriculture. She is 
very fond of reading, and well informed in 
history, current literature and public af- 
fairs. She is social, sympathetic, kind 
and charitable, and is warmly esteemed by 
all who have known her from childhood to 
old age. She was active in the famous 
Woman's Temperance Crusade, and has 
been so in its outgrowth, the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union, which now 
extends its grand organization around the 
world. Through many years the Nor- 
walk LTnion has held its regular meetings 
in her parlors. 



EORGE SWAYNE STEWART 

, was born March 25, 1866, in Du- 
buque, Iowa, the youngest in the 
family of four children of Gideon 
T. and Abby N. (Simmons) Stewart. 
Our subject was reared to manhood in 
Norwalk, Ohio, whither, when he was but 
an infant, his parents had removed. He 
was educated in the graded schools of the 
city, and graduated from the high school 



30 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



in 1884. Leaving the high school, he 
pursued a special course of studies at 
Oberlin College, Ohio, after which he 
took up tlie study of law in his father's of- 
fice, and was admitted to the bar March 8, 
1888, being then hut twenty-one years of 
age. He then entered upon the practice 
of law with his father, continuing in the 
same for about two years, when he gare 
up his profession for the more active tield 
of business life to which he seemed 
naturally inclined. He inherited a taste 
for agriculture from his mother, and on 
her farm near Norwalk his vacations were 
spent in early school life, and here his first 
business instincts were cultivated. From 
working a small area on shares, he grew 
to be manager of the farm, establishing a 
dairy and maintaining his interest in farm- 
ing matters to the time of this sketch. 

In 1890 he became interested in the 
C. W. Smith Co., manufacturers of hard- 
wood and furniture specialties, and as 
secretary and treasurer of this company 
helped to build it up into one of the suc- 
cessful and substantial business enterprises 
of the city, affording employment to nearly 
one hundred people. In addition to his 
manut'aeturing business, Mr. Stewart is 
also associated with W. H. Price, presi- 
dent of the Norwalk Savings Bank, in the 
manufacture of building brick, under the 
style of The Norwalk Brick Co., and, as- 
sociated with other young men, is a dealer 
and contractor in stone and fire-brick, and 
has constructed extensive street-paving im- 
provements in Sandusky, Elyria. Bellevue, 
Norwalk and other cities. Mr. Stewart is 
also director and stockholder in the Nor- 
walk Savings Bank, and stockholder in the 
Arcade Savings Bank of Cleveland. 

Politically Mr. Stewart has never been 
identified with any party, but is indepen- 
dent, and, aside from being interested 
with his friends regardless of party, he 
takes no active part in politics. He has 
abandoned the practice of law, his atten- 
tion being given to the many enterprises 
with which he is identified. 



On January 10, 1893, Mr. Stewart was 
married to Cora lsal)el Taber, of Norwalk, 
Ohio, daughter of B. C. Taber, of that 
city. They had enjoyed an extended wed- 
ding tour in Europe, and were comfortably 
settled in their pleasant home in Norwalk, 
with all the prospects of a happy married 
life before them, when the Angel of Death 
spread his somber wings over their happy 
home and took from it its chiefest bless- 
ing. Mrs. Stewart died September 28, in 
the year of her marriage, from the recur- 
rence of a previous severe attack of peri- 
tonitis. She was of the purest type of 
Christian character, and a member of St. 
Paul's Episcopal Church of Norwalk, to 
which Mr. Stewart was also admitted to 
membership shortly after her death. 



LEANDER L. DOUD, secretary of 
I the A. B. Chase Co., of Norwalk, is 
\ a native of Huron county, Ohio, born 

May 20, 1838. He is the eldest in 
the family of seven children born to 
Samuel and Philura (Niles) Doud, only 
two of whom are now survivinor: Maria 
(Mrs. Stoner, of New Loudon, Ohio) and 
Leander L. 

The elementary educational advantages 
enjoyed by the subject of this sketch were 
such as were common to farmer boys in 
the early days of this section of the country. 
At the age of five years he might have 
been seen, daily, walking a mile and a half 
through the woods to reach the school- 
house which was situated in the midst of a 
dense forest, with no other evidence of civi- 
lization insight; but so faithfully did heim- 
prove these opportunities, that for the first 
two years he lost only altogether eight days, 
and at the age of seven was the champion 
speller of that section of the country. As 
the forests were cleared up, the log school- 
house gave place to something more pre- 
tentious; as the children grew up. the 
spelling school was superseded by the 
literary society, and the Nineveh school- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. > 



31 



honse became the center of moral and in- 
tellectual culture for miles around. Many 
who received their first lessons in forensic 
and literary work there have occupied 
prominent positions in Church and State. 

Amist such influences. did young Lean- 
der grow to manhood. At the age of 
seventeen he commenced teaching district 
school, winters, " boarding round " among 
the scholars, as was then the almost uni- 
versal custom. His summers were spent 
at some institution of learning — either at 
Savannah Academy, Ohio Wesieyan Uni- 
versity, Delaware, or at Baldwin Uni- 
versity, Berea — frequently boai'dinghimself 
to save expense. This " hit or miss " 
kind of school life, while not specially 
conducive to intellectual strength in any 
one direction, was more of the practical 
order, developing in our subject an apti- 
tude for making the best of opportunities 
offered, and aiding him in making life a 
success. A commercial course of study, 
completed during this time in Baldwin 
University, served him to good purpose, 
later, as secretary and treasurer of the A. 
B. Chase Company. 

Dropping educational matters for a 
time, Mr. Doud, in 1860, commenced his 
more active business life. For three years 
he was engaged extensively and success- 
fully in sheep husbandry. Three years he 
spent in general farming in Greenwich 
township, and eight years in various mer- 
cantile pursuits in New London. In 1875 
he moved to Norwalk, and took an active 
part in the organization of the A. B. Chase 
Co., for the manufacture of musical in- 
struments. He was elected secretary and 
treasurer, which dnal position he held for 
ovei- sixteen years, and is still (1893) 
secretary of the concern, having relin- 
quished tiie treasurersliip January 1, this 
year. Mr. Doud has seen the institution 
grow from its inception until it has become 
one of the leading factories of the kind of 
America. He always attended to the office 
work, was a potent factor in the develop- 
ment of the industry, and n,ot a little of its 



success has been due to his intelligent and 
unceasing efforts. 

In 1863 Leander L. Doud was united 
in marriage with Miss Harriet B. Eberiy, 
and to them were born four children, two 
of whom — Louie' N. and Harry L. — are 
still living, the others having died in in- 
fancy. At the age of fourteen Mr. Doud 
united with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and has always taken an active 
interest in everytiiing pertaining to the 
Church and Society. At the present time 
he is Siinday-school superintendent, dis- 
trict steward, and secretary of the official 
board of the M. E. Church; president of 
the Huron County Bible Society; secretary 
of the Huron County Sunday-school As- 
sociation, and a trustee of Baldwin Uni- 
versity. 

Samuel Doud, father of subject, was one 
of the " Fireland" pioneers, and of him 
the F'm'eland Pioneer of June, 1892, says: 

Samuel Doud was bora at Seinpronius, N. Y., 
May 3D, 1813, and died near New London, Ohio, 
December 11, 1880. In the summer of 1823, his 
father, Solomon Doud, came to Ohio, cleared off 
a small piece of ground, and built the first house 
ever erected at the center of GreSnwich township, 
and returned during the winter to the State of 
New York, on foot, it is said, walking the entire 
distance, three hundred miles, in six days. The 
following spring he brought his family to Ohio, 
and they settled in their new home in the wilder- 
ness. 

Samuel was at this time ten years of age, and 
with the exception of a single year spent in Berea, 
Ohio, he never lost a residence in Huron county 
from that time until the day of bis death. The in- 
cidents of the journey to Ohio; the nine days 
voyage from Buffalo to Sandusky City ; the journey 
from there to Greenwich with an ox-team and a 
wagon, across the unbroken prairie and unbroken 
forest; their trials, privations, hardships and dan- 
gers from hunger, fierce animals and wild Indians 
were the common lot of all new-comers in this 
county, and furnished a fund of incidents that all 
pioneers have to relate and enjoy listening to. 

The educational advantages of those early years 
in this new country were very meager indeed, and 
the subject of this memoir enjoyed but a few 
months of school life; but he learned to read, write 
a little and cipher to some extent, This, supple- 
mented with close observation, and quiet reading 
through life, enabled him to pass as a man of fair 
education. In habits of economy, industry and 
expedients to inake a living, he was decidedly 
well-educated. His schooling in this direction was 
not neglected nor unimproved. He could wield 
the axe, or scythe, could graft fruit-trees, buy and 



32 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



sell cattle, bogs, sbeep, or tuin bis band to any- 
thing else Willi satislactioD to otbers and profit to 
hioii-elf. Witb bis axe be hoiigbt bini a farm of 
over one bundred acres in tbe soulbeast corner of 
Greenwich township; cutaway tbe limber, built a 
house, and in l^aO marrieil Philura Niles, and set- 
tled in his own house. Here be lived twenty- 
eight years, raising a family of six children. In 
1864 he sold bis home to move to Berea, to edu- 
cate his children. But bis active nature could not 
endure the dull life of a college town, and after a 
year's trial he moved l)acl< to Huron county and 
purchased the James Washburn farm, just south 
of New London, in ISUIi. Here he lived until 
death called bim away. Always active in anything 
that pertained to the jiublic good, he never sought 
official promotion, nor accepted political preler- 
ment. Eminently social in his tendencies, a good 
judge of human nature, a judgment clear, prompt 
and decided on all malters coming before it, an ex- 
tended acquaintance in this section of the country, 
he was olten imporluned to accept posilions of po. 
litical power, but steadily refused. His word was 
as sacred as his bond ; he never promised a man 
his money but he received it the day it was due. 
He carried out tbe apostolic injunction. "Diligent 
in business, lervent in spirit, serving tbe Lord." 

Soon after he was first married, recognizing 
the claims of tbe Christian religion upon his 
life, be gave his heart to Christ, and joined 
tbe M. E. Church with his wife, who had for 
years been a devoted Christian lady. Their 
home then became tbe borne of the early 
itinerant preachers, and their house or barn fre- 
quent preaching places. He subsequently received 
a license as a local preacher, and continued to 
preach as occasion offered, with great acceptability 
where be was best known up to tbe time of bis 
death. A great lover of children, he was always 
active in Sabbath-school work, and took a special 
interest in looking after tbe neglected and desti- 
tute children of the neighborhood. His religion, 
while partaking of the true spirit and devotional 
tj'pe, was eminently practical. Very few ever 
found a home in bis family for any length of time 
who were not led to Christ. His obligations to bis 
Church were as sacred to him as his duties to bis 
family, yet they were never allowed to conflict. If 
money or time was needed for either it was given 
freely and without question. One of the hardest 
years of labor in his life was given toward the 
building of the M. E. Church at New London, and 
tbe success of the enterprise was very largely de- 
pendent upon bis energy, ability and personal de- 
votion to the work. In fact, he felt it to be tbe 
closing work of his life; be bad frequently ex- 
pressed a desire to live to see it comideted and paid 
for, and beyond that had no care how soon the 
JIaster called him. He saw the Church completed 
and dedicated, out of debt, within one year from the 
time the first subscription was taken; and within 
three months from the time tbe last subscription 
Was taken be was stricken down witb heart disease. 
He rallied for a few days, but frequently said it was 
only temporary; that bis work was done, and he 
would soon enter into rest; ail was peace— sweet 
peace. * * * He entered into rest the evening 



of December 11, 1880. He was buried, at his re- 
quest, in tbe East Greenwich burying-ground, in 
the midst of bis family who bad gone belore, in sight 
ot tbe church be had helped to build years ago, 
and among bis friends and neighbors he had lived 
and labored with in early life. 



El THAN ALLEN PRAY, Esquire. 
This gentleman is entitled to high 
I rank among the many intelligent 

atid public-spirited citizens of Nor- 
walk, for iiis energy and enterprise have 
been of the kind that tend to enrich any 
eection of country in which such as he is 
to be found. 

He is a native of Connecticut, born 
January 15, 1813, in the town of Kil- 
lingly, county of Windham, a son of Jacob 
and Jemima (Bowen) Pray, both natives 
of near Providence, R. L, the former of 
whom was, in boyhood, a cotton -factory 
operative, but in later life was a farmer. 
They died, the naother in 1874, the father 
in 1881, the parents of eight chikiren, of 
whom Ethan A. is the eldest, and thought 
to be tlie only one yet living. His ]iaternal 
grandfather, a native of Rhode Island, who 
was a miller and horse breaker and trainer 
by occupation, was over eighty years of 
acre when he died: he married a Miss 
Carpenter, and they were the parents of 
fourteen children. Lowe Carpenter, father 
of grandmother Pray, was a sea captain 
and slave dealer. Our subject's great- 
grandfather was Jonathan Pray (or Preigh, 
the original spelling of the name in Eng- 
land). On the mother's side. Squire Pray 
comes of Welsh ancestry. 

When the subject of this memoir was 
four years old, his father moved with his 
family into Cayuga county, N. Y., mak- 
ing a permanent settletnent there, Ethan A. 
remaining until he was in his twenty-si.xth 
year. He received a liberal education at 
common and normal schools, also at 
Skaneateles Academy, in Onondaga 
county, and on completion of his studies 
commenced teaching school, gradually 
raising by merit, until, when he was but 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



33 



twenty-one years old, he was appointed in- 
spector of the common schools of Scott 
townsliip, Cortland county. While teach- 
ing there he was visited by Gov. Seward 
of New York, with whom he was well ac- 
quainted, and accompanying Mr. Seward 
was Joshua Sanders, author of the spelling 
book bearing his name. 

lu 1839, Mr. Pray came to Huron 
county, Ohio, locating first at Fairlield, 
where lie tarried some six months, at the 
end of which time he moved to Fitchville, 
in the same county, remaining there till 
the spring of 1855, when he was appointed 
superintendent of the Huron County In- 
firmary, an incumbency he filled six years, 
or till the spring of 1861. He was then 
elected justice of the peace for Norwalk 
township, in winch capacity he served 
with characteristio ability twelve years, or 
up to April 1, 1873. During the war of 
the Rebellion he was captain of a company 
of National Guards from the time of its 
organization, and in tiie spring of 1864 
they were sent to Cleveland, where they 
spent one month in camp. While the 
fratricidal struggle was going on between 
the North and South, Squire Pray acted 
as mayor of the city of Norwalk, and as 
justice of the peace for the township, serv- 
ing in the first mentioned capacity six 
consecutive years, besides two years subse- 
quently. During his mayorship, he 
materially assisted in laying out many of 
tlie streets in Norwalk. He studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1873 — • 
somewhat late in life — with no special in- 
tention of practicing law, but rather to 
prove his ability to his opponents. For 
two years he held the office of city solicitor, 
and he then practiced law, chiefly in the 
way of making collections, etc., and he 
built up considerable business for himself 
in the probate court, to which he was not 
restricted, for he practiced in all the courts. 

In 1837 Squire Pray was married to 
Miss Amanda C. Clieney, a native of Ovid, 
Seneca Co., N. Y., who was at one time 
his assistant teacher in Cayuga county. 



Five children were born to this union, 
viz.: Frank E., M. D., practicing medicine 
at Dayton, Ohio; Cecilia A., married to 
James L. VanDusen, superintendent of 
Huron County Infirmary; Adelia E., wife 
of George W. Cole, machinist in tlie 
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad shops at 
Norwalk; Sarah, wife of Frank L. Bates, 
of Sacramento, Cal., and Lydia M., wife of 
Joseph Gasper. Politically Squire Pray 
was originally a Whig, favoring the Free- 
soil party, and on the organization of the 
Republican party he enrolled himself under 
its banner, becoming what w^as known as 
an " Anti-saloon Republican." In 1836 
and 1840 he cast his first Presidential 
votes for William H. Harrison, whom he 
remembers seeing, and also Henry Clay 
and Gen. La Fayette. At this present 
writing (November 30, 1893) he is a jus- 
tice of the peace and township trustee of 
Norwalk township, Huron county, Ohio. 
He is actively engaged in the Masonic 
Orders in Norwalk, holding at present 
the following offices, to wit: Chaplain of 
Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 64, F. & A. M.; 
Secretary of Huron Royal Arch Chapter, 
No. 7, R. A. M.; Recorder of Norwalk 
Council, No. 24, R. & S. M.; Treasurer of 
Norwalk Commandery, No. 18, K. T. 



M. CLEVELAND. Among all the 



I w eminent and deservedly popular 
\1 business men of Huron county, 
^11 there is and has been none whose 
name ranks above that of this gen- 
tleman, because none is more thoroughly 
identified and honorably connected with 
the business interests of the county. 

Mr. Cleveland was born in tlie State of 
New York January 11, 1816, a son of 
Benjamin and Lucretia (Bonney) Cleve- 
land, the former of whom was a native 
of Litchfield, Conn., born in 1769, the 
latter of Daubury, Conn. They were the 
parents of eight children, of whom G. M. 
is the youngest, and the only survivor; 



34 



IIUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



two died when over eiglity years of age; 
one when seventy-nine and the fourth 
when eixtj-eight, and all the deceased sons 
died ill the order of their birth. The first 
ancestor in this country came from Eng- 
land in 1635 and settled in Woburn, 
Mass., where some of his descendants are 
yet living. The paternal grandfather of 
the subject of this sketch lived, married 
and died in Litchfield, Conn., and the lat- 
ter has in his possession a copy of his 
grandfather's will dated 1777. He was a 
merchant and farmer, his pioneer lite be- 
ing a busy one. Benjamin Cleveland, the 
father, practiced inedicine for some years, 
and had the reputation of being a physi- 
cian of considerable ability, but he ulti- 
mately retired from medicine to embark in 
the lumber business. He died August 10, 
1840, in Seneca countj', Ohio, whither he 
had moved in 1829. He was a Whig dur- 
ing the greater part of his life, and in 
Church connection he was a Presbyterian. 
G. M. Cleveland received a liberal ele- 
mentary education in the public schools of 
his native place, and when thirteen years 
of age moved with his father to Seneca 
county, Ohio, where he grew to maturity. 
The first business we find him engaged in 
was the manufacturing of fanning mills, 
which he carried on some years in Savan- 
nali, Ohio, prior to coming to Huron 
county in 1844. Here he embarked in 
the milling business at Norwalk, buying, 
in 1866, the Maple City Mills, which he 
remodeled and improved, changing it into a 
a roller mill in 1881. He does a larcfe 

o 

amount of custom work, and the mill now 
manufactures from thirty to forty thousand 
bushels of wheat per annum into the very 
best flour to be found in any market. 

On April 14, 1842, Mr. Cleveland was 
united in marriage in what is now Ashland 
county, Ohio, with Miss Sarah Mefford, 
and three children were born tothem, viz. : 
Helen (wife of George W. Knapp), D. 
Pitt and Dwiglit. Mr. Cleveland in poli- 
tics was originally a Whig, and, on the 
organization of the Republican party. 



enrolled himself under its banner. His 
first presidential vote was cast for W. H. 
Harrison. In November, 1857, our sub- 
ject was elected to tlie office of county 
sheriff and re-elected in 1859, being the 
full time allowed under the Constitution. 
D. Pitt Cleveland was born, in 1844, in 
Clarksfield, Ohio, and received his educa- 
tion at the public schools. In 1874 he 
was married to Celia Wright, of Des- 
Moines, Iowa, daughter of one of the 
most prominent men of that State, and 
two children have been born to them, 
Edna and George Wright. On January 
13, 1887, D. Pitt Cleveland was called 
from earth. His widow is a woman of 
rare executive ability, and transacts much 
of the business connected with the Maple 
City Mills. Belbre his death her husband 
was partner with his father, and she re- 
tains an interest in the business, attending 
to it in a masterly manner. 



THEODORE WILLIAMS. In after 
years, a history of the growtli and 



spreat 
Norw, 



alk could not well be written 
without containing considerable ac- 
count of the enterprises, as well as the 
public improvements, with which the name 
of this gentleman has for so many years 
been identified. 

Mr. Williams is a native of Norwalk, 
Ohio, born on the third day of January, 
1820. He is a son of James and Sarah 
Matilda (Hunt) Williams, natives of New 
Jersey, where they were married, and 
whence in 1816 they catne west, making 
tlieir new home in Huron county, Ohio. 
His father was a lawyer of prominence, 
ranking in liis professional standing with 
tlie ablest members of the bar at a time 
when many able jurists from all parts of 
the State were pitted against each other in 
our local courts in legal combat, and was 
for several years the Prosecuting Attorney 
of the county. Ill health compelled him 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



37 



to retire from the practice in tlie later 
years of his life, and he devoted much of 
his time and attention to agricultural pur- 
suits. He died October 4, 1869, in the 
home he had so long occupied. Politically 
he was a Henry Clay Whig, and was a 
delegate to the National Convention held 
at Baltimore in 1832, that nominated Clay 
for President, performing the long journey 
to that city at that early day on liorseback. 

Mr. Williams' maternal grandfather, 
Major David Hunt, was an othcer in the 
Revolutionary war. 

The subject of this sketch, who is one 
of a family of seven children, four of 
whom ai'e still living, was born in the 
early years of the existence of his native 
town, which then consisted of a few scat- 
tered dwellings surrounded by a dense for- 
est. His elementary education was ob- 
tained at the district and private schools 
of that early day, and was completed by 
a thorough course of instruction in the 
" Norwalk Seminary," nnder the superin- 
tendence of Prof. Jonathan E. Chaplin, 
than whom few abler instructors have ever 
occupied a like position. 

In 1834 Mr. AVilliams commenced clerk- 
ing in tlie store of P. & J. M. Latimer, in 
Korwalk, where he remained over a year, 
when he again resumed his school; in 
1887 he again entered upon a clerkship, in 
the store of Milton W. Goodnow, suc- 
ceeded in a short time by the firm of 
Goodnow & Edwards, in Norwalk, where 
he remained until the firm dissolved in 
1842, when Mr. Edwards removed to 
northern New York, and Mr. Goodnow 
continued the business here. At this time 
Mr. Goodnow offered Mr. Williams an 
equal partnership in the business, though 
Mr. Williams was without capital; but 
knowing that the responsibilities of the 
business must devolve largely upon him, 
owing to Mr. Goodnow's declining health, 
he preferred remaining another year as 
clerk. The following year, however, upon 
a renewal of the proposition from Mr. 
Goodnow, he accepted the partnership, and 



in September, 1843, became an equal part- 
ner, and made his first visit to New York 
to purchase goods. This partnership con- 
tinued until January, 1851, when by the 
death of Mr. Goodnow it terminated, and 
Mr. Williams purchased Mr. Goodnow's 
entire interest in the business, taking it at 
the full appraisal, and agreeing to pay for 
it in four years with interest; on tlie day 
tire four years expired he paid the entire 
sum, as the result of his business industry 
and energy. 

Mr. Williams continued in the business 
of merchandising until 1885, a period of 
forty-two years, diligently at his counter 
and desk, and with constantly increasing 
financial success. His business relations 
over a wide range of country had made 
him acquainted not only with the people 
of his own county, but with many in the 
adjoining counties; and wherever he was 
known his high character for integrity, 
and business honor and responsibility, 
were clearly recognized; and his ability 
and clear-sighted judgment in all his many 
business transactions have given him a 
prominence amongst his fellowmen of the 
county, at once flattering to his manhood 
and marking him as one of her representa- 
tive meti. 

Upon Mr. Williams retiring from mer- 
chandising, he found himself the owner of 
two merchant flouring mills — one located 
in Norwalk, the other near Toledo — and 
these, together with the management of 
his several farms, and of his other financial 
interests, occupied his entire time and at- 
tention. In 1882 he was elected President 
of the First National Bank of Norwalk, 
remaining in that position to the satisfac- 
tion of the stockholders for eight years, 
and was again unanimously elected to that 
position, but declined serving, as the de- 
mands upon his time in the management 
of his own business made it impracticable 
to serve longer. 

In September of 1861 Mr. Williams was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Isa- 
bella Goodnow, a native of Vermont, but 



38 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



residing at the time in Henry ville, Canada 
East, by which union six children — one 
daughter and five sons — were burn, of 
whom the following is a brief record: 
Louesa died at tiie age of eight years; Ed- 
ward T.. the eldest son, was educated at 
the public schools in Norwalk and at 
Kenyon College, Gambler, Ohio, and is 
now engaged with his father in business; 
James H., the second son, after attending 
the public schools of Norwalk for many 
years, entered "Riverview Military Acad- 
emy" at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which 
school, on graduating, he entered Harvard 
University, where he now is; Charles G., 
the third son, also went from the public 
schools of Norwalk to " Riverview Military 
Academy," from which he graduated in 
1891, and then entered the Massachusetts 
School of Technology in Boston, where he 
is still a student; Theodore Williams, Jr., 
the fourth son, after leaving the public 
schools of Norwalk, also entered tiie 
" Riverview Military Academy," but has 
not yet completed iiis course; Walter R., 
the fifth son, is still attending the public 
schools of Norwalk. 

Mrs. Williams, the mother of this family, 
departed this life on November 21, 1877 
(at which time the youngest son, Walter 
R., was an infant), leaving the entire 
charge of rearing this family upon Mr. 
Williams; and how well and faithfully he 
has acquitted himself of this great re- 
sponsibility, his neighbors and friends bear 
ample testimony. 

Mr. Williams in his political predilec 
tions is a stanch Republican, and has taken 
considerable interest in all public matters, 
but has declined political office, excepting 
perhaps in a few exceptional instances. In 
1870 he was elected to represent his Sen- 
atorial District in the State Board of 
Equalization, and has for several years 
held the position of "Chief Deputy" of 
the State Board of Elections for Huron 
county. For seventeen years he was a 
member of the Board of Education of the 
Public Schools of Norwalk, during a large 



part of which time he occupied the posi- 
tion of President of the Board, and it was 
during his occu])ancy of this position that 
the beautiful High School building, in 
which the citizens of Norwalk take so 
much pride, was erected, and for the erec- 
tion of which they award him a full share 
of the merit. 

For thirteen years past — from 1881 to 
1894 — he has been President, Secretary, 
Treasurer and Superintendent of the beau- 
tiful "Woodlawn Cemetery," embracing 
129 acres of land admirably adapted to the 
purpose, and has so managed its finances 
as to accumulate a fund in perpetuity — 
guaranteeing its continuous care and atten- 
tion when the present and succeeding gen- 
erations shall have passed away. 

In church connection Mr. Williams' 
affiliations are with the Episcopal Church; 
he is a liberal contributor to its support, 
and has for many years been a member of 
its vestry. 

Mr. Williams stands prominently among 
the able financiers of Huron county, and 
the several institutions and departments 
of business that have been under his 
management attest his eminent qualities 
in this respect, in their unbroken line of 
successes. 



J|OSEPH SMITH, one of the most eu- 
I terprising and prosperous of Huron 
' county's native-horn citizens, is sen- 
ior member of the widely-known 
extensive lumber firm in Norwalk, Smith 
& Himberger. 

John Smith, father of our subject, was 
one of the oldest German pioneers of 
Huron county. He was born November 
19, 1803, in Berns, a little village in the 
Rhine Province of the Kingdom of Prus- 
sia, then known as the Department of the 
Rhine, of Napoleon I French Empire. 
He received a common education in the 
public schools of the village, and at the 
age of thirteen commenced his apprentice- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



39 



ship as a tailor. At the age of twenty 
he was drafted to served his time in the 
Prussian army. On March 6, 1832, he 
was united in marriage with Maria Glas- 
ner, of the same village, born October 20, 
1808. In the spring of 1833 they emi- 
grated to the United States, their destina- 
tion being Schenectady, N. Y., where they 
remained two years. In 1835 they moved 
farther west, and located in Bronson town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio. Mr. Smith made 
the acquaintance of some of tlie early 
settlers. Being a man without much 
means, he experienced some very severe 
struggles, and was forced to seek employ- 
ment of liis neighbors. In two years he 
was enabled to buy ten acres of woodland. 
His time now was devoted to working for 
neighboring farmers, clearing his land and 
building a log hut for himself and family; 
later on he bought fourteen acres more of 
land, and replaced the log hut with a larger 
and better one, which was replaced in about 
1846 with a frame building which stands 
now, and in which he died, December 9, 
1893, at the remarkable age of ninety 
years, after enjoying a long, healthful life, 
which was only darkened the last five years 
by total blindness. His wife preceded 
him to the grave by a little over eleven 
years, her death occurring February 13, 
1882; if she had lived two weeks longer, 
they could have celebrated their golden 
wedding. Their married life was blessed 
with ten children — live girls and five boys, 
viz.: Margurite(I), John, Joseph, Margurite 
(II), Maria, Louise Minnie, Katharine, 
Alphonse, Peter and Nick. 

Of this family of children the following 
is a brief record: Margurite (I) was born 
in Berns, Prussia, February 1, 1833, and 
died August 15, 1835, in Schenectady, N. 
Y. John, born in Schenectady, N. Y ., 
March 22, 1835, learned blacksmithiiig; 
he served through the entire Civil war as 
a volunteer in the Twenty-Fourth O. V'. I., 
receiving an honorable discharije; he 
made Memphis, Tenn., his home; Nov- 
ember 6,1865, he married Katharine Greh, 



in Memphis, and one child was born to 
them; John died July 10, 1877, after two 
day's illness. Joseph is the subject proper 
of this sketch, and special mention of him 
will presently be made. Margurite (II) 
was born December 30, 1838, in Norwalk 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, and died Au- 
gust 18, 1844. Maria, born July 10, 1840, 
in Norwalk township, Huron Co., Ohio, is 
the wife of George Whitmill, in Michigan. 
Louise Minnie, born January 16, 1842, in 
Norwalk township, Huron Co., Ohio, is 
the wife of Robert Wetzstine, residing in 
Norwalk, Ohio. Katharine, born Decem- 
ber 18, 1844, is the widow of Henry 
Brown, and is living in Peru township, 
Huron Co., Ohio. Alphonse, born Au- 
gust 15, 1846, in Norwalk township, Ohio, 
is a carpenter by trade; he served through 
the entire Civil war in the Fifty-Fifth O. 
V. I. under Capt. "Wickham; married 
Sarah Bechler, of Sandusky, Ohio, June 
18, 1871, and is living in Norwalk, Ohio. 
Peter, born July 13, 1848, in Norwalk 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, is a farmer in 
Norwalk township; on November 7, 1871, 
he married Katharine Zippfel. Nick, born 
March 17, 1851, in Norwalk township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, is a carpenter by trade; 
he served in the regular army live years, 
and shortly after his discharge he married, 
August 10, 1879, Dora Naner, of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio; he is now residing in Norwalk. 
Joseph Smith, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was born December 4, 1837, 
in Bronson township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
He received a liberal education in the com- 
mon schools of the home neighborhood, 
and in early life learned the trade of house 
carpenter, later on also that of cabinet 
making. On May 5, 1863, he was united 
in marriage witli Katharine Riinal, who 
was born in Hildenhausen, in the then 
French Province of Lorraine, and had im- 
migrated to this country with her parents 
at the age of live years. Six sons and one 
daughter were born to this union, viz.: 
Frank J., born March 11, 1864; Louise 
K., born October 19, 1865; William P., 



40 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



born October 2, 1867; Otto J., born March 
25, 1872; Charles T.. born February 10, 
1877; Edward, born February 14, 1880; 
Albert R., born September 6, 1884. Of 
these, Louise and Otto died, the former 
from sickness, the latter from an injury 
he received through a wagon running over 
him. 

In 1873 Mr. Smith started in business 
with P. D. Wiiloughby, the firm name 
being Willoughbj kt Smith, manufac- 
turers of sash, doors, blinds and mouldings, 
the style being later changed to Smith & 
Co. In 1880 Mr. AV. Himberger entered 
as partner, the firm name becoming Smith, 
Himberger & Co. In 1886 Mr. Wil- 
loughby retired, since when the style of 
the firm has been Smith & Himberger. 
In connection with the manufacturing of 
sash, doors, blinds and mouldings, the firm 
have a convenient lumber yard. 



TfJfON. JOHN A. WILLIAMSON, 
IpH son of the late James Williamson 
I 1| and Fhebe Williamson, and, on the 
•JJ maternal side, grandson of Abizah 

(Iriftin, one of the early settlers of 
Greenwich township, was born September 
25, 1842, in the township of New London, 
Huron Co., Ohio. His parents were na- 
tives of the Empire State, having been 
born and reared in Hunter, (jreene Co., 
N. Y., and, removing to Ohio at a com- 
paratively early day. were here married in 
the year 1839. His father was a farmer 
by occupation, and the subject of this 
sketch was reared at the family homestead, 
upon which the Williamsons originally 
settled, and which lies in the townships of 
New London and Fitchville. 

Mr. Williamson's youth was passed in a 
manner of life similar to that of many 
farmer boys, but, possessing a more than 
usually vigorous constitution, together 
with bright and acute intellectual qualities, 
he began early in life to manifest those 
traits of mind and character which, in 



their mature development, have rendered 
him enjinent, professionally and politically. 
His was naturally an ambitious nature, 
and so it happened that he could not be 
satistied with the education gained in the 
common schools, but, when he had passed 
through their course of study, chose to 
avail himself of further opportunities and 
fit himself for the occupation of higher 
positions in life than he could attain to 
without so doing. 

At the age of sixteen years he entered 
upon a course in the preparatory depart- 
ment of Oberlin College, and two years 
later he became a member of the Fresh- 
man class of that institution of learning. 
He remained until the completion of the 
Sophomore year (1862), when that one ot 
many exciting war alarms, the news that 
tlie Confederate Gen. Kirby Smith was 
about to make a raid on Cincinnati, was 
flashed through the loyal North, and a call 
was made for the Minute-men of the State 
to rally to the protection of its chief city. 
Mr. Williamson, being a strong supporter 
of the Union sentiment, and feeling that 
he should do anything that lay within his 
means to assist the overthrow of the power 
which menaced our free soil, notwithstand- 
ing the reluctance of parental solicitude for 
the safety of an only child, went out as 
one of that hastily-summoned and quickly- 
prepared body of men, as did also many of 
his class. 

After returning from the service of that 
brief campaign (which by no means, how- 
ever, promised to be short), he asked for 
and received an honorable dismissal from 
Oberlin, and became a member of the 
Junior class at Yale, from which college 
he graduated with honors in the year 1864. 
Immediately after finishing his academic 
course he entered upon the study of law 
in the Law School of the University of 
New York, at Albany, from which he 
graduated in 1865. The time intervening 
between this date and 1867 was spent in a 
law office in Cincinnati, and in traveling 
and general reading. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



41 



On February 9, 1867, he became deputy 
clerk of courts in Huron county, under A. 
B. Gritfiu, Es<[., clerk, which position lie 
held until his resignation, in 1868, for the 
purpose of entering into a partnership for 
the practice of law with Hon. S. W. Ten- 
nant, at East Saginaw, Mich. In 1869 he 
removed from East iSaginaw to Toledo, 
where he resided until tlie spring of 1871, 
when he removed to Norwalk, in his na- 
tive county. He engaged in the practice 
of his profession, and followed it assidu- 
ously and uninterruptedly until 1877, when 
he was elected to the Legislature as a 
member of the House of Representatives 
from Huron county. Politically Mr. Will- 
iamson is a Republican — an earnest sup- 
porter of the men and measures of that 
party. He has been a worker for the suc- 
cess of principles and of the best men in 
the party, rather than a seeker of political 
preferment for himself. He has not 
sought place, and in accepting it has only 
done so in response to the clearly ex- 
pressed will of his friends, and the sutfrage 
of the people. 

In 1879 he was re-elected to a second 
term in the Legislature; was chosen 
speaker jpro tern, of the House of Repre- 
sentatives upon its organization in 1880, 
and served in that capacity during the Sixty- 
fourth (xeneral Assembly. He ha.s since 
been engaged in the practice of his pro- 
fession, and became interested in the busi- 
nes.^i, particularly banking, in Huron and 
adjoining counties. He is vice-president 
of the Huron County Banking Company 
of Norwalk, and is now, by appointment 
of Gov. McKinley, member of the board of 
trustees of the Ohio Institution for the 
educfition of feeble-minded youth. In 
1888 he made a European tour, spending 
the entire summer abroad. 

On January 19, 1869, Mr. Williamson 
was married to Miss CelestiaM. Tennant, 
of Camden, Lorain Co., Ohio, who died in 
1880. In 1882 he wedded Mrs. Sallie R. 
Manahan, daughter of the late Jeremiah 
Rundell, a prominent citizen of Bronson 



township, Huron county. They have one 
child, JNellie V., now (1893) seven years 
of age. 

Mr. Williamson is a man of line as well 
as forcible intellectual qualities, an exten- 
sive reader and close thinker, of a remark- 
ably practical cast of mind, and yet, withal, 
alive to whatever there is of beauty in the 
many refinements of surroundings and of 
being. He is cautions but firm in his 
judgment, and reliable. In manner he is 
social and friendly, and possesses qual- 
ities that readily win admiration and 
respect, whether from his political com- 
peers, or his private companions and 
acquaintances. He is now one of the 
active moneyed men of Norwalk, and 
is interested chieHy in handlinghis capital. 
[In part taken from AYilliams' "History 
of Huron and Erie Counties." 




LMON B. COE. In 1634 tiiere 
immigrated to America from Eng- 
^ land one Robert Coo (as the name 
was then spelled), whose grand- 
father suffered martyrdom during 
the reign of Queen Mary. A piece of 
furniture (a sideboard) which once belonged 
to him is now owned by Julius Coe, who 
for nine years was postmaster at Norwalk, 
Ohio, and now resides in New York City. 
.Robert Coe, Jr., came to America, 
bringing with him his family, consisting 
of wife and three sons — Robert, John and 
Benjamin — and from these are descended 
the numerous family of Coe in America. 

Israel Coe, grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, was born July 22, 1756, at 
Granville, Mass., and was reared to farm- 
ing, a vocation he followed tii rough life. 
He prospered, owned a large tract uf land 
and a sawmill, and several years before his 
death gave to each of his children a good 
farm. In 1809 he came to Ohio, locating 
in Portage county, on land located in 
Rootstown. He married Miss Artemesia 
Wright, who bore him six children as 



42 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



follows: Samuel; Harvey, who became a 
promitieiit iniuibter of the Congregational 
Church; Betsey, Mrs. Hall; Fannj, Mrs. 
Chancy Newberry; Bela, father of sub- 
ject; and Israel D., all now deceased. 
The father of these died in 18 21, the 
the mother in 1813. He was a very large 
man, standing six feet, two inches in 
height, and well proportioned, but at the 
age of sixty was unfortunate enougii to 
lose one of his limbs in a sawmill. When 
he came over the mountains from Massa- 
chusetts to Ohio, he brought with him 
four oxen and four horses, with wagons. 

Bela Coe, father of Almon B., was born 
April 24, 1795, in Granville, Mass., 
where he was reared and educated. When 
the family crossed the AUeghanies into 
Ohio, he drove one of the ox-teams, young 
as he was. He was reared a farmer, and 
having received a very fair education for 
those early times, taught school. At 
Eootstown, Portage Co., Ohio, he married 
April 24, 1819, Miss Maria Hill, born 
March 30, 1795, in Middlebury, Conn., a 
dausxhter of Isaac Hill. She came to Ohio 
M'ith her parent.s in 1818, and they located 
in Portage county, where her father, who 
was a blacksmith, foUo'ved his trade; the 
later years of his life were passed in AV^ake- 
man, Huron connty, he dying there in 
September, 1860, at the age of eighty- 
eight years; his father reached the ])a- 
triarchal age of ninety-nine years, sjx 
months. Bela Coe and his wife came to 
Wakeman, Huron county, in February, 
1827, and he here bought a tract of land 
covered with a dense forest and thicket, 
which after years of labor he succeeded in 
clearing. Mr. and Mrs. Bela Coe had but 
one child, Almon B. The father died 
October 5, 1850, at the age of fifty-tive 
years, the mother on October 25, 1866, 
aged seventy-two years, and both are 
buried in Wakeman cemetery. They were 
members of the Congregational Church, 
the father from the age of eighteen years. 
He was of Puritan stock, a man of sterling 
honesty and the loftiest integrity. In 



his political leanirtgs he was a Whig, no 
office holder, however, although a very 
popular man, one of sound judgment; but 
it is said of him that a certain justice of 
the peace always consulted with him in 
difficult and complex cases that came be- 
fore him. 

Almon B. Coe, the subject proper of 
these lines, was born November 6, 1820, 
in Portage county, Ohio, and was six years 
of age when his parents brought him to 
Wakeman township, Huron county, where 
he has ever since had his home, with the 
exception of one year he lived in Illinois. 
His education was as thorough as the 
earlier schools of Huron county would 
permit, but owing to failing health his 
studies were prematurely brought to a 
close; being a great reader, howevei', and 
possessed of a remarkable memory, he 
amply made amends for any shortcomings 
in school lore. In his youth he learned 
the trade of a cooper, at which he has 
worked; has also taught school a number 
of terms. At the breaking out of the 
Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, 
but was rejected on account of physical 
disability, which was a great disappoint- 
ment to him, as he was most anxious to 
serve his country. 

On June 1, 1843, in Edinburgh, Portage 
Co., Ohio, Mr. Coe married. Miss Mariette 
M.' Bostwick, born in that county Au- 
gust 7, 1820, a daughter of Edmund Bost- 
wick. Children, as follows, were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Coe: William H., born 
July 3, 1844, died July 26, 1850; Edwin 
W., born January 31, 1849, now cashier 
of the Los Angeles (Cal.) National Bank; 
Justin B., born August 26, 1851, now a 
merchant of Florence, Erie Co., Ohio; 
Arthur B., born July 14, 1854, died 
February 9, 1873; Aurilla M., born Sep- 
tember 1, 1857, now Mrs. A. 11. Rice, of 
Wakeman; and Alice M., born July 14, 
1862, died September 15, 1866. The 
mother of these departed this life De- 
cember 15, 1865, and is buried at Wake- 
man; her death occurred in Illinois, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



43 



whither Mr. Coe had moved his family in 
that year. She was a most estimable lady, 
one of whom it can truly be said: "To 
know her was to love her." On August 
13, 1868, our subject married Miss Nancy 
A. Russell, daughter of Isaac Russell, a 
native of Bristol county, Mass., who 
moved to Ripley township, Huron county, 
in 1834, and in 1847 came to Wakeman, 
where he died May 1, 1890, at the age of 
eighty-three years. The children of this 
union were five in nun)ber, as follows: 
Mary A., born Aiigilst 13, 1869, now Mrs. 
Charles M. Kenyen, residing at Florence, 
Erie Co., Ohio; Frances O., born June 3, 
. 1871, living at home; George A., born De- 
cember 15, 1874, operator on the Lake 
Shore & Michicran Southern Railroad; 
Harriet E., born October 24, 1875, died 
May 15, 1886; and Alida, born March 18, 
1878, residing at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Coe are members of the Congregational 
Church, and in his political preferences he 
is a stanch Republican. 



JOHN WILSON, importer and grower 
of fruit, while a citizen of Nor walk is 
yet one whose enterprise and busi- 
ness intelligence is hardly circum- 
scribed by a continent. 

His place of nativity is Derbyshire, 
England, where he was born August 27, 
1832, and when aged eighteen he came to 
America, in the search of broader fields 
for his strong and active nature. He is a 
son of James and Lydia (Jackson) Wilson, 
a family of that sturdy English stock who 
make a splendid graft on the restless 
American civilization. The young man 
stopped about one year in New York State. 
Working along, but taking in a very broad 
view of the situation, he went to Central 
America, where during the next twenty- 
three years he was engaged on the Panama 
Railroad as commissary of supplies, and 
tlien was a contractor in Costa Rica, build- 
ing a portion of the railroad from Limon 



to San Jose, as a member of the firm of 
Wilson & Keith. During the progress of 
his railroad work, he commenced merchan- 
dising at Limon, and this branch of his 
business suddenly grew to great success, 
so much so that he soon saw that his whole 
attention should be given to his new line of 
trade, and he withdrew from the contract- 
ing concern. He then opened a branch 
house, dealing in fruits at Bocas Del Toro, 
Republic of Colombia, and the new mer- 
cantile firm became the "John Wilson 
Company," which is in prtisperous exist- 
ence at the present time; there is another 
branch house at Bluelield, Nicaragua. The 
other houses are mostly in the line of 
fruits, shipments being made to all points, 
but largely to New Orleans, where is 
another house of the firm; and this is now 
the headquarters of Mr. Wilson, who con- 
stantly travels between that city and Cen- 
tral America, besides often attending to 
the firm's affairs in New York, (^f its 
kind, this is one of the largest concerns in 
the United States. The firm in their busi- 
ness charter several fast steamboats, and 
recently one of their steamers, named the 
"John Wilson," landed at New Orleans 
22,000 bunches of bananas. 

John Wilson and Miss Virginia Law- 
rence were intermarried at Zanesviile, 
Ohio, January 22, 1876; she is the eldest 
of ten children born to Rufus and Mary 
Ann (Sharpe) Lawrence, the former of 
whom died in 1881. The mother, who is 
yet living, for a time passed her widow- 
hood in Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, where Mr. 
Wilson purchased an extensive and ele- 
gant stock farm, which he still operates; 
although in the seekiiig for a more congen- 
ial family home, good schools, society and 
all the advantages for his children, he se- 
lected Norwalk for his place of residence. 
Here he purchased an elegant home on 
West Main street, where are domiciled his 
happy household. 

Mr. Wilson has been twice married, the 
children by his first wife being Nellie E. 
and James. The family of children by his 



44 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



present wife are as follows: Minor Keitli, 
Russell Iloadley. Frederick AVesson, Lydia 
J., Marion, Margnerita and Don Rufus 
Lawrence. There is little of the hiinidrnm 
of ordinary life in the record of John Wil- 
son. His is a mind to conceive and expand 
with two continents, backed by a strong 
physical nature that could defy the rapid 
changes from the temperate north to the 
torrid tropics. He is the architect of his 
own fortune, as well as the avant courier 
of that intercommunion and knowledge of 
foreign nations that is the pledge and glory 
of every civilization. 




LBERT N. READ, M. D., the old- 
est and one of the most prominent 
physicians of Huron county, was 
born in Berkshire county, Mass., 
September 16, 1815. His parents, 
Ira and Mary (Smith) Read, were also 
born in Berkshire county. 

The father, Ira Read, was a typical pio- 
neer of his day, removing from his home 
in Massachusetts when the subject of this 
sketch was a year old, with a colony of his 
neighbors and relatives, to Asthabula 
county, Ohio. Their first point of desti- 
nation was Williamsiield, their route tlie 
old military road made by Gen. Harrison, 
and such was its condition that at one 
period of the long journey tiiey were three 
days making the distance of nine miles. 
On the third night, the year-old baity 
being threatened with croup, it was with 
its mother taken forward to an old de- 
serted log hut, for better protection than 
the wagons afforded. Ira Read, then a 
vigorous, powerfully-built young man, six 
feet tall, was accompanied by his parents, 
Nathaniel Read and wife, the former of 
whom was also a native of Berkshire 
county, Ma.ss., by trade a blacksmith, and 
widely known as an honorable and uprigiit 
citizen; his wife was of the well-known 
Sedgwick family of New England. 

After more than four weeks wearisome 



journey, they reached Williamsfield. their 
destination. In this new iiome, amid 
rough pioneer surroundings, Albert spent 
his early years, learning practical lessons 
in farming in out-door association witli his 
thorouglily practical father; and within 
the home from his creritle mother, those 
lessons which a woman of a deeply relig- 
ious nature, a cultivated mind and heart, 
will teach consciously and unconscionsly 
to those in the intimate associations of 
home life. From her the boy learned not 
only to be thorough in acquiring a knowl- 
edge of the studies within his reach, but 
to love the work of acquiring for its own 
sake; to form those habits of thought, of 
studying into the relations of things, both 
in nature and in daily life, which tended 
to make him the student he continued to 
be in mature life; and led his professional 
brethren to rely upon him for thorough 
knowledge of his profession, and good 
judgment in the j^ractice of it. That, 
meanwhile, his mother did not neglect the 
cultivation of his spiritual nature, may be 
inferred, if we can receive one of the tra- 
ditions of his childhood, which runs, that 
when he was five years old he recited, in 
the Sabbath-school, the entire Shorter 
Catechism. 

His early education was, of course, lim- 
ited to such instruction as could be 
obtained by attendance during the brief 
term of log-house school; but his habits of 
thoroughness enabled him to master the 
foundation studies while learning to plow 
and plant, and harvest; he raised and 
handled stock at a much younger age than 
most boys even of that period. Among 
his earliest recollections of that primitive 
life is an incident that he refers to as the 
first " bear movement in pork." A huge 
bear visited in the night his father's pig- 
pen, and carried off its one inmate, the 
household's anticipated pork for the com- 
ing winter. The dismay may be partly 
appreciated as we learn that pork that year 
was held at thirty dollars per barrel, and 
that other necessary of life, wheat, was 



IIUROJr COUNTY, OHIO. 



47 



three dollars per busliel. But while food 
for the body, from its scarcity, commanded 
fabulous prices, not so food for the intel- 
lectual powers; as we learn from anotlier 
of the Doctor's reminiscences. lie was 
sent on a horse, riding a side-saddle, to 
fetch to the district the teacher, a sister of 
the well-known Judge Caldwell, of Cleve- 
land, wliich lady tiiught a very good school, 
for the princely salary of seventy-five cents 
a week, one half of which was to be paid 
in flax, a kind of silver certificate of that 
day. The prevalenceof high prices for wheat 
led the fatlier to hire a man at twelve 
dollars a month and board, to help clear 
off ten acres of land and sow it with wheat. 
A fair crop was raised, but could not be 
sold for cash. He said in after years that 
the payment of the wages of that hired 
man was the hardest job of his life. There 
was plenty of work to be found in the 
country, but no money in circulation. To 
receive a letter, and pay the twenty-tive 
cents postage, was a serious family affair. 
But all these unpromising circumstances 
did not dishearten the boy, Albert — his 
aim was an education and a profession; 
and at length, after instruction in the best 
academy and select schools, supplemented 
by private tuition in a clergyman's family, 
he began to read medicine in the office of 
Dr. Peter Allen, at Kinsman, Trumbull 
Co., Ohio. After four years of study he 
began the practice of his profession, and 
continued four years with more than the 
usual success; then feeling dissatisfied 
with his qualifications, heattended a course 
of lectures at Willoughby College, where 
he graduated in 1841. Taking up his, abode 
in Andover, he there practiced other four 
years, after which he attended another 
conrse in Jefferson Medical College, Phila- 
delpliia, where he graduated, and then re- 
turned once more to Andover. In 1851 
he looked about for a wider field — cou- 
sit^ered the plan of joining a colony to St. 
Paul, then only the beginning of a town — 
hut the plan was abandoned, and by the 
advice of President Pierce of the Western 

3 



Reserve College, he went Norwalk, where 
he formed a partnership with Dr. Moses 
C. Sanders, at that time a leading physi- 
cian of the State. This co-partnersliip 
continued during the life of Dr. Sanders, 
and afterward with his son, Dr. John C. 
Sanders, until the latter removed to Cleve- 
land, and the present firm of Drs. Read & 
Ford was formed. 

Dr. Read has been twice married, first 
time to Janet Beman, of Trumbull county, 
Ohio, who died in Norwalk, leaving two 
children — a son and daughter. The Doctor 
afterward married Elizabeth Cook, of New 
York State. 

During the summer of 1861, the Civil 
war having broken out, Dr. Read, in com- 
mon with all loyal citizens, desiring to 
serve his country in her need, considered 
the question of joining the army as sur- 
geon; but while still undecided, he was 
called to attend his father, in what proved 
his last illness, and the day after his return 
to his home, he was called to the service 
in the United States Sanitary Commission, 
under the management of Dr. Newberry, 
of Cleveland. He spent that winter mainly 
in Kentucky, with headquarters at Louis- 
ville, following with his assistance our 
army under Gen. Buell, ministering to the 
sick and wounded after the terrible battles 
that interrupted its march to take posses- 
sion of Nashville. To indicate somewhat 
the work he and his helpers were doing, 
durincr those dreary months of suff'ering 
to so many of the dear boys of our land, 
he recalls an incident that occurred at 
Elizabethtown. The army liad moved on, 
leaving many sick, greatly needing care, 
with neither beds nor suitable food. From 
the stores hurried on from Louisville, tliey 
were speedily placed in comfortable beds, 
and fed with the delicacies sent by the 
home friends. One boy, delirious from 
fever, taken from the floor and placed upon 
the clean cot, soon fell into quiet sleep, 
from which he awakened rational, and 
looking about him said: "Where am I? 
It seems as if mother had been here." The 



48 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Doctor says that incident was an inspira- 
tion in much of his after work. After the 
occupation of Nasliville, in the spring of 
1862, Dr. Head was made inspector-in- 
chief of the Department of Cumberland, 
with a corps of assistants, and headquar- 
ters in Nashville, which position he tilled 
nntil the close of the war. He regards his 
work for the soldiers during those four 
years as the greatest work of his life: es- 
tablishing soldiers homes, beginning in 
Louisville, afterward at Nashville, then all 
along our army lines, fitting up hospital 
cars, wherein the sick and wounded might 
be conveyed with the least possible dis- 
comfort; givino' out, thrf)Ugh his numer- 
ons assistants, the abundant stores so freely 
provided by the home people of the North 
for their suffering dear ones. Soon after 
the close of the war Dr. Read returned to 
liis professional duties. 

Early in his professional life the Doctor 
was made a member of the American 
Medical Association, and also of the State 
Medical Society of Ohio. In 1858 he was 
prominent in originating the Delamater 
Medical Association or Norwalk and 
vicinity, which Society had an active ex- 
istence of thirty years. He has been a 
member of the Congregational or Presby- 
terian Church since his student days. 



L 



E ROY HOYT, a descendant of one 
of the pioneer families of Connecti- 
cut, is a great-grandson of Eliphalet 
Hoyt, M'ho was born in Connecticut 
in 1773. He was the son of one of two 
brothers — Walter and Simeon — who came 
from Germany early in the seventeenth 
century and found a home in the '• Nut- 
meg State." In his youth he learned the 
carpenter's trade. He was married to 
Miss Lois Starr, of Danbury, Conn., and 
Some time later moved to Saratoga county, 
N. Y., where he worked at his trade for a 
number of years. Subsequently the family 
moved to Owasco township, Cayuga Co., 



N. Y., where a farm was purchased and 
improved by the fatiier. This property 
he lost through signing a two-years' limit 
bond for a merchant. The merchant fled, 
and the bond becoming forfeit the young 
farmer had to surrender his property to 
satisfy it. In 182G the family moved to 
Ohio and located on rented land in Fair- 
field township, Huron county, where the 
father died in 1831. His five children 
were Sally, Almira, Lois, Silas (who died 
in youth) and Walter. In politics Eli- 
phalet Hoyt was a Democrat. 

Walter Hoyt was born in 1802, in Cay- 
uga county, N. Y. Reared like other pio- 
neer boys of that time and place, he grew 
to manhood there and accompanied his 
parents to Ohio in 1826. He was nomi- 
nally the head of the family, all the prop- 
erty being in his name. The same year 
he married Caroline M. Benson, a daughter 
of Abijali Benson, a tanner of Skaneateles, 
N. Y., who was a soldier in the war of 
1812 and captain of a company in the 
United States service. 

After coming to Ohio Walter Hoyt en- 
gaged in agriculture and became the 
owner of 593 acres. His wife died liere 
in 1838, and in 1841 he married Betsy, 
daughter of Doniinick Cole, a millwi'io-ht. 
To the first marriage were born three 
children, of whom Ichabod, Elmon and 
Mercy grew to maturity. To the second 
marriage were born three children: Brad- 
ley, Alma and Charles. To each of his 
sons he gave a farm, and when he died, in 
1862. he left personal property valued at 
ten thousand dollars to be divided among 
the heirs. In political opinion lie was a 
stanch Democrat. He was a most indus- 
trious citizen, and a man who would earn 
and hold property in any place and under 
any circumstance. 

Elmon Hoyt, the second son of Walter 
and Caroline Hoyt, was born August 29, 
1829, in Fairfield township, Huron Co., 
Ohio. His father being a lifelono- acri- 
culturist, taught his sons by actual exper- 
ience in that avocation. The lessons 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



49 



taxiglit him in boyhood and early man- 
hood of stfict obedience to duty and labor 
have followed him throui^h his successful 
life. When about to embark in life for 
himself he cleared a space in the then 
dense forest for a place to build a home; 
then realizing the need of a helpmate he 
married October 24, 1854:, Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Phineas and Rachel (Terry) 
Guthrie. As a result of this marriage 
live children were born: Wilber, Harry 
H., Le Roy, Ralph and Clayton, all of 
whom are still living. 

While Mr. Hoyt has always given per- 
sonal attention to his business at home, he 
has always been ready to promote any en- 
terprise for the good of his town or com- 
munity. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt having toiled 
together for nearly forty years now realize 
together that, toil and energy have their 
rewards. Feeling that something ought 
to be done to relieve the monotony and 
isolation of the farmer, and being ready ' 
to do anything they could to promote a 
social and intellectual advancement among 
the agricultural class, they signed an ap- 
plication for a charter for the organization 
of The C-irange in 1874, and became char- 
ter members of that oraanization. To this 
Society they have always been active mem- 
bers, going up with the different degrees 
of the Order, and often being delegated to 
represent their Grange at the State meet- 
ings. In March, 1878, The Huron County 
Mutual In -surance Company was organized, 
Mr. Hoyt becoming one of its early mem- 
bers, and he was elected treasurer of the 
Company, to which otHjce he has been re- 
elected every year since, and still performs 
the duties of that ofiice. 

To his son,s he has been a great help in 
starting them successfully in business. 
For thd eldest one (Wilber, who chose 
agriculture), he had a farm for him, upon 
which Wilber has succeeded well. With 
his second son Harry (who chose mer- 
cantile business), Mr. Hoyt became in- 
terested in business in North Fairfield, there 
building the large brick store room, where 



an extensive business was very success- 
fully conducted. In a few years, Mr. 
Harry Hoyt, wishing to engage more ex- 
tensively in business, he proposed to start 
a store in Norwalk. Mr. Elmon Hoyt 
saw in this two favorable features, viz.: 
That it would give Harry an opportuTiity 
to extend his business qualifications and 
also place LeRoy, his third son, in charge 
of the North Fairdeld store, and Mr. 
Hoyt became interested in both stores. 
The two younger sons remain on the home 
farm. Thus Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt have 
lived a useful and successful life. 

LeRoy Hoyt, the subject of this sketch, 
is the third son of Elmon and Elizabeth 
Hoyt, and was born October 6, 1862. His 
youth was passed on the fartn with his 
parents, and his time divided between 
duties at home and attendance at the union 
school in the village of North Fairtield. 

He then devoted two years of study in 
Oberlin College, and during this time ac- 
quired a liberal educatioti, after which he 
entered liis father's store as clerk, remain- 
ing there two years. Then he was given 
full management of a branch store at Peru, 
Ohio, which he conducted successfully for 
two years, when the branch was sold, as 
his atteutiot) was required at the North 
Fairfield store, which he again entered, 
becoming its personal manager, and, later, 
equal partner with his father in the mer- 
cantile business. 

On January 6, 1886, he was united in 
marriage with Anna F., daughter of Maj. 
William B. Sturges, of Fairfield, a sketch 
of whom immediately follows this, and in 
this union one child, Nelka, has been 
l)orn. As a business man Mr. Hoyt has 
been most successful, and to-day carries 
one of the finest general stores in this sec- 
tion. That he merits this success, his 
social, moral and business standing in his 
native county are the best evidences. 

Politically he is an earnest, active Re- 
publican. In 1891 he was member of the 
County Executive Committee, and person- 
ally secured and presided over one of the 



50 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



largest meetings ever held in the county. 
He made the welcoming speech, and in- 
troduced the present governor of the State, 
William McKinlej', to the people. So 
perfect was the success of this meeting 
that Mr. Hoyt wished to repeat it. Ac- 
cordingly, the ne.vt year he visited Senator 
John Sherman at his home in Manstield, 
and secured him to come to North Fair- 
lield and deliver a speech to a very large 
audience. Mr. Hoyt was recognized as 
the principal promoter of his political 
faith, and was chosen chairman of this 
me'itiug. He has served his township as 
postmaster for four years well and faith- 
fully, and secured at its close a reward of 
the higiiest grade by the United States 
inspector. 

He wields a strong political, social and 
commercial influence not otdy in Fairfield 
township, but throughout the county as 
well; and while he is yet young to furnish 
a history for publication, he lacks only 
time and opportunity to convince all that 
he is one of the most progressive men of 
his time. He is one to whom the hand of 
deserving charity was never presented 
without receiving, the recipient going 
away with a lighter heart and a fuller 
hand. In whatever tends to build up, to 
elevate humanity, be it in the material, 
social, moral or educational, in him is 
found a ready helper. In religious faitii 
he is a member of the Disciple Church, 
and lives, in harmony with his profession, 
a helpful life. 



-fj 



IV/ffAJOR WILLIAM B. STURGES 
^\ was born October 12, 1828, in 
1| New York City, grandson of 
Josiah Sturges, who was born in 
Connecticut, of English descent. 
The latter married Kebecca Cooper, and to 
their union were born the following named 
children: Jonathan, Josiah J., Ann 
Eliza, Mary, Julia, Arabella, Deborah, 
Joseph and Henry A. C. Mr. Sturges first 



conducted a packet line running between 
Savannah (Ga.) and New York, and for 
Some time resided in Savannah, subse- 
quently removing to New York, where he 
passed the remainder of his life. He was 
there engaged in the mercantile business 
with Thomas C. Butler and a Mr. Harris, 
and fi)r some years was inspector of cus- 
toms at the port of New York. In reli- 
gious faith he was a member of the 
Moravian Church, and his children were 
all educated at Bethlehem (Penn.) and 
Nazareth (the latter being the school for 
boys). 

Henry A. C. Sturges passed the days of 
his boyhood in New \ ork, and was edu- 
cated to business life, afterward working 
in his father's store. He was united in 
marriaije with Jane, daughter of David 
and S. Cargill, of New York (yrho were of 
Scotch ancestry), and to this union were 
born children as follows: William B.; 
Anna F., Mrs. Lyman Spencer; David G., 
who was for nearly thirty years an ap- 
praiser of customs at New York; Caroline; 
Harry C; John G., and Thomas. In 
1835 Mr. Sturges and his family came 
westward to Ohio, going by river to 
Albany, thence by way of the Erie Canal 
to Buffalo, and from the latter place by 
lake to Sandusky, Ohio. He came first to 
Norwalk, shortly afterward settling in 
Greenfield township, Huron county, where 
he became a leading farmer, and passed the 
remainder of his days. In political 
opinion he was a Whig. 

William B. Sturges passed his youth 
on the home farm, and received his 
education at the Seminary at Nor- 
walk. On June 5, 1851, he was mar- 
ried to Josephine, daughter of Elias 
Thomas, and they became the parents of 
children as follows: Wilson N., now a 
resident of St. Louis, Mo.; Flora C, Mrs. 
K. B. Kellogg; Jay, a ranchman of Gunni- 
son county, Colo.; Napier, of Fairfield 
township, Huron county; Jessie M.; Guy 
S., in Colorado with his brother Jay, and 
Anna F., Mrs. Le Eoy Hoyt. Mr. Sturges 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



51 



enlisted in the Civil war at the outbreak 
of the conflict, and on April 28, 1861, was 
commissioned second lieutenant of Com- 
pany A, Twenty-Fourtli O. Y. I. With 
the exception of a three weeks' leave of 
absence he was in continuous service 
throughout the war, tigiiting with the 
army of the Cumberland. He participated 
in tlie battles at Shiloli, Stone Itiver, 
Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and also 
in many minor engagements, and during 
all this time was wounded but once, in 
1861, when his horse fell, severely injur- 
ing his right knee. He was on the staff 
of various generals, among whom may be 
mentioned Gen. Palmer and Gen. Stanley, 
and during his service was promoted to 
first lieutenant, then to captain (in whicli 
capacity he had command of his company 
for the last six months of the war), linallj 
rising to the rank of major. 

In 1865 he engao-ed as a traveling sales- 
man, carrying a line of tobacco, etc., in 
which he continued for twenty-six years. 
In 1883 he removed to his present resi- 
dence, where he is now living a retired 
life. Politically he has been a lifelong 
Republican. 



I[ EDUARD ERF. The Erf family 
k. I are of Dutch origin, and many years 
\^) ago settled in Germany, whence the 
grandfather of the subject of this 
sketch, with his family, emigrated to 
America and settled in Huron county. 
There he took up a tract of land and lived 
up to tlie time of his death in 1889. Of 
liis children only two sons survive, and 
they are now living in the western part of 
the county. 

J. Eduard Erf is the eldest son of An- 
thony Erf, and was born in Lyme town- 
ship, Huron county, in December, 1861. 
His early life was spent like that of all 
farmers' sons, namely in going to school 
and working on the farm, only with this 
difference that while the sons of too many 



spent most of their time in working on 
the farm, and a short time only in going to 
school, it was his fortune to spend most of 
his years in school, and only in vacations 
doing farm work. It is fortunate, too, 
that his father took a great deal of interest 

o 

in educational matters, and through his 
efforts was not a little due the fact that the 
school where he attended was of a higher 
grade than that of many other country 
schools. He can well remember that, 
while in some districts school was taught 
only three or four months in the year, at 
the place where he attended not less than 
nine months was the usual limit of the 
school year, and the best of country teachers 
were employed. At an early age lie en- 
tered the high school of the neighboring 
town of Monroeville, and a number of 
years later prepared himself for college, 
afterward attending the University of 
Minnesota, a western college that has re- 
ceived great prominence among the State 
institutions of higher learning. Both at 
the academy and at the university he won 
several prizes in oratory, and in the Fresh- 
man year won the first prize at the ora- 
torical contest, also taking second rank at 
the State contest. 

As with many other young men, it was 
a question with him whether he should 
study for the ministry or for the bar. 
Finally deciding for the latter, he began 
the study of law with Russell & Rice, of 
Cleveland, and later in the office of Judge 
Blandan, of the same place. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1891. Where to locate 
he had not decided upon, although for the 
time being he remained in Cleveland, and 
launched out for himself. Finding after 
the first month's experience that his outlay 
was largely disproportioned to his income, 
he decided to change his location, and 
finally concluded to settle in Norwalk, Ohio, 
the seat of the county of his birth. While 
making preparations to locate, in a con- 
versation with Senator Harlon Stewart the 
idea was suggested to him that he siiould 
assume the editorship of the Oermania, 



52 



HLFBON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



the only German paper printed in Huron 
county. Having bad some experience as 
a newspaper writer and manager, and also 
Laving a practical knowledge of tlie German, 
as he iiad niade that language one of his 
specialties at college, he looked favorably 
upon the proposition. At second thought it 
was suggested to liini that if he was to be- 
come an editor of a paper for some one else, 
why not become the editor of his own paper? 
Immediately negotiations were entered into 
for the sale of the weekly, which, in part- 
nership with his brother, he purchased in 
May, 1891. Working with energy and 
entliusiasra, the circulation of the paper 
was doubled within four months. In ad- 
dition, also, the advertising was largely in- 
creased, bringing tlie paper a very good 
income, and placing it upon a sure financial 
footing. In the winter of 1892, the 
brothers, having resolved to take up the 
job pi-inting business, purchased a con- 
siderable amount of plant, including a 
large cylinder press for the publication of 
their paper, which heretofore had been 
pi'inted by the Experiment- News. 

When the Norwalk Press was launched, 
Mr. Erf was asked to assume the position 
of editor of that paper, and also to take 
an interest in the enterprise. This he did, 
and with Mr. James Mullin began the 
publication of the Norwalk Press in 
March, 1893. Later on a corporation was 
formed under the name of The Erf Bros. 
Publishing Co., witli J. E. Erf, Gustavus 
Erf, James Mullin and others as stock- 
holders, which company now publishes the 
Norivalh J'ress and the Gerinania, besides 
doing a general job and publishing business. 
From a small l)eginning, occupying in 
May, 1891, a small room 10 x 15, and em- 
ploying one man, their business has in- 
creased so that to-day they occupy three 
floors of the Stewart block, employing 
from sixteen to eighteen persons. Mr. 
Erf's duties as editor are of such a nature 
and so laborious that he has had very lit- 
tle time while in Norwalk to practice his 
profession. In fact the journalistic work 



seems to hold so much in store for him, 
that both circumstances and his own in- 
clination for literary work incline him in 
that direction rather than toward tiie bar. 
In politics he is an ardent Democrat, 
and has always defended, both by speech 
and writing, the Democratic faith. He is 
a Democrat from principle, believing 
tlioroughly in the fuijdamental principles 
of that party. A short time after locating 
in Norwalk he w'as placed on the Demo- 
cratic ticket for the office of prosecuting 
attorney of Huron county. He made an 
active canvass of the county, speaking in 
almost every township, and although de- 
feated ran ahead of iiis ticket by three 
hundred votes. Practically in active busi- 
ness and the professions only a few years, 
he is well liked, has made many friends, 
and is making for himself a place in the 
community as an honorable and public- 
spirited n:an. 



QUSTAVUS ERF. The subject of 
, this sketch, one of tiie junior mem- 
bers of The Erf Uros. Publishitig 
, L Co., and a brother of J. Eduard 
Erf, was born in Lyme township, 
Huron county, in 1805, the third son of 
Anthony Erf. Like his brother, he spent 
his early life in going to school and work- 
ing on the farm. After having completed 
his studies in the district school, he at- 
tended, the Monroeville high school, and 
later on- went to Cleveland, where he did 
some work on a mechanical journal as 
solicitor. Coming to Norwalk, he, in 
company with his brother, bought the 
Norwalk Germanla, which they continued 
to publish. Later on a job office was 
opened. When the firm of Erf Bros, was 
lately consolidated and merged into The 
Erf Bros. Publishing Co. he became .^ 
prominent stockholder. Mr. Erf is esr- 
pecially connected with the business man- 
agement of the concern, in which he takes 
an active interest. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



53 



In 1892 our subject was married to 
Miss llosa Frenz, who presides over his 
pleasant home on Olive street. Though 
young he is active and energetic, well 
liked by his business associates, and lie 
has before him a prosperous and bright 
career. 



JF. BEELMAN, editor and proprietor 
of the Plymouth Advertiser, was 
born July 31, 1847, in Richland 
county, Ohio. His ancestors in 
America, both paternal and maternal, may 
be traced back to the early Colonial days of 
Pennsylvania. 

Andrew Beelman, father of subject, was 
a native of Franklin county, Penn., where 
he grew into manhood and married 
Christiana Cain, a native of the same 
county. He learned the cabinet maker's 
trade in Pennsylvania, and in 183-, when 
he removed to Plymouth, Richland Co., 
Ohio, he found sufficient work in this 
trade to occupy his attention until liis 
death in 1867. He was a Whig until the 
orcranization of the Republicans, when 
he joined the new party and gave it his 
un(jnalified support. Though his convic- 
tions were firmly fi.xed, he was not active 
in public affairs, his disposition being to 
attend to his own trade and let others 
attend to their business. 

J. F. Beelinan is the fourth in a family 
of four sons and one daughter born to An- 
drew and Christiana Beelman. He was 
educated in the public schools at Ply- 
mouth, and at the age of fourteen years 
entered a more practical school, as ap- 
prentice in the office of the Plymouth Ad- 
vertiser, where he served three and a half 
years. After this long term in learning 
the "art preservative," he entered the dry- 
goods establishment of S. M. Roltinson, 
where for four years he was employed as 
salesman. In 1869, in partnership with 
M. Webber, he purchased a book and no- 
tion store at Plymouth. In 1872 he dis- 



posed of his interest in that store, and as- 
sociated himself with his brother J. M. 
Beelman, in the office of the Plymouth 
Advertiser. In December, 1876, he be- 
came sole owner of the office, to which he 
has since given close, personal attention. 

The Plymouth Advertiser was founded 
in 1852 by a Mr. Sanford; later D. R. 
Locke, better known as "Petroleum V. 
Nasby," became proprietor, and in its 
pages began to build up his reputation as 
a humorous political writer. This journal 
has always been and is now devoted to the 
interests of Plymouth and vicinity with- 
out regard to politics. It is well edited 
and printed, and enjoys a heavy advertis- 
ing patronage as well as a large circula- 
tion. The office is equipped with job and 
cylinder presses, steam power is used, and 
altogether, the paper reflects tiie progress- 
ive spirit of the town. 

Mr. Beelman was married, on October 
8, 1874, to Miss Fraidv Gipson, a daugh- 
ter of H. B. Gipson, of Plymouth, Ohio, 
and they are the parents of one child, 
Grace W. Our subject ranks among the 
leading and influential men of this division 
of the State, and, in his relations to the 
people as a newspaper man and citizen, is 
recocrnized as one who has contributed 
largely to the material and social advance- 
ment of Plymouth and tributary district. 
For eighteen years he served as secretary 
of the Plymouth Agricultural Society, and 
has filled various local offices. In Church 
connection he is a Lutheran, and he is a' 
gentleman of strong moral convictions. 



GH. GOVE, of the C. H. Gove & Co. 
foundry, Norwalk, is a native of 
Washington county, N. Y., born 
August 24, 1828. He was reared 
and educated in Onondaga county, same 
State, after two years of age attending the 
public schools there, subsequently taking 
a course in the academy. His parents, 
David and Mary (Burbank) Gove, were 



54 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



descendants of colonists who came to 
America from London in 1G40, locating in 
Deerfield, Connecticut. 

David Gove was born in 1794, in Wil- 
mot, Merrimack Co., N. H., became a 
fanner, and died in Onondaga county, N. 
Y., at the age of forty-live years. He was 
a man of strong character, and in politics 
was a Jackson Democrat. His wife, Mary 
(Hurbank), w^as born in 1797 in Salisbury, 
N. H.; she became the mother of eleven 
children, eight of whom were by her last 
husband, David Gove; two of her sons and 
two daughters are yet living. David Gove's 
father, Nathan Gove, was born on the old 
farm in New Hampshire, and Nathan's 
father was born in Concord, Connecticut. 

C. H. Gove, the subject proper of this 
memoir, commenced taking his lessons in 
the foundry business in 1846 at Syracuse, 
N. Y. After learning the trade he came, 
in 1850, to Huron county, where he en- 
gaged in the molding business, and was 
for fifteen years in managing charge of a 
foundry. He had charge of the Bay City- 
Foundries at Sandusky two years, and of 
the Lake Shore Foundry at Elkhart, Ind., 
for some time. He then returned to Nor- 
walk, and took charge of the foundry here. 
In 1887, in company witli his son, Ernest 
D. Gove, he established his present 
foundry, and now carries on a prosperous 
business, doing the exclusive casting for 
the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad. In 
187(3-77 he was a member of the Norwalk 
city council. 

On July 14, 1851, C. H. Gove was 
united in marriage with Sarah L. McGor- 
gan, who was born May 11, 1833, in Sen- 
eca county, Ohio. Their children were as 
follows: Charles E., at present superin- 
tendent of the Vermillion (Ohio) schools; 
Enimett P., a machinist; Ernest D., with 
his father in the foundry; Otis G., a 
moulder by trade; Frederick W. ; Frank; 
Mary B. (deceased); Ida B.; Nellie, and 
Sadie. The Gove family is widely respected 
inthecityand county. |Siiicethe above was 
written C. H. Gove & Co. sold their 



foundry business April 1, 1893, to Otis 
G. Gove and David Higgins, and Mr. Gove 
settled upon a farm at Kipton, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where he expects to pass the remain- 
der of his days.J Mr. C. II. Gove desires 
to have here recorded the following: 

MY LAST REQUEST. 
When in the grave my friends have laid me, 

And lovini; lips have breathed adieu, 
Let DO one dare to upbraid me, 

Or draw my frailties forth to view. 

But lay my faults in the grave beside me, 

Then let the clods upon me fall ; 
And as they from the cold worldhide me, 

Let them hide my faults and all. 

Let there be joy instead of weeping. 
That rest is found for heart and head ; 

Then leave me to my Savior's keeping. 
For if He lives I can't be dead. 

Oiily dead to sin and strife 

And Soon shall wake to endless life. 

C. H. Gove. 



y/ 



jJfON. CHARLES PRESTON 
''H W I C K H A M, attorney at law, was 
1 born in Norwalk, Huron county, 
Ohio, September 15, 1836, the 
eldest of thirteen sons and daugh- 
ters born to Judge Frederick and Lucy 
(Preston) Wickham, both descendants of 
New England Puritan stock, and of his 
paternal ancestors can be enumerated Gov. 
Winthrop, of Massachusetts. The family 
even remotely come of a strong and sturdy 
race, tnen and women of that rugged na- 
ture that was fitted to the often cruel exi- 
gencies in the transplanting of civilization 
from the Old World to the New. 

The jiioneer into the wilderness from the 
New England coast was William Wickham, 
a native of Rhode Island, grandfather of 
Charles Preston Wickham. He naturally 
made his way to the regions of the lakes, 
impelled by that strong instinct for the 
sea that ran through generations, and he 
settled on the shores of Lake Ontario, at 
Sodus Point. His three sous, John, Fred- 
erick and Samuel, nurtured within sight 
and hearing of the blue, dashing waters of 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



57 



the great lake, in their westward journey- 
ings could not leave the sea forever behind 
thein, and so took up their dwelling place 
at Huron, one of Lake Erie's natural 
harbors. The youngest brother, Samuel, 
sailed the lakes, and died while still en- 
gaged in pursuing his chosen vocation. 
John, the eldest, engaged in lake com- 
merce, and at one time owned one of the 
largest tish-packlng establishments on 
Lake Erie; while Frederick, though never 
forgetting his lakeside birthplace, located 
at Korwalk, his present home, and became 
the proprietor of the Norwalk Iteflsctor, 
established as the Ilw'on Reflector by 
Samuel Preston, whose daughter, Lucy, 
became his wife. In the great old- 
fashioned house in the center of the town, 
whose upper floor served as a printing 
office in the olden days, were born their 
thirteen children — six sons and seven 
daughters — twelve of whom grew to ma- 
ture life. Sons and daughters alike were 
taught the printer's art, serving a good 
apprenticeship. 

Charles, inheriting from both father 
and mother a taste for books and love of 
learning, took advantage of all that the 
then meager public schools and the excel- 
lent Norwalk Academy could afford. He 
longed for a college education, but the 
many younger brothers and sisters made 
the fulfillment of the desire impossible. 
He was permitted, however, to attend the 
Cincinnati law school, from which he was 
graduated in April, 1858, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar by the district court of 
Hamilton county in the same month. 
Full of hope and enthusiasm in his chosen 
profession, he located in Norwalk and 
opened his law office. In August, 1860, 
he was united in the sacred bonds of wed- 
lock with Emma J. Wildman, daughter of 
Frederick A. and Mariett (Patch) Wild- 
man, both natives of Danbury, Conn., who 
had removed to Ohio, locating at Clarks- 
field, but afterward coming to Norwalk. 
In April following this happy marriage 
came the tocsin of war, thrilling the civil- 



ized world, and blasting many youthful 
prospects, and bringing a long and sad in- 
terruption to thousands of others. Full 
of patriotic courage, and upheld in his 
purpose by his young wife, Charles P. 
Wickhain enlisted, in Septeml)er, 1861, in 
the Fifty-fifth Regiment O. V. I., and a 
short time after bade farewell to home 
and the few months-old babe he was 
never to see again, and with his command 
marched to the front. During the suc- 
ceeding four years the young soldier en- 
dured all the hardships and dangersof piti- 
less war, ever at the post of duty, and with 
eager intelligence heeding the commands 
of his superiors. As brave as he was dis- 
creet, his devotion to his country's cause 
could not but attract the attention of those 
in authority, and the dashing young pri- 
vate soon received the well-merited pro- 
motion to first lieutenant, then successively 
to captain, major, and lieutenant-colonel of 
his regiment; the further promotion 
while he was major coming direct from the 
hands of the President, as lieutenant-col- 
onel of volunteers by brevet, for " gallant 
and meritorious service in the Carolinas." 
The unbroken severity of his service is to 
some little extent manifest in the skeleton 
record of the marches, battles and sieges 
that follow the name of Charles Preston 
AVickham on the country's war records. 
Among others in which he participated 
were the battles of Second Bull Run, Chan- 
celiorsville, Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, the 
battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta, in- 
cluding Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Siege 
of Atlanta, March to the Sea, Averysboro 
and Bentonville. These are briefly the 
main battles, and only to the veteran does 
the enumeration convey any true idea of 
the four years of hardships, exposures, 
trials and sufferings of an active soldier's 
life. Of the millions who in the heyday 
of young life entered their country's serv- 
ice, but few equaled and none surpassed 
this one in the tented field, where are made 
such heavy drafts upon tiie moral and phy- 
sical courage of those who do their duty. 



58 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



In all his long service in the army he es- 
caped the demoralization, so common to all 
large aggreojations of men, by the upright 
tenor of his bearing and the rectitude of 
his conduct. 

Four years, and grim-visaged war had 
smoothed his wrinkled front; and when 
the angel of mercy and peace had spread 
her white wings across the land, and the 
army, having saved the Union, was being 
mustered out to return home. Col. Wick- 
ham's command was ordered to Cleveland, 
and July 19, 1865, the ragged, sun-burned 
veterans, but fire-tried heroes all, were 
honorably discharged from the service. 
And now came the crucial test of the Ameri- 
can character, namely, that of suddenly 
turning a great army into free inhabitants, 
from destroyers to builders up; from sub- 
jects of the law as thundered from the can- 
non's mouth, to the upholders of peace and 
the civil law. The storm of blood was 
spent, and the birds built their nests in 
the cannon's cold lips. And here the vet- 
eran's record is one of ever added new 
laurel wreaths to the trophies of war. 

At the close of the service Col. Wick- 
ham returned to his iiome in Norwalk, and 
resumed the practice of his profession. He 
was elected prosecuting attorney for Huron 
county in 1866; re-elected in 1868, and 
after the end of his terra was called by the 
suffrage of his people to the office of judge 
of the comtnon pleas court, of the Fourth 
Judicial District, in 1880; served a term 
and was re elected in 1885; resigned in 
October, 1886, to become the standard- 
bearer of his party as a candidate for Con- 
gress from the Fourteenth District; was 
triumphantly elected and served with dis- 
tinguished eminence; re-elected in 1888. 
This is something of the record of a citi- 
zen of Huron county, distinguished in 
peace as in war. A bright ])aragraph in 
history, a more precious legacy to poster- 
ity than the wealth of the whole world. 

Col. Wickham is in height about live 
feet nine inches; of fair complexion, erect 
carriage and fine presence. In manner, 



though ever dignified, reserved and un- 
demonstrative, he is courteous, gentle and 
sympathetic, and possesses the most perfect 
control over a naturally quick and high 
temper. The prime impulse of his life 
has ever been devotion to duty and the 
furtherance of the kingdom of God. A 
member of the Presbyterian Church from 
early manhood, he has been an elder 
since about the year 1866, and no press of 
business or public duties, nor the impaired 
health which is his as a reminder of the 
war, have ever deterred him from regular 
attendance upon divine service, or checked 
his activity in and devotion to all branches 
of Christian work. The dearest wish of 
his life is that the six living children of 
the nine born to him may become well- 
equipped Christian men and women. 
Upon the integrity of his private life, his 
warmest political enemies have never even 
held a question. A devoted son and 
brother, he is the pride and stay of his 
parents and the friend and adviser of 

brothers and sisters — a lovinor and tender 

^ CD 

husband, a lather whose love knows no 
limit in self-sacritice. His children have 
never heard from his lips a harsh or un- 
kind word, and hold him in their hearts as 
their ideal of a noble manhood. His ten- 
der heart can never hear unheeded a cry 
from the needy or unfortunate, and, 
though one of that profession supposed by 
some to be nearly pitiless, his conscience 
has never allowed him to exact more than 
his just dues in lawyer's fees. 

The unsatisfied longing of his boyhood 
days for a college education has made him 
unwearying in the pursuit of knowledge, 
and while devoting himself with untiring 
industry to the study and practice of the 
law, he has found time for wide general 
reading and for travel, that best of all edu- 
cations, in all parts of his country. He and 
his wife — his helpmeet, adviser and aid in 
every project — were the ones to suggest 
and plan for the public library of his na- 
tive town. He is an enthusiast on the 
subject of education, and is the guide and 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



59 



inspiration to his children in their studies. 
In all walks of life he has won the admi- 
ration of his fellows for his abilitj^, indus- 
try and the conscientiousness which never 
allows him to neijlect the least of his du- 
ties. Noted in the army for chivalrous 
bravery that was only equaled by his 
ever-tender regard for the welfare of those 
in his charge. His walk in the mazes of 
the law has been along the higher paths 
of the profession, where there is always 
room and to spare for the inspiration of 
genius. A large and lucrative pi-active 
has been his from the first. An ardent 
advocate of temperance, he has ever had 
the courage of his convictions on this 
question, and in his private walks and in 
his official life has never spared the de- 
stroyers of the home. Upon the bench he 
was the wise and just judge, eminent for 
his . impartiality, dignity and courteous- 
uess, carrying with him the respect of 
the bar and contidence of the people. 
This is evidenced by the fact that in his 
second election to tiie bench, though op- 
posed by his able predecessor, and that, 
too, in a strongly Democratic district, yet 
he was easily elected. Nothing can add 
to tlie strength of this statement as to the 
man's standing with his people. His po- 
litical affiliations have been with the Re- 
publican part^', to which, while never 
offensive to the opposition, he has been 
ever standi and true. He has investi- 
gated deeply the economic questions of 
government, and the public weal has been 
the loadstar A his political life. As a 
speaker he is clear, earnest and logical, 
possessing that rare trait of holding the 
attention of an audience by the importance 
of what is being said and the forcible 
manner of its expression. Powerful and 
convincing in argument, he has made him- 
self felt at the bar and won respect in the 
halls of Congress. And though for years 
accustomed to public speaking, he lias 
never been able to conquer a natural diffi- 
dence and modesty, which makes him 
dread anew each public appearance. 



While pre-eminently successful in the 
political field, yet he has none of 
the equipments of the successful poli- 
tician. Rather than having been hon- 
ored by the offices he has tilled, he has 
shed luster upon them, controlled by the 
high purpose of bequeathing to liis chil- 
dren and posterity that richest of all lega- 
cies, a name honored and unstained. [The 
foregoing is, with a few immaterial addi- 
tions, from the graceful pen of an affec- 
tionate daughter, Mrs. Grace W. W. Cur- 
ran. — Editor. 



TfJfON. F. R. LOOMIS, editor and 
f ^ proprietor of the Norwalk Chroni- 
I 11 c^e, was born in Lodi, Ohio, Septem- 
•fj ber 3, 1841. The lineal descendant 

of the Loomis family is from one 
Joseph Loomis, who came from Braintree, 
England, to Connecticut, in the year 1632. 
The subject of this sketch is the sixth 
in the order of birth of eight children 
born to Milo and Lucy A. (Greenly) 
Loomis, both natives of Jefferson county, 
N. Y., people of prominence and wealtli, 
who came to Ohio in 1832, making their 
home in Medina county, where they passed 
the remainder of their lives. Our subject 
resided in his native place until his nine- 
teenth year, when he entered the Union 
army, in which he served faithfully three 
and one half years at the front, 



ment being the 



Eighth 



O. V. I. He 



his regi- 
was 



promoted consecutively to first sergeant, 
second lieutenant and first lieutenant, and 
was assigned to the staff of Gen. S. S. 
Carroll. He was severely wounded at the 
battle of Autietam, and again at Gettys- 
burg. On his return home at the close of 
the war he was appointed postmaster of 
his native town, Lodi, an incumbency he 
filled ten consecutive years, at the end of 
which time he resigned to accept the posi- 
tion of member of the State Legislature, 
to which the suffrages of the Republicans 
of his county had called him. lie served 
his term acceptably, and declined a 



60 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



renoinination. In 1876 he pnrcliased a 
lialf interest in the Medina Gazette, and 
was one of the editors and proprietors 
thereof until 1870, when he sold his in- 
terest in that paper and purchased the 
Norwalk Chronicle, of which he is now 
sole proprietor and editor. 

Mr. Looinis is an ardent Tieptibliean, a 
prominent and respected leader in that 
organization, and has been called frequentlv 
to the councils and posts of trust and re- 
sponsibility in its interests. In religious 
faith he is a Congregationalist, in the 
church of which denomination he has been 
an honored member for many years, and 
as delegate has represented it at important 
State meetings; he was Moderator of the 
North Ohio Conference for a term; was 
president of the Huron County Bible So- 
ciety several years; was for some years pres- 
ident of the Huron County Sunday-school 
Association ; was also president of the Ohio 
State Sunday-school Association two years; 
and was secretary of the Third Inter- 
national Sunday-school Convention, held 
at Atlanta, Ga. Socially he is past cona- 
Hiander of M. F. Wooster Post, JMo. 34, 
G. A. R., of Norwalk; he was three times 
elected colonel of F. H. Boalt Comtiiand 
No. 17, Union Veterans Union, of Nor- 
walk; was elected department commander 
of Ohio Command of the Union Veterans 
Union, serving one year; declining a re- 
election as commander, he was elected 
chaplain of the Department. For several 
years he served as chairman of the Execu- 
tive Committee of the National Command 
of the Union Veterans Union. He is a 
director and trustee and a prominent 
member of the FirelaTids Historical So- 
ciety, and has been its biographer for 
several years. 

While Mr. Loomis is a strong, earnest 
and ever-active party man, he never for a 
moment has foi'gotten that correct prin- 
ciples are stronger and more important 
than party claims. 

On January 10, 1865, F. R. Loomis 
was united in uiarriage with Catherine C. 



Kilmer, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and to tiiem 
was given one son, whose young life 
brought to liis fond parents' hearts the 
light and joy of the sunshine. Clare R. 
Loomis was born March 16, 1871; reared 
in the atmosphere of a refined and loving 
CJhristian hotne, he developed those ami- 
able, bright and strong (jnalities of soul 
and mind that marked him most eminently 
and wove the golden chain that endeared 
him to a wide circle of admiring friends. 
He had a brilliant promise of life when he 
left his father's home to accept a responsible 
position on the editorial staff of the Chi- 
cago Inter Ocean, but the hand of disease 
was suddenly laid upon his bright and 
noble young life, and he died of typhoid 
fever at his home in Norwalk, Fel)ruary 
9, 1892, leaving desolate the now childless 
parents, and creating a void in their hearts 
which can never be tilled. 

Among the the temperance advocates of 
Ohio, Hon. F. R. Loomis stands forth 
prominently. Here, as elsewhere, his con- 
victions are strong, but are always equaled 
by his courage in the expression of them. 
His paper is the reflex of the man, battling 
ever for the supremacy of principle, for 
the right though the heavens fall, and in 
this regard it is the reflex of its editor's life. 



IfRVING J. BROOKS, editor and pro- 
prietor of the Greenwich Enterprise, 
_[ son of Franklin and Ann Eliza (Ken- 
nedy) Brooks, natives of Huron county, 
was born April 15, 1857, in Bronson 
township. His paternal grandfather was 
a native of Vermont, his paternal grand- 
mother of New York State. The mater- 
nal grandfather was a native of Ireland, 
and maternal grandmother a native of 
Scotland, belonging to the well-known 
McPherson family and a cousin to Gen. 
McPherson. They were pioneers of Bron- 
son township, where the first named re- 
sided for forty years, dying in 1872, and 
the last named died in 1844. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



61 



The name was originally spelled Brooke, 
and the family of that name in America 
are descended from Englisli ancestry. 
The historical Say-Brooke fort, built at the 
mouth of the Connecticut river in 1635, 
was named after Lords Say and Brooke, 
who were the proprietors, and, in company 
with others, held the grant of the territory 
of Connecticut. Lemuel Brooke, youngest 
Son of William and Esther Brooke, was 
born at Entield, Conn., February 20, 
1748. His father, William Brooke, who 
owned and controlled the Enfield ferry, 
was a great-grandson of Lord Brooke, of 
England. He (William) taught in different 
schools and colleges thirty-three years; 
served four years in the war of the Revo- 
lution, acting in the capacity of quarter- 
master. He was employed by the United 
States Government to survey, on the 
Western Reserve, a tract of land in north- 
eastern Ohio set apart by the Government 
for the people whose homes were destroyed 
in the Revolutionary war. His surveys were 
made in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties. 

RetnrniiiD- to Vermont he emigrated 
with his family in 1817, traveling the 
whole distance with an ox-teara, and settled 
in Greenfield, Huron Co., Ohio. Owing 
to the scarcity of steel at that time in this 
new country, his sword was made into 
butcher knives; his regimentals, etc., to- 
gether with most of the family records, 
including the coat of arms of the Brooke 
family, a silver helmet, buckler, etc., were 
destroyed by fire at Greenfield, Ohio, in 
1838. William Brooke married Keziah 
Haskill January 5, 1775, and seven chil- 
dren were born to them, viz.: Lemuel, 
Melicinda, Kezia, Aurelia, Homer, Selma, 
Virgil. Of these, Lemuel, born August 
7, 1776, was twice married, and by his 
second wife, Esther Sprague, whom he 
wedded February 13, 1806, he had eight 
children, to wit: Lemuel Sprague, Har- 
rietta Esther, William, Philo, Celia, Ne- 
liemiah, Irena and Jertisha. The father 
of these died in Greenfield township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, in 1831. 



Lemuel Sprague Brooke was born in 
Marlboro, Windham Co., Vt., October 29, 
1806. When ten years of age he rescued 
his brother Nehemiah from a well, and 
was all his grown life a man of superior 
muscular power. In 1888 he married 
Almira Adams, of North Fairfield, Ohio, 
and to them two children were born — 
Franklin (father of the suljject proper of 
this sketch) and Esther. He died in June, 
1838, from cancer in the face, and was 
preparing himself for the ministry at the 
time of his illness. 

Franklin Brooke was born January 13, 
1834, in Greenfield township, Huron Co., 
Ohio; was married November 1, 1855, to 
Ann Eliza Kennedy, of Bronson township, 
Huron county, by whom there were four 
children, named as follows: Irving J., 
Gardiner A., Frank Alexander and Anna 
Elmira. 

Irving J. Brooks passed his boyhood in 
New Haven township, and received a pri- 
mary education in the district school. 
Subsequently he studied in the Normal 
schools at Lebanon and Ada, Ohio, and 
after obtaining a practical literary train- 
ing taught school several terms, and en- 
tered the Clu'oiiicle office at Norvvalk in 
1881. Subsequently lie worked in the 
offices of the Da'ihj Wews. at Norwalk; 
was assistant foreman of the Dalhj Jour- 
nal, at Battle Creek, Mich.; foreman of 
the Enterprise, at Cherokee, Iowa, and 
foreman of the Journal, at Mankato, 
Minn. Returning to Huron county in 
November, 1888, he purchased a half in- 
terest in the Greenwich Enterprise, and 
in February, 1891, became sole proprietor. 
This newspaper is an independent journal, 
presents a good typographical appearance, 
has a large local circulation, and is a good 
advertising medium. To the editorial and 
news columns of the Enterprise he gives 
close, personal attention, and by his in- 
dustry has made the office profitable and 
the paper useful. On April 15, 1886, Mr. 
Brooks was united in marriage, at Chero- 
kee, Iowa, with Miss Lydia R. Ruggles, 



62 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



who was born in Waverly, Van Buren 
Co., Mich., August 21, 1865, a daugliter 
of Charles D. and Henrietta C. (Hobart) 
Kuggles. Her father's people pride them- 
selves in their blood, they being an old 
family. Her mother is of Puritan descent, 
tracing a direct line of ancestry to John 
Alden and his wife Priscilla. 

Mr. and Mrs. I. J. Brooks are members 
of the Episcopal Church. He is a member 
of the Masonic, Knights of Pythias and 
National Union Lodges of Greenwich; a 
Royal Arch Mason of New London Chap- 
ter; a member of the Sons of Temperance 
of Norwalk, and also of the International 
Typographical Union of Toledo. 



EN. FRANKLIN SAWYER (de- 
ceased) was born in Auburn, Craw- 
ford Co., Ohio, July 13, 1825, a 
Al son of Erastus and Sally Sawyer, 
natives of the State of New York. 
His father's ancestors emigrated to this 
country from Lancashire, England, and 
his mother's (whose maiden name was 
Snider) from Holland. His parents were 
pioneers in that then wilderness country. 
He had one brother, Albanus, older, and 
one sister, Mrs. Lucy Kellogg, younger, 
than himself. 

Upon his father's farm he remained 
until his seventeenth year, employed in 
the hard work of the new country, and at- 
tending the common school of the neigh- 
borhood when there happened to be one. 
In 1843 he was a student at Norwalk 
Seminai-y, and the next year at Granville 
College, supporting himself during this 
time, and while studying law, by teaching 
school winters. In 1845 he commenced 
the study of the law at Norwalk, was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1847, and soon found 
himself in a respectable practice. In 1850 
he was elected prosecuting attorney, which 
office he held two years, during which 
time he was successful in breaking up a 
noted gang of horse thieves, counterfeiters 



and professional witnesses who infested 
the county. In 1854 he formed a part- 
nership with George H. Safford, which 
continued until both threw up the profes- 
sion to enter the army. 

In 1860, at the instance of Gov. Denni- 
son, Mr. Sawyer organized a military com- 
pany known as the Norwalk Light Guards, 
and on xVpril 16, 1861, was ordered into 
service for three months, and reported 
with his company at Camp Dennison as 
Company D, Eighth Ohio Volunteers. 
The regiment soon re-organized for three 
years; he was promoted to major, and 
soon after to lieutenant-colonel. In July 
the regiment went to Western Virginia, 
and participated in the campaign of that 
summer. S. S. Carroll, of the U. S. A., 
was appointed colonel, and took the regi- 
ment into the valley in the spring of 1861, 
where it fonght conspicuously in the 
battle of Winchester. Col. Carroll was 
there given the command of the brigade, 
and from this time the regiment was in 
command of Col. Sawyer. It was then 
ordered to Harrison's Landing, and be- 
came part of the Second Corps. He com- 
manded the regiment in the battles of 
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
ville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Morton's 
Ford, the Wilderness, and Spottsylvania, 
and in innumerable skirmishes. In most 
of these battles he was assigned to diffi- 
cult positions, and in every instance was 
complimented by his superior officers for 
his gallant conduct. At Gettysburg, he 
was ordereii to drive out a rebel force 
posted in an important position in front 
of Hancock's battle-line, which was hand- 
somely done with the bavonet, though at 
a heavy loss. This position he maintained 
for two days unsupported, and far in ad- 
vance of the line, although three times at- 
tacked by superior force; and finally, 
charging an advancing column of rebels, 
took a number of prisoners and three bat- 
tle-flags. In this battle, and also the 
battle of Antietam, over one-half of his 
men engaged were killed or wounded. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



63 



His horse was shot from under him at 
Antietain, Chaneellorsville, and Locust 
Grove. He was severely wounded at 
Gettysburg, Morton's Ford, and Spottsyl- 
vania, at the latter place the wouud dis- 
abliiicr him from further service and 
partially paralyzing the left side. During 
the draft-riots he was sent to the city of 
New York with his regiment, and occu- 
pied a position on Brooklyn Heights until 
the consummation of the draft. 

Promotion was several times tendered 
him, but he preferred to remain with his 
"gallant old Eighth." His popularity 
with his men was unbounded, his ability 
as an officer was conceded, and his absolute 
bravery in battle unquestioned. Tlie rank 
of brevet brigadier-general was conferred 
for meritorious conduct during the war. 

In the fall of 1864 he vLsited the Ohio 
troops on the line of the Mississippi, New 
Orleans, Kentucky, Tennessee, Northern 
Alabama, and Geoi'gia, on a special com- 
mission from Gov. Brough. He then 
acted as assistant judge advocate in the of- 
fice of Judge Advocate Gen. Holt, at 
Washington, until the close of the war, 
and the triumphal return of the Union 
army to Washington, in June, 1865. 

Ill 1865 he was elected representative 
to the Legislature for Huron county on 
the Repuhlican ticket, and served two ses- 
sions. Was a member of the committee 
on linaiice, schools, and the agricultural 
college fund. The Cleveland Leader, in 
a review of this Legislature, said of him: 
"Few men in the State achieved alirighter 
reputation in the recent war than Gen. 
Sawyer, the member for Huron. As a 
legislator he is chiefly distinguislied for 
his ability in presenting his case and 
'dumbfounding' his adversary, if anybody 
has the temerity to oppose hini. For real 
humor, as well as solid argument, he has 
few superiors. Sometimes his rare blend- 
ing of humor and argument would con- 
vulse with laughter the entire house, and 
upset the gravity of everybody within 
hearing." 



In May, 1867, he was appointed one of 
tlie registers in bankruptcy for the North- 
ern District of Ohio, which office he held 
during the existence of the act, a period of 
over twelve years, being regarded as a 
careful and impartial officer. He also dur- 
ing tliis period continued successfully in 
his law practice. Gen. Sawyer always 
took a lively interest in the prosperity of 
Norwalk. He was a trustee of the Nor- 
walk Institute for several years, and until 
it was discontinued on account of the non- 
popular public-school system, and was 
then for fifteen years a member of the 
board of education of tlie union schools. 
As a lawyer he occupied a prominent posi- 
tion at the bar, and was regarded as a man 
of strict integrity; he was an interesting 
speaker and ready debater, and a thorough 
student of literature and history. 

Gen. Sawyer was married January 30, 
1848, to Luciuda M. Lathrop. who died 
June 12, 1854. On November 29, 1855, 
he was married to Elizabeth B. Bostwick, 
of Delaware county, N. Y., who died 
January 6, 1878. He has one son, Frank. 
The General died of paralysis in 1893, at 
the residence of his son in Norwalk, at 
the age of sixty-eight years. [Compiled 
from Williams' " History of Huron and 
Lorain Counties." 



dlOHN A. RYNN. Among the most 
popular citizens of Norwalk is this 
) genial representativeof the Hibernian 
race. His parents, Thomas and Mary 
(Burns) Rynn, were both born in the 
Emerald Isle, where they were married, 
soon afterward emigrating to America. 
The father died when his son John A. 
was a little over two years of age, having 
been killed in a railway accident, and the 
mother then married John Mullen. Four 
children have been born to her second 
marriage, vi^: James, Bernard, Sarah 
and Owen. 



64 



IIUJIOX COUNTY, OHIO. 



John A. Rynn was born April 6, 1853, 
in Norwaik, Huron Co., Oiiio, and at- 
tended tiie public schools. He then took 
a course at the Spencerian Commercial 
College of Cleveland, and after finishing 
his education entered the employ of a 
wholesale grocer in Toledo, Ohio. The 
following autumn he returned to Huron 
county, and in September, 1873, estab- 
lished his present grocery tmsiness, which 
has grown to extensive proportions. In 
1890 he became a member of the city 
council and in 1891 was elected president 
of that body. He is county delegate of 
the Hibernian Society of Huron county, 
and in April, 1892, was sent to Xew Or- 
leans as a representative of the local organ- 
ization. Mr. Rynn is no less prepossess- 
ing in personal appearance than in his 
genial manners, and wins hosts of friends 
among all classes. 



DOCTOR AMOS WOODWARD, of 
Bellevue, Ohio, was born February 
^' 11, 1824, on what is known as the 

"Woodward farm," near Bellevue. 
He was the second son of Gnrdon and 
Mary S. Woodward. 

His father in the spring of 1817 located 
his farm in Lyme township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, where he built a log cabin, and be- 
ing a man of unusual physical strength, 
coupled with indomitable energy, he soon 
cleared off the heavy timber and opened 
up the farm for cultivation. He then re- 
turned to Utica, N. Y., and married Miss 
Mary Savage, one of the brightest and best 
of Utica's daughters, who came to their 
new home in the West to adorn it with 
her graceful charms of head and heart. 
The home was widely known as " Wood- 
lawn," and for many years was noted for 
its generous hospitality. 

There were three brothers by the name 
of Woodward, who came from England at 
an early day, one settling iij Connecticut, 
one in Pennsylvania and one in Virginia — 



men of strong distinct characteristics, and 
prominent citizens where they lived. 

Abishai Woodward, the grandfather of 
the subject of this sketch, was born in 
1749. He was an architect and leadino- 
contractor in New London, Conn., then 
one of the tionrishing cities of New Eng- 
land. A prominent and highly esteemed 
citizen, he was for many years an alderman 
of his native village; he died in 1809. His 
wife was Miss Mary Spicer, a lady belong- 
ing to one of the best families in Connecti- 
cut, and their family consisted of five sons 
and six daughters. Two of the sons, Abi- 
shai and Eben, settled in Louisiana, and 
three in Ohio — Gurdon and William in 
1817, and Amos in 1820 — locating in 
Lyme township, Huron county, on what 
is known as the " Firelands," a tract of 
land which was given by the State of Con- 
necticut to sufferers by tire at New Lon- 
don during the Revolution, when Benedict 
Arnold with the British soldiers captured 
and burned the city, and massacred the 
gai-rison after its surrender at Fort Gris- 
wold. 

When a boy, Dr. Woodward went to 
live with his Uncle Amos and Aunt 
Rachel Woodward, who havina; no sons of 
their own urged his parents to let them 
have the boy. As their farms joined, they 
consented, and there he spent his boyhood 
days, attending school winters, and help- 
incr on the farm summers, until 1841, when 
on the death of his uncle, he bid adieu to 
farm life and commenced the study of 
medicine vfith Dr. Lathrop, of Bellevue, 
one of the leading physicia'is of the county. 
Being of an active and observant mind, he 
made rapid progress with his studies, and 
after attending lectures two winters at the 
Medical College in Cleveland, <TiMduated 
in 1849. He immediately commenced 
practicing medicine with Dr. Lathrop at 
Bellevue, and from the commencement 
had a large and extensive practice in the 
town and adjoining counties. Possessing 
the qualities of tenderness ami sympathy 
in an eminent degree, and gifted with 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



07 



quick perceptions, a good judge of human 
nature, and prompt in diagnosis, lie was 
called in all important cases, especially in 
consnltation with other physicians, and 
had he continued in his profession would 
doubtless have been at the head of the pro- 
fession in nprthern Ohio. His love for 
his profession was unusual, and long after 
he gave up the practice, even up to the 
time of his death, he was ever ready to be 
consulted with and to j^ive advice, and 
many of his old patients would come to 
him, having such confidence in his skill, 
that they thought no other physician 
could prescribe for their ailments. 

Dr. Woodward was married on June 25, 
1851, to Miss Arabella Chapman, eldest 
daughter of Judge Frederick Chapman, of 
Belle^'ue, one of the earlier settlers and of a 
vei-y prominent family, socially and other- 
wise. Judge Chapman, at the time, was 
a large landowner, extensively engaged in 
business pursuits in Bellevue and vicinity, 
and required just such a practical man as 
Dr. Woodward to assist him in his busi- 
ness. Finally, in the year 1857, he per- 
suaded him to take an interest in his 
business, which was thereafter carried on 
in the Hr.ii name of Chapman & Wood- 
ward, with great success and profit until 
the death of Judge Chapman, April 26, 
1861. Alter that date the settling up of 
the estate of Judge Chapman, and closing 
up the business of the firm devolved upon 
Dr. Wooiward, in which position he 
brought to bear his good judgment and 
usual energy and ability, to the satisfac- 
tion of all parties, leaving a handsome 
property for the heirs of Judge Chapman. 
Dr. Woodward, as surviving partner, suc- 
ceeded to the business of the firm, and 
with his energy and perseverance was 
successful in acquiring a large and valu- 
able property in and around Bellevue, in 
real and personal property. Fie was one of 
the original stockholders of the Norwalk 
National Bank, of Norwalk, Ohio, and a 
director of the same from its organization, 
in March, 1865, until his death, during all 



of which time he aided said institution 
with his sound advice, sterling integrity 
and good judgment. He was also con- 
nected with tlie First National Bank, of 
Bellevue, Ohio, from its organization in 
September, 1875, until his death. He was 
elected cashier of this bank June 22, 1883, 
and under his management the institution 
was eminently successful, doing a large 
and prosperous business, having the confi- 
dence and patronage of the community 
to a high degree, and making regular 
semi-annual dividends. In this position, 
also, his friends appreciated his ex- 
traordinary business ability. It was a 
prominent trait in his character that what- 
ever he undertook to do, he did well, and 
was untiring in his efforts until the desired 
result was accomplished. He was also a 
close observer of things and their sur- 
roundings, and after a trip across the coun- 
try, it was very interesting to hear him 
describe the incidents of the journe}', the 
soil, climate and general appearance of 
things at every point. With a well-culti- 
vated mind he taught for himself, and ex- 
pressed his own opinions. True to his 
friends, true to his principles, and unyield- 
ing in his defense of right and justice, his 
high character and integrity were appre- 
ciated by all who knew him or had any 
business relations with him, and he stands 
prominent as one of the best examples of 
American citizenship. 

Dr. Woodward left two daughters. 
Louise, the elder, married John Gardiner, 
Jr., of Norwalk, Ohio, October 3, 1877, 
and has three sons, viz.: Amos Woodward 
Gardiner, born September 12, 1879; John 
Joslin Gardiner, born December 6, 1881, 
and Douglass Latimer Gardiner, born De- 
cem'oer 28, 1887, and is now a resident of 
Norwalk, Ohio. Belle Woodward, the 
second daughter, married, October 27, 
1880, William C. Asay, a lawyer of Chi- 
cago, III., and has two daughters, viz.: 
Marguerite Louise, born December 19, 
1884, and Pauline Clemence, born De 
cember 17, 1886. As a husband and 



68 



HUBOy rorXTY. OHIO. 



father Dr. Woodward \sas always kind and 
indulgent, providing ample means to pro- 
mote the happiness of the family circle. 
The residence of the family was purchased 
of J. Ij. Highee in 1871, and was greatly 
improved, the grounds and lawns hand- 
somely laid out and the house elegantly 
furnished. His widow still resides there 
with all the pleasant surroundings and 
comforts requisite to make life hapjjy on 
earth, with one missing in the family circle 
whom nothing can replace. 

In politics the Doctor was a Democrat. 
In relio'ious views, he was attached to the 
Protestant Episcopal Church, and was a 
liberal contributor to the creation of a 
house of woi'ship in Believue. He was 
alwaj's a cheerful giver to its financial sup- 
port, though his giving was not confined 
to the Episcopal Church, but, with his 
liberal views on the subject, his hand was 
ever ready to assist other organizations; 
and as he disliked outward show, he gave 
quietly and without display or ostentation. 

After a lingering illness, which he bore 
with manly patience, continuing to attend 
to business up to the day of his death, he 
departed this life September 23, 1S91, at 
the age of sixty-seven years, seven months 
and twelve days, and as the words "He is 
dead " passed from lip to lip, the whole 
community was filled with genuine grief, 
that one of its leading citizens — wliose ac- 
tive life had aided in building up the vil- 
lage, who had spent his whole life with 
his townsmen, and who was one of the 
pioneers in the progress and improvement 
of the county — had gone to his final rest. 
"Then shall the dust return to earth as it 
was, and the spirit shall return unto God 
who gave it." 



GOL. JAMES II. SPRAGUE, senior 
member of the firm of Sprague & 
French, manufacturers of umbrellas, 
Norwalk, is a native of New York 
State, born in Cayuga county, February 
15, 1845. lie is a son of James and 



Catherine (Grosbeck) Sprague, the latter 
a native of New York State, the former of 
Rhode Island, and a descendant of Gen. 
John Sprague of the same State. 

Our subject was privileged by his 
thoughtful parents to have given him ex- 
cellent educational advantages, and after 
i-eceiving a solid literary substratum at the 
common schools of his native place, lie at- 
tended Union Academy, Red Creek, where 
he graduated in 1857. He then, in 186-, 
entered Pulaski Academy in Oswego coun- 
ty, N. Y., subsequently taking a course at 
the Waterdown University, which he left, 
however, in order to respond to his coun- 
try's call for loyal men to preserve the 
Union. According to the records in the 
adjutant-general's office, New York, and 
those in the War Department at Washing- 
ton, our subject entered the Sixteenth 
Regiment New York Infantry as drum- 
major, serving in the first battle of Bull 
Kun, and all through the campaign of 
1861. His regiment was then changed 
from infantry to light artillery, and he was 
appointed sergeant of Battery F. At the 
storming of Fort Wagner he volunteered as 
leader of a "forlorn hope" of twenty men, 
at which engagement Col. Shaw, of the 
Eleventh New York Battery, was killed, 
and Sergeant Sprague thereupon received 
promotion to junior second lieutenant. In 
that capacity he took charge of the battery, 
and commanded at Honey Hill, S. C., 
besides in other engwgements leading up 
to the capture of Charleston, S. C, where 
he also commanded a battery, and was the 
first man to cross the bridge into the city 
during the siece. The next engagements 
in which he participated were those of 
what is known as the Georgetown raid and 
the battle of The Cowpens, after which his 
command wasordered back to Hilton Head, 
where he was mustered out after having 
done gallant service from April, 1861, to 
June, 1865. 

After the war Col. S[)rague returned 
north to New York, and was thei'e ap- 
pointed by Gen. John A. Greene, adjutant- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



69 



general of the State, to a majority in the 
One Hundred and Fourteenth New York 
National Guard, in which capacity lie 
served some three years, resigning in or- 
der to accept the position of general man- 
ager of McLean's circus. In 18(38 he ee- 
tired from the last named incumbency, and 
coming to Ohio accepted the position of 
traveling salesman for the house of Ber- 
nard Courtwright, whom he represented 
until 1872, and then entered the employ 
of F. B. Case, of Norwalk, as traveling 
salesman for his tobacco business until 
187('). In that year he took charge of col- 
lections for D. M. Osborne, of Auburn, N. 
Y., manufacturers of harvesters and bind- 
ers, and with this firm remained till 1882, 
at which time he accepted a position with 
the Piano Manufacturinfi; Company of 
Chicago, 111., as manager of their business 
in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, remaining 
as such till 1884, when he l)ecame in- 
terested with other citizens of Norwalk in 
the '• Hexagon Postal Box Company." 
Subsequently he embarked in the manu- 
factnrinii of advertising novelties in the 
same city, an enterprise he made a great 
success of. In 1886 Col. Sprague, with 
Mr. C. L. French, commenced the manu- 
facture of umbrellas, the well-known 
'•Tourist" Ijelng his specialty, in connec- 
tion with which he has a series of im- 
proved patents, prominent among which is 
his unequalled adjustable handle and tip. 
In a brief period they have bnilt up this 
industry from comparatively small begin- 
nings to its present mammoth proportions. 
In 1887 they bnilt the factory, and they 
now employ during busy tinges of the year 
over 150 hands, ten traveling salesmen 
being constantly kept on the road, to push 
their trade into every corner of the United 
States. Col. Sprague has also manufac- 
tured machinery for making umbrellas, 
and in all of his undertakings he has 
proven himself a representative business 
man and true American "hustler." 

Col. Sprague was married, in Norwalk, 
Huron county, to Eliza A. Cunningham, 



of that city, and they are recognized lead- 
ers in Norwalk society. Politically the 
Colonel is an active worker in the ranks of 
the Republican party, and, though retired 
from the army, his usefulness in military 
affairs is far from gone, for after coming 
to Ohio he was inspector of artillery on 
the staff of (tov. Charles Foster four years. 
In social organizations he is also promi- 
nent. He belongs to Mt. Vernon Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M., Royal Arch and Chapter, 
Norwalk Council, and is past eminent 
commander of Norwalk Commandery; is 
member of all the branches of the I. O. O. 
F., and of the Royal Arcanum; is deputy 
department commander of the IL Y. U. of 
Ohio, and past commander of the G. A. R. 
Post. He is also a member of Alcoran 
Temple of the Ancient Arabian Order of 
the Mystic Shrine, at Cleveland, Ohio. 



^' EORGE N. SIMMONS. This well- 
known citizen traces his genealogy 
to five brothers who sailed from 
Hamburg, Germany, to Plymouth, 
Mass., years ago. Among their descen- 
dants is mentioned Senator Simmons of 
Rhode Island, a cousin of Henry, father of 
George N. 

Henry Simmons was born May 16,1791, 
in Rensselaer county. New York, near 
Troy, where his youth was passed. He 
was a lifelong farmer; in politics a Demo- 
crat until Scott ran for President, when 
he united with the Whig party, afterward 
becoming a Republican. Mr. Simmons 
married Mary Ham, daughter of Conrad 
Ham, both residents, at the time, of Troy, 
N. Y., and the children of this union were 
Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah, William H., 
John J., David L., George N., Mary J., 
Emeline, Frances A., Clara, and Julia A., 
all of whom lived to adult age. Mr. Sim- 
mons was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
serving with Gen. Eddy at the battle of 
Stillwater. He died February 2, 1876; 
his widow on March 9, 1889, both mem- 



70 



HURON^ COUNTY, OHIO. 



bei's of the Methodist Church. They lie 
buried in the liome cemetery. 

George N. Si in in on s was born July 12, 
1825, in Grafton township, near Troy, 
N. Y., and was educated in the common 
schools. Jn 1853 he moved to Chicago, 
and was conductor on the Lake Siiore & 
Michigan Southern Railroad some seven or 
eight years; was also on the Ohio & Mis- 
sissippi Kailroad, and the Cincinnati 
Southern. In 1859, accompanied by three 
other men, lie crossed the Tlains, and was 
the first to discover gold in Colorado, on 
what is known as the " Chicago Bar."' He 
then returned east, took in two partners, 
and conveyed the first quartz mill, ever 
used in Colorado, across the Plains on 
wagons, there being at that time no rail- 
roads west of the Missouri river. The mine 
was the well-known "Black Hawk Co." 
The capital of the company being 
insiifiicient to carry on the business, Mr. 
Simmons again returned to secure more 
funds, but the war breaking out, he 
entered the service as scout in the Union 
army. Meanwhile his partners, to whom 
he had given power of attorney, sold the 
mine and disappeared with the proceeds, 
of which Mr. Simmons never received one 
cent. This mine was afterward sold to 
an eastern company for seven million dol- 
lars, together with other property which 
Mr. Simmons and his partners had located. 
After his return from the war George Sim- 
mons resumed woi'k on the railroad, which 
he followed tor several years on both north- 
ern and southern routes of the Lake Shore 
& Michigan Southern. After resigning 
his position on the railroad, he went into 
the packing business in Chicago, on Ran- 
dolph street. He had goods stored in 
Underwood's Provision Store House, and 
all was destroyed by the fire of 1872. He 
then abandoned that business, and, decid- 
ing to begin in fresh fields, opened a real- 
estate office in Chicago, in " Parker's 
block," the firm being Carter & Simmons. 
Prior to the panic of 1873 his business 
was worth several hundred thousand dol- 



lars, but at that time he shared the com- 
mon fate, and after amassing three 
fortunes, was again left to begin the 
world anew. But knowing no such word 
as " fail " he found temporary employment 
astconductor on the railroad, and in 1879 
went to Leadville, Colo., where he was 
one of the locators and owners of the 
famous "Col. Sellers Mine" at that place. 
Some of the mines are paying fair divi- 
dends, while others ot equal value are 
closed down on account of depreciation in 
silver currency. Returning east in Janu- 
ary, 1880, Mr. Simmons has since resided 
in Norwalk. He occasionally travels be- 
tween Colorado and the East, tratisacting 
business in relation to his gold, silver and 
lead mines, some of which are leased and 
yield a good percentage. 

On October 12, 1850, Mr. Simmons was 
united in marriage, in Albany. N. Y., 
with Miss Mary Barnes Chester, of Massa- 
chusetts, and children as follows have been 
born to them: Lucretia Josephine; Nel- 
lie G. (Mrs. Roe), now a resident of Milan, 
Ohio; George H., and Fred B. Formerly 
a Whig, Mr. Simmons has been a Repub- 
lican since the formation of that party. 



IjOEL BLACKMAN, one of the oldest 

^ I citizens of northern Ohio, is a eon of 

\j) Josiah Blackman, whose parents 

were natives of New England, in 

after years coming west with their children. 

Josiah Blackman was born in Massa- 
chusetts, and lived in New York for some 
time, coming to Erie county, Ohio, Just 
after the close of the war of 1812. He- 
was married to Tryphena Smith, who died 
two or three years after they settled in 
Ohio, followed by her husband at the age 
of about seventy years. He was a farmer 
all his life, and in politics voted with the 
Whig party. They were the parents of 
ten children, viz.: Clarissa, Allen, Ansel, 
Harvey, Ira, Chester, Simeon, Joel, Hiram 
and Sally. Of these, eight are deceased; 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



71 



one is living in La Porte county, Ind., and 
Joel is the sniiject of this sketch. 

Joel Blackinan was born March 13, 
1801, in New York State, and in 1815 
came with his parents to Ohio, locating in 
Florence township, Erie county. After 
his business, that of farmincr, was estab- 
lished on a firm basis, he returned to 
Connecticut, and on September 12, 1880, 
was united in marriage to Welthy Tilden. 
The young couple began wedded life on the 
farm in Erie county, and here resided in 
peaceful prosperity until 1867, when they 
came to the present home in Norwalk, 
Hunm Co.. Ohio, where she died March 
19, 1879. Joel Blackman is known as a 
business man of integrity and good judg- 
ment. In politics he was originally a 
Whig, and has been a Republican since the 

religion he 
Three 

children were born to him, of whom, in 
the order of their birth, the following is a 
brief record: Mrs. R. A. Watros was 
married October 15, 1869, and April 14, 
1881, and is now living with and carincr 
for her father; she has one child, Grace 
M. Packard. William Blackman was mar- 
ried June 10, 1862. Maria was the wife 
of William Kellogg, and died July 28, 
1871, leaving four children, as follows: 
Charles C, who was married April 4, 
1891, and died October 19, 1893; Fred B., 
who was married June 12, 1888, and has 
two children, Mai-ia and Florence; Will- 
iam G., married February 15, 1891, and 
Florence W. [Since the above was writ- 
ten Mr. Joel Blackman, the subject of the 
sketch, died at the home of his daughter, 
Mrs. R. A. Watros, the date of his death 
being November 20, 1893.— Ed. 



organization of that party: in 
is a member of the M. E. Church 



FETER HERMAN, senior member 
of the prosperous firm of Herman 
& Sons, in Inisiness at Norwalk and 
Monroeville, was born September 
12, 1835, in Peru township, Huron 
Co., Ohio. He is a son of F. J. Herman, 



whose parents were natives of Baden, 
Germany, where the grandfather followed 
carpentry, and was accidentally killed by 
tailing from a building. The grand- 
parents were members of the Catholic 
Church. 

F. J. Herman was born in 1799, in 
Baden, Germany, where he grew to man- 
hood and followed the carpenter trade. 
He was married to Waldabnrga Barhle, 
and in 1834 they came to America, lo- 
cating in Peru township, Huron Co., 
Ohio. The mother died in 1850, aged 
fifty-five years, leaving seven children, of 
whom Peter is the only one now living. 
For his second wife F. J. Herman married 
Anastosea Eidel, a widow lady who had 
two daughters by her former marriage, 
viz.: Mary and Elizabeth Eidel, natives 
of Huron county, Ohio. Mr. Herman 
voted with the Democratic party, and in 
religious faith was a member of the Cath- 
olic Church. He died in 1883, followed 
by his wife in the following year. 

Peter Herman was reared and educated 
in Huron county, Ohio; then learned the 
carpenter trade which he followed fifteen 
years, assisting also with the farm work. 
He and his step-sister resided under the 
same roof from 1851 to March 5, 1859, 
when their fraternal affection was changed 
by an arrow shot from Cupid's quiver, and 
the young couple were married. To this 
union have been born the following named 
children: Theresa, wife of L. Meyers; 
Frank J., in partnership with his father; 
Emma, married to George Meyer; An- 
drew, employed in the bottling works at 
Norwalk; Tillie, wife of J. Greenfeller; 
Flora J., living at home; Charles, a ma- 
chinist employed in the Leipsic Machine 
Works; Frederick, Albert and Edward. 
The family are all members of the Cath- 
olic Church, and all speak the German 
lantrnage. The sons are business men, 
and with their father vote the Demo- 
cratic ticket. 

Peter Herman first began his present 
business by selling agricultural imple- 



72 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



ments, and in 1875 opened an establish- 
ment at Monroeville, dealing in carriages, 
wagons, buggies, steam engines, threshing 
machines and otjier agricultural imple- 
ments. One brancii of tliis business yet 
remains in Monroeville, but in 1892 
another establishment was opened at Nor- 
waik, which will be the future central 
point, and he also conducts his farm in 
Peru township. 



^J 



'{\ ON. O. T. MINAKD. Descended 
'sH on liis mother's side from lievolu- 
1| tionary stock, while his father had 
been a soldier in the war of 1812, 
the subject of this sketch lias 
coursing through his veins true patriotic 
American blood, originally, as the family 
name would indicate, coming from an an- 
cestry of " La Belle France." 

Mr. Minard is a native of Connecticut, 
born May 10, 1822, a son of Lynde and 
Experience (Miner) Minard, also of the 
"Nutmeg State," the former of whom 
was born June 30, 1793, and died May 
10, 1878, the latter born May 9, 1793, 
came to Oliio in 1831, locating in Erie 
county, and died October 8, 1862. They 
were the parents of thirteen children, 
nine of whom attained their majority, and 
three are yet living. O. T. Minard had so 
few school advantages in his boyhood and 
early youtli, that after he was old enough 
to vote he attended for a time the old 
Norwalk Academy. His first business 
venture was merchandising in Birming- 
ham, Erie county, in partnership with a 
l)rotber, and he was so employed seven 
years. At the end of that time he termi- 
nated his interests in the store, and re- 
moved to Huron township, Erie county, 
where he was engaged in the same line of 
business till 1861, in which year he came 
to Norwalk township and here purchased 
land where he has since had his home, 
carrying on farming operations. In 1888 
he bought his elegant residence in the 



suburbs of tlie city of Norwalk, and has 
become one of the strong real-estate 
owners of Huron county. 

A man of strong likes, suave in man- 
ner, fearless in his advocacy of the higher 
and purer privileges of Democracy, Mr. 
Minard has drawn about him a strong 
Cordon of friends, whose partiality in his 
favor is told by their electing iiim, in 
1880, in a Republican city, mayor, and in 
re-electing him in 1882. Tiiey also re- 
peatedly made him, by tiieir suffrages, a 
member of the board of education; a 
member of the water-works board, and at 
times placed him in other positions of re- 
sponsibility and trust, in all of which 
incumbencies he more than met the antici- 
pations of his warmest friends. 

On October 31, 1850, Mr. Minard was 
united in marriage with Miss Emily 
Chandler, daughter of Daniel and Sarah 
(Somersj Chandler. No children have 
been born of this union, but three little 
ones of others found the love and bless- 
ings of the good home whose kindness 
and hospitality are proverbial. Two of 
these foster children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Minard — A. J. and E. S. Minard (nephews) 
— are now prominent business men of 
Springfield, Missouri. 

Tiiis is one of tiie highly respected fami- 
lies of Norwalk, whose circle of sincere 
friends but widens as the fleeting years 
roll by. Mrs. Minard is a consistent and 
devout member of the Baptist Church. 



/^ 



H[ARTWELL R. MOORE, superin- 
I tendent of the A. B. Chase Com- 
i pany, Norwalk, is a son of George 
P. Moore, who was born in New 
Hampshire, December 6, 1818, and was 
united in marriage with Hannah Tennant, 
in 1843, in Clinton county, N. Y. She 
was the daughter of Samuel Tennant, born 
January 5, 1820, in Clinton county, N. Y. 
Their children were seven in number, five 
of whoH) are living: Hartwell R., Samuel, 



HUEON COUNT r, OHIO. 



73 



Elizabeth (Mrs. Albert Mason), H. P. 
Moore, and Minnie. When George P. 
Moore was but ten years of age, he with 
his parents, Samuel H. and Clarissa 
(Morse) Moore, removed to New York, 
where he orrew to manhood and met and 
married Miss Tennant, as already related. 

H. R. Moore was born April 23, 1844, 
in the State of JN'ew York, and was reared 
and educated in Peru, Clinton county. In 
18G1 he left home, and served an appren- 
ticeship to the piano manufacturing trade, 
in the case department. In tlie spring of 
1863 he went to work at his trade in Chi- 
caffo, and in 1864 entered the organ fac- 
tory of Jacob Estey & Co., remaining in 
their employ until the great lire of 1871, 
although the property had changed hands 
prior to that disaster. On December 25, 
1865, he was united in marriage with 
Catlierine Andre, daughter of the eminent 
music composer of that name, herself an 
accomplished musician. She died May 19, 
1891, leaving the following children: 
Lillian (Mrs. Lampkin), William Andre 
(assisting bis father), Jessie, Grace, Amee 
and Eva. On July 18, 18U3, Mr. Moore 
married Lucy M. Kennedy, of Holyoke, 
Massachusetts. 

After the Chicago tire H. R. Moore 
went to Battle Creek, Mich., in the inter- 
ests of Rilej Burdett & Co., organ manu- 
facturers, to start up the making of cases, 
cabinet benches, etc. This firm afterward 
moved their ^^lant to Erie, Penn., and be- 
came widely known as the Burdett Organ 
Company. Mr. Moore was with this com- 
pany until 1875, when he came to Nor- 
walk, at the time of the first organization 
of the A. B. ('base Company, in order to 
accept his present position as superinten- 
dent. He has planned and erectetl all the 
extensive factory buildings owned by the 
company, also superintended the construc- 
tion of all instruments manufactured by 
them, besides purchasing the necessary 
materials. When they first opened busi- 
ness the firm hired but thirty or forty men, 
and now over two hundred hands find 



regular employment in their factory. Mr. 
Moore has been a stockholder and director 
since the business was first incorporated, 
and has invented a large number of im- 
provements for both pianos and organs. 
He was a member of the council at Nor- 
walk for four years, and has been presi- 
dent of that body one year. 



EPHAS TAYLOR, a well-known 
retired citizen of Norwalk, was born 
December 28, 1822, in Sempronius, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., son of Joseph 
and Sallie (Potter) Taylor, both of whom 
were natives of Massachusetts. Immedi- 
ately after marriage the parents removed 
to New York, thence coming to the West 
and locating in North Fairfield, Huron 
Co., Ohio, where they spent the remainder 
of their days. The father died about 
1848, aged seventy-six years; the mother 
died about 1855, at almost the same age 
as her departed husbancl. They had a 
family of nine children, all of whom grew 
to maturity, and our subject is next to the 
youngest in order of birth. 

Cephas Taylor came west in 1839, locating 
in North Fairfield, where April 18, 1850, 
he was married to Eunice Chei'ry, a native 
of that township, who died in Norwalk, 
June 5, 1887. Mr. Taylor's second mar- 
riage was with Mrs. Roda E. Zeller. He 
first settled on a farm in North Fairfield, 
but after several years hard work there his 
health became so seriously impaired that 
he retired to recuperate. With renewed 
health he went to Wood county, Ohio, 
and again went to work on his farm, re- 
maining there until the Civil war broke 
out, when he sold his farm in Wood county 
and returned to North Fairfield. In 
January, 1870, he went to Bledsoe county 
Tenn., and for nearly six years lived 
among the Cumberland mountains, where 
he entirely regained his health. While in 
Tennessee he engaged chiefly in stock 
dealing. On his return to Huron cuunty 



74 



HUROX COUXTY, OHIO. 



in 1876, lie concluded to retire from active 
life, and in 1879 removed to ]S'orwalk, 
where he has since made his home, al- 
though spending several winters in the 
South. Mr. Taylor now recalls with 
evident pride, the fact that he was a Re- 
publican long before that party was or- 
ganized or even named, never failing to 
vote the Free-soil ticket when opportunity 
offered; he is also a strong Prohibitionist. 
Mr. Taylor is of English descent, both his 
paternal grandfather and grandmother 
having been natives of England. In re- 
ligions faith he is a Baptist. 



Iff ON. LEWIS C. LAYLIN, £x- 
pH Speaker of the Ohio House of 
11 4i Iit'presentatives. It is conceded 
^ that to the citizen of our Republic, 

no higher honor can be accorded 
than that conferred by his constituency in 
choosing him as a representative in State 
or National assemblies. This is pre-emin- 
ently trne when election is the result of 
official titness to hold a piiblic trust. 

It is a fact gratifying to the elector that 
men of the highest character are exerting 
an extended influence in political circles, 
and are constantly being called from their 
professions to till public offices. An illus- 
tration of this class — one possessing not 
the slightest taint of the proverbial word 
"politician"' — stands the subject of this 
biographical sketch. 

Lewis C. Laylin, a son of John Laylin, 
a pioneer of the "Firelauds," was born in 
Norwalk, Ohio, September 28, 1848. He 
attended school and worked on his father's 
farm, alternately, until his graduation 
from the Xorwalk High School in 1867. 
Having obtained the elements of an Eng- 
lish education, he further disciplined him- 
self by entering the profession of teaching. 
He taught two years in the country schools, 
at the end of which time he was elected 
superintendent of the public schools of 
Bellevne, Ohio, and was unanimously re- 



elected to the same position by the board 
of education, for six consecutive years. 
Abandoning school work, he commenced 
tlie study of the law, under Judge C. E. 
Ponnewell, now of Cleveland, Ohio, was 
admitted to the bar March 13, 1876. and 
it is at this period that his career proper 
commences. The public seems to have 
recognized in him trom the outset a safe 
man, and how well their confidence has 
been placed can be best judged by the 
number of positions wliich he has filled, 
and the length of time he was retained in 
places of public trust. 

He was elected city clerk of Xorwalk, 
and served two years; appointed a member 
of the county board of school examiners, 
serving twelve years; and was president of 
the Norwalk board of city examiners three 
years. He was secretary of the Huron 
County Agricultural Society three years, 
and has always been actively identified with 
its interests. In 1879 he was elected prose- 
cuting attorneyof Huron county, and served 
three terms — a period of seven years. 
He was a member of the county Republi- 
can Executive Committee eleven years, its 
secretary four years, and its chairman three 
years. He was a member of the Republi- 
can Congressional Committee of his Dis- 
trict eight years, during a portion of which 
time he served as chairman of that body; 
and he has served as a member of the State 
Central Comnjittee. For several years he 
has been secretary of the Firelands His- 
torical Society, and a member of its board 
of trustees. 

Mr. Laylin was elected to the State 
Legislature in 1887. and during the 68th 
General Assembly he was a member of 
the standing committee on Judiciary, was 
cliairman of the committee on Institution 
for the Blind, and served on the State 
Centennial Committee. He was unani- 
mously renominated for representative in 
1889. was elected a member of the 69th 
General Assembly, and was chosen as 
candidate for the speakership by the unani- 
mous action of the Republican minority. 



IlUllOy COUNTY, OHIO. 



77 



He was reappointed a member of tlie com- 
mittee on Judiciary, also a member of tlie 
committee on Insurance, and of the com- 
mittee on Rules. 

In September, 1801, he was again nom- 
inated for the Legislature by the unanimons 
vote of the Republican delegates of Huron 
county, was elected, and on January 4, 
1892, he was elected Speaker of the House 
of Representatives of the 70th General 
Assembly. His administration as the 
executive officer of the House was in the 
highest degree creditable to him, and is 
commended liy both Democrats and Re- 
publicans. He is an excellent parliamen- 
tarian, prompt in his rulings, and clear in 
his reasonings. During his entire term 
as Speaker not one of his decisions was ap- 
pealed from. 

In his characteristics Mr. Laylin is not 
possessed of that bold aggressiveness which 
forms so large a part in the characters of 
many of our public men. He is never of- 
fensive, to even his greatest adversary. 
The strong elements of his nature which 
have marked hiin as a party leader are his 
deliberation and his powers of organization. 
In this regard he is essentially a harmon- 
izer of factions; while his gentility, his in- 
tegrity and well-known moral and Chris- 
tian manhood commend him to the 
individual. Notwithstanding the fact that 
he has been almost constantly in office since 
he was admitted to the bar, he has found 
time to build up a lucrative law practice. 
As an 'advocate he is pointed, logical and 
forcible, and inanv of his discourses, both 
at the bar and before public assembly, have 
been complimented as master-pieces. 

Mr. Laylin was married Noveml)er 3, 
1880, to Miss Frances L., daughter of 
John F. Dewey, a prominent citizen of 
Huron county, and three children have 
been born to this marriage, viz.: Clarence 
Dewey, Robert Weyl>urn ana Lewis Fair- 
child. Our sul)ject is past eminent com- 
mander of ISTorwalk Commandery K. T. ; 
past master of Norwalk Lodge, F. & A.M., 
and past master of Bellevue Lodge F. & 



A. M. He is a member of the First 
Methodist Episcopal Church of Norwalk, 
and of the official board of same. 



J 



OHN LAYLIN was born in West- 
moreland county, Penn., May 22, 
1791. His parents removed to 
Beaver, Penn., in 1796. In March, 
1810, his father sold his farm and started 
for the " lake country," taking with him 
all his family except John, who remained 
behind until June of the same year to re- 
ceive a payment for the farm, which be- 
came due at that time. 

John hired out during the summer to a 
farmer at ten dollars and fifty cents per 
month, and attended school during the fol- 
lowing winter. In the spring his grand 
father, Abraham Powers, and Hanson Reed 
decided to follow John's parents to the 
frontier. Accordingly they started over- 
land through the wilderness, taking with 
them such household goods and other prop- 
erty as they could can-y. John accom- 
panied them, assisting in driving stock, 
and in other ways rendering them aid dur- 
ing their long, tedious journey. The party 
at length arrived at Cuyahoga portage. 
They then learned that John's father and 
mother had stopped there the previous 
spring, on their way to the frontier, and 
raised a crop of corn, and in the fall had 
removed to the mouth of the Black river, 
on the lake shore. John remained with 
his grandfather's party until they reached 
Greenfield, Huron county, where they 
settled. He remained with Hanson Reed 
one month, to assist him in planting corn. 
He then started alone and on foot, by In- 
dian trails, to join his father's family, near 
Black river. While on this lonelv journey, 
sleeping on the bank of the Vermillion 
river, he was surrounded by wolves, but, by 
the greatest vigilance, and kindling a fire, 
he kept them at bay until morning. In 
October, 1811, the family removed to West 
Berlin, Erie coimty. During the fol- 
lowing winter, Mr. Laylin taught school. 



78 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



receiving his board and one dollar and a 
quarter tuition per scliolar,a8 compensation. 

In the spring of 1812 war was declared 
between England and the United States. 
A meeting of the citizens of that and the 
surrounding counties was held to provide 
means for defense. A petition, asking for 
assistance from the governor of Ohio, was 
forwarded, and a company of " Minute 
men" was organized for home defense. 
Mr. Laylin joined the company, and on the 
next day it marched to the peninsula otf 
Sandusky, to ascertain if there were any 
Indians in the vicinity. Mr. Laylin was 
prevented joining this e.xpedition by severe 
sickness. From the entire company of 
thirty, only four or five survived the expe- 
dition. Notliing was heard of the poor 
fellows until their whitened bones were 
found in the following September by a de- 
tachment of Commodore Perry's victorious 
troops. In August, Gen. Hull surrendered 
to the British, wiiich was not known among 
the settlers until a small British fleet ap- 
peared otf Huron, from which some of the 
prisoners taken were sent in small boats to 
the shore. The greatest consternation pre- 
vailed. In the panic which followed, the 
family fled to lEount Vernon. At Mans- 
field, they met a regiment hastening to the 
protection of the citizens on the border, 
and Mr. Laylin joined these troops. 

After Ids term of enlistment had ex- 
pired, he rejoined his father's family at 
Mount Vernon. Here he learned the ma- 
son's trade. He was fond of reading and 
study and, not being confined closely at 
his trade, found time to avail himself of 
the advantages of a public library. He 
became a great student of ancient and 
modern history. He also watched with 
deep interest the great discoveries in 
science and the inventions of genius. It 
was during this time tiiat his most lasting 
political and religious opinions were 
formed. In the meantime, his father's 
family had removed to Norwalk, but he 
remained in Mount Vernon until 1817, 
when he was called home by the death of 



his father. In October, 1818, he married 
Olive Clark, wife of Daniel Clark, of 
Bronson. Mr. Laylin then settled near 
Norwalk, on a farm which he had pre- 
viously bought, where he passed the most 
active and useful portion of his life. Dur- 
ing the years that followed he was a most 
zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, having made that the church of 
his choice. He was appointed superin- 
tendent of a Sabbath-school in the neigh- 
borhood, which position he filled for a 
number of years. During the year 1841 
he was sorely bereaved in the death of his 
wife and two children. There remained 
of the family six children — two sons and 
four daughters. Six years afterward Mr. 
Laylin married Mrs. Mary Weyburn 
States, of Hartland, who proved an excel- 
lent wife and mother. In the strength of 
her affection she gathered into her love the 
remains of two broken families, and was a 
true mother to them all. Soon after his 
second marriage he removed to a residence 
on Medina street, Norwalk, where he re- 
mained until his death. 

His faithful wife died April 16, 1877, 
after a long, painful illness, which baffled 
skill, love and care. For several years her 
husband's infirmity, and his desire to have 
her by him, confined iier to the precincts ol 
home. She was its light and strength. 
Her worth was manifest in the high es- 
teem and reverence in which she was held 
by all her family. Mr. Laylin survived the 
death of his wife but a few days. He died, 
peacefully, April 26, 1877. There remain of 
his children: Elvira, Mrs. Richard Elliott; 
Celestine, Mrs. W. W. Hildreth; Olive, 
Mrs. M. L. Carr; Marriette, Mrs. F. Card; 
Marie, Mrs. Frank Evans, and his sons, 
Theodore C. and Lewis C, residents of 
Norwalk. 

Mr. Laylin was a man of untiring en- 
ergy and perseverance. Favored with few 
early advantages for mental culture, he 
availed himself to the utmost of what he 
had. Strength and definiteness were lead- 
ing characteristics of his mind. He held 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



79 



decided and independent jiidginents on all 
religious and political (questions that from 
time to time stirred public thought during 
his long life. 



AMUEL P. DeWOLF (deceased) was 
a descendant of an oid New JEng- 
land family. He was born October 
15, 1832, in Wellington township, 
Loraiu Co., Ohio, and resided there until 
1861, when he located near the village of 
Clarksfield, Huron county. 

IHs father, AVhitman DeWolf, was born 
January 22, 1802, at Otis, Mass., where 
lie grew to manhood. He was married 
January 4, 1827, to Alice Pelton, also a 
native of Otis, born April 9, 1798. Her 
fatlier, Samuel Pelton, was born May 9, 
1757, at Granville, Conn., and her mother, 
Mary Pelton, was born January 21, 1761, 
at Grotou, Conn. Seventeen days after 
their marriage they started for the "Far 
West," accompanied by Mathew DeWolf, 
his wife Mary, and son Homer, then a lad 
of twelve years. The record of the jour- 
ney, as made by Mrs. Alice DeAVolf, is 
given as follows : 

On January 12, 1837, we, a little New England 
band Irom Berkshire County, Mass., left our native 
home lor Ohio, the " Far West;" and who were this 
choice few? Matthew DeWolf his wife and son, 
my husband and myself. We were just one month 
on the road, with Scotch plaids and camlets belted 
around us; fur capes and hoods, muffs and tippets, 
and Covered sleighs. Thus we all started, leaving 
dear friends behind. We were brought safely 
through; found kindness in every stranger, with 
the lamiliar salutation " Bound for Ohio." 

Whitman DeWolf purchased lands in 
Wellington townsliip, Lorain county, from 
the State of Connecticut, made a clearing 
and erected a cabin thereon, one mile and 
a half west of the village of Wellington. 
When the two brothers and tlieir families 
arrived they found shelter in that cabin, 
and there the following named children 
came to Whitman and Alice DeWolf: 
James S., born March 11, 1829, a resident 
of Clarkstield; Samuel P., subject of this 



sketch, and Melville W., born September 
28, 1834, now connected with the Erie liail- 
road in the office in New York City. The 
father died September 3, 1850, on the 
farm whicii he reclaimed from the wilder- 
ness, and was buried in Wellington ceme- 
tery. His life of twenty-three years in 
Ohio was a successful one, not only as a 
farmer, but also as a stock-dealer and 
trader, in all of whicli he exhibited un- 
usual business ability, and won success. 
His widow, who resided with her son 
Samuel, died September 18, 1871, and was 
buried by the side of her husband. 

Samuel P. DeWolf passed his youth 
after the fashion of boys of the period, at- 
tending the winter school and working on 
the farm. While yet a lad lie would ac- 
company his father on trips to the West 
to purchase live stock, and thus he became 
himself an acknowledged judge of cattle. 
His health, however, opposed an active 
agricultural life, and consequently he 
entered the hardware store of J. S. Reed, 
at Wellington, where he was employed 
about one year. The following year he 
worked for iiis cousin, Samuel Jones, then 
conducting a general store at Brighton, 
Lorain county. After this insight into 
mercantile life, he returned to the home 
farm, purchased the interest of the other 
heirs, and began a successful agricultural 
career, continuing therein until 1861, 
when he removed to the larger tract which 
he purchased just south of Clarksfield 
village. He was united in marriage 
July 20, 1872, with Sarah Fo.x, who was 
born February 4, 1847, in Hopewell town- 
ship, Seneca Co., Ohio. Her parents, 
David and Jane (Johnson) Fox, who were 
married in Seneca county, moved to Wis- 
consin, thence to Iowa, and returning to 
Ohio in 1861 settled in Clarkstield town- 
ship, Huron county. The children born 
to Samuel P. and Sarah DeWolf are Alice 
Mae, Mrs. Willis Yiets, of Clarksfield 
township; Jessie L. (Mrs. H. E. Seeley, of 
Clarksfield township), born November 10, 
1875, and Bessie M., born January 16, 



80 



UURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



1883, residing at liome. The father of 
this tainily died April 2. 1889, in his home 
near Ciarketield, and was buried in the 
cemetery of the neighboring village. 

He was a very extensive stock dealer, 
and the owner of a beautiful farm of 260 
acres, besides other real estate, including 
two store buildings. Politicallv he was a 
Republican, and gave to the party a loyal 
support. He was not a politician in the 
sense of being an office seeker, but one 
who favored safe principles and good offi- 
cials. Well known and highly esteemed, 
his death was mourned by a large number 
of sincere friends. Mrs. Sarah DeWolf 
has managed the estate with more than 
ordinary ability, proving that woman pos- 
sesses e-xecutive and business tact, when 
circumstances or necessity call for their ex- 
ercise. Slie is a member of the Congre- 
gational Church, and popular in social cir- 
cles in the township. 



yllLLIAM HENRY MITCHELL. 
' In the publication of the biotc- 
raphy of W. H.JJCitchell, we will 
revert briefly to the personality of 
his grandparents. 

Jethro Mitchell was born on the island 
of Nantucket, Mass., January 27, 1784. 
Mercy Green was born in Rhode Island, 
January 31, 1785, and was a daughter of 
Thomas Green, wiio subsequently moved 
to Nantucket. Jethro Mitchell and Mercy 
Green were married to each other at Nan- 
tucket, October 5, 1805. As the result of 
this marriage twelve children were born — 
six boys and six girls — one dying in in- 
fancy, and the others all living to manhood 
and womanhood. All but the youngest, 
Mary, were born at Nantucket, she being 
a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. The tenth 
child was Walter, who was born November 
14, 1819, and who is the father of the sub- 
ject of this sketch. 



When Walter was but four years of age 
his parents and family moved to New 
York City,thence,jafter a year, to Brooklyn, 
and tlience. after eight years, to Cincinnati, 
where Walter continued to live for a period 
of seventeen years. From 1845 to 1848 
he was a student at Lane Theological 
Seminary, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio, 
graduating in the latter year. He was 
licensed to preach by the Presbytery of 
Dayton in a meeting held at Dayton, Ohio, 
April 6, 1847. He has preached succes- 
sively at Greenville, Ohio, at Bedford and 
Boonville, liid., at Moscow, New Rich- 
mond, Hebron, Marysville, Gallipolis, 
Russellville, and Wilmington, Ohio, in all 
a period of over forty-four years. On Oc- 
tober 31, 1848, he was married to Miss 
Mary Eliza Evens, at the home of her 
father, Piatt Evens, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Piatt Evens was born in Herkimer 
county, N. Y., June 13, 1792, and was mar- 
ried March 30, 1816, to Miss Eliza Ann 
Murray, at Albany, N. Y. The latter was 
a native of Vermont, and was born at Rut- 
land, October 24, 1798. In 1817 Piatt 
Evens and wife moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, 
where they continued to reside until both 
were removed by death. Three children 
were born to them, the third of whom was 
Mary Eliza, who became the wife of Wal- 
ter Mitchell, and the mother of Walter 
Piatt, Theodore Jethro, William Henry 
and Anna Louisa, the third of whom, 
William Henry, was born in Boonville, 
Warrick Co., Ind., August 3, 1853, and 
all of whom are still living, except Anna 
Louisa, whose death occurred June 19, 
1869, at the age of fourteen years. The 
family is distinguished for health and 
longevity. Jethro Mitchell's death at 
forty-eight years of age was the result of 
an accident, a fall through an elevator 
shaft of a building in Cincinnati in which 
he was doing business. His wife, Mercy 
Mitchell, lived to be seventy-four. Piatt 
Evens lived to be eighty-one. and his wife, 
Eliza Ann Evens, was upward of eighty at 
the time of her death. Walter Mitchell 



HURON COUNTY, OHTO. 



81 



and Mary Eliza Mitcliell are still living, 
and bid fair to equal if not exceed the 
limit of life attained by their parents. 

AVilliain Henry Mitchell continued to 
live wiih his parents until seventeen years 
of age, when, having completed his high- 
echool course at Gallipolis, Ohio, he en- 
tered Marietta College, at Marietta, Ohio, 
in September, 1870, and four years later, 
in July of 1874, before he was twenty-one 
years of age, graduated fi'om the classical 
course of that thorough institution with 
the degree of A. E., and three years later 
received therefrom the degi'ee of A. M. 
Following his graduation Mr. Mitchell en- 
tered at once upon the work of teaching, 
and although he located at Gallipolis, Ohio, 
the home of his boyhood, he was soon 
elected to the Principalship of Gallia 
Academy, an institution then of thirty 
years standing, and chartered with full 
college privileges, even to the conferring 
of degrees. Mr. Mitchell's success in the 
inanacrement and control of the affairs of 
this school, together with his otherwise 
recognized ability, secured for him, in 
1876, appointments to membership on 
both the Gallia County and the Gallipolis 
City Boards of School Examiners, in the 
orcranization of each of which he was 
elected to the clerkship, and all of which 
honorable and imp<irtant positions he con- 
tinued to hold until he became ineligible 
by non-residence, in 1883. In 1878 W. 
H. Mitchell bought of the Hon. S. Y. 
Wasson, at Gallipolis, Ohio, a book and 
stationery store, which he continued to 
operate as the sole proprietor, doing a 
large and lucrative business until 1888, 
wlieii he disposed of the same at private 
sale, that he might again give his entire 
time and attention to teaching, the profes- 
sion of his choice. 

In 1871:), after the requisite five years of 
successful experience in teaching had i)een 
served, Mr. Mitchell received, upon appli- 
cation, at the hands of the Ohio State 
Board of School Examiners, a strictly first- 
class teacher's certificate, good for life. 



and 80 comprehensive in character that he 
is empowered thereby to discharge the 
duties of any public-school position in the 
great Commonwealth of Ohio. 

On May 1, 1879, W. H. Mitchell was 
married to Clara Cooley, youngest daugh- 
ter and child of the late William Henry 
and Caroline Miller Langley, of Gallipolis, 
Ohio, the former being widely and promi- 
nently known as the first president of what 
is now the Columbus, Hocking Valley & 
Toledo Railway. Clara Cooley Langley 
was the eighth child of her parents, and 
was born April 20, 1857. A fact worthy 
of note here is that her second sister, 
Mary Frances, born July 16, 1851, is the 
wife of Theodore Jethro, her husband's 
second brother. To William H. and Clara 
L. Mitcliell have been born two children — 
a daughter and a son. The first, Caroline 
Langley, was born April 25, 1885, and the 
second, Walter Evens, December 3, 1888, 
and at this writing both of these are men- 
tally and physically strong, heilthful chil- 
dren, with every prospect of long and use- 
ful lives. 

In June of 1883, Mr. Mitchell, being 
desirous for a change from the scenes and 
surroundings which had been familiar to 
him for fifteen years, and to his wife from 
her l)irth, sought and secured the position 
of superintendent of the public schools of 
Monroeville, Huron Co , Ohio, and from 
that time to the present has continued to 
discharge the responsible duties of that 
important trust. He has also served as 
the principal of the High School, and for 
nine years as clerk of the Board of Educa- 
tion with which he has been associated, 
and is still the incumbent in all of these 
capacities. In 1885 he was appointed by 
the Probate Court a member of the Huron 
County Board of School Examiners, a little 
later was elected clerk of that body, and 
is thus officially still serving Huron county. 

Educationally in his county and section 
Mr. Mitchell is a recognized leader, hav- 
ing repeatedly served as president of 
Teachers' Associations, and having again 



82 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



been the past year president of the lu- 
Btitute. As a siuniner school and institute 
worker his services are sought and ever 
appreciated. He has filled positions on 
the programme of State and National 
Teacliers' Associations; has contributed 
liberally to the public prints, and is con- 
ceded to be a fluent and forceful speaker, 
an active and earnest educational worker, 
and a facile and finished writer upon 
themes educational and ethical. 

Masonically, our subject has likewise 
achieved distinction and honor, having had 
conferred upon him all the degrees of the 
blue lodge, chapter, council, and com- 
mandery, and having in these bodies filled 
numerous ofiicial stations. At this writ- 
ing he has entered upon his third term as 
Worshipful Master of Roby Lodge, No. 
534, F. & A. M., of MonroeviUe. 01iio,and 
is thereby the hicrhe.st ofiicial and the 
acknowledged head of the order in his 
home town. Politically he is a Republi- 
can, and in politics as in all things else is 
active and energetic, though sufficiently 
conservative iis not to be offensively par- 
tisan. His voice is heard in the conven- 
tions of his party, and in the Huron 
G<innty Convention of 1892, the largest 
and most remarkable in the history of the 
county, he was both the temporary and 
permanent chairman; and a prominent 
Cleveland daily, in giving an account 
thereof, published his portrait and biogra- 
phy, and added the comment that, "witii 
malice toward none, and charity for all, 
we will venture the assertion that the 
Huron county perspiring patriots, in con- 
vention assembled, could not have selected 
from all their hosts a more competent 
man than Sup't. W. H. Mitchell, of Mon- 
roeville, to preside over their deliberations." 
Religiously, W. H. Mitchell is a Presby- 
terian, having in mature mauliood been 
received into that church by his father, 
and having later transferred his member- 
ship to the Presbyterian church of Mon- 
roeville. He is president of the Board of 
Trustees of the church of his choice, and 



is an active and useful member in the 
management of all of its affairs. 

As an educator, Mason, citizen and 
Christian, William Henry Mitchell may 
be recorded as a manly man. An honor 
to his profession, an example to bis fra- 
ternity, a credit to his community, a sup- 
port to his church, and withal a dutiful 
son, affectionate husband, and kind and 
indulgent father. 




lILLIS H. PETERS, than whom 
there is no more enterprising and 
popular citizen in the fair city of 
Norwalk, is a native of the place, 
born September 1, 1853, a son of Eli and 
Mary Jane (Weed) Peters. 

Eli Peters was born of pure Holland- 
Dutch descent, in Union county, Penn., 
where he was reared and educated. In 
1853 became to Norwalk, and at once em- 
barked in the clothing business, which he 
followed during life, and died December 
12, 1890, at the age of sixty-five years. 
His parents having died wlien he was yet a 
boy, he had to shift for himself; and his 
remarkable success in life, considei'inir his 
advantages, was entirely due to his plod- 
ding perseverance, sound judgment in all 
business transactions, and unquestioned 
integrity. It has truly been said of him 
that his character was without blemish, 
and his lienor pure and unsullied. On 
December 15. 1852, at Wooster, Wayne 
county, lie was mai-ried to Mary Jane 
Weed, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, 
and a relative of Thurlow Weed, by which 
union there were born two children. Mr. 
Peters was a member and senior warden 
of the Episcopal Church at Norivalk for 
many years, and in his political sympathies 
he was a Republican. 

Willis II. Peters, of whom this bio- 
graphical sketch is written, was educated 
at the public schools of Norwalk, and 
afterward took a course at the Speiicerian 
Commercial College, Cleveland. When of 



imiWy COUNTY, OHIO. 



83 



proper age lie was taken into his fatlier's 
store, serving at lirst as clerk, and later, 
in 1877, was admitted as a partner, tlie 
style of the tirm being E. Peters & Son 
for over ten years. At the death of his 
father he succeeded to the business, and 
has since carried it on with tlie same de- 
gree of care, attention and scrupulous 
dealing which characterized it during his 
father's lifetime. The Peters Clothing 
Company is the largest house in that line in 
'Norwalk, and gives steady employment to 
some twenty-seven assistants, the stock 
consisting of gents' furnishings, clothing, 
bats, caps, etc., in addition to which 
merchant tailoring is a specialty. Mr. 
Peters is a member of a syndicate of 
twenty-nine merchants combined for the 
better purchasing of clothing. 

On May 17, 1892, Willis H. Peters 
was united in marriage with Miss 
Corinne Barrett, of Santa Anna, Cal., who 
for many years was principal of a school 
at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Peters is a mem- 
ber of the Episcopal Church, and in poli- 
tics is a stanch Republican. Socially he is 
a member of the A. F. & A. M. (in which 
he has attained the thirty-second degree), 
of the Ancient Scottish Rite, also of the 
Mystic Shrine and of the Order of Elks. 
As a citizen he is much esteemed, and his 
popularity is unbounded. 



E 



-DGAR MARTIN, M. D., the 

eighth child of Gilbert and Ilan- 

j nah (Washburn) Martin, was born 

in Fitch ville, Huron Co., Ohio, 

October 10, 1826. In 1851 he came to 

Townsend, and commenced the practice of 

medicine. 

In 1853 Dr. Martin married Miss 
Mary J. Chapman, of Townsend, and they 
have had six children, viz.: Marie, Fred 
D., May, Clarence E., Mary E. and Edgar 
G., of whom are living Marie, May and Ed- 
gar G.; Clarence E. died at the age of five 



years, Mary E. when aged nine months, 
and Fred D. at the age of thirty-seven 
years. Marie married T. JI. Bain, and 
lives in Topeka, Ivans, (they had one 
daughter, now dead); Fred D. married 
Bessie Kellogg, and died July 8, 1893 (he 
practiced medicine, his sjiecialty being the 
eye, ear and throat); May married Charles 
A. Smith, and lives in Spokane Falls, 
Wash, (they had one daughter); Edgar G. 
is attending college. 

Dr. Edgar Martin took his degree from 
the Cleveland Medical College in Cleve- 
land, Ohio, in the year 1856, after five 
years of practice. lie practiced medicine 
from 1851 up to 1883, in Townsend and 
adjoining townships. In 1859 he was 
elected justice of the peace, and has held 
the office for thirty years — twenty-four 
years in Townsend and six in Norwalk, 
and is enjoying his third term in that 
town. In the early part of the Civil war 
he was commissioned first lieutenant in 
the One Hundred and Twenty-third Reg- 
iment O. V. I., and was soon promoted to a 
captaincy in the One Hundred and Sixty- 
sixth Regiment 0. Y. I. In 1873 he was 
elected to the State Lejjislature, serving 
therein two years. In early life Dr. E. 
Martin was an Abolitionist, and in 1852 
voted for John P. Hale, for President. 
He has been a stanch Republican since 
the organization of the party. 

The Doctor sprung from a Quaker an- 
cestry, which will explain to some extent, 
at least, his pronounced anti-slavery con- 
viction in his early manhood. To prop- 
erly estimate such a character we must 
bear in mind that the church society and 
the two great political parties were in- 
tensely pro-slavery, and all alike ready to 
rend the man who had the temerity to 
stand and talk and vote for human rights. 
To remember those in bonds, as bound 
with them, created the bitterest antagon- 
isms as well as social ostracism, and was 
considered sufficient cause for personal 
abuse and cruel persecution in many cases, 
both in the church and out of it. This 



84 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



fact will add a special lustre to the early 
maidio(jd of Dr. E. Martin. Socially he 
IB a Knight Templar, and a member of 
the G. A. R. Post, East Townsend. 




\ILLIAM H. PKICE. The true 
standard by which to judge a 
community is the character of its 
prominent citizens. Progress is 
rarely, if ever, the result of chance, but 
always the execution of well-laid plans 
l)ased on a thorough comprehension of the 
laws of l)usiness. It is only by keeping 
in view the lives of men who are ever as- 
sociated in the busy marts of commerce 
that we can .I'udge of the importance of de- 
velopment, and the possil)ilities of progress. 
Thus it is, that from the commercial, more 
than the literary or political side, the most 
valuable lessons of life are to be extracted. 
In this connection, as a gentleman whose 
bu^ines8 qualifications are of the best, as 
indicated by tlie numerous enterprises 
which he has brought to a successful issue, 
a brief biographical sketch is given of 
William H. Price, president of the Nor- 
walk Savings Bank (V>mpany. 

He WHS born in Herefordshire, England, 
in 1845, a son of Henry and Elizabeth 
(Harris] Price, the former of whom is a 
farmer of Herefordshire, and both the 
Prices and Harrisses are of Welsh descent, 
comincr from the line of ancient Britons. 
Samuel Price, the father of the Henry 
Price above mentioned, and also the great- 
grandfather of the subject of this sketch, 

Grenow, were both born at the old 

family English home, in Herefordshire, 
which is still in the family possession. 
The Prices were stock dealers and farmers, 
while the maternal branch of the family 
were seafaring men and miners; two of 
them were sea-captains, sailing from Swan- 
sea. The venerable parents of subject are 
still happily residing on the old hoinestead 

— the beloved father and mother of seven 
living children. 



W. H. Price reached his manhood in 
his parental home, receiving but a fair 
business education in the public schools of 
the vicinity, after which he served an ap- 
prenticeship to the droving and slaughter- 
ing business. At the age of twetity-one 
he came to America with Mr. William 
Prowbert, of the firm of William Prow- 
bert & Co., Cleveland, who was a friend of 
his father, and who in his day was one of 
the leading business men of that city. 
Mr. Price was associated with Mr. Prow- 
bert two years, having charge of much of 
the firm's business, especially the buying 
of stock for slaughtering purposes; after 
two years' service in this capacity he be- 
came manager of the firm of E. Cadle & 
Co. in a similar line of business. Con- 
tinuing four years with this company as 
manager, he organized the firm of W. H. 
Price & Co., closing with the old firm. 
During the next six years the new firm 
did a leading wholesale and retail slaugh- 
ter business in Cleveland, at the end of 
which time Mr. Price again sold and re- 
tired, on account of failing health, caused 
by his over-zealous attention to their ex- 
tended affairs. He sailed for Europe in 
the early part of 1878, and again visited 
the familiar scenes of childhood, and those 
of the dear old parental home. This change 
and total relaxation of all care continued 
through the season, and brought a happy 
restoration of health and strength. It is 
proper enough to her5 say that this was 
his second severe sickness in this country. 
Soon after he first came to America, and 
when he had only been fairly launched in 
business, an unfortunate accident liefell 
him that finally sent him to th>; hospital 
for a long terra, and where be had to 
undergo a dangerous surgical operation, 
from which he barely emerged with life. 
The young man had come with but a lim- 
ited capital, and his sickness had exhausted 
this and all his earnings, leaving him more 
than one hundred dollars in debt — mis- 
fortunes that would have quite vanquished 
many a young man, especially' if far from 





V /. / ^^d^ 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



87 



home and family friends. While the jouncr 
man's energy ontran his physical natnre, 
yet he haJ resolute will — a soul undaunted 
and a i)urpose high, he moved ever for- 
ward. On his return from Europe he or- 
ganized the tirm of Price & Chandler, 
which did an exclusively wholesale and re- 
tail business, furnishing meat to the retail 
dealers, and many of the public institu- 
tions of Cleveland, Mr. Price visitinj^ 
Chicago and St. Louis, purchasing the 
stock of the firm. His solicitude and con- 
stantly painstaking labor, in whatever 
capacity he acted, again told upon his 
health; and after the lirni had enjoyed 
three years of very prosperous business he 
found it necessary to retire from active 
life in order to allow his energies to re- 
cuperate. With this view he sold out his 
interest in the firm and removed to a farm 
in the suburbs of Norwalk, where after 
two years of quiet and outdoor exercise he 
found much of his former vigor regained, 
and soon again plunged into business. In 
1884 he was associated with C. H. Stewart 
in a real-estate partnership, and during the 
five years they were actively thus engaged 
they laid off four additions to Norwalk, 
and the rapid growth of the place then 
commenced, as they sold more lots and 
built more houses than i^U the other deal- 
ers in the place, helping many workmen 
to buy homes, as they would sell to them 
on the installment plan. The period from 
1884 to 1889 was marked as the improve- 
ment era of Norwalk, and much of this 
was due to the energy, foresight and liber- 
ality of this firm. 

In 1889, in connection with C, H. 
Stewart and W. O. Monett, Mr. Price 
organized the Norws^lk Savings Bank, a 
copartnership concern until 1891, when it 
was reorganized and was chartered as a 
joint-stock company. Mr. Price has been 
president of both organizations, and this 
is now 01(6 of the most successful financial 
institutions in this part of Ohio, with a 
capital stock of one hundred thousand dol- 
lars. Mr. Price is a stockholder in the 

5 



First National Bank of Norwalk. In the 
early part of 1892 the people of Norwalk 
became deeply interested in the question 
of electric motive power for street and 
road ti-ansportation. As the rapid develop- 
ment of the use of electricity as the hand- 
maiden of man, street railroads became a 
leading question, and a road connecting 
Sandusky, Milan and Norwalk was mooted. 
This called out people of greatest enter- 
prise. A company was soon formed, the 
project put on its feet, and was rapidly 
pushed to completion. Mr. Price is a 
prominent stockholder and director, and 
was by the unanimous voice of the owners 
called to the most important place in di- 
recting its movements, the conipany all 
feeling that with him at the helm there 
was ample guarantee of assured success. 
Another enterprise of moment to the city 
was also launched in 1892, when a com- 
pany was formed to build the Norwalk 
Foundry and Machine Works, now a suc- 
cessful plant, and again Mr. Price was 
called by his fellow stockholders to the 
leading place of president. In the organ- 
ization of the Arcade Savings Bank Com- 
pany, of Cleveland, he was a prime mover 
and is a stockholder; was active in estab- 
lishing the Garfield Banking Company, 
whose place of business is located in Cleve- 
land and owned by Price & Stewart; he is 
a stockholder in the Dime Savings Bank 
of Cleveland, president of the Norwalk 
Nursery Company, and president of the 
Norwalk Brick Company, two of the im- 
portant industries of tlie city, whicii may 
well look to him as their foster-father, as 
they received the benefit of his intelligent 
judgment and financial resources. He is 
vice-president of the Smith Specialty Com- 
pany, one of the flourishing factories of 
the place; stockholder and director of the 
Norwalk Metal Spinning and Stamping 
Company, and stockholder of the Lake Erie 
Tobacco Company, of Norwalk. As stated, 
he has opened four additions to the city of 
Norwalk, on whicli he lias bnilt over 150 
houses, and in addition to these many 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



important interests Mr. Price operates two 
farms; and it is not to be wondered it is 
said of him that he is one of the busiest of 
busy men. 

The chief elements of Mr. Price's success 
lie in his competency to plan, coupled 
with his executive ability and shrewd fore- 
sight. His mind is never easy except 
wjien the channels of each enterprise with 
which he is connected are clearly defined. 
It is in the fog that the ship strikes upon the 
shoal or rock, and is wrecked. Business 
natures have their misty days, and it is 
then that a hand at the helm, familiar with 
the way, saves from collapse. It may 
well be said that no enterprise with which 
Mr. Price has been associated has ever 
proven a failure. He gives personal 
supervision to every detail of his business, 
and tiie wonder is that he succeeds in doing 
so, considering the extent and variety of 
his occupations. In person he is of strong 
frame and medium stature. During his 
youth he was quite an athlete, and met 
few men his equal in physical strength, 
but on just entering into his business 
career a severe spell of sickness left results 
that have impaired his physical vigor. He 
has since been forced to guage his accom- 
plishments to his strength. In reviewing 
his life and early associations, and recall- 
ing many who started equal in the race 
with him, but whose lives have fallen short 
of success, he has been prone to speculate 
as to whether his physical disability has 
not been a main cause of his keeping him- 
self aloof from the entanglements and dis- 
sipations which have proven destructive 
to many others. Yet it may be safely held 
that men of Mr. Price's stamp, who have 
a definite aim in life, are hard to swerve 
from their course. They go straight to 
the end, surmounting obstacles as if driven 
by the hand of destiny. However, after 
having made life a inarked success, it may 
be well said of him that he has achieved 
all under adverse circumstances. 

William H. Price and Catharine A. 
Wheaton, daughter of Daniel and Anna 



(Meyhew) Wheaton, natives of Cambridge, 
England, were joined in wedlock May 15, 
1872. Mrs. Price was born in the old 
English home, and came to America with 
her people when but three years of age, 
the family locating in Norwalk, where they 
made their home. Mrs. Wheaton died in 
1878. To Mr. and Mrs. Price were born 
six children, as follows: Harris Wheaton 
Price, born April 25, 1874, now teller in 
his father's bank; Bessie M. (deceased); 
Anna Meyhew; Bessie Louise; Wesley 
Hildreth, and Olive Edna. The family is 
Protestant in faith, and Mr. Price, while 
he may be classed as affiliating with the 
Democratic party, has always been in fact 
independent in his voting, preferring the 
best men and public weal to mere party 
claims. 



11 Il-J\ILLIAM SANDMEISTEE, 

V/\V/ ^^' ^■' ^ pop'ilfii' and rising young 

V/ly physician of BelJevue, is a son of 

Dr. Charles Sandmeister, who was 

for many years one of the most prominent 

members of the medical profession ia 

Huron county. John George Sandmeister, 

the grandfather of subject, was a native of 

Hersfeld, Hessen-Cassel, Germany, was a 

merchant in that city, and died there 

in 1853. 

Dr. Charles Sandmeister was born Febru- 
ary 22, 1831, in Hersfeld, Hessen-Cassel, 
Germany, emigrated to the United States 
in 1851, and studied medicine at Tiifin, 
Ohio. In 1855 he commenced the prac- 
tice of the profession, and in 1864 gradu- 
ated from the Eclectic Medical Institute 
of Cincinnati. On October 22, 1860, he 
was married to Lena Wygant, of Sandusky 
City, and to this union five children were 
born, two sons — of whom, Charles, yet liv- 
ing, has graduated in pharmacy at Chicago 
College of Pharmacy — and three daughters, 
one being deceased. Dr. Charles Sand- 
meister died in 1888. He was a member 
of three medical Societies, the National, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



89 



the State and the Northwestern Eclectic 
Medical Associations. In 1877 the Doc- 
tor visited Germany, and brought his 
mother to this country, where she died in 
April, 1882. At the time of his death he 
owned 237 acres of line land in Thompson 
township, Seneca county, and had a large 
income from his practice, for he was 
recognized as a most competent phj'sician 
and surgeon, and one of liberal professional 
views. In politics he was a Democrat; 
in reliaious faith, a Lutheran. 

Dr. William Sandmei?ter was born 
January 23, 1865, at Belleviie, Huron Co., 
Ohio, and received his elementary educa- 
tion in the public schools of his native 
city, afterward attending the Capital Uni- 
versity, Columbus, Ohio, whence he gradu- 
ated in 1886. Next entering Western 
Reserve College, Cleveland, he was 
graduated from that institution in 1889, 
in which year he established himself 
in practice at Bellevue. In September, 

1891, he visited Europe, took a general 
course in medicine in the great hospitals 
of Vienna, Austria, returned in June, 

1892, and resumed practice, in which he 
has since been continuously engaged. 
Though young in years, he is already 
thoroughly experienced in the profession. 
The teachings of his lather, no less than 
his father's high reputation, have made his 
journey to professional success compara- 
tively easy. His thorough studies of 
medicine both in this and foreign lands, 
together with his industry, qualify him to 
take the place in professional and popu- 
lar estimation held by the late Dr. Charles 
Sandnieisler. 



If ff E. HILL. This representative pros- 

fsH perons citizen, and leading business 

I 1| man of Monroeville, is a native of 

■fj Ohio, born in Berlin Heights, Erie 

county, December 11, 1840. 

Noah Hill, his grandfather, who was of 

English descent, came from Connecticut 

to Ohio in 1817, bringing his wife and live 



children. They were veritable pioneers of 
Erie county, where Noah, who iiad been a 
cloth dresser in the East, ftdlowed the 
trade of ship carpenter, becoming a master 
builder and a very expert workman. He 
was also a well-to-do farmer, owning at 
one time over 400 acres of land, all ac- 
cumulated by hard work, and for part of 
which he remained in debt some forty-live 
years, but eventually succeeded in paying 
off the last penny. In 1850 he disposed 
of his property and retired, making his 
final home in Berlin Heights, where he 
died in 1864. He was a large, well-built 
man; a Republican in politics, formerly a 
Whig, and served as a justice of the peace. 
By his wife, Snkey (Butler), he had chiU 
dren, as follows: Horace L., Edwin I., 
Elihu P., Benjamin L., Henrietta, Mary 
Ann, Hester, Sarah, Greorge S., Sterling 
and Noah. 

Edwin I. Hill, father of subject, was 
one of the live children of Noah Hill who 
became pioneers of Erie county. He was 
born in Guilford, Conn., in 1S09, and con- 
sequently was eight years old when he came 
to Ohio. He learned the cooper's trade, 
which he followed as long as it was profit- 
able, and then took up farming, in which 
he continued many years. He was thrice 
married, first time to Lucy A. Tenant, 
who bore him children as follows: Horace 
C, killed at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864, 
while a member of the One Hundred and 
Third O. V. I. (his brother H. E. was also 
in the same battle, totally ignorant of 
Horace being also there, as he had not seen 
him since enlistment; the interment of 
Horace took place before H. E. knew of his 
death); Benjamin I., a farmer, of near 
Berlin Heights; Alpha A., now Mrs. 
Charles Tillinghast, of Berlin Heights; 
and H. E. The mother of these dying 
x\ugust 31, 1842, Edwin I. Hill mar- 
ried, in 1844, Miss Catherine Wen- 
dail, by which union was born one 
child, Lucy, who died young. This wife 
passed away in 1855, and for liis third 
spouse Mr. Hill wedded Miss Sallie Pea- 



90 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



body, by whom there are two children: 
Sterling L., superintendent of schools at 
Berlin Heights, Erie county, and Louise, 
at present attending Oberlin College. 
Edwin I. Hill departed this life January 
24, 1888, and was buried at Berlin 
Heights, Erie county. In his political 
sympathies he was first a AVhig, afterward 
a Ilepuldican, and was well read on all 
public issues. 

H. E. Hill, the subject proper of this 
sketch, received his primary education at 
tiie cummoi) schools of his native place, 
later attending a seminary at Berlin 
Heights, in those days an educational in- 
stitution considerably in advance of others 
in northern Ohio. He was but eighteen 
Tiiontlis old when he lost his mother, hut 
he was adopted by an aunt, Mrs. Horace 
L. Hill, who reai'ed him, and was as kind 
to him as the kindest mother could be; her 
husband also treated him with great kind- 
ness, and took inucli interest in him. On 
April 20, 1859, his foster-father having 
given him two hundred dollars in gold, our 
subject set out, in company with five 
others, for Pike's Peak, taking rail to St. 
Louis, thence boat to Leavenworth, Kans., 
where they secured their outfit, including 
provisions, three yoke of o,\eii, wagons, etc. 
In tifty-one days they reached Denver, 
Colo., at that time a ragged collection of 
rude huts, the route of the party being 
across prairies where they saw vast herds 
of buffalo, some of which fell to their rifles, 
thus supplying them with plenty of fresh 
meat. The summer the party j-pent in the 
mountains, and in the fall they made their 
return trip homeward. 

At Huron, Ohio, April 19, 1861, Mr. 
Hill enlisted in Company E, Seventh O. 
V. I., three months service, and from San- 
dusky they proceeded to Cleveland, where 
was completed the organization of the 
regiment, whicli then moved to Camp 
Dentiison, near Cincinnati, Ohio. About 
the middle of June, 1861, the three months 
term having expired, Mr. Hill, along with 
the majority of the old members, re- 



enlisted into the Seventh. The regiment, 
which was attached to the army of tlie 
Potomac, being ordered Soutli, crossed the 
Ohio river at Bellaire into West Virginia, 
where at Cross Lanes it experienced its 
first general engagement with the eriemy. 
The next campaign was in the Shenandoah 
Valley, in which, owing to illness, Mr. 
Hill was unable to participate. He was 
sent to the convalescent camp at Washing- 
ton, D. C, for a few weeks, and on his 
recovery he rejoined his regiment. He 
■was present at the battles of Culpeper 
Courthouse, Cedar Mountain and Antie- 
tain; thence marched to Fredericksburg, 
after which came the two-days' battle of 
Chancellorsville. From there the regi- 
ment proceeded to Gettysburg, where early 
on the morning of the third day of the 
memorable battle there he was wounded 
in the left arm. After lying ten days in 
the field hospital, he was removed to 
Philadelphia. In January, 1864, he once 
moie joined his regiment, in time to take 
part in the battles of Dallas and Resaca, 
from which latter locality the command 
was ordered to ChattaiiDOga, where it re- 
mained till the end of June, 1864, and 
July 6, following, our subject received an 
honorable discharge at Cleveland, Ohio, 
returning to Berlin Heights, having served 
three years and three months. He was 
promoted to sergeant, and at Gettysburg, 
Cedar Mountain and Chancellorsville he 
is reported as having " served with valor." 
Havinir now resumed the vocations of 
peace, Mr. Hill took a course at the East- 
man Business college, Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y., and April 3, 1865, he made his 
residence in Monroeville, where he entered 
the freight ofiice of the Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern Railroad, as clerk, re- 
maining as such until August 1, 1873. 
On January 1, 1874, Mr. Hill embarked 
in the grain elevator business, becoming 
associated with Mr. Fish, his present 
partner; but some time afterward he 
abandoned this industry and commenced 
in mercantile trade at Berlin Heights, in 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



91 



partnership with Mr. Webster, under the 
iinn name of IIill& Webster. In the fall 
of 1878 he once more removed to Monroe- 
ville, where he opened up an extensive 
grain trade, and July, 1881, havinji; again 
become associated with Mr. Fish, bought 
the present flourishing business, the firm 
becoming on the first day of the following 
September, Skilton, Fish ife Hill; in 1886 
it was changed to Fish & Hill, its present 
style — a firm of high standing. 
'^^On December 10, 1878, Mr. Hill mar- 
ried Miss Louisa B. Harter, born in San- 
dusky, Ohio, a daughter of Charles Harter, 
and the children of this union are Horace 
C, Ruth T., Marcus H. and Anna L. 
Mrs. Hill is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. A Republican in politics, Mr. 
Hill takes an active interest in all matters 
tending to the welfare of his country. 
State, county and town; he is a member of 
the village council, aTid while a resident 
of Erie county served his township as 
treasurer. He is a past master of Robv 
Lodge No. 534, F. & A. M. 



/George E. wood, editor and pub- 
I w. lisher of The Bellevue Ne^os, w^as 
\J^ born in Walworth county. Wis., 
^^ August 3, 1860. His parents, J. 
G. and Almira (Mills) Wood, were 
born in New York, and at an early date 
settled in the West. 

After an extended residence in Wiscon- 
sin, they again looked westward for a 
home, and in 1867 located at Monticello, 
Jones Co., Iowa, where the subject of this 
sketch grew to manhood. In 1890 they 
removed to Bellevue, Ohio, and took up 
their abode with their son George. J. G. 
AVood died at Bellevue June 28, 1892; his 
widow is still living. 

George Elmer Wood completed his edu- 
cation at the State Agricultural College, 
at Ames, Iowa, and for some time after 
leaving engaged in school teaching. Later 
he entered upon the study of law, and 



while so engaged was chosen justice of the 
peace and re-elected. He was admitted to 
the bar of Iowa in 1884 before the State 
Supreme Court, but soon relinquished the 
practice of his chosen profession to move 
to Anamosa, the county seat, and till the 
position of acting county recorder, to 
which he was appointed. For fourteen 
months he served in that capacity, and then 
resigned in 1885, to accept the position of 
county superintendent of schools, to which 
he had in the meantime been elected. In 
April, 188S, Mr. Wood came to Bellevue, 
purchased the Local News office, improved 
the appearance of the paper, built up a 
really local newspaper, extended the cir- 
culation, abolished the old naiue, and in 
1890 adopted the present title. The Belle- 
vue News. The paper has a local circula- 
tion among 1,300 subscribers, and is a 
first-class advertising medium. It was 
established in 1875, without political 
affiliations, and has continued independent 
to the present time. Mr. Wood is a young 
man, energetic and ambitious, and by well- 
directed industry has widened the influ- 
ence of his journal, and succeeded where 
others failed. 

Our subject was united in marriage 
August 29, 1888, with Miss Jessie Deni- 
son, a native of Anamosa, Iowa, and 
daughter of A. M. and Liicy A. (Roberts) 
Denison, both natives of the State of 
New York. 



HARLES W. ARNOLD, M. D., who 

for the past several years has con- 
ducted a eeneral mercantile business 
at Townsend Center, was born Au- 
gust 11, 1825, in Oxford, Chenango Co., 
N. Y., the eldest of two children born to 
James and Emily (Cook) Arnold, the 
former of whom was a native of Norwalk, 
Conn., the latter of Dutchess county, N. 
Y. Both were of English descent. 

James Arnold received in his youth but 
a limited school training, but in after 
years he succeeded by his own exertions in 



92 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



acquiring a good practical English edu- 
cation, and a wide and varied stock of gen- 
eral information. He was all his life a 
close reader, and was well posted, not only 
on current topics, but also on general his- 
tory — ancient and modern — and the vari- 
ous sciences. His character was formed in 
the practical school of experience, and this 
rendered him broad and liberal in all his 
views. In early life he learned carriage- 
making at Utica, N. Y., with a man named 
Lloyd, serving an apprenticeship of some 
three years, after which he followed the 
trade for a time as a journeyman. On 
November 14, 1824, he was united in mar- 
riage, in North Norwich, N. Y., to Miss 
Emily Cook, and in 1831 migrated west- 
ward to Ohio, coming via the Erie Canal 
to Buffalo, N. Y., and thence on a lake- 
boat, the ''Sheldon Thompson," one of tlie 
earliest on the lakes, to Sandusky (then 
Portland). On the same boat was a com- 
pany of Wyandot chiefs, who were return- 
ing from a trip to Washington City. 

Mr. Arnold located at Milan, Erie 
county, where he opened a carriage and 
wagon shop, and continued to follow his 
trade for Some three or four years, wlien he 
removed to Townsend, Huron county. 
Here he purchased wild land, and cleared 
and improved a farm, and was for sev- 
eral years engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits; then, in 1849. lie bought a slightly 
improved farm near Townsend Center, on 
which stood an old blockhouse. He built 
the first frame house in Townsend Center 
(where he subsequently engaged in general 
merchandising), and also the first sawmill, 
which lie sold to William and Dudley S. 
Humphrey. For many years he was post- 
master at East Townsend. For several 
years he was in partnership, in the general 
mercantile business, with his younger son, 
who later bought out his father's interest 
■in the store, and removed the business to 
New York, after which Mr. Arnold led a 
retired life until his death, which occurred 
March 26, 1882. He was one of the old- 
est Masons in the county, having for a 



number of years been a member of Mt. 
A'"ernon Lodge No. 64, F. & A. M., Nor- 
walk, and afterward a charter member of 
East Townsend Lodge No. 322, and he 
was buried with Masonic ceremonies. His 
father was a soldier in the Kevolutionary 
war, rendering gallant service throughout 
the entire struggle, and at the battle of 
New London, Conn., was taken prisoner 
and confined in the famous sucfar-ware- 
house prison in New York. By profession 
he was a civil engineer and surveyor. 

The ancestors of the Arnold family were 
among the hardy and patriotic pioneers of 
the old Hartland colony, and took an ac- 
tive and honoral)le pai't in the affairs of the 
comtnouwealth during Colonial days. Mrs. 
Emily (Cook) Arnold died January 20, 
1885, an ardent, lifehmg member of the 
Baptist Church. Her fatlier, Joseph Cook, 
who was born in 1751, was also a soldier in 
the Continental army, having entered the 
service at an early age. He participated in 
the engagement at Flattsbnrg and many 
other battles. 

Dr. Charles W. Arnold, whose name 
opens this sketch, received in his early 
years a fair common-school education, and 
was employed on the home farm until he 
attained his majority. He then commenced 
the study of medicine under the preceptor- 
ship of Prof. B. L. Hill, of Berlin Heights, 
Ohio, completing his professional educa- 
tion at the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cin- 
cinnati, whence he graduated with high 
honors in 1850. Entering upon the duties 
of his profession at Townsend Center, his 
old home, he remained there several years, 
and then practiced in the vicinity of Cold- 
water, Mich., for six or eight years. From 
there he removed to Athens, Calhoun Co., 
Mich., where he continued to practice 
about three years, after which, in 1874, he 
abandoned his profession and returned to 
Townsend Center, to care for his parents, 
who were becoming aged and feeble. Sub- 
sequentto theirdeath,in 1886, he embarked 
in his present business, wliich he has since 
successfully carried on. In September, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



93 



1845, Dr. Arnold was married to Miss 
Eliza Jane Proctor, who was born in Ohio; 
her parents were natives, respectively, of 
England and Vermont. To this union 
came two children: Horace S., who at the 
at;e of eii^hteen, in 1863, enlisted in Loomis' 
Battery, from Coldwater, Mich, (he died 
April 4, 1864, at Huntsville, Ala.), and 
Ida G., who died June 10, 1854, when 
aged four years. Mrs. Eliza Arnold died 
June 4, 1854, a Universalist in religious 
faith, and on October 17, 1873, our sub- 
ject wedded, for his second wife, Miss 
Jennie L. Howard, wJio was a native of 
Michigan and of English-Germau extrac- 
tion. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, 
and served for several years as postmaster 
at East Townseud. Socially he is a mem- 
ber of the A. F. & A. M., East Townsend 
Lodge No. 322, and also of the I. O. O. F., 
Subordinate Lodge and Encampment. 




\ILLIAM M. HUSTED, Norwalk. 
Edward E. Husted, father of this 
gentleman, was born in Danburj, 
Conn., December 27, 1805, and 
came with his father's family to Huron 
county, Ohio, in 1810. Samuel Husted, 
father of Edward E., was the first settler 
of Clearfield township, in that county, and 
died there during the Civil war, at the age 
of eighty- two years. 

Edward E. Husted grew to tnanhood in 
Huron county, and was married in 1832 to 
Miss Debora Gray, a native of Danbnry, 
Conn., by which union were born children 
as follows: Edwin G., machinist in rail- 
road shops; Elmer E., postmaster at Well- 
ington, Ohio; J. Frank, w^ho died in 1890, 
aged fifty years; Edward L., bookkeeper 
for G. M. S. Sanborn, coal dealer, Nor- 
walk; Emma G., Mrs. Abner Baker; Will- 
iam M., and Ella J., Mrs. J. H. Husted, of 
Chicago, 111. The mother departed this 
life September 26, 1884, at the age of 
seventy-two, an active. Christian woman, 
and member of the Congregational Church, 



prominent in its affairs. Her brother, 
Erastus Gray, opened a shoe store in Nor- 
walk, in 1832, and afterward became a 
partner of Edward E. Husted, the style of 
the firm being Husted & Gray, which was 
afterward changed to Gray & Husted, and 
finally to Husted & Son. Mr. Gray, who 
was a native of Connecticut, and one of the 
first settlers of Norwalk, reached the age 
of seventy-six years. Edward E. Husted 
died December 25, 1878. He was an up- 
right, intelligent and valuable citizen, and 
a merchant of wide repute, keeping a shoe 
store in Norwalk until 1857, which was 
established by Husted & Gray, as already 
related. He was first elected sheriff of 
Huron county in 1840, at which time he 
moved from his fine farm to Norwalk, and 
served his term, not only to the satisfaction 
of the Democratic friends who had elected 
him, but of the entire community, and was 
re-elected. Afterward he was elected, on 
the Republican ticket, two terms as county 
treasurer, and in this office was equally 
successful in pleasing his constituents. He 
was an Abolitionist, and is said to have 
kept a "station" on the "Underground 
Railroad." For many years he was a con- 
sistent member of the Congregational 
Church. 



IfSAAC HARRISON CHANDLER, of 
Norwalk township, was born Decem- 
J ber 2, 1830, in Madison county, N. Y., 
a son of Ebenezer Chandler, who was a 
son of Simeon, who was a son of Benjamin. 
Benjamin Chandler, great-grandfather 
of subject, came to America with Gen. La- 
Fayette, in the French army, in which he 
was serving as captain. He took an active 
part in the Revolutionary war until its 
close, and afterward settled near Hartford, 
Conn., where he foUowed farming. He 
had three children. 

Simeon Chandler, son of Benjamin, was 
born in Connecticut. At the age of four- 
teen years, he fell on the ice, injuring his 
knee so badly as to cripple him for life, 



94 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



and this accident may be said to have ma- 
terially govei-ned his future life. He be- 
came a shoemaker, and learning the violin 
became a player of no small repute. He 
married Miss Louise .Benjamin, a lady of 
Welsh descent, and seven children were 
born to them, all growing to maturity, 
viz.: Simeon, Benjamin, Rebecca, Fannie, 
Louise, Parmelia antl Ebenezer. 

Of these Ebenezer was the father of the 
subject of this sketch. He was born in 
1800, in Connecticut, and there received 
buta limited education, as he had to remain 
at Jiome in order to assist his widowed 
mother, besides working out at whatever 
he could find to do. At the age of eight- 
een years he left his native State for New 
York State, locating on a farm near Per- 
ryville Falls, Madison county, where he 
engaijed in agriculture. He was there 
married in 1822 to Miss Lydia Post, a 
daughter of Isaiah Post, a farmer of that 
locality. In 1836 they came to Ilartlaud, 
Huron Co., Ohio, settling on a farm, 
where he died in 1877. He was originally 
a Whig, later a Republican, and held nu- 
merous township offices. His wife died in 
1891. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, viz.: One that died in infancy; Luret- 
ta, deceased; Dolly, now Mrs. Truman, of 
Clarkstield, Huron county; Cornelia, de- 
ceased; Isaac H., our subject; Ebenezer, 
in Erie county, Ohio; Joseph E., a resi- 
dent of Fitchville, Huron county; Amelia, 
deceased; and Arvilla, now Mrs. R. Bar- 
rett, of New London, Huron county, and 
Frank B., of Colorado. 

Isaac H. Chandler, whose name opens 
this sketch, was six years of age when he 
came with his father to Huron county, 
where he attended the common schools and 
was reared to farming pursuits. The 
country was yet very wild, abounding in 
deer and turkeys, many wolves yet roam- 
ing about in search of prey. He com- 
menced business life as a lumberman, 
spending some time in the lumber re- 
gions of Michigan, whei-e he met with suc- 
cess. Returning to Huron county, he 



l>ought a sawmill at Hartland, and later, 
in 1868, a second one on what is now the 
Fries farm, in Norwalk township. This 
he operated till 1874, when the boiler 
burst, killing his eldest son, then about 
twenty-one years of age, our subject him- 
self liaving a narrow escape. In 1876 he 
rebuilt the mill, and has kept it in partial 
operation since. In 1863 he hitd bougiit 
the faim of sixty acres on which he lives, 
and in 1866 moved thereto. 

In 1853 Mr. Chandler was married to 
Miss Catherine D. Rumsey, daughter of 
George Rumsey, of New London, Huron 
Co., Ohio, and seven children were born to 
them, as follows: Homer, who was killed 
in the sawmill; Charles H., a bookkeeper 
in Cleveland; Lewis, a farmer of Fitch- 
ville township; Frank, deceased in in- 
fancy; F. H., who lives on a farm adjoin- 
ing his father's; Clarence C, married, re- 
siding with his father; and Clara May, 
deceased when four months old. In his 
political preferences Mr. Chandler is a 
stanch Republican, and he has held various 
township offices. 



^J 



HENRY P. STENTZ, president of 
the First National Bank of Monroe- 
ville. This gentleman is prominent 
in the array of leading financiers 
and capitalists of the State, and 
one of the most widely-known, respected 
and prosperous of her citizens. In Mon- 
roeville, and indeed in the whole county 
of Huron, there is no name that ranks 
higher than tliat of Henry P. Stentz, in 
all those qualities which constitute good 
citizenship; and there is none more de- 
serving of an exhaustive biographical 
record in the pages of this volume. 

Mr. Stentz was born in Middletown, 
Penn., February 26, 1838, and is descended 
from sturdy, honest German stock, from 
wliich be inherits in a marked degree the 
characteristic energy, good judgment and 
other biisiness qualities that have made 
him the successful financier he is. He is 




^^f^^^^ ■fe> 





IIUEON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



97 



a son of Peter and Catherine (Keller) 
Stentz, natives of Pennsylvania, who re- 
moved to Huron county, Oliio, in 1840, 
thence, after a brief stay, proceeding to 
Plymouth, Richland county; but the 
greater part of their lives was afterward 
passed at Gallon, in Crawford county, 
whither they removed in 1853. 

Receiving his education at the Union 
schools of Plymouth, Ohio, Mr. Stentz 
at an early age entered the employ of Mr. 
A. Atwood, a mercliant and banker in 
that town; and true to his nature as evi- 
denced in all his business career, young 
Stentz put his whole soul into the business, 
his remuneration at tirst being but eight 
dollars per month. His close attention to 
business, and devotion to every detail of 
his employer's affairs, soon gained for 
him the esteem and confidence of Mr. 
Atwood, who did not fail to give substan- 
tial recognition. 

Mr. Stentz remained in this connection 
until during the Civil war, when he 
severed iiimself from it, and launched out 
on his own responsibility, speculating in 
various articles of merchandise, such as 
cotton, hemp, sugar and molasses. This 
necessarily involved a good deal of travel- 
ing in the South, and business of this kind 
and magnitude, requiring as it does tlie 
application of shrewd finessing, cool 
judgment, and bold, fearless push and 
action, Mr. Stentz found himself well 
adapted to by nature. 

But in these commercial enterprises he 
does not claim to have made any fortune, 
no doubt for the reason that in tliose 
feverish, unsettled times the markets were 
too capricious; yet it was in this exper- 
ience that he added capital to his already 
no small stock of business tact and acumen. 
At the close of the war he retired from the 
field of speculation, and in 1866 came to 
Monroeviile to fill the position of cashier 
of the Exchange Bank of that town, as 
successor to Mr. S. V. Harkness. In 
1879, this bank was organized as the 
" First National Bank of Monroeviile," 



with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, 
and Mr. Stentz continued as cashier of 
same until 1889, when he was promoted to 
the presidency. Mr. Stentz, during the 
time of his wide commercial relations, 
organized the First JSJational Bank of 
Gallon, Ohio, one of the first institutions 
v{ the kind established in Ohio under the 
new regime, and he subsequently assisted 
in the organization of the National Bank 
of Plymouth. In addition to his banking 
business, and aside from it, he is largely 
interested in real estate, owning some 
one thousand five hundred acres of tine 
farming land in the vicinity of Monroe- 
viile. He has never married. Though 
not a professor of religion he is an ad- 
herent and supporter of the Presbyterian 
Church in Monroeviile. 

Henry P. Stentz furnishes a striking 
illustration of a conservative and success- 
ful business man. Assuming the respon- 
sible duties of cashier of the Monroeviile 
Exchange Bank when a young man of 
twenty-eight summers, he, by close atten- 
tion to every known duty connected with 
that institution, and making himself 
thoroughly conversant with all the details 
of its working system; by strict and honor- 
able dealing and by careful and wise 
management; by all these and more, Mr. 
Stentz succeeded in elevating it to the 
highest point of excellence attained by any 
institution of the kind in Huron county. 
And since, in order that its interests 
might be extended, the Exchange Bank 
was, through his efforts, organized into 
a National Bank, he has brought it to 
such perfection as a financial institution 
that it now ranks among the soundest and 
best managed banks in northern Ohio, his 
name being identified with it as a leading 
capitalist and business man. It has now 
an annual deposit account of one hundred 
and seventy-five thousand dollars, and paj's 
a dividend of five per cent, semi-annuallj'. 
From a recent issue of the Monroeviile 
Weekli/ Spectator we quote some portions 
of an article written during the wild panic 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



of the sninmer of 1893: "During a com- 
mercial crisis like that through which we 
are now passing, when doubt and distrust 
are apparent on every hand, there is sweet 
consolation in the thought that the solvency 
of onr own home hank is unquestioned. 
While hundreds of similar institutions 
throughout the length and breadth of the 
land are being forced into suspension or 
failure, because of the existing lack of con- 
tidence, the First National Bank of Mon- 
roeville stands and will stand a monument 
to the integrity, judgtnent and fidelity of 
the efficient manairement it has ever en- 
joyed, and which to-day is identical 
with that under which it began its career 
oyer twenty-seven years ago. * * * 
The present crisis finds it in better 
eonditidU than ever before to cope witli 
panical problems, and it will speedily and 
satisfactorily solve all that are presented, 
provided they legitimately come within 
the sphere of its action. * * * Mr. Stentz 
has been the moving spirit, the power be- 
hind the throne, the manager from the or- 
ganization to the present time, and to his 
efforts are chiefly attributable thelongcon- 
tiniied prosperity and substantial growth 
that have characterized the bank's career, 
and the enviable reputation, standing and 
confidence which it now enjoys." 

Mr. Stentz has not accumulated his capi- 
tal by speculation — far from it — but 
tiirough the well-recrulated conservative 
rules of legitimate business. His marked 
success in, comparatively speaking, so un- 
pretentious a town as Monroeville,. is a 
lesson for every young man setting out in 
life on a business career, with naught to aid 
him save honesty of heart, integrity of pur- 
pose, a good courage and, withal, a willing 
pair of hands and a level head. 



GHAELES HILL STEWAET, attor- 
ney at law, Norwalk, is a native of 
the place, born November 6, 1859, 
H son of Hon. Gideon T. and Abby 
(Simmons) Stewart. 



Our subject was reared amid generous 
and pleasant surroundings, and while he 
was born with no doubt the averaae allot- 
meut of youthful barbarism, yet the civiliz- 
ing precepts and examples of a refined 
home, the lessons of the school and the 
ever-vigilant eye of the community, with 
its searchlight thrown upon the conduct 
and bearing of the young, were enough to 
bear bim successfully to that time of life 
when the youtii becomes the father to tiie 
man. The boy went the rounds of the 
public schools with success, mixing in the 
days with the usual riot of a vigorous boy's 
life, as well as a turn as printing office 
boy, hunting " the type-louse," or on an 
errand for the " devil's shooting-stick." 
Like a sensible man, he regards his time 
ill the print ing-oflice as days of his life not 
ill-spent —barring a sigh of regret at the 
way, boy-like, he would go down the stair- 
way at about two steps, always bringing 
the frightened occupant of the lower floor 
out to see if any one was killed. These 
perilous but happy times were not entirely 
ended by his transfer to the Ohio Wes- 
leyan University at Delaware, Ohio, where 
he remained until well along in his junior 
year. Returning to his home he com- 
menced the study of law in his father's 
office, and on June 6, 1882, he was licensed 
to appear in the courts as attorney. While 
reading law he took his recreation in edit- 
ing and publishing the Dally ifews of 
Norwalk, a vigorous and spicy paper, in- 
dependent politically. This he sold to 
his brother, and it is now part of 
the Experiment- Nexos. Graduating out 
of the publishing business into the law, 
he then spent a year seeing with his 
own eyes something of the wild life 
of the West, a large part of tlie time 
in the Dakotas and the Indian Terri- 
tory. Of all his years of schooling this 
was perhaps the necessary sand -papering — 
a polishing process of incalculable value. 

On his return to Norwalk, he opened his 
law ofiice and set about the real business 
of life, which was crowned from the start 



HUHON COUNTY, OHIO. 



99 



with more than tlie average professional 
success. Soon he was operating in real 
estate, and in this line his record is re- 
markable for its brilliant achievements. 
It is proper to explain that his operations 
in real estate were commenced soon after 
his marriage, his first venture being the 
purchase of a plot and laying it off in lots, 
which he sold on the installment plan — • 
introducing in Norwalk the favorable 
scheme of helping the poor man to own 
his home. Disposing of this, he next laid 
out an addition on Harris avenue and 
Olive street, followed by another on Grand 
avenue and Spring street, another on 
Courtland street, and still another on Carey 
place. During all these years he has built 
from five to twenty-five houses each sum- 
mer, selling many on the installment plan, 
and retaining many, until he is one of the 
most extensive landlords of Norwalk. Of 
itself this tells iis of the importance this 
young man has been to the city's develop- 
ment. In other lines, however, he has 
been still more active and efficient. He 
was one of the promoters of the " Home 
Savings & Loan Company," and its attor- 
ney and appraiser. Resigning his official 
connection with this company, he helped 
to organize the "Ohio Loan, Savings & 
Investment Company," of which he is a 
stockholder, director and attorney; he was 
one of the founders of the Norwalk Sav- 
ings Bank, of which he is vice-president; 
is president of tlie Norwalk Gaslight 
Company; was one of the active organizers 
of the C. W. Smith Company, of which 
he is director and treasurer; one of the 
organizers of the Lake Erie Tobacco Com- 
pany, of which he is director and treasurer; 
helped to organize the Norwalk Metal 
Stamping & Spinning Company, of which 
he is manager and director; is treasurer 
and director and owner of one-half of the 
Bellevue Electric Light & Power Co.; also 
assisted in the organization of the Norwalk 
Foundry & Machine Company, of which 
he is a director; established with others 
the Norwalk Brick Company, of which he 



owns one-third, and is one of'the manag- 
ing operators; also owns one-third of the 
C. H. Whitney Nursery Company, of 
which he is director and one of the man- 



agement. 



Mr. Stewart has been associated with 
Mr. William 11. Price as his partner in 
most of his real-estate operations, and in 
several of the companies named. While 
they have been" actively engaged in real- 
estate deals in Norwalk and Huron county, 
they have carried on their real-estate busi- 
ness in the city of Cleveland, owning busi- 
ness blocks on Euclid avenue, Sheriff 
street, and other property in that city. 
They also assisted in organizing the 
Arcade Savings Bank of Cleveland, and 
are directors. 

Combined with his dealings in real 
estate, here is a record of which our oldest 
and most successful business men need not 
feel ashamed, but "Charley" — that is the 
term used by everyone, with a kindly ac- 
cent of tone — is yet but at the threshold 
of life; the future is before him radiant 
of promise. 

Charles H. Stewart and Miss Mayme 
Carey, of St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of 
Gen. Man. M. G. Carey, of the Wabash 
Railroad, were united in wedlock, Nov- 
vember 26, 1884. This happy marriage 
was the outcome of the young lady's visits to 
herrelatives andfriendsin Norwalk, and the 
whilom ti'ans-Mississippi school-girl pre- 
sides with rare accomplishments over their 
pleasant Norwalk home, where were born 
their four children as follows: Olive, De- 
cember 19, 1885; Carey, September 18, 
1887 ; Abby, September 7, 1889; and Mary, 
January 26, 1891. 

Mr. Stewart served as captain of 
Company G, Fifteenth Regiment Ohio 
National Guard, but ])ressare of business 
matters compelled him to resign. He has 
been a working Republican for many 
years, and takes an active interest in poli- 
tics. He served for several years as presi- 
dent of The Young Men's Republican Club 
of Norwalk; has acted many times as dele- 



100 



HURON COUNTY, OHIQ. 



gate to State and District conventions, and 
to State and National conventions of the 
National League of Republican Clubs (in 
which he takes a warm interest). He is 
now a member of the Congressional C!om- 
niittee in his District, and at the last con- 
vention nominating a common pleas judge 
in liis District, was the choice of liis 
county for the position, l)ut at his request 
his name was not presented to the conven- 
tion, lie says lie is too busy to accept 
office for himself, but is always ready to 
assist his friends. 



f(J[ ON. HARLON LINCOLN STEW- 

r!!^ ART. This gentleman's name 

I 1| cannot escape becoming a perma- 

■^ nent part of the history of Nor- 

walk, of which beautiful little city 

he is a native. 

Mr. Stewart was born December 12, 
1861, a son of Hon. G. T. and Abbj 
(Simmons) Stewart, and was reared in the 
pleasant social atmosphere of a refined 
home, and the cultured circle of the city of 
his birth. He passed tiirough the public 
schools, afterward taking a special course 
in tiie State University at Columbus, and 
when he had gained the necessary mental 
discipline to engage in the preliminary 
reading of a professional life, he became a 
law student in his father's office. A touch 
of his active nature, however, soon found 
him at the genial pastime of founding, in 
connection with his brother, a daily paper 
— The News, a bright and newsy journal 
— which was carried on a year by the 
founders. After a successful year's ex- 
istence, it was sold, and the young news- 
paper man resumed the reading of the law 
in his father's office. But the pleasant 
aroma of the editorial tripod lingered, ami 
" Blackstone's Commentaries" soon dulled 
in interest; so another paper was launched 
on the uncertain sea of journalism — the 
Sunday J^ews — which became an inde- 
pendent supporter of Grover Cleveland in 



the Presidential campaign of 1884. In a 
little while this was consolidated with The 
Experiment, the veteran Democratic paper 
of Huron county, established in 1835, and 
named after President Jackson's famous 
campaign against State banks, and his ad- 
vocacy of a new system which he called his 
"experiment." The consolidated paper, 
which was named the E xperi ment-y ews, 
was a weekly until 1889, when was added 
a daily edition, which in 18'J3 was sold 
and continued as the Daily Press. 

The Experiment- News, greatly im- 
proved,, was continued as a weekly, re- 
ceiving Mr. Stewart's entire attention. 
At all times the strong and facile pen of 
the editor attracted wide attention, while 
on the stump his voice was heard, and 
everywhere his earnestness of purpose and 
convincing logic were part of the supreme 
work that contributed much to the steady 
gains of his party in this part of the State. 
The young editor and orator soon forged 
his way to a pronounced leadership in his 
party, his sudden celebrity coming to him 
in 1888, when in company with Hon. D. 
H. Wadsworth he participated in the first 
systematic speaking campaign in behalf of 
Democracy that was ever made in Huron 
county. In 1891 he was chosen chairman 
of the Democratic Executive Central Com- 
mittee of that county. In the campaign 
of 1892 he was nominated on his party 
ticket, in the face of a strong list of as- 
pirants, as standard bearer for the office of 
State senator from the Thirtieth District. 
He was elected, and served through the 
Seventieth General Assembly; and, al- 
though the youngest member in the Sen- 
ate, was a recognized leader. In 1893 he 
was prominently mentioned by the press, 
generally, as a candidate for lieutenant- 
governor, but declined to permit the use 
of his name. He was renominated for 
senator, receiving the unanimous vote of 
the convention, but in the following elec- 
tion, though running ahead of the general 
ticket in all parts of the District, he was 
borne down in the overwhelming tide of 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



101 



defeat tliat engulfed his party in the elec- 
tion of 1893. 

Hon. H. L. Stewart and Cora Nile Par- 
ker, one of the accoinplislied leaders of the 
best social circle of the city of Norwalk, 
were joined in wedlock January 7, 1891. 



HARLES B. SIMMONS, a promi- 
nent retired citizen of Fairfield town- 
ship, is a direct descendant of the 
family who emigrated, it is sup- 
posed, from Wales, and settled in an early 
day in Bristol county, Massachusetts. 

Edward Simmons, the grandfather of 
our subject, owned large flouring mills in 
Eehoboth, Bristol Co., Mass., which were 
burned by the British during the Kevolu- 
tion, but were afterward rebuilt. He was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serv- 
ing as captain in the Continental line, and 
he was an intliiential figure in military 
matters. Of his children, Edward settled 
in New Hampshire and became a judge; 
Noble, who was a blacksmith, died in 
New York State; Eliphalet B. is referred 
to below; William, who owned the mills, 
died in Massachusetts. 

Eliphalet B. Simmons was born, in 
1773, in Bristol county, Mass., and passed 
his youth and early manhood there. In 
1804 he moved to Delaware county, N. Y., 
where for thirteen years he carried on the 
lumber business, meeting with quite a de- 
gree of success. During his residence 
here he married Esther, daughter of Capt. 
Charles Brown, of New London, Conn. 
In 1817 he started for the " Firelands " 
of Ohio, making the journey to Huron 
c<iunty by wagon, and arriving July 12. 
He purchased land in the Second section 
of Greenfield township, and took up his 
residence on Lot No. 22, where his grand- 
son, John N. Simmons, now resides, and 
became a pioneer in the wilderness. He 
•was a man of great industry, coupled with 
honesty of purpose, as well as good 
practical judgment, and eventually ac- 
quired a large property. His selections 



of real estate made in that early day have 
stood the tes-ts of time, and stand approved 
as the best individual farms to this day. 
He was twice married, and had a family of 
four children, namely: Harlon E. (de- 
ceased), Charles B., Albert (deceased), and 
Washington L. (a resident of Kansas). 
Eliphalet B. Simmons died at his home in 
Greenfield January 26, 1836, in the si.xty- 
third year of his age. In politics lie was a 
Democrat, and took an active interest in 
party matters. In religion he was a Bap- 
tist. Mrs. Simmons died in 1830. 

Charles B. Simmons was born August 
2, 1806, in Delaware county, N. Y., ob- 
tained his education in the common 
schools, and in 1817 came with his father 
to Huron county, where he worked on the 
home farm. On July 5, 1829, he was 
married to Maria P. Hanchett, a native of 
Wayne county, Peim., where her father, 
Reuben Hanchett, was a farmer, and for 
six years the young couple lived in a log 
house. Mr. Simmons then sold his farm, 
and purchasing the home place removed 
thereon, taking; care of his invalid father. 
He had 337 acres of tine land, among the 
Ijest in this section, and he engaged ex- 
tensively in raising Merino sheep, keeping 
as many as 400 at one time. He also 
reared a laro-e number of iiorses. 

Mr. and Mrs. Simmons had nine children, 
viz.: Jeremiah Cole, a farmer of Indiana; 
Esther, who died young; Lewis C, a lum- 
ber merchant of Minnesota; Volna E., a 
merchant, who resided in Indiana, de- 
ceased in 1879; .lohn N., who owns the 
old farm in Greenfield township, and a 
sketch of whom immediately follows; 
George D., who died when one year old; 
Emily I. and Mary, who died in 1849, 
and Harlon, a resident of Kansas, who is 
in the railroad business. Mrs. Maria 
Simmons died September 24, 1850, and 
September 20, 1852, our suiiject wedded 
Miss Aura K. Palmer, daughter of George 
Palmer, who at one time was a farmer in 
Richland county, Ohio, and later resided 
in Oberlin. To this marriage have come 



102 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



two children viz.: Fraiil^ P., who died in 
infancy, and Sherman E., a physician of 
Norwalk. Mr. Simmons in his political 
predilections is a stanch meaiber of the 
Republican party, has held every ofhce in 
the gift of his township, justice of the 
peace, etc., and served one term, 1858-59, 
in the Legislature. In 1876 he retired 
from active life, and since that time has 
made his home in North Fairtield. 
Though now over eighty-seven years of 
age, he is still active and vigorous, and is 
one of the most highly respected men in 
his section. 



JOHN N. SIMMONS, son of the 
above, was born August 28, 1842, in 
' Greenfield township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
of which locality he is a prominent 
farmer and stock grower. 

His education was received in the dis- 
trict schools of the neighborhood, his at- 
tendance thereat being confined to a few 
months in winter time. He commenced 
farming under the direction of his father, 
on the same farm \vhich he now owns and 
resides upon, and remained with his par- 
ents until August 28, 1863, when he en- 
listed, at Sandu^ky, in Company M, 
O. V. H. A., joining his command at 
Loudon, Tenn. He served through Geor- 
gia, Tennessee and Alabama, and at the 
close of tlie war returned home to Huron 
connty, where he commenced agricultural 
pursuits on his father's farm in Greenfield 
township, renting same for ten years. On 
Septeml)er 30, 1868, Mr. John N. Sim- 
mons was united in marriage to Miss 
Elizabeth A. Richards, who was born in 
Norwich township, daughter of John 
Richards, who came to Huron connty with 
his parents in 1816. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Simmons has come one child, George B., 
born August 7, 1869, who resides with his 
father on the home farm. 

In September, 1875, Mr. Simmons pur- 
chased his present farm, where he has 
since made his home, following general 



farming and stock growing. He is practi- 
cal and systematic, and has made a decided 
success in agriculture. Politically he is a 
Republican, and his ideas have consider- 
able weight in the local council of that 
party. He has filled various township 
offices. An outspoken, sincere man, he 
has hosts of friends who know, understand 
and adnaire him for his many sterling 
qualities. He does not affiliate with any 
religious body, but takes the Golden Rule 
for his guide. 




B. KEEPER, prominent in bank- 
ing and business circles in Chi- 
cago Junction, was born Septem- 
ber 9, 1848, in Fairfield township, 
Ilui-on county. His great-grandfather, 
Walter Keefer, emigrated from Holland 
during the eighteentti century, and, it is 
supposed, settled in New Yjrk. 

Walter Keefer, father of our subject, 
was born in 1810, in Vermont, a son of 
Walter Keefer, also a native of that State, 
received a primary education, atid was 
trained to farm work. In 1835 he ac- 
companied his parents to Sandusky county, 
Ohio, and afterward resided at various 
places in the State. Some time in the 
"forties" he located iti Huron county, 
but subsequently moved to Erie county, 
and there made his home until 1853, when 
he located in New Haven township, 
Huron county. On March 10, 1836, he 
was married to Lydia Wiles, and to them 
eight children were born, namely: Mason 
S., Herman, Frank E., W. B., Wilber, 
Mary A., Homer and John S. Mason S. 
died at the age of two years, Hei-man at 
thirteen, and Wilber at three; five aro now 
living and residing in Huron county. In 
religious faith Mr. Keefer is a member of 
the M. E. Church, in politics a Republican. 
W. B. Keefer received a primary educa- 
tion in the schools of New Haven. At 
the age of sixteen years he was crippled, 
and seeing that this militated against his 
engaging in manual labor, he wisely 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



103 



directed his attention to a preparation for 
business. He attended the school at Nor- 
walk for one session, neglecting no oppor- 
tunity to obtain a practical education, and 
at the age of twenty-three years he taught 
school for one term, after which he traveled 
one year for a sewing machine company. 
Subsequently he learned telegraphy, and 
was appointed yard clerk at Chicago Junc- 
tion for the Baltimore & Ohio Kailroad 
Company. "When the postoffice was es- 
tablished at Chicago Junction he was ap- 
pointed postmaster, and held tlie ofhce for 
thirteen consecutive years. In 1877 lie 
opened a jewelry store at Chicago Junc- 
tion, which he carried on until 1888. 

In August, 1888, Mr. Keefer founded 
the Commercial Bank of Chicago Junc- 
tion; this is a private banking house, and 
is one of the recognized financial institu- 
tions of the. county, enjoying as it merits 
the confidence of the citizens. On Feb- 
ruary 13, 1888, Mr. Keefer was married 
to Miss Eva L. Shepard, of Hillsdale, 
Mich., and they are the parents of one son, 
Walter Dale. Mr. Keefer is a Republican, 
and takes an active interest in town and 
township political affairs. He is an ideal 
self-made man, and having earned the 
wealth he possesses, understands thor- 
oughly its true management and value. 



JOHN G. SHERMAN was born in 
w I AVakeman township, Huron Co., 
%^ Ohio, November 11, 1830. Ilis 
father, Justin Sherman, was one of 
the first settlers in Wakefield county, and 
adescen4ant, in direct line, of Hon. Samuel 
Shei'uian, who came fr(jm Dedham, County 
of Essex, England, in 1634. 

The entire life of our subject was spent 
on the farm where he was born. His early 
years were devoted to the nsual round of 
duties of a farmer boy, and a few months 
each year spent in the district school fur- 
nished him ''ojood enough" education for 
a full-fledged farmer. In the spring of 
1851 he married Miss Julia E. Beecher, 



daughter of Cyrenius Beecher, an early 
settler of Florence township, Erie Co., 
Ohio, and began farm life in earnest. 
After six years of labor together, Mrs. 
Sherman died from an attack of dropsy, 
leaving her husband and one daughter to 
mourn her early death. In 1858 Mr. 
Sherman married, for his second wife, 
Miss Elizabeth I). Miller, daughter of John 
Miller, a substantial farmer in New Lon- 
don township, Huron county, she taking 
up the household duties and the care of 
the daughter who had lost a mother's de- 
votion. This union resulted in the birth 
of oue son and two daughters, who, with 
the exception of one daughter, together 
with Mrs. Sherman survive Mr. Sherman, 
who died May 27, 1893, from the effects 
of heart disease. 

In the active years of his life Mr. Sher- 
man was successful as a farmer. Crops 
well cultivated; stock well bred and cared 
for; farm implements housed when not in 
use — in short everything done in season 
and in first-class order — formed the ele- 
ments of his success. He was a close ob- 
server, a great reader of farm publications 
as well as the current news, and endeavored 
to keep well informed on all matters per- 
taining to his occupation as well as the 
political, social and religious news of the 
day. He gave more or less attention to 
local and State politics; was frequently a 
delegate to conventions, notably to the Re- 
publican National Convention at Philadel- 
phia in 1872, to renominate President 
Grant. Social in a high degree, he enjoyed 
the esteem of a large acquaintance. Re- 
ligious, with a deep sense of duty, the 
outgrowth of an early experience and 
training, he was for years an active mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church at 
Wakeman, and one of its deacons at the 
time of his death. For years he took 
great interest in its Sunday-school, and 
assisted in its work as superintendent and 
teacher, ever giving it liberal support. 
During all his years of farm life, with its 
demands, he always found time to enter- 



104 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



tain friends or enjoy a clay with his family 
at Fecial gatherings. At the close of day, 
for over thirty-five years, he recorded in 
his diary his failures or successes; the 
condition of the weather; the crops, when 
in season, and all the events that go to 
make up a family history. More notable, 
possibly, was the service he rendered for 
over filteen years as newspaper reporter. 
On more than one occasion did he take 
down, in lon^ hand, a verbatim report of 
political speech, or testimony given in 
court, and mail to paper for publication 
without rewriting. His crop and weather 
reports were regularly mailed for many 
seasons. 

In domestic life Mr. Sherman was a de- 
voted husband and father — temperate, 
attentive to all home duties, thorough in 
his undertakings, economical, yet given to 
acts of kindness and deeds of charity. 




EV. T. F. HILDRETH, A. M., 

/ D. D., is a native of Tompkins 
i^. county, N. Y., born November 29, 
1826, the third son of Benjamin 
and Susan Hildreth, the former of 
whom was born in Monmouth county, N. 
J., the latter, whose maiden name was 
Colegrove. born in Schoharie county, New 
York. 

The parents came with their family to 
Huron county, Ohio, in 1883, and here 
passed the remainder of their lives, the 
father dying September 20, 1852, in his 
fifty eighth year, tlie mother March 15, 
1855, in her sixty-first yeai'. Tlie family 
consisted of nine children — four girls and 
five boys — the subject of this sketch being 
the sixth in the order of their birth. 

Dr. Hildreth was in liis seventh year 
when his parents settled in Huron county, 
and his education began in an old school- 
bouse a mile and a half from home, in the 
summer helping what he could in clearing 
up the farm, and in the winters attending 
the district school till his nineteenth year, 
when he took two terms in the Old Nor- 



walk Seminary, which at that time was 
under the supervision of the Baptist 
Cliurch. He was converted when but 
eleven years old, but did not unite with 
the Church till in his sixteenth year. As 
his parents were Methodists, lie united 
with the same Church, and from the date 
of his conversion he was the subject of deep 
convictions regarding his duty to enter the 
Christian ministry. However, before he 
had fully decided as to his life work, he 
entered his name as a law student in the 
office of the Hon. Samuel T. Wooster, of 
Norwalk, then considered one of the ablest 
attorneys in the State. Before he had com- 
pleted the coui'se of study necessary to ad- 
mission to the bar, he had been licensed 
as a local preacher in the M. E. Church, 
and having been recommended by his 
Quarterly Conference, he was received on 
trial in the North Ohio Conference at its 
Session held in Bellefontaine, August 22, 
1851. Dr. Hildreth occupied several of 
the leading appointments in his Confer- 
ence till the fall of 1864, when he was 
transferred to the New York Conference 
and stationed at Trinity M. E. Church on 
Thirty-fourth street. During his pastorate 
in New York his health became so im- 
paired that he was obliged to resign his 
charge, and in the fall of 1867 he returned 
to his home in the bounds of the North 
Ohio Conference. After a year of rest, 
his health being greatly improved, he was 
given charge of the M. E. Church in Nor- 
walk, of which he was pastor three years, 
and then hy special request of the church 
in Ionia, Mich., he was transferred to the 
Michigan Conference and stationed at that 
place. 

Tlie Doctor held three successive appoint- 
ments of three years each, ami then, by 
reason of impaired health, returned again 
to his home in Norwalk, and once more 
took his relation to the North Ohio Con- 
ference. When the pastorate of the Rev. 
Dr. Mendenhall expired, by the request of 
the Norwalk Church Dr. Hildreth was 
again appointed its pastor, and again 



j3^^t<f*^ffrr 




7 / 




//yyiC^<-^t^Z^ 




'A 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



107 



served it for three years. At the close of his 
term in Norvvalk, he was appointed to tlie 
Lorain Street M. E. Church in Cleve- 
hiiid, Ohio, but at the end of one year lie 
severed his connection with the North 
Ohio Conference, and took charge of the 
People's Tabernacle Church, at Music 
Hall, an nndenotninational Society, com- 
posed of such persons of the various churches 
as desired more particularly to do Gospel 
temperance work. In this field the Doc- 
tor remained two years, and upon the 
death of its founder and chief patron, Hon. 
W. H. Doan, Dr. Ilildreth resigned his 
position and returned to his own quiet 
home in Norwalk. 

In 1863 the Ohio Wesleyan University 
conferred upon the Doctor the degree of 
A. M., and in 1887 the same institution 
honored him with the degree of D. D. Dr. 
Hildreth's popularity as a speaker has ever 
caused him to be much sought after at the 
dedication of churches, believing, as the 
people did, that he was always eminently 
successful in securing church debts. His 
sympathy for the soldiers caused him to be 
frequently called upon on memorial oc- 
casions, and as a lecturer few have excelled 
him in popularity on the platform. His 
style is purely extemporaneous, never read- 
inj^ either a lecture or sermon, and seldom 
using even a brief. While Dr. Hildreth is 
well versed in metaphysics, and literature, 
his ianguai^e is simple, and his methods of 
presenting truth easy to follow. His 
imagination is often brilliant, and at times 
he sways his audieiice.s with the grandeur 
of his imagery. I^e has written many 
poems of merit, and some of them have 
received from the press the hiu;hest com- 
mendations. Thoujjh not now the regular 
pastor of any church, the Doctor is con- 
stantly engaged either in the pulpit or on 
the platform, and retains in a high decrree 
the vigor both of his body and mind. 

In 184:9 Dr. Hildreth was married to a 
most estimable lady. Miss Eudolphia C. 
Cherry, whose quiet unassuming life and 
sterHnj' worth have ever been a tower of 



strength to him all through their years. 
They are spending their evening twilight 
in quietness and peace in their own cozy 
home, surrounded with many friends. 



TEPHEX F. CLARKE, a "success- 
ful fanner of Lyme township, has 
all his life been engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits, and is to-day prom- 
inently identified among the progressive 
and wide-awake farmers of Huron county. 
His father, John Clarke, was born in 
Ashelworth, Gloucestershire, England, 
July 19, 1794, and was married May 5, 
1823, to Miss Elizabeth Lloyd, of Tibber- 
ton, Worcestershire, England, who was 
born January 26, 1801. Of this union 
eleven children were born (seven of whom 
are still living), namely: Mary Lloyd, 
born September 17, 1824; Catherine L., 
born October 18, 1825; John S., born 
February 17, 1827; Christopher, born 
August 30, 1828; Frederick, born Decem- 
ber 28, 1829; Elizabeth E., born April 15, 
1831; Edwin, born July 22, 1832; Lucy, 
born October 15, 1833; Philip, born April 
29, 1835; Stephen F., born Decem,ber 19, 
1839; and Theodore E., born April 12, 
184^. John Clarke was a farmer from 
his youth, and in 1836 moved to Ohio, 
where he followed this occupation, ranking 
liigh in the esteem of his neighbors. He 
was a great Church worker, l)einur one of 
the founders of Lyme Trinity Episcopal 
Church; was also lay reader for years after 
the church was first organized, and during 
the remainder of his life he was senior 
warden. He died May 2, 1877; his wife 
passed away November 10, 1861. 

Stephen F. Clarke was born on Pipe 
creek, in Erie county, Ohio, and was five 
years old when his parents moved to the 
homestead, where he now resides. He at- 
tended the district school in the vicinity 
until the formation of the union school in 
Bellevue, where he continued his studies, 
afterward completing them at Oberlin, and 



108 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



at Heidelberg Collej^e, Tiffin, Ohio. At 
an early a^e be inaDifested a talent for 
agricultural pursuits, and bas devoted his 
time exclusively to farming, having lived 
on the property where he now resides since 
1845. He owns eighty-five acres of valu- 
able and well-cultivated land, situated 
about one mile from Bellevue, and each 
year adds many improvements, in the way 
of buildings, new farming implements, and 
in putting into execiition new methods for 
carrying on his work. He was proficient 
in music, and was a member of various 
bands for years, playing also the trombone 
in church at Bellevue several years. 

On September 9, 1868, Stephen F. 
Clarke married Sarah Rosa Stults, daugh- 
ter of Kalph and Ann Stults, who lived 
on a farm about two and one half 
miles east of Bellevue. She was an active 
member of Lyme Trinity Episcopal 
Church and choir. Her life was cut short 
hy an early death from childbirth, passing 
away March 30, 1872, at the age of 
twenty-three years; the child, Edith R., 
was born March 2-1, 1872. On Septem- 
ber 4, 1878, Mr. Clarke was married to 
Minnie Louise Anderson, daughter of 
James Emory and E. Louise Anderson, on 
both sides descendants of Scottish ances- 
try. The first seven years of her life 
were spent on her father's farm (the sec- 
ond one from where she now lives), after 
which her fathei' sold his farm, and with 
his wife and daughter moved into the 
town of Bellevue, where he ensased in the 
grocery business. He is now manager of a 
large orange grove in Daytona, Fla. Mrs. 
Minnie L. Clarke attended a select school 
for three or four years, and then entered 
the public scliool at Bellevue, where she 
completed her studies with the class of 
'78. To her marriage with Mr. Clarke 
have been born three children, viz.: John 
A., born October 19, 1879; M. Louise, 
born October 20, 1881, and A. Bessie, 
born May 16, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke 
are members of the Congregational Church 
at Bellevue, of which they are liberal sup- 



porters. Mrs. Clarke has been a member 
of the choir for over sixtpen yeal'S, not- 
withstanding her many family cares. 

Alvin Anderson, grandlather of Mrs. 
Minnie L. Clarke, was born July 28, 1800, 
in New York State, of Scotch descent, his 
parents having come from the land of 
Scott and Burn.s at an early day. In 1820 
he married Miss Harriet Baldwin, who was 
born July 24, 1800, the eldest daughter of 
Dr. Baldwin, of Newark, N. J. The 
young couple then lived on a farm near 
Honeoye, N. Y., where five children were 
born to them, viz., Adeline, September, 
1822; Martha, April 30, 1825; Alvin 
Clark, February 18, 1830; Emily, 1833 
(deceased in infancy); and James Emory, 
August 13, 1836. " In 1838 Mr. and Mrs. 
Anderson, with their young cbildren, left 
tbe East to seek their fortune in tiie West 
(as Ohio was then considered), they having 
to drive the entire distance, as in tliose 
days tiiere were no railroads through these 
parts, the country being entirely new, and 
as a consequence they endured many hard- 
ships. Neighbors were poor and far apart, 
and the dense forest teemed with wild ani- 
mals, including ferocious wolves that 
" made night hideous " with theif bowl- 
ings. The family settled on a tract of be- 
tween four and five hundred acres of land, 
situated one mile and a half east of Belle- 
vue, toward Strong's Ridge. This was in 
course of ti?ue cleared and cultivated, and 
sold ofl'to new comers, and other farms and 
town property bought. 

One by one the children married, and 
had homes of their own, the father giving 
each a share until the youngest, James 
Emory, came to marry. The parents then 
moved into their town "Cottage," giving 
James Emory the homestead, whither he 
brought his handsome and accomplished 
bride — E. Louise (Pennell) — from Hone- 
oye, Ontario Co., N. Y., they having mar- 
ried January 27, 1859. She was tbe eld- 
est daughter of Dennis Pennell, an exten- 
sive dealer in pianos, organs, etc., who 
gave to each of his children every advau- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



109 



ta»e money could procure (wliicli in those 
days was considerable), sending three of 
his daughters to Music Vale Seminary, 
Salem, Mass., where they graduated in 
music in all its branches. They afterward 
became teachers for over thirty years, 
their duties never interfering^ with family 
cares and society work. Two children 
came to brighten the home of J. Emory 
and E. Louise Anderson, viz.: Miimie L., 
born May 26, 1860, and Ciiarles E., born 
April 13, 1868, now on the "Nickel 
Plate" Railroad, his home being in Belle- 
vue. On May 24, 1891, he married Pearl 
Jessie Kline, of Flat Rock, Ohio. 

Mr. and Mrs. Alviu Anderson jour- 
neyed thi-ough life together over sixty-two 
years, and in 1870 they celebrated their 
golden wedding. In 1882 this " blessed, 
good, kind old lady, beloved by every one" 
(as affectionately described by her grand- 
daughter Mrs. Clarke), received a paralytic 
stroke, the second one in her old age, 
from the effects of which she died witliin 
a few days, the date of her demise being 
August 30. For the first five years after 
the death of his wife, Mr- Anderson made 
his home with his son J. E., until the lat- 
ter moved to Daytona, P^la., in 1887; he 
then lived alternately with his two daugh- 
ters — the late Mrs. J. B. Higbee, of Belle- 
vue, Ohio, and Mrs. Basil Meek, of Fre- 
mont. Mrs. Meek and two sons — J. E., 
and A. C. (of New Bremen, Ohio) — sur- 
vive him. 

Alvin Anderson died March 5, 1898, at 
the home of his daughter, Mrs. Meek, 
aged ninety-two years, seven months, 
seven days. He was possessed of much 
strength of mind, a wonderful spirit of 
endurance inherited from his Scotch an- 
cestry, and was a man of great industry 
and integrity. Liberal of his means, he 
contributed largely to the support of the 
churches with which he was connected, as 
well as educational institutions, especially 
at Lima, New York, Berea, and Delaware, 
Ohio, and cheerfully gave his children the 
advantages of the above named institutions. 



LTpon arriving at his new lionae in Ohio, 
in 1839, and finding no Methodist Church 
in Bellevue, and only two or three mem- 
bers besides his parents and sister of his 
own denomination, he gathered them to- 
gether, organizing them into a Methodist 
class, which became the nucleus to the 
present Methodist Church in the town. 
He was a loyal Methodist, but liberal 
toward all other denominations, and his 
honored name will ever be held in grate- 
ful remembrance. 



L 



O. SIMMONS, the genial mayor of 
Monroeville, also editor and proprie- 
\ tor of the Spectator, is one of the 
most prominent and popular citizens 
of the place. He is a son of George and 
Mary (Whaley) Simmons, both of whom 
were born in England, and, immigrating to 
America many years ago, settled in Huron 
county, Ohio. Their other children were 
Susie C, Mary, Fannie, Frank and Louis, 
livino-, and one daughter — Belle — and one 
son — George — -deceased. The father died 
in 1873. 

L. O.Simmons was born September 16, 
1867, in Monroeville, Huron Co., Ohio, and 
attended the common schools of his native 
town, afterward the high school, from 
which he graduated. While pursuing his 
literary work during regular school hours, 
the ambitious youth also devoted every 
hour of spare time to private study, and 
after leaving school learned the printing 
business in Cleveland, Ohio. In April, 
1886, he purchased the Monroeville Spec- 
tator, and began business in that then dull 
little town, which owes the greater portion 
of its present prosperous condition to the 
enertretic efforts and enterprise of Mayor 
Simmons. On June 20, 1889, L. O. Sim- 
mons, wisely deciding that >'two were b&tter 
than one," married Miss Margaret Fan- 
nincr, and their union has been blessed 
with one daughter, Viola B. 

In April, 1892, Mr. Simmons was 
elected mayor of Monroevillej and has per- 



110 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



formed the several duties of that responsi- 
ble position with rare judgment and to the 
entire satisfaction of liis constituency. He 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., also of the 
Junior Order United American Mechanics. 
His paper is independent in politics, a 
spirited exponent of its editor's principles. 



L 



E. BARKER, justice of the peace, 
dealer in real estate, and insurance 
agent, of Greenwich, is widely 
known in Huron and adjoining 
counties. 

He was born in 1848 in Huron county, 
Ohio, was educated in this county, and at 
the age of seventeen years went to Michi- 
gan. He remained three or four years in 
that State, returned to his native county in 
1872, and located at Greenwich, where he 
waS' connected with the dry-goods business 
until 1881. In 1884 he engaged in the 
insurance business, and now represents no 
less than seven leading companies. At 
the same time he established as a real- 
estate agent, buying, selling and trading 
lands, town lots and other property on 
commission. Mr. Barker served the 
municipality of Greenwich as clerk for 
two terms; was elected mayor of Green- 
wich in 1889, and in April, 1892, was 
elected justice of the peace. He was 
united in marriage on December 16, 1875, 
with Mary Sypher, a native of Des Moines, 
Iowa, and daughter of Reuben and 
Jennie (Armour) Sypher, the former a 
native of Pennsylvania, the latter of 
Indiana. Her mother died sixteen years 
after marriage, and her father died at 
Des Moines, Iowa, in 1879. Their daugh- 
ter, now Mrs. Barker, was sent to Oxford, 
Ohio, when seventeen years old, to attend 
school, and remained there for two years. 
To her marriage two children were born, 
namely: Echo Armour and Ethel Adeline. 
Nelson and Adeline (Hinkley) Barker, 
parents of Justice Barker, were born in 
New York State, the former in 1819, the 



latter in 1822, and are now residents of 
Ripley township, Huron Co., Ohio. Their 
parents came to Huron county about the 
year 1834, and here Mr. and Mrs. Barker 
were married, and live children were born 
to them, three of whom are living. Dr. 
I. N., H. W., and L. E. 

Joseph Barker, the grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch, who was of English 
descent, resided here from his coming in 
the " thirties " until his death. The ma- 
ternal grandparents, natives of Connecti- 
cut, who settled in Huron county, resided 
here until death removed them from the 
circle of old settlers. The Hinkleys are 
of French descent, grandfather Hinkley 
being a cousin of Salmon P. Chase; his 
wife, Laura, was Scotch-English. The 
father of L. E. Barker, "Nelson Barker," 
died July 81, 1893, and L. E. Barker's only 
sister, L. Delia, was appointed administra- 
trix of the estate uf Nelson Barker, was 
taken sick on October 4, 1893, and died 
October 17 following at the age of thirty- 
seven years, five months, twenty-five days. 



OMMODORE O. H. PERRY, well- 
known and respected in Peru town- 
ship, where he is a j)rosperou8 
agriculturist, is a native of New 
York State, born in Cayuga county April 
12, 1829. 

Joseph Perry, father of sul>ject, was 
born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1785, 
and was there educated and reared. Some 
time after marriage he was induced to go 
to Cayuga county, N. Y., and there re- 
mained until 1832, when he came to 
Ohio, settling in Peru township, Huron 
county. The journey was made by boat 
from Buffalo to Sandusky, and from there 
by wagon to Peru, where Mr. Perry took 
up wild land and cleared same. In New 
Jersey he married Miss Sarah Seward, a 
second cousin of Gen. Seward, and the 
children born to this union were Horace, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Ill 



Emeline, Catharine, Daniel S., Eliza, 
Julia. Sally A., Joseph and C. O. H. The 
motlier of these children died in October, 
1861, the fatlier on May 31, 1859; he was 
a hardy pioneer of steriin* worth, much 
respected, and in politics he was first an 
Old-line Wilier, later a Republican. 

The subject proper of this sketch re- 
ceived his education at the common 
schools of his native place, and was 
reared to farming pursuits. He was three 
years old, as will be seen, when he came 
to Huron county, and has ever since lived 
on the home place in Peru township. On 
June 27, 1867, he was united in marriage 
with Frances J., daughter of W. H. Sny- 
der, of Peru township, Huron county, and 
the children born to them were: (1) Fan- 
nie, married to J. C. Wheeler, by whom 
she had three children. Perry, Alto and 
Mary; and (2) Oscar, deceased at the age 
of two years. The mother of these being 
called from earth on May 31, 1892, Mr. 
Perry married Miss Mary M., daughter 
of S. P. Towne, of Norwalk, Huron county. 
A Republican in politics, Mr. Perry has 
served as county commissioner six years, 
commencing in 1886. He was a most 
efficient and popular officer. He is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church of 
Peru, of which he has been an elder for 
eleven years past. 

Prompt and decisive in action, practi- 
cal and steadfast in purpose, industrious 
and painstaking, a man of judgment and 
probity, he is held in high esteem by 
his neighbors and wide acquaintance. 
Social and lively in temperament, with a 
keen sense of the humorous, which is ap- 
parent in many a droll and witty re- 
mark, " Uncle Com," as he is familiarly 
called, is welcomed everywhere as "good 
company" by young and old. His hos- 
pitality is unbounded. He is a model 
farmer and a natural mechanic, and has 
always been noted for his fine stock. 
Always busy himself, he has no sym- 
pathy for the shiftless and idle, but to 
the unfortunate he is a kind and help- 



ful friend, whose sympflthy is shown in 
acts rather than words. In any plan for 
the advancement of his community, iiis 
active co-operation is relied upon. 



DN. CARPENTER, the popular 
mayor of Chicago Junction, was 
born October 18, 1833, near Bell- 
ville, Richland Co., Ohio, a son of 
Samuel and Eunice (Phelps) Carpenter, 
natives of Genesee county, N". Y., and 
Vermont, respectively, and who were 
early settlers of Richland county, having 
come hither with their parents in youth. 
In 1847 Samuel Carpenter removed to 
Richnjond township, Huron county, with 
his family, purchasing a corner lot, where 
he resided until the period of the Civil 
war, when he established his home at Defi- 
ance, Ohio, and there remained until his 
death. Politically he was a Whig until 
1856, when he became a Republican. Of 
fourteen children born to Samuel and 
Eunice Carpenter, eleven grew to maturity, 
of whom five sons and three danghtei-s are 
livincr. Three sons and one daughter re- 
side in Ohio; another daughter in Ten- 
nessee; one in Indiana; and a son in Wis- 
consin, all heads of families. The sons are 
all large men, D. N. Carpenter, who stands 
six feet in his stockings and weighs 170 
pounds, being the smallest of all in stature. 
Our subject was the eldest son in the 
family, and consequently became inured to 
work from childhood, continuing on the 
home farm until twenty-two years of age. 
But little attention was given to his liter- 
ary education, but his natural intelligence 
more than compensated for the lack of 
school knowledge. On December 10, 1854, 
Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with 
Sarah A. Smith, daughter of John Smith, 
of Seneca county, Ohio. Immediately af- 
terward he purchased a sawmill in the 
southwest corner of Richmond township, 
Huron county, which he operated for ten 
years, when he sold the property. He then 
commenced work for Philip Caruthers, who 



112 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



paid hiin one dollar and seventy-five cents 
a day for the first month, two dollars a 
day for the second month, two dollars and 
twenty-five cents a day for the third and 
fourth month, and so on until he finally be- 
came a partner, and they worked together 
two years, when Mr. Carpenter retired 
from the business to give attention to his 
contracting and building interests. In 
1880 he settled at Chicago Junction, where 
he has erected a large number of houses, 
including some of the finest buildings in 
the town. Politically he is an active Re- 
publican, and is now serving his fecond 
term as justice of the peace of Richmond 
township, on the line of which he resides. 
In the spring of 1893 he completed his 
second term as mayor of Chicago Junction. 
For three terms before movincj to town he 
served as trustee of Richmond township, 
and in the fall of 1892 he was candidate 
for the office of county commissioner. Mr. 
Car^ienter, on locating at Chicago Junc- 
tion, purchased a house and two vacant 
lots, and in 1885 he built a commodious 
residence, where he resides with his family. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have come 
children as follows: J. W.., yard engineer 
at Chicago Junction, in the employ of the 
B. ct O. Railroad Company; A. A., a car- 
penter, contractor and builder; Mary, wife 
of I. M. Croninger, a contractor and 
builder; Lou, wife of Dr. Kauffman; 
Emma, wife of B. F. Fink; and one child 
that died young. Mr. Carpenter is a mem- 
ber of the United Brethren Church. He 
is very prominent in municipal affairs, is 
a man of excellent ability, and a citizen 
who is worthy of the name. 



/ 



MjAJOR L. B. MESNARD, sur- 
veyor, Norwalk, was born in 
J Huron county, Ohio, December 
31, 1837, a son of Eri and Harriet 
(Baker) Mesnard, the former of 
whom was born October 16, 1797, in Nor- 
walk. Conn., where he grew to manhood. 



Eri Mesnard received his education at 
Ithaca, and became a practical engineer. 
He was assistant engineer in the location 
and construction of the Ithaca & Owego 
Railroad, one of the first railroads built in 
the State of Kcw York. On June 11, 1835, 
he was married to Harriet Baker, and in 
1837 came to Huron county, Ohio, pur- 
chased a tarm. sold it, and then bought 
property in Korwalk township, on which 
he made his permanent liome. In 1850 
he was elected county surveyor of Huron 
county, and was several times re-elected, 
holding the office for fourteen consecutive 
years. He was originally a Democrat in 
politics, but in 1856 voted for Fremont, 
and ever after remained a Republican. 
He was one of the most prominent men in 
Huron county, higlily honored by his 
neighbors for his well-known probity and 
nobility of character. In religious faith 
he was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. He died January 29, 1879. 
Mr. Mesnard was a descendant of the 
French Huguenots who left Rochelle, 
France, about 1700, came to America and 
settled Xew Rochelle, near Saratoga, N. Y. 
The immigrant Mesnard married a dauo-h- 
ter of Judge Hoyt, who was a judge in the 
Colonies by appointment from the English 
crown. Mrs. Harriet (Baker) Mesnard, 
mother of our subject, was a native of 
Massachusetts. She was married in New 
York, and bore her husband three daugh- 
ters and one son: L. B. (subject of this 
memoir), Mrs. Ellen M. Mead, Mrs. Mary 
A. Wood, and Celestia H. 

L. B. Mesnard grew to manhood under 
the parental roof, and received his educa- 
tion in the public schools of the vicinity 
and Norwalk Seminary, exhibiting special 
aptness in mathematics. He aftei-ward 
became his father's constant companion, 
even when a small boy attending him on 
many of his surveying expeditions; and he 
had thus many advantages, both in the 
line of mathematics as well as in practical 
surveying, etc. Ending his school days in 
1859, he followed the profession of teacher 



IIURO]Sr COUNTY, OHIO. 



113 



until the breaking out of the Civil war, 
when he enlisted, in September, 1861, in 
the Fifty-tifth Regiment O. V. I., serving 
in the army of the Potomac, taking part 
in rhe battles of South Mountain, Second 
Bull Kun, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
ville, and Gettysburg, where he was se- 
verely wounded. He subsequently went 
west with the Twentieth Corps, under 
Gen. Hooker, and participated in the en- 
gagements at Missionary Ridge, Lookout 
Mountain, and the siege of Knoxville. 
He then received a veteran furlough, and 
while at home raised, at Norwalk, a new 
company, which was mustered in as Com- 
pany B, Twenty-fifth O. V. I., of which 
lie was commissioned captain. He went 
with his command to AVashington, thence 
to Hilton Head, S. C, in the Coast divis- 
ion, and served till the close of the war, 
at which time they were at Charleston, S. 
C, and was commissioned major of the 
Twenty-fifth O. V. I., some three months 
previous to its muster out of service, June 
18, 1866. During his service in the ranks 
at the front he carried a musket 3,500 
miles, filling the important position of 
first sergeant of his company for a year or 
more, and during his long service in 
the army was always present iov duty 
except when absent, wounded. After the 
war he engaged in farming in the south 
part of Norwalk township, which he fol- 
lowed till 1880, when he was elected 
County Surveyor, in which office he is 
now serving his fifth term. 

Maj. L. B. Mesnard and Hattie Baker, 
of Syracuse, N. Y., were united in mar- 
riage, in December, 1865. Two sons, 
Howard W. (now at the Rensselaer 
Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y.) and 
Ralph E. (a senior in the Norwalk High 
School) have been born to this union. 




EV. J. M. SEYMOUR, pastor of 
the Presbyterian Church at Nor- 
walk, is a native of the Buckeye 
State, having been born in Portage 



county, February 3, 1842, a son of Erastus 
and Mary A. (Chapman) Seymour, natives 
of Connecticut. 

The family are of English descent, those 
members of it, under immediate consider- 
ation, being descended from Richard Sey- 
mour, who made his first trip to America 
before the "Mayflower's" time, locating 
in Maine; then revisited England, and re- 
turning to America finally settled in Con- 
necticut. Our subject's paternal grand- 
father came in 1820 as a pioneer to Portage 
county. Ohio, bringing his family, Erastns 
being one of them, and the journey was 
made, by some on horseback, by others in 
wagons, in which were also stowed their 
household effects, their '■'■Lares et Penates." 
The father of Rev. Seymour died in Port- 
age county in 1883; the mother in 1892. 
He was a strong Republican, and in church 
connection he was a Congregationalist. 
Our subject's maternal great-grandfather 
served in the Revolutionary war. 

Rev. J. M. Seymour, in early boyhood, 
and before the war of the Rebellion had 
called a "magnificently stern array" of 
troops into the field, attended school at 
Rootstown, in his native county, and at 
Mansfield, also Hiram College, of which 
latter James A. Garfield was president at 
that time. On the breaking out of hostil- 
ities, our subject enlisted in the Forty- 
second O. V. 1., of which Garfield was 
colonel, and served in Virginia, Kentucky 
and Mississippi, participating in the battles 
of Middle Creek (Ky.), Cumberland Gap, 
Chickasaw Bayou, Port Gibson, Cham- 
pion's Hill, Black River Bridge and the 
siege of Yicksburg, besides many minor 
engagements. In 1864 he was honorably 
discharged as sergeant, and returned home 
to the more congenial pursuits of peace. 
For some time he now applied himself to 
study and school teaching, after which he 
graduated from the Western Reserve Col- 
lege, from which institution he went to 
Andover Theological Seminary, where he 
also graduated. Having now received a 
license to preach, Rev. Seymour com- 



114 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



menced liis pastoral labors at Brookiield, 
Mass., wliere he remained two years; 
thence went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and 
from there after filling a seven years' in- 
cninljency came in 1884 to Norwalk, of 
the Presbyterian Church of which place he 
has since been pastor. 

On October 1, 1877, Mr. Seymour was 
united in marriage with Miss Edna Speaker, 
a native of Stark county, Ohio, and one 
child, Emma M., has been born to them. 
Extremely popular among all classes, Mr. 
Seymour is admired for his scholarly at- 
tainments, ability as a preacher and his 
hijjh moral standing. He is far-famed for 
his powers of oratory, purity of language 
and deportment as a Christian gentleman, 
and is much sought after to grace the 
platform on public occasions by his pres- 
ence and elegant addresses. In the Church 
and Sabbath-school he is a hard worker, 
and outside these duties he takes an es- 
pecially active interest in the welfare of 
indigent old soldiers, widows and orphans. 
He is a member of M. F. Wooster Post, 
G. A. E. 



DW. VAIL, M. D., Norwalk, ( 
the proinitient and influential 
zens of Huron county, of wlii 



one of 
tial citi- 
I'liich he 
is a native, is a son of David Vail, a 
descendant of early Puritan stock. 

The father of our subject was born in 
ISTew York, October 2, 1811, and is a resi- 
dent of Olena, Huron county, a prosperous 
farmer, ripe in years and rich in the re- 
spect and conlidence of the many friends 
and neighbors among whom he has spent 
liis life since coming; to Ohio in 1837. He 
was united in wedlock in 1845 with Al- 
mira Adams, daughter of Peter Adams, of 
Connecticut stock who came to Huron 
county as early settlers in Fairfield town- 
ship, and of this union were in the order 
of birth the following children: D. W. 
Vail, L. A. Vail, J. J. Vail, Alice (Mrs. 
Eobert Lambert) and C. W. Vail. David 
Vail reached legal age at the time when 



Andrew Jackson was forging his way to 
the front as the great American representa- 
tive Democrat, and became one ot his most 
earnest adherents. To this day lie has 
iriaintained, as a Jacksonian Democrat, the 
unflinching courage of his early political 
convictions, and in his religious views he 
is a Baptist. 

In the list of the family of children 
above given, it will be noticed that the 
gentleman whose name commences this 
brief notice is the eldest. He was reared 
on his father's farm, where he was born 
June 3, 1847, and received the rudiments 
of an English education in the common 
schools of the place. "When prepared he 
entered Oberlin College, and, completing 
his literary education, began the study of 
medicine utider Prof. Thuyer Cleveland, at 
Western Reserve College. Cleveland, Ohio, 
where he was graduated in the class of 
1869. As an evidence of the young stu- 
dent's diligence, it may be here stated that 
he was fully prepared for graduation two 
years before he attained the customary age 
of graduation in the institution. Im- 
mediately on reaching his majority, he 
opened an office for the practice of his 
profession at New Haven, in Huron 
county, where be was employed the next 
fourteen years, a period of professional 
success and eminence, both at home and 
abroad. In 1883 he removed to his pres- 
ent place of residence, Norwalk, and from 
that time to the present has been actively 
engaged in important business affairs that 
have practically withdrawn liim from his 
profession. He was an active member of 
a company wliich established the Post- 
office Box factory at Norwalk, which was 
being successfully operated till it and eon- 
tents, with several other buildings, were 
destroyed by fire, entailing a serious loss; 
the factory has never been rebuilt. Dr. 
Vail is president of and was a chief factor 
in the erection of the plant of the Incan- 
descent Light and Power Company, that 
is furnishing and lighting the city of Nor- 
walk, one of the most important improve- 




^^^^y^^lXct^UL 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



117 



iiients in tlie place. It was established in 
1891, and at present is supplied with ma- 
chinery of 350 horse-puwer. He is also 
president of the Norwaik Metal Spinning 
and Statnpincr Company, which was estab- 
lished in 1890, the goods of which are en- 
tirely of nickel and copper. Dr. Vail is 
also president of the C. W. Smith Manu- 
facturing Company, of Norwalk, where is 
made wood fabrics of great variety. This 
commenced in a small way, making mostly 
easels, and has been extended to include a 
variety of products until at present it is 
the second plant of importance in Huron 
county; it has 150 employees. The out- 
put the first year amounted to twelve 
thousand dollars; second year, twenty- 
eight thousand dollars; thii'd year, forty 
thousand dollars, and the present year 
(1893), eighty thousand dollars. Bur- 
dened as he was with all these im- 
portant affairs, the Doctor became post- 
master at Norwalk, filling all its duties 
thoroughly four years and one month, and 
during his term became one of the co-pro- 
prietors and editor of the Daily and 
Weekly Experiment-News, of Norwalk, 
purchasing a half interest in the paper in 
January, 1890, and was with the publi- 
cation more than a year. 

Dr. Vail's political preferences have 
been Democratic. At the age of twenty- 
two he was elected justice of the peace, 
and served a full term ; has held most of 
the township offices where he resided; was 
a member of the Democratic State Central 
Committee; was a candidate on the Legis- 
lative ticket, and suffered defeat with his 
party; a candidate for Congress, and by 
circumstances was cheated out of the nomi- 
nation; was one term a member of the 
Norwalk City Council; is at present a 
member of the School Board; in 1888 was 
appointed postmaster and served as already 
stated. 

This is something of the record of the 
professional, business and political career 
of one who is yet a young man, and before 
whojii is still the promise of his best years. 



Doctor Vail and Hannah Southard were 
united in wedlock December 30, 1870; 
she is a native of Tuckertown, N. J., and 
a daughter of James P. and Mary (Stiles) 
Southard, natives of New Jersey. She is 
one of a family of ten children, all resi- 
dents of Ohio. In the home of Dr. and 
Mrs. Vail is one child, Harry. 



Q, LIVER W. WILLIAMS. Among 
the prominent citizens of Norwalk 
' this gentleman is recognized as one 
of the most deservedly popular. 
His thrilling experiences as a veteran of 
the Civil war form a theme of conversation 
which fascinates the younger men, to whom 
the story of that bloody contest is a ro- 
mance of " truth stranger than fiction." 

Oliver W. Williams was born February 
2, 1841, in Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio, a son 
of Richard Williams, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, whose father was a soldier in the 
war of 1812. Richard Williams was born 
in 1815, and when a young man married 
Miss Eunice Randall, who was born in 
1817, in Williamsport, Penn. In 1840 
the young couple settled in Tiffin, Seneca 
Co., Ohio, where he practiced law and 
served both as county auditor and treas- 
urer. He died in 1852, having been pre- 
ceded to the grave by his wife in 1841. 

Oliver W. Williams was reared and 
educated in Seneca county, Ohio, and 
when twenty years of age entered the 
army. On June 18, 1801. he enlisted at 
Camp Chase, Franklin Co., Ohio, in Com- 
pany G, Twenty-fifth Regiment, O. V. I., 
which regiment, of which he was appointed 
hospital steward in November, 1861, did 
gallant service from tiie time of its organ- 
ization until mustered out of the service. 
It was commanded by Col. James A. 
Jones, and Company G fought under Capt. 
Asa Way. On July 29, 1861, the regi- 
ment entered AVest Virgina, where Com- 
pany G assisted in guarding the Balti- 
more & Ohio Railroad between Wheeling 
and Grafton. They left the railroad 



118 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



August 26, and after reporting to Gen. 
Reynolds at Beverly took a position on the 
summit of Cheat Mountain. As cold 
weather came on, it found many of the 
soldieis without overcoats, shoes or blank- 
ets, at the mercy of tlie freezing sleet and 
heavy snow storms. On September 12 a 
wagon train was sent into the valley for 
provisions, and being captured on the way, 
two companies were sent to overtake the 
enemy. They drove the Confederates 
back to tlie main lines, and on discovering 
that Lee's army was in the vicinity, began 
hasty preparations for defence. But about 
this time the Union troops arrived from 
tlie valley with a supply of provisions, and 
the Confederates withdrew. On October 3, 
the Twenty-fifth marched from the summit 
with several other regiments under Gen, 
Reynolds, to attack the Confederates at 
Greenbrier, but returned without impor- 
tant results, the Twenty-lifth having been 
the last regiment to leave the field. In 
November it went into winter quarters 
at Huttonsville, and on the 31st of De- 
cember went to Huntersville, marching 
one hundred and six miles in five days, 
and destroying a vast amount of Confed- 
erate stores. This was one of the famous 
raids of the war, and resulted in valu- 
able aid to the Union forces. In April, 
1862, the Twenty-fifth crossed Ci)eat 
Mountain and the Alleghanies, arriving at 
Monterey after marching one hundred and 
twenty-tive miles through an unknown 
region. They were attacked by Gen. 
Johnston, who was repulsed and then re- 
treated. The Unionists under Gen. Mil- 
roy followed the enemy to McDowell, 
where they remained until confronted by a 
large force under Johnston and Jackson. 
On May 8, the battle of Bull-Pasture 
Mountain was opened by a gallant charge 
from the Twenty-fifth Regiment. All day 
the contest raged fiercely, and as darkness 
fell the light from ten thousand muskets 
illumed the night. First to lead the van, 
the Twenty-fifth remained till all others 
had left the field, then covered their re- 



treat to Franklin. On June 8, they fought 
in the battle of Cross Keys, and August 
29 joined Pope in the second battle of 
Bull Run, then went into winter quarters 
at Brooke's Station. The Twenty-fifth 
was transferred April 27, 1863, to the 
Second Brigade, First Division, Eleventh 
Corps of the army of the Potomac, and 
it is a remarkable fact that they left 
Brooke's Station with 443 men, and ar- 
rived at Chancellorsville with 444. They 
remained with the army of the Potomac 
until after the battles of Chancellorsville 
and Gettysburg, in which they were 
prominent actors; then were transferred 
to South Carolina under Gen. Q. A. Gil- 
more, moved to Morris Island and assisted 
in the siege of Fort Wasjner. 

Mr. Williams re-enlisted, January 1, 
1864, as a veteran, at Folly Island, where 
he cast his first vote the previous October. 
He received his discharge as hospital stew- 
ard May 25, 1864, in order to accept the 
position of second lieutenant of Company 
C, and received a commission as first lieu- 
tenant August 11, 1864, being mustered 
in November 1, same year. The War De- 
partment issued a special order " No. 188," 
releasing all wounded ofKcers from duty, 
and having been wounded at Chancellors- 
ville, Honey Hill and Deveaux Neck, 
Oliver W. Williams was discharged, April 
26, 1865, untler this provision. 

After the war Mr. Williams returned to 
Plymouth village, Richland and Huron 
Cos., Ohio. On March 5, 1864, during 
his veteran furlough, he was united in 
marriage, at Elk Rapids, Antrim Co., 
Mich., with Miss Gertrude Baker, a na- 
tive of Seneca county, Ohio, who has borne 
him five children, namely: Addie J., 
Eliza M., Henry B., Eunice H. and Roger 
O. After locating in Plymouth Mr. Will- 
iams served as justice of the peace for 
some time, then entered the hardware 
business. In May, 1877, he was nominated 
treasurer of Huron county, beitig elected 
in October of same year. He served four 
years in that capacity, and in April, 1883, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



119 



was elected city clerk of Norwalk, which 
office he filled for six years, during which 
time he hecame associated with the organ- 
ization of the Home Savings & Loan Coui- 
pany of that town, Laving been its first 
and only secretary. He attended to the 
clerical and general work of the Company 
until 1891, since which time the loan 
business has increased so rapidly as to de- 
mand his entire attention. He has filled 
the office of notary public since 1866. Mr. 
Williams is grandson of a soldier of 1812, 
and great-grandson of a soldier of the 
Revolution. His wife is the daughter of 
a Union soldier, the granddaughter of a 
soldier of the war of 1812, and great- 
granddaughter of a soldier of the Revo- 
lutionary war. 



FM. SHEPHERD, whose name is as 
"familiar as household words" in 
^ the agricultural community of Wake- 
raan township and surrounding 
country, is a native of Ohio, born July 4, 
1844, in Lorain county, near Wellington, 
on the old homestead settled by his father. 
Samuel Shepherd (grandfather of our 
subject) and his wife Rachel (Taylor) 
caine from England to America and made 
a new home in what is now Belmont 
county, Ohio, being among the first set- 
tlers to commence farming in the then 
wild woods of the " Far West," bears, 
deer, panthers and other wild animals 
being numerous. They reared a family of 
eleven children, of whom are yet living 
James, in Barry county, Mich., and Marv, 
in Hendrjsburg, Belmont Co., Ohio. 
Grandfather Shepherd, in 1822, then in 
his fiftieth year, was killed by a falling 
tree near where the town of Piedmont, 
Harrison Co., Ohio, now stands. He was 
a Whig in politics, and in religious faith a 
Quaker, as was also his wife. 

John Sheplierd (father of F. M.) eldest 
son of Samuel Shepherd, was born in 
April, 1812, in Brandywine, Md., and 
when a twelve-year-old boy was taught the 



trade of shoemaker in Flushing, Ohio, fol- 
lowing same in Hendrysburg, same State, 
several years. On August 4, 1838, he 
married in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, 
Jemima Organ, and for about four years 
thereafter they remained in that county, 
at the end of which time they came to 
Wellington township, Lorain county, set- 
tling on a farm of fifty acres, situated four 
and one half miles southwest of the vil- 
lage of Wellington, this farm being paid 
for out of savings from his shoemaking 
business. There were in those days neither 
roads nor near neighbors, naught but ap- 
parently insurmountable difficulties; but 
bravely did these pioneers hew out a home 
for themselves and future generations. A. 
family of six children were born to them 
in this wilderness, nanjely: Jessie, Mary 
and Emanuel, all three now deceased, the 
first named dying in Tuscarawas county, 
the others in Wellington, Ohio; Lydia, in 
Tuscarawas county, Ohio; Manuel W., now 
residing on the old homestead in Spen- 
cer township, Medina county, and F. 
M. The father died in August, 1890, the 
mother in 1889. John Shepherd was a 
member of the Methodist Church for 
twelve years in early life, but from that 
time to the day of his death was associated 
with the United Brethren Society; politi- 
cally he was originally a Whig, later a 
Republican. 

F. M. Shepherd, whose name introduces 
this sketch, received a fair education at 
the common schools of his native town- 
ship, and assisted on his father's farm un- 
til he was eighteen years old, at which 
time, September 16, 1862, he enlisted in 
Company E, One Hundred and Twenty- 
fourth 0. V. L, under Capt. Bullock, of 
Elyria, Col. Oliver H. Payne commanding 
the regiment. He was mustered in at 
Cleveland, Ohio, and honorably discharged 
July 9, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn., after- a 
service of nearly three years. He partici- 
pated in the engagements at Fort Donel- 
son, Chickainauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, 
Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, 



120 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Peach Tree Creek, New Hope Church, At- 
lanta, Jonesborough, Franklin, Nashville, 
and many skirmishes between Chicka- 
inauga and Atlanta, terminating with the 
surrender of Hood's army. (Jur subject 
was wounded in the fight at Dalton, and 
was reported " dead," but after three 
months confinement in hospital was again 
reported, this time "convalescent." For 
services at that battle he was promoted 
from private to sergeant. On his return 
home from the war he resumed farm life, 
buying for himself a place of forty-seven 
acres in the southeast corner of Wakeman 
township, Huron county, to which he af- 
terward added twenty-seven acres lying to 
the west of it, and forty acres in Clarks- 
field township. Here he has since been 
actively and successfully engaged in gen- 
eral farming, dairying and stock raising. 
He has cut from the timber on his farms 
4,(J00 cords of wood for the railroad, and 
made 300 pounds of sugar from the iriaple 
trees in the immediate vicinity of the 
house. He has also made many substan- 
tial improvements on the property, and in 
1881 built a comfortable dwelling and 
commodious outbuildings. 

On February 25, 1866, our subject was 
married to Miss Permelia A. Clifford, 
daughter of George Clifford, the first male 
white child born in Wellington township, 
and who has lived his entire life on a 
portion of the Clifford farm. Children as 
follows were born to this union: Three de- 
ceased in infancy, and Edith A., a school 
teacher, living at home. In his political 
preferences our subject is a Prohibition- 
Republican, and has held various township 
offices. Since he was seventeen years old 
he has been a member of various denomi- 
nations. 

M. W. Shepherd is now living on the 
old farm near where the subject of the 
sketch was born, and is engaged in farm- 
ing and the production of honey, being 
the possessor of a large number of colo- 
nies of bees. He made a trip to California 
in 1891, and while there made the care of 



bees a specialty, and upon returning home 
settled down to spend the rest of his days. 
The maternal grandfather and great- 
grandfather of F. M. and M. W. Shepherd 
were soldiers in the Revolutionary army, 
the great-grandfather giving his life in 
defense of his country at the battle of 
Bunker Hill, being torn to pieces by a 
cannon ball while standing beside his son; 
the last words he uttered were " God bless 
my country!" The paternal grandfather 
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and an 
uncle was one of Scott's soldiers during 
the war with Me.xico; he was badly 
wounded at the battle of Monterey; was at 
the storming of the City of Me.xico, and 
was paid one hundred thousand dollars for 
previously entering the city as a spy for the 
American troops. 



^\ILL[AM HUMPHREY JOHN- 
\l STON, B.S., M.S., M.D., is a na- 
i( tive of Townsend Center, Huron 
Co., Ohio, born December 17, 
1866, only child of Hon. Watson D. and 
Delia (Humphrey) Johnson. 

Hon. Watson D. Johnston was born in 
Allegheny county, Penn., May 21, 1844, 
the eldest in the family of five children of 
Pev. John W. and Sarah (Murray) John- 
ston, natives, the father of Pennsylvania, 
the mother of New York State, and of 
Scotch-English and Scotch-Irish descent, 
respectively. 

Rev. John W. Johnston received a 
thorough classical education at Jeiferson 
College and the Western Theological Sem- 
inary of Allegheny, graduating from both 
institutions with high honors. After com- 
pleting his theological studies he was 
ordained to the ministry of the Presbyte- 
rian Church, and was pastor for various 
congregations in the western part of Penn- 
sylvania. In 1842 he was married in his 
native State to Miss Sarah Murray; he 
died in March, 1882, in his seventy-seventh 
year. His father, Rev. Robert Johnston, 



HVEOy COUNTY, OHIO. 



121 



was also a lifelong Presbyterian minister, 
^nii was a veteran of the war of 1812, 
having served in the Pennsylvania line. 
Tiie ancestors of the Johnston family were 
among the pioneers of western Penn- 
sylvania, taking an active and honoral)le 
part in the various struggles of that Com- 
monwealth in the old Colonial days. The 
Murray family were among the early 
settlers of New York, the old family home 
being in the vicinity of Albany. 

Watson D. Johnston received his educa- 
tion at the common schools in the vicinity 
of his place of birth, at an academy and at 
Oberlin College, all which advantages were 
secured to him mainly by his own exer- 
tions. After leaving college he taught 
school tor about two years in Illinois, 
after which he was employed in the office 
of a rolling mill at Kirtanning, one year. 
He then came to Townsend Center, Huron 
county, where he has since been success- 
fully engaged in a general mercantile 
business, and has been postmaster of the 
village for several years. He is a stanch 
Republican, and represented the county in 
the State Legislatui-e two terms, from 
1883 to 1887; at various times he has 
been clerk and treasurer of his township, 
all of which incumbencies he has tilled 
with credit to himself and satisfaction of 
liis constituents. On March 15, 1860, he 
was married in Townsend Center to Miss 
Delia Humphrey, a native of Ohio, daugh- 
ter of William and Sarah (Bierce) Hum- 
phrey, both natives of Connecticut and of 
English descent. One son was born to 
this union, William Humphrey, subject of 
sketch. The mother died in June, 1869. 
and ibr his second wife Mr. Johnston was 
wedded in June, 1872, at Bntler, Penn., 
to Miss Caroline Walker, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, born in April, 1844. This union 
was blessed with five children, viz.: Robert, 
Mame, Thomas, Emma and Maggie. Mr. 
Johnston is a Royal Arch Mason, a mem- 
ber of Lodge No. 322, F. & A. M., East 
Townsend, of which he has twice been 
worshipful master. 



William Humphrey Johnston, after 
several years attendance at the common 
schools and academy of his native town, 
entered the Scientitic Department of the 
University of Notre Dame, near South 
Bend, Ind., from which institution he 
subsequently graduated with highest hon- 
ors, in June, 1885, receiving the degree of 
B. S. ; to him was also awarded the gold 
medal, or first prize for English Essays; 
the gold medal for original work in the 
Biological Laboratory, and the gold medal 
of the Scientific Association. During 
the same year, 1885, he became a mem- 
ber of the American Society of Micro- 
scopy. After graduating he taught at 
the University in the department of 
Natural Science for some two years, and 
at the same time took a medical and a 
special or post-graduate course, receiving 
the degree of M. S. in 1887. Dr. Johnston 
then pursued his medical studies in the 
Medical Department of the Western 
Reserve University, of Cleveland, Ohio, 
during which time he served as assistant 
professor in the Departmentof Microscopy, 
having charge and principal control of the 
laboratory, and he was also first assistant 
to Prof. C. B. Parker, M. R. C. S., pro- 
fessor of surgery. He graduated with 
high honors in the class of 1889, after 
which he returned to the home of his 
childhood, where, in the short space of 
three years, he has succeeded in building 
up an extensive and lucrative practice. 
Tlie Doctor is fully equipped with all the 
latest modern appliances, having beyond 
a doubt the largest and best collection of 
surgical and scientific instruments and ap- 
paratus to be found in this part of the 
State. His microscope, with its various 
attachments, is one of the most complete 
known to the profession. Aside from his 
use of the instrument in the usual lines, 
and as an aid to medical study and diag- 
nosis, he has devoted much time to the 
more delicate and difficult microscopical 
technique, such as finds its application in 
so-called "expert-work." In addition to 



12'2 



UURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



his professional woriv, he also takes con- 
siderable interest in agriculture, owning, 
in the iininediate vicinity of Collins and 
Townsend Center, a well-improved farm 
of between three and four hundred acres, 
which, however, is mainly operated by 
tenants. On September is, 1888, Dr. 
Johnston was married at Norwalk, Ohio, to 
Miss Nellie E. DoUard, daughter of James 
P. Dullard. She was born in Belleviie, 
Ohio, August 12, 1868, and left that place 
at about the age of four, residing first at 
Collins, Ohio, afterward, and until her 
marriage, at Xorwalk. Dr. and Mrs. 
Johnston have one child, Donald Hum- 
phrey, born May 8, 1893. Socially Dr. 
Jonnston belongs to the Masonic Frater- 
nity, being a member of East Townsend 
Lodge No. 3-22, F. & A. M., Hnron Chap- 
ter No. 7, E. A. M., Norwalk Council No. 
24, R. & S. M., and Norwalk Commandery 
No. 18 K. T. He is also a member of the 
S. of V"., and Tent physician of the Town- 
send K. O. T. M. His present residence 
is the old Wm. Humphrey homestead. 



ffJfON. O. A. WHITE, ex-mayor of 

\^^ Norwalk, of which city he is a most 

I 11 prominent, highly respected citizen, 

■^ was born in 1820 in New York 

State. His parents, Abel and Polly 

(Warren) Wliite, were natives of Vermont, 

descended from pure English stock, and 

were farmers by occupation. In 1849 

they migrated to Ohio, where they passed 

the remainder of their days. Tlie White 

family were originally among the early 

pioneers of New England. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
liis native State, and at the early age of 
seventeen commenced teaching school, 
which profession he followed until he was 
elected town superintendent of schools at 
Gerry, N. Y., and then commissioner of 
the county schools of Chautauqua county, 
N. Y. He served in the latter position 
for a term of three years, at the end of 



which time became west, locating in Nor- 
walk, Ohio, with the intention at first of 
going into the manufacturing business; 
but being urged, he accepted the position 
of principal of the grammar scliool, and 
served the city of Norwalk in that capacity 
for the ne.\t five years, when in 1867 he 
was elected mayor of Norwalk; was re- 
elected in 1869, and again in 1876. He 
became trustee of the Water-works, and 
built the Works; has been civil engineer 
for many of the public improvements in 
and about the city, and has at all times 
filled a prominent place in advancing every 
enterprise of importance to his adopted city. 




RAINAKD W. SALISBURY, one 

of the representative men of Mon- 
roeville, influential, progressive and 
substantial, is a native of the State 
of New York, born in the town of Theresa, 
Jefferson county, May 17, 1846. 

Percival B. Salisbury, father of subject, 
was a son of Lodowic Salisbury, a native 
of Massachusetts, who was married in the 
town of Adams, that State, to Mary 
Phillips, who bore him eight children — 
seven sons and one daughter — of whom 
six sons lived to marry and have families. 
Percival B., the youngest son, was born in 
Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., July 27, 
1818. His elementary education was re- 
ceived at the subscription schools of his 
native town, and he afterward attended 
Watertown (N. Y.) Institute, where he 
was fitted for the vocatioti of teacher, which 
he followed for some years. On March 2, 
1842, he was married to Stella Willard, of 
Adams, N. Y. He then engage! as agent 
for a lumber company, whose business was 
in a wild part of Jefferson county, about 
eight miles from Theresa. There he lived 
a short time, and then moved to Theresa, 
and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 
October, 1854, he came to Ohio, locating 
in North Monroeville, Erie county just 



HUIiOX COUNTY, OHIO. 



123 



across the Huron county line, and for 
seventeen years he was postmaster at this 
place. 

In Adains, N. Y., Mr. and Mrs. Salis- 
bury had one child, Newell, born June 6, 
1843. This son enlisted in Company E, 
One Hundred and Twenty-third 0. V. I., 
aiid was twice captured by the Confeder- 
ates, each time at Winchester, Va. ;his 
first imprisonment was in Belie Isle, and 
also in Libby Prison. In October, 1863, 
he was exclianged. In September, 1864, 
he was wounded at Winchester, and again 
captured by the enemy, but was released 
at the time Sheridan retook that city, 
September 19, 1864. He died just twelve 
days afterward, and lies buried in the 
National cemetery at that place. At 
Tiieresa, N. Y., two children were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury, to wit: Brain- 
ard W., subject proper of sketch, and 
Emma A. Cowles, now living with her 
widowed mother in Monroeville, Ohio. 
Percival B. Salisbury died March 14, 
18T9, and is buried in Monroeville ceme- 
tery. Politically he was a Kepnblican, 
and for year.s served as township clerk of 
Oxford township, Erie county; was also 
a justice of the peace at the time of his 
death. In church connection he was a 
Congregatioualist. 

Brainard W. Salisbury, as will be seen, 
was eight years old when he came with 
his parents to Ohio. He attended school 
in North Monroeville, his first teacher 
being Ellen Young, and at the age of 
seventeen he left the common school to 
attend a mare advanced one in Belleville, 
N. Y., where he took a business course, 
after which he returned to Ohio. He 
clerked for a time in various stores, and 
later was employed in the Monroeville 
postoffice. Some time afterward lie went 
into the insurance business with A. S. 
Skilton, after which he moved to Cleve- 
land, where he found employment as book- 
keeper in the office of the Howe Machine 
Company. Here, however, lie remained but 
a few months, and then took his departure 



for Collins. Ohio, to take charge of the 
books of the Union Bending Works, lo- 
cated at that place. In May, 1876, he 
came to Monroeville, where he was in- 
stalled as bookkeeper for the Exchange 
Bank (at that time owned by Davis, Crim 
& Stentz). On the reorganization of this 
institution in November, 1879, it became 
the first National Bank of Monroeville, 
and he continued in the same incumbency 
until 1888, when he was promoted to 
cashier, a position he lias since filled with 
eminent ability, and to the complete satis- 
faction of both the public and the 
directorate. 

On October 4, 1876, Mr. Salisbury was 
united in marriage with Jane Todd, of 
Port Chester, N. Y., a daughter of Will- 
iam Todd, by which union there is one 
child, Stella, born November 9, 1877, now 
a most interesting young lady. Politically 
our subject is a Republican, and has held 
various offices; was member of school 
board six years; was treasurer of Monroe- 
ville school board three years, and treasurer 
of Ridgetield township, one term. Socially 
he is a member of Nachee Lodge No. 94, 
I. O. O. F., Monroeville, and of Maple 
City Tent No. 13, K. O. T. M. In re- 
ligious faith he and his wife and daughter 
are members of the Presbyterian Church, 
of the Sabbath-school of wliich he is 
superintendent, and he is a member of the 
board of trustees and treasurer of the 
Church. 



F. STEWART, a well-known resi- 
dent of Norwalk, of which city he is 
a native, was born March 18, 1854. 
His mother's death, when lie was 
but six months old, was the cause of his 
young life being spent in a family of the 
name of Rnggles, on a farm, where as a 
child and youth he remained till he was 
seventeen years of age, receiving the les- 
sons of the farmer boy, with an occasional 
attendance at the common schools. 



124 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



He had learned to work, and at an early 
age evinced a marked (piickness in me- 
chanics, with a handy use of tools. When 
he was seventeen years of age he quitted 
the farm and found employment with the 
Lake Shore Railroad Company, and, with- 
out any other experience as a carpenter 
than that of a boy on the farm, he went 
with a carpenter's gang, and found no 
ditHcnlty in competing with the best of 
them. After about one year he quitted 
this ein])loy, and jiroliting by his observa- 
tion of the wants of wood workers, com- 
Hienced to make and put upon the market 
dowel pins. Keadily seeing that turning 
these out by tiie slow process of making by 
hand could be improvetl, he invented his 
own pattern and machinery for making 
them, and this he soon had in its present 
perfected form. He then opened his fac- 
tory, which rapidly grew to such import- 
ance that the output for one year was 
7,000 barrels of pins, which were readily 
taken in the markets. He next invented a 
machine to split the wood, and thus again 
facilitated the tnakino- of them, while it 
improved and cheapened the product. So 
rapidly did this new industry grow and 
spread that in July. 1890, Mr. Stewart was 
jnstifie<l in changing this business from 
making the pins to the more important one 
of manufacturing the machinery for the 
purpose, in which he is now engaged; and 
lie is now in the control and operating of 
one of the growincr factories of the citv. 

His goods find no competition in the 
market; the whole industry is one of his 
e.vclusive creation, and his machines have 
been introduced into many of the leadincr 
factories of the country. The old process 
was for each workman to make his own 
pins as he had to use them, much as, ori- 
ginally, all nails were made by blacksmiths. 
A distinguished Englishman has said that 
the really great men of earth are the dis- 
coverers of new truths and the inventors of 
new and useful machinery. To tiiese men 
alone civilization looks in all its advances 
onward and upward. The discoverers and 



inventors blaze the way — they are the 
children of the immortals, they deserve to 
live forever. 

As "all work and no play makes Jack a 
dull boy," Mr. Stewart adopted the manly 
sport of rifle shooting for recreation, and 
became so e.xpert with his favorite arm 
(The Ballard rifle) that he easily won the 
honors for his native State at Toledo, in 
competition with the noted crack shots of 
the United States. The next year he 
was declared "King of Sharpshooters" at 
the Detroit (Mich.) rifle tournament, for 
making the greatest number of " bullseyes" 
in the two days' competition. This feat 
he repeated at Newark, N. J., in 1888, 
where nearly one thousand riflemen were 
striving for the honor. 

In 1879 Mr. Stewart was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Helen I. Manahan. 



CALEB HATHAWAY GALLUP. 
From time immemorial the tradition 
' has been handed down by members 
of an ancient family of the name of 
Kolopp — residents of the Province of Lor- 
raine, now in Germany — that one of their 
number went to western Europe as a fol- 
lower of William, Duke of Normandy, and 
never returned. 

As corroborative of this tradition, an- 
other exists in the Gallup family of 
America to the effect that the founder of 
the English liranch came at the Ct)nquest 
into England from France. The different 
spelling of the name by the two families 
is no indicaticm of a difference in origin. 
" In those early days education was con- 
fined to the monasteries, and family names 
were perpetuated by the medium of their 
children more than by written records. 
Afterward, as education became more gen- 
eral, and men learned to write their names, 
the manner of spelling them was arbitrary, 
depending upon the sound, or the fancy 
of the individual. Kolopp is a correct 
phonetic spelling of the German pronun- 
ciation of Gallup." 




C. //. Geillup. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



127 



In the year 1630 John Gallup came over 
to this country from England, and made 
his homo in Boston, then Ijut an infant 
settlement. He was an English sailor, who 
soon became a Massachusetts fisherman, 
and with his little fishing smack became 
historic in the Indian troubles of that 
time. He died at Boston January 11,1650. 

Soon after the settletnent of New Lon- 
don, Conn., and a.bout 1648, his son John, 
who married at Boston, became a resident 
of that part of New London since called 
Groton, where he brought up his three 
sons, John, Beuadam and William, and 
probably other children. In 1675 John 
received warning; from a friendly Indian, 
of the trouble soon to culminate in that his- 
toric event known as " King Philip's War." 
That warning came in the shape of the 
present of a wampum belt, or, rather, a belt 
made out of the long coarse hair of the 
black bear, ornamented with white beads 
set in the form of a W. This indicated 
war. He raised a company of soldiers, 
and took them into that " direful swamp 
light " of December 19, 1775. The fol- 
lowing is a succinct account of Gallup's 
fate, as related in Barbor's "Connecticut 
Historical Collections" and elsewhere: 
" The Legislature of the colony, in a rep- 
resentation of the services they had per- 
formed in the war. say: 'In that signal 
service, the fort fight, in Karragansett, as 
we had our full number in proportion to 
the other confederates, so all say they did 
their full proportion of service. Three 
noble soldiers — Seeley, courageous ]!i|ar- 
shall and bold Gallup — died in the bed of 
honor; and valiant Mason, a fourtl^ cap- 
tain, had liis death wound. There died 
many brave officers and sentinels, whose 
memory is blessed, and whose death re- 
deemed our lives.'" 

Benadam survived the war, and lived to 
rear a large family, including a son named 
Benadam (2), who also reared a large 
family of seven sons and four daughters. 
One sor^, named William, removed from 
Groton, Conn., to Kingston, Penn., in 

7 



October, 1774, and was living there at the 
time of the Wyoming Massacre of July 3, 
1778. His son Hallet was in the fight, and 
escaped by floating down the Susquehanna 
river, with his body under water and his 
face protected from view between two rails 
grasped in his hands. Two twin daughters 
— Sarah and Haimah, born March 4, 1773, 
at Groton, Conn., and aged about five 
years — were captured and carried off hy 
the Indians, painted and adopted by a 
squaw, but were soon after ransomed. 
Hannah was the Mrs. Hannah Jones 
who died at Kingston, Penn., about 1860. 
Sarah was the Mrs. Sarah Hoyt, who died 
at JSTorwalk, Ohio, in 1858. She first mar- 
ried Peter Grubb, Jr., and after his death 
became the wife of Agnr Hoyt, and re- 
moved to Danbnry, Conn., whence, in 1831, 
they came to Norwalk, Ohio. She was the 
stepmother of the late Agur B. Hoyt, of 
Norwalk, and mother of William R. Hoyt, 
now of Toledo, Ohio. Another daughter, 
Mary, was engaged to be married to James 
Divine, of Philadelphia. He went to 
Kingston to visit her, and was one of the 
victims of July 3, 1778. She never 
married. 

William Gallup (2), then a lad, escaped 
the massacre, and at maturity married 
Freelove Hathaway, sister of Capt. Caleb 
Hathaway, mariner, of Philadelphia. Their 
children were William (3), Hallet, James 
Divine and Caleb Hathaway. 

William Gallup (3) came to Norwalk, 
Ohio, in 1818, and May 2, 1819, married 
Sally Boalt, daughter of Capt. John Boalt 
(the first marriage in Norwalk), and their 
children were: William (4), lately de- 
ceased in Cleveland, Ohio; Matilda (Mrs. 
William Bombarger), now of Denver, 
Colo.; Mary, deceased; Frances, who died 
in Denver, Colo.; Ruth Ann (Mrs. Lafay- 
ette S. Lyttle), of Toledo, Ohio; Eliza (Mrs. 
Frederick Hunt), now of Ar^pen, Colo.; 
George, who died in Tiffin, Ohio: Susan 
(Mrs. Thomas Thresher), in New Mexico; 
Samuel C, now of Pueblo, Colo.; James 
Divine (2), now of Denver, Colo.; John (3), 



128 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



formerlyof Boulder, Colo., now dead; Rose 
(Mrs. Albert Niisley), of Sandusky City, 
Ohio. 

Hallet Gallup (2) was born in Kingston, 
Penn., in 1796, and upon his birth a rela- 
tive at Groton, Conn., sent on to hie parents 
the wampum belt (given by the friendly 
Indian to Capt. John Gallup, in 1775), 
with the request to name the child John. 
That belt, still in almost perfect preserva- 
tion, is in the possession of Carroll Gallup, 
of Norwalk, Ohio. In 1812 Hallet (2) 
joined Capt. Thomas' company of Peim- 
sylvania volunteers, and served in the 
artillery under Harrison. On being mus- 
tered out of the service at the close of the 
war, he, in 1816, moved to Bloomings- 
villa, then in Huron county, and in 1818 
came to Norwalk. In 1819 he was ap- 
pointed collector of what was then Huron 
county. On April 9, 1820, he married 
Clarissa, daughter of Piatt and Sally Bene- 
dict, and died July 11, 1877, at Norwalk, 
Ohio, in his eighty-second year; his wife 
died at the same place January 11, 1878, 
at the same age. Their children were: 
Catherine, formerly of Norwalk, now de- 
ceased; Maria (Mrs. M. A. Dunton), now 
living in San Diego, Cal.; Lydia, deceased 
in childhood; Carroll, in Norwalk; Sarah 
(Mrs. Henry Brown), also in Norwalk; 
Eliza, deceased in infancy; Caleb Hatha- 
way (2), and Lizzie Frances, both now liv- 
ing in JJorwalk. 

James Divine Gallup, third son of Will- 
iam (3), spent the greater part of his life 
98 a mining engineer, in the then just 
developing coal regions of Pennsylvania, 
and died unmarried at Mauch Chunk in 
March, 1856, aged about fifty-eight years. 

Caleb Hathaway Gallup, fourth son of 
William (2), was born at Kingston, Penn., 
in 1802; came to Norwalk, Ohio, in 1825, 
^nd opened a cabinet shop on the lot so 
long occupied by the late John H- Foster. 
He died at Norwalk, September 20, 1827, 
un!narried. 

Caleb Hathaway Gallup (2), the subject 
proper of these lines, son of Hallet Gallup 



(2), was born at Norwalk, Ohio, May 10, 
1834. At Madison University, Hamilton, 
N. Y., he graduated, in 1856, from the 
Literary and Scientific course, and was the 
first student upon wliom that institution 
conferred the degree of Bachelor of Phi- 
losophy. In 1857 he commenced the study 
of law with AVorcester&Pennewell, of Nor- 
walk, and in April, 1858, graduated from 
the Cincinnati Law School with the degree 
of Bachelor of Laws, shortly afterward 
opening an othce in Norwalk. In 1859 
he removed to St. John's, Mich., and July 
19, same year, was admitted to practice 
law in the courts of that State. The fol- 
lowing summer he removed from St. 
John's to Port Austin, Huron Co., Mich., 
arriving there June 24, 1860. In the 
fall of that year he was elected the first 
prosecuting attorney of that county, to 
which position he was re-elected for four 
succeeding terms, holding the incumbency 
till January 1, 1871, a period of ten years. 
He also held the offices of circuit court 
commissioner and injunction master dur- 
ing most of the same period, as well as 
that of township treasurer, and several 
other minor offices. 

During the war of the Bebellion, he 
acted as deputy United States marshal for 
the western district of Huron county, 
Mich., was himself drafted, and instead of 
being sent to the front, was ordered back 
to duty as deputy marshal. In 1866 he 
was elected a member of the Michigan 
Legislature for two years; and while act- 
ing in that capacity introduced and ob- 
tained the passage of a joint resolution 
calling on Congress to provide for and 
construct a harbor of refuge at or near 
Point au Barques, Lake Huron. He also 
had printed and circulated, at the different 
cities bordering the great chain of lakes, 
a petition to the same end. This was the 
first step ever taken to obtain such a 
harbor, and did not meet with immediate 
success; but it set the movement on 
foot that eventually culminated in the 
magnificent harbor of refuge at Sand 



HURON COUNTY, Oil JO. 



129 



Beach, Huron Co., Mich. Hundreds of ves- 
sels, tliousands of sailors and millions of 
dollars wortli of property now find safe 
shelter there from the terrible storms of 
Lake Huron. In 1867-68-69 he made re- 
peated efforts to obtain an extension of 
the Western Union telegraph line fi'oni 
Lexington to Port Austin — seventy miles 
— and with success. 

On June 20, 1860, Mr. Gallup married 
Miss Kate M., daughter of John V. and 
Mary S. Vredenbiirgh, then of Peru, 
Huron Ci>.. Ohio, by which union there 
is one son, Ricliard Carroll, born Septem- 
ber 2, 1861, at the Peru farm. His 
mother was called from earth May 25, 
1863, and November 3, 1869, Mr. Gallup 
married Miss Helen A., daughter ofWill- 
iam and Mary Glover, of Trenton, N. J., 
and niece of Hon. Joel Parker, of Free- 
hold, same State, the only person who has 
twice held the position of governor of that 
State. She died April 8, 1872, at Port 
Austin, Mich., aged twenty-nine years, 
and is buried at Norwalk, Ohio. The 
issue of this second marriage are one 
daughter — Mabel Parker, born September 
17, 1870 — and one son — Herbert Alpheus, 
born April 5, 1872, both born at Port 
Austin. 

On July 9, 1872, Mr. Gallup removed 
with his cliildren back to Norwalk. Ohio, 
his pre.-ent place of residence, and then 
abandoned the practice of law, engaging 
in general business as well as public enter- 
prises, and taking care of his family and 
the family estate. He has been identified 
with nearly every public enterprise for the 
good of his city and of the community at 
large, that has been set on foot. He was 
instrnmental in having the Lake Erie Rail- 
road run through Norwalk, and subse- 
quently visited New York City for tlie 
purpose of advocating the locating of the 
Railroad shops here. He has assisted in 
securing the establishment of most of the 
factories, etc., in Norwalk. In 1888 he 
with others organized the Home Savings 
& Loan Company in Norwalk, Mr. Gallup 



beinor its first president, a position he 
still fills; and it may be said tliat it is due 
to his manatjement that this institution 
has grown so vastly beyond the proportions 
estimated by even the most sanguine. Asa 
business man, Mr. Gallup is recognized 
as possessing the highest ability, and is 
called in council in all matters of pub- 
lic moment. He is quiet and unobtru- 
sive in his manner, but pushes all his 
projects with characteristic energy, and 
shows high e.xecutive power in the adjust- 
ment of business. 



FLATT BENEDICT. About the 
year 1500, William Benedict, of 
Nottinghamshire, England, had an 
only son born to him whom he 
called William; this William (2) 
had an only son whom he called William; 
and this William (3) had, in 1617, an only 
son, whom he called Tliomas. 

In 1638 Thomas Benedict came to 
America and settled in New England; and 
after remaining there for a time he re- 
moved to Southhold, on Long Island, 
where were born to him five sons and four 
daughters, whose names were Thomas, 
John, Samuel, James, Daniel, Betty, 
Mary, Sarah and Rebecca. From South- 
hold the family removed to Hassamamac, 
from there to Jamaica, Long Island (where 
Thomas was married), and from tliere they 
finally removed to Norwalk, Fairfield Co., 
Conn., where all the remaining children 
were married. 

Daniel married Mary, daughter of 
Matthew Marvin, of Norwalk; was a sol- 
dier in the "direful swamp fight," of De- 
cember 19, 1675; after which, at a Norwalk 
town meeting, January 12, 1676: "The 
towne, in consideration of the good service 
that the soldiers sent out of the towne in- 
gaged and performed by them, and out 
of respect and thankfulness to the sayd 
soldiers, doe with one consent and freely 
give and grant to so many as were in the 
direful swamp tight, twelve acors of land; 



130 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



and eiVht acors of land to so many as were 
in the next considerable service." Ac- 
cordingly, there was granted by the plan- 
tation, as a gratuity unto Daniel Benedict, 
" being a souldier in the Indian warr, 
tweife acors of land and lyeth in three par- 
cels." In 1690 he sold his Norwalk prop- 
erty, and removed to Danbury. His chil- 
dren were Mary, Daniel (2), Hannah and 
Mercy. 

Daniel Benedict (2) married Bebecca, 
daughter of Thomas Taylor, one of the 
original settlers of Danbury, Conn., and 
their children were Daniel (3), Matthew, 
Theophilus, Bebecca, Mary, David, Nathan 
and Deborah. 

Captain Daniel Benedict (3), born 1705, 
married Sarali Hickok 1728, and died No- 
vember 9, 1773; their children were Dan- 
iel (4), Lemuel, Noah, Sarah, Jonas, Aaron, 
Ruth, Mary and Amos. Of these, Jonas 
was born September 21. 1742; married 
January 14, 1767, to Mercy Bougliton, 
and died October 30, 1820. He was a 
memlier of the General Assembly of Con- 
necticut in 1809. Their children were 
Elizabeth, Jonas (2), Piatt, Sarah. Daniel 
(5), Mary and Eli. 

Piatt Benedict, the sul)ject of this 
memoir, was born at Danbury, Conn., 
March 18, 1775, and was of the si.xth gen- 
eration of Benedicts in America. He mar- 
ried, November 12, 1795, Sarah, daughter 
of Daniel DeForest, of Wilton, Conn. She 
was born August 27, 1777, and died June 
24, 1852, at Norwalk, Ohio. Their chil- 
dren were: (1) Clarissa, born September 
4, 1796; married Hallet Gallup, April 9, 
1820; died January 11, 1878, at Norwalk, 
Ohio, leaving two sons and four daugh- 
ters, viz.: (Catherine (deceased), Maria 
(wife of Marlin A. Duuton, of San Diego, 
Cal.), Carroll, Sarah (widow of Henry 
Brown), Caleb H. and Lizzie F., of Nor- 
walk. (2) David Mead, born August 17, 
1801; married September 24, 1833, to 
Mary Booth Starr; and died June 16, 1843, 
at Danbury, leaving no issue. (3) Daniel 
Bridgnm, born June 1, 1803; died unmar- 



ried September 9, 1827, at New Orleans, 
La. (4) Jonas Boughton, born March 23, 
1806; married October 8, 1829, to Fanny, 
daughter of Henry Bnckinghatn; and died 
at Norwalk, Ohio. July 29, 1851, leaving 
one son, David DeForest (Dr. Benedict, 
the present druggist of Norwalk, Ohio), 
and one daughter, Fanny B., who married 
Louis H. Severance, of Cleveland, and died 
August 1, 1874. And (5) Eliza Ann, born 
October 27,1812; married William Brew- 
ster, May 1, 1832, and died August 17, 
1840, at Norwalk, Ohio, leaving two sons, 
both of whom died in childhood. 

After his marriage Piatt Benedict re- 
moved to North Salem. Westchester Co., 
N. Y., where his daughter Clarissa was 
born: from there he removed to Randal's 
Island, in East River, where he engaged 
in market gardening; in a few years he re- 
moved back to Danbury. and was appointed 
collector of that town, in which ca|iacity 
he acted in 1812-13. In September, 1815, 
he first came to Ohio to look up a new 
home, and in the latter part of October, in 
company with Elisha Whittlesey and Maj. 
Frederick Falley, visited and examined the 
present site of Norwalk. He then returned 
to Danbury and negotiated the purchase 
of about one thousand, three hundred acres 
of land (now the site of Norwalk) on be- 
half of Elisha Whittlesey, Matthew B. 
Whittlesey, E. Moss White and himself. 
In January, 1817. he again returned, to 
take charge of and make iniproveujents 
upon the new purchase; erected a log 
house (which was the first Vmilding con- 
structed by white men within the present 
corporate limits of the village of Norwalk), 
commenced a clearing upon the fiats south 
of his new house, and on April 4 returned 
to Danbury, arriving there May 4. 

In July, 1817, he left Danbury with his 
family, in a covered wagon drawn by one 
horse, and another wagon loaded with 
household goods, provisions, etc., drawn 
by four oxen; also one saddle horse. After 
seven weeks of fatiguing travel and hard- 
ship, they arrived at the house of David 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



131 



Gibbs and Henry Lockwood in Norwalk 
on September 9, and then learned that 
their house, built that spring, was burned 
down. In this emergency, tlie open- 
handed hospitality of frontier life was 
extended to them by tlie families 
of Gibbs and Lockwood, and there they 
remained until a new house was erected. 
Of the erection of that house, destined to 
be the avant-courier of so many noble 
structures and happy homes, Mr. Benedict 
himself says: 

On hearing of my house being burned, we 
stopped with Messrs. Gibbs and Locliwood, who 
very hospitably entertained us until I got my 
house in a condition to move in. They were ac- 
commidating Capt. John Boalt's family, nine of 
whom were sick with the ague. We stayed there 
from Monday until Friday, when we went iuto our 
new home, a log pen twenty feet square, no doors, 
windows, fire-place, and no furniture except some 
cooking utensils used on our journey. Built a Are 
aijainst the logs on one side of the shanty, made up 
our beds on the floor, which was so green and 
damp it spoiled the under-beds, which induced me 
to fit up two bedsteads, one for myself and wife 
and one for my daughters, placed in opposite cor- 
ners of the shanty, by boring holes in the logs, for 
the sides and leet, and one upright post put into a 
hole in the floor, and fastened at the top, and with 
basswood bark, made matting in the place of cord, 
and when completed they were very comfortable. 
I cut out two doors and two windows. The sash I 
boueht but could get no glass, in place of which 1 
used greased paper. Built an oven in one corner, 
part in and part outside, with clay and sticks; also 
a slick chimney above the chamber floor, had no 
jams. After burning out three or four logs, I built 
up the back part of the chimney of muck and 
sticks. I chinked up and mudded between the 
logs, which made it very comfortable. For a few 
days we were almost without provisions; we had 
green corn, turnips and milk. 

The late Seth Jenning, of Milan, says: 
I commenced splitting clapboards out of oak 
timber to make the roof of. Every man that could 
work was on hand to help and do his best toward 
getting up the house. The women turned out and 
brought up our dinners that day; but we got along 
80 well with the house that the next morning Mr. 
Benedict moved up, and Mrs. Benedict cooked our 
dinners that day by a log near the house. 

In " Scattered Sheaves, by Ruth," it is 
stated: 

There were present Levi Cole and his sons, 
Maj. Underbill, David and Jasper Underbill, his 

nephews, Lott Herrick, Sanderson, Daniel 

Clary. Noah P. Ward, Elihu Potter, Richard Gardi- 
ner, Reuben Pixley and his son Reuben, Henrjr 
Lockwood, David Gibbs and others. Says David 



Underbill, 2d., "Asher Cole, Sanderson and myself, 
cut logs in the woods near, or on the ground now 
occupied by the railroad buildings, and the water 
was ankle deep; Lott Herrick drove the team. 
Mr. Benedict regaled his fellow laborers with 
Jamaica rum instead of whiskey, which was usually 
furnished on such occasions. Mrs. Underbill fur- 
nished, cooked the dinner, and sent it to us. It con- 
sisted mainly of pork, potatoes, turnips and bread." 

In an unpublished narrative, dictated by 

Mrs. Benedict not long before her death, 

she says: 

Two miles from any neighbor our little 
cabin stood; the floor of logs split in the middle, 
not smoothed by plane or chisel; our chairs 
made in the same rude manner; our table 
was of pieces of boxes in which our goods had 
been packed, and "saplings" fastened together 
formed our bedsteads. On one side of our cabin 
was a large fireplace, on the east, and west sides 
were doors, on the north our only windows, in 
which to supply the place of glass we pasted pieces 
of greased paper. And many pleasant evenings 
we spent beside that large fireplace, cracking nuts 
and eating, not apples, but turnips. You need not 
laugh, I tell you those raw turnips tasted good 
when there was nothing else to eat, and as the 
flames grew bright, our merry party would forget 
that they were not in their eastern hcmie, but far 
away in the wilds of Ohio. We heard the howl of 
the wolf and the whoop of the Indian resounding 
through the forest, for a favorite hunting ground of 
these wild men was situated near our cabin, and 
often would the Indians assemble and renew their 
noisy sports, little dreaming of the tide of immigra- 
tion which should finally sweep them away. One 
night the loud barking of our dog attracted our at- 
tention, followed by a knock at the door; on 
opening which, in stalked a large Indian, dressed 
in furs and blanket, and fully armed. The children 
huddled close to me as he came near and asked 
for "daddy." He was evidently intoxicated, and I 
did not dare to let him know that "daddy " was not 
at home. I asked him to sit down, but he pre- 
ferred to stretch himself before the fire, where he 
soon fell asleep. When he awoke he was nearly 
sober, and quite inclined to be talkative. He told 
me of the many wrongs the Indian had sufl'ered; 
that the white man planted corn over his father's 
bones; and the poor old Indian wept. Finally he 
started up, exclaiming, "daddy no come, you no 
sleep, I go to my brothers;" and he went away: 
Sleep was a stranger to our eyes that night, we 
kept ourselves in readiness for flight, for we ex- 
pected the "red-face" would return with his broth- 
ers to murder us all. The riches of a kingdom 
would not repay us for another such night of 
anxiety. But as time passed on we gained the 
friendship of these denizens of the forest, and they 
brought us many, many presents in their own 
rude way. 

From the date of Mr. Benedict's settle- 
ment to that of his death, his history is so 
completely intertwined with tiiat of tlie 



132 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



growtli and prosperity of the town, that to 
give it here in detail would only be a repeti- 
tion of a large part of the history of Norwalk. 
On June 17, 1856, he married, as his sec- 
ond wife, Mrs. Lavina P. Benton, of Ke- 
public, Ohio, who survived him and died 
February 9, 1875. 

A few days before his death he attended 
the Grand Encampment of Masons at 
Toledo, became very much fatigued by 
over exertion, was attacked by bowel com- 
plaint, but so great were his physical 
powers, and so determined his will, that 
he returned to Norwalk, after which he 
rapidly grew worse; yet, so remarkable 
was his vitality, that he kept up and around 
his room until within a very few hours of 
the end. One of his last acts preceding his 
death, only about six hours, was the dicta- 
tion and signing a very salutary codicil 
to his will for the benefit of his wife. 
With all Ills faculties of mind clear and 
distinct to the last, he quietly passed 
away October 25, 1866, aged ninety -one 
years, seven months and seven days. His 
funeral took place on the following Sab- 
bath, and was conducted by the Knights 
Templar from various parts of nortliern 
Ohio, who came in special trains run from 
Cleveland and Toledo for that purpose. 
His cherished and aged friend. Rev. 
Samuel Marks, of Huron, Ohio, officiated, 
and at the grave, in the presence of assem- 
bled thousands, said: "Venerable man ! 
May thy ashes rest in peace, and the clods 
fall lightly upon thy bosom ! Thy virtues 
will be embalmed forever in our heart of 
hearts. Fare thee well." 




Heii 



ROFESSOR A. D. BEECHY, Nor- 
walk, was born April 11, 1852. He is 
a native of the Buckeye State, hav- 
ing first seen the light of day in the 
somewhat historic county of Holmes, 
the fourth son of David and Judith 



(\ oder) Beechy, who came to Ohio from 



Somerset county. Pa., where the Beechy 
family is now quite numerous. His an- 
cestors came to this country from England 
about 1767, and, like most people of those 
times, engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
His mother is a relative of ex-Congress- 
nian Yoder, of Ohio. Both parents are 
still living at this writing, and now reside 
in Sugar Creek, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. 

Mr. Beechy's early education was very 
limited, as in boyhood and early youth he 
was occupied almost entirely in laboring 
on his father's farm, attending only a 
short winter term of district school each 
year until he arrived at the age of thir- 
teen years. From this time until he 
reached the age of eighteen, all the oppor- 
tunity he had for pursuing his studies was 
that afforded by borne instruction during 
the long winter evenings, rainy days, etc. 
At these times hediligentlyapplied himself 
to the study of arithmetic and reading of 
history. In this way he worked his way 
through several old arithmetics without 
any assistance whatever. Mathematics has 
ever since remained one of his favorite 
studies, partly owing, no doubt, to this 
early training in this line of thourrht. 
While progress in the rudiments of an 
education was necessarily slow under 
these circumstances, the lesson of self- 
dependence thus learned stood him in 
good stead when better opportunities of- 
fered later in life. 

At the age of eighteen he attended a 
term of seventy-three days of country 
school, before the end of which he passed 
an examination by the county board of 
examiners, and received a certificate for 
twelve months, the longest issued to ap- 
plicants without experience in teaching. 
The following year he commenced teach- 
ing, in which profession he has ever since 
been engaged with the exception of about 
a year. After teaching two six-months 
terms of country school, he attended two 
terms, commencing the summer of 1874, 
the Hayesville Academy, then under the 
management of Dr. Martin. At the time 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



133 



it was a preparatory shool for Wooster 
University. Soon after this he learned 
something of the advantages offered to self- 
dependent young men b}' Mt. Union Col- 
lege, and directed liis studies with a view 
to entering this institution, which he did 
in 187(3, and from which he graduated in 
the classical course in 1880. During each 
of the years while at colleo-e, he taucrht a 
term of scliool of four or five months, but 
kept up with his class by private work and 
taking the regular examinations. In 
mathematics he stood first in his class. 

During the following year he was prin- 
cipal of the schools of his native town, 
Berlin, Ohio. In December of this year 
he went before the State board of exam- 
iners, and was granted a life certificate, 
being the youngest applicant, with one ex- 
ception, to whom such a certificate had then 
been granted. At this time only one grade 
of certificates was issued, to be entitled to 
which one had to pass an examination in 
the common branches, all the higher 
branches taught in any high school of the 
State, and a certain number of additional 
higher branches selected by the applicant. 
It authorizes the holder to teach any branch 
in any school in the State. The law has 
since been amended so as to allow two 
grades of certificates to be issued — high 
scliool and common scliool. The following 
year he was elected to the superintendency 
of the schools of Louisville, Ohio, which 
position he filled for four years. While 
in this place he was married to Miss 
Theresa Baumann, of Louisville, on De- 
cember 25, 1883. One child, Ada May, 
has come to cheer their home. 

Prof. Beechy next purchased a half in- 
terest in a semi-weekly and weekly news- 
paper, The Alliance Review. In less than 
a year's experience, however, he found 
some of the work connected with its pub- 
lication and management quite uncon- 
genial. Besides, he could not agree with 
his partner in some matters of honor and 
right, as well as the political policy to be 
pursued by the paper. He therefore sold 



his interest to his partner for what seemed 
a fair consideration, but which proved to 
be a considerable loss. Determining to 
return to the profession of teaching, he 
was elected superintendent of the schools 
of Elmore, Ohio, in which position he con- 
tinued his work four years, rendering em- 
inently successful services to these schools. 
"While in this place he also conducted 
a Normal School under the auspices of 
the Toledo Business College, during sev- 
eral summer vacations. In 1886 the de- 
gree of A. M. was conferred on him by 
Mt. Union College, he having completed 
a post-graduate course of study in that in 
stitution. In 1889 the subject of this 
sketch was elected to the principalship of 
the Norwalk Hio-h Schools. After two 
years' service in this capacity he was 
elected to the superintendency of the pub- 
lic schools in the same place, for which 
position his ability and experience pre- 
eminently qualify him, and which position 
he holds at this writing. 

The Professor is a strong believer in 
hard work, whether it concerns pupils, 
teachers or himself. He owes his own 
success almost wholly to the fact that he 
was never disposed to shirk it. For the 
boy or girl who is faithful to duty he has 
an unlimited amount of sympathy and en- 
couragement; but in truancy and idleness 
he recognizes two of the greatest evils that 
afflict the young, and with these he wages 
eternal warfare. Realizing that the " child 
is father to the man," he insists that, in 
order to have citizens who will respect the 
authority of the State, we must train chil- 
dren to respect the constituted authority 
of the home and the school. Discipline is 
therefore insisted on in the schools under 
his management. Although giving his 
best thought and efforts to the schools of 
which he is the head, Mr. Beechy has 
found time to pursue a regular course of 
reading and study in the post-graduate de- 
partment of Wooster University. He has 
just completed a very comprehensive 
course of study iu social and political 



134 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



science, and received the degree of Doctor 
of Philosophy. 

While he is liberal in his views on poli- 
tics and other subjects, as one who has had 
his extensive reading could hardly lielp 
but he, he believes that on nearly all the 
great questions of national interest which 
have divided the parties of this country, 
the Republican party has been in the right. 
In politics, therefore, he is a Republican. 
His political principles were undoubtedly 
intensified by the impression left on his 
mind by the unpatriotic actions of many 
of the adherents of the other party in 
his neighborhood and county during the 
Rebellion. 



djOIIN A. PITTSFORD, superintend- 
ent of public schools at Chicago 
i Junction, comes of Welsh descent. 

His grandparents, David and Ann 
(Davis) Pittsford, were natives of Wales, 
born in 1762 and 1773, respectively. 
They were married in their native land, 
and coming to America in 1798 (soon 
after the birth of their eldest child), lo- 
cated in Chester county, Penn. They re- 
sided on a farm in that county until 1816, 
then came to Licking county, Ohio, where 
he purchased one hundred acres, other land 
having been added to the original tract, 
and the old farm now contains 160 acres. 
The children born to David and Ann Pitts- 
ford were as follows: William, who moved 
to Indiana; Mary, wife of Isaac Price; 
Isaac, who moved to Indiana; John, whose 
sketch follows; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. 
Thomas Hughes, and James, all of whom 
were married and left children. 

John Pittsford was born in Chester 
county, Penn., October 2, 1802. He re- 
ceived a good common-school education, 
and afterward, in 1828 and 1829, attended 
Kenyon College, near Mount Vernon, Ohio. 
He married Mary, daughter of Philip 
Peters, of Baltimore, Fairfield Co., Ohio, 
who resided at Baltimore. After his 
marriage John Pittsford supervised the 



repairs of a large portion of the Ohio 
canal. He then conducted a store at 
Baltimore for two years, and in 1842 
moved upon a farm in Licking county 
which he afterward purchased and resided 
upon until his death. He was a Radical 
Whig in politics, and in religion was a 
member ot the Presbyterian Church. He 
died in 1847 at the age of forty-five years; 
his widow is yet living with her son (John 
A.) at the age of eighty-two years. After 
the death of her husband Mrs. Pittsford 
was married to Myron Merchant, and bore 
him three children. He died, and she 
then made a third choice in tbe person of 
Alfred Hatch, who is also deceased. Eight 
children were born to tlie union of John 
and Mary (Peters) Pittsford, as follows: 
Mary, deceased in youth; Martha, wife of 
Isaac Finkbone, living in Licking county; 
George, deceased in youth; Hiram, living 
in Dayton, Ohio; Harriet, deceased in in- 
fancy; Diana, wife of John Harritt, of 
Findlay, Ohio; John A., whose name 
opens this sketch; and Timothy H., who 
died March 11, 1865, in the hospital at 
Chattanooga. 

John A. Pittsford was born April 12, 
1844, in Licking county, Ohio. When he 
was but a boy, three years old, he lost his 
father, and soon after his mother's second 
marriacre he went to live with an aunt, 
Elizabeth Hughes, in Morrow county, Oiiio, 
with whom he remained until he was sev- 
enteen years old. At the age of fifteen 
years he taught a three months' summer 
school, and when in his seventeenth year 
entered Denison University, at Granville, 
Ohio. He then taught and attended school 
alternately until 1866, when he entered 
the National Normal University at Leb- 
anon. While there he accepted a position 
in a school near Lebanon, and continued 
teaching and attending school about two 
years. In 1868 he engaged to teach in 
the A. Grammar school at Findlay, in the 
meantime continuing his private studies, 
and remained there three years. From 
September, 1871, to 1873 he was superin- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



135 



tendeut of the schools of Johnstown, Lick- 
ing Co., Ohio. In 1873 he became 
superintendent of a school at Mount 
Blanchard, Hancock Co., same State, 
whicli position he occupied six years, when 
he was elected superintendent at Forest, 
remaining there three jears. On July 25, 
1877, he was united in marriage with 
Josie R. Smith, native of Mount Blanchard, 
and daughter of Rev. John Smith, a native 
of Virginia, a pastor of the M. E. Church. 
In 1882 Prof. Pittsford accepted tiie 
superintendency of the schools of Carey, 
Wyandot county, where he remained six 
years. After the erection of the new 
school building in Chicago Junction, in 
1888, he was elected superintendent, which 
position he still holds, having been recently 
re-elected for a term of two years, making 
seven in all. He has a corps of ten teachers. 
He has held the position of County School 
Examiner in Hancock and Wyandot coun- 
ties for one and two terms each; and is 
likely to receive the same appointment 
soon in Huron county. 

When but two years of age Mr. Pitts- 
ford was injured by a fall, his hip being 
dislocated, which crippled him for life. As 
soon as he was old enough to realize this 
fact he resolved to make teaching his pro- 
fession, and possessing a naturally apt 
mind, applied himself with earnest zeal to 
preparation for his chosen calling. The 
result of his efforts lias been evident since 
the day that the crippled lad of fifteen 
years taught his first school, which was 
the beginning of an unusuallj' successful 
life. He had no advantages save those of 
a common-school education ; but the neces- 
sity which rendered it imperative that he 
should teach in order to secure an educa- 
tion proved of valuable training to him. 
He thus gained industrial habits and the 
self-reliant ways which are so essential in 
this profession. Few men are as well 
qualified for their vocations as is Prof. 
Pittsford, and through his untiring efforts 
the schools of Chicago Junction now oc- 
cupy a position second to none in the 



county. The phenomenal growth in num- 
ber has been fully met with enlarged and 
sufficient facilities. He has been president 
of the Huron C'ounty Teachers' Associa- 
tion for several years. In politics he is a 
Republican, and in religious matters he 
has been an active member of and elder in 
the Presbyterian Church since that denom- 
ination was organized at Chicago Junction. 
The union of Prof, and Mrs. Pittsford was 
blessed with five children, viz.: Ernest 
Cecil, Clarice Lelia, Lulu Grace, Lois 
Mary and Bruce Eugene, the latter dying 
at the age of nine months. 




M. BEATTIE, a well-known mem- 
ber of the Huron county bar, was 
born June 10, 1853, in Ashland 
county, Ohio. He is a son of John 
and Isabel (Thorn) Beattie, both na- 
tives of Scotland, the former of whom 
came to America in 1836, the latter in 
1837, both locating in Ashland county, 
Ohio, where he became a prominent farmer 
of his day. He died January 8, 1883, in 
his sixty-eighth year; his widow still sur- 
vives, now aged sixty-six. They were the 
parents of eleven children, seven of whom 
are now living, our subject being fifth in 
the order of birth. 

A. M. Beattie received his primary edu- 
cation in the public schools of the vicinity 
of his birthplace, afterward taking a course 
in a Normal school. He then followed the 
profession of school-teacher for some years, 
and in the meantime commenced a system- 
atic coarse of study of the law, under the 
tutelage of Judge Curtiss, of Ashland. He 
afterward took a course in the Law Depart- 
ment of the State University of Indiana, 
graduating in 1877, and in the spring of 
1878 opened his law office in New London, 
Huron Co., Ohio, the style of the firm be- 
ing Laning & Beattie. The partnership 
was dissolved in 1882, and Mr. Beattie 
continued alone in the duties of his pro- 
fession until 1884, when he was elected 



136 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



clerk of the courts of Huron county, fill- 
inof this ofiice for the next six years. At 
the end of his otticial term he resumed the 
practice of the law, in which lie has ranked 
from the very first as one of the leading, 
safe members of tiie bar of northern Ohio, 
prominent in his profession and widely 
known as a leadin<r influential man. Mr. 
Beattie at present is treasurer of the board 
of education; lie is a stockholder in the 
Laning Printing Company and its at- 
torney, and attorney for the Home Savings 
and Loan Company of Norwaik, Ohio. 

A. M. Beattie and Dora Snllivan were 
united in marriage April 15, 1879, and to 
their union have been born two sons and 
two daughters, namely: Blanche, Anna, 
Walter and Homer. Mrs. Beattie was born 
February 3, 1854, in Peimsylvania, and 
moved with her parents to Ohio, while 
quite young, making her home in Ashtabula 
county, till her marriage. Her parents, 
Josiah and Phebe A. (Hopkins) Sullivan, 
were natives of Mew York State, where 
they were both born in 1825. 




EV. N". C. HELFPJCH, pastor of 
the Presbyterian Churcli of Ply- 
mouth, was born February 9, 1837, 
in Crawford county, Ohio. Peter 
and Margaret (Burnett) Helfrich, 
natives of Germany, emigrated to Amer- 
ica in the "twenties," and finding a home 
in Crawford county, Ohio, engaged at 
once in agriculture. Of their family of 
five children — three sons and two daugh- 
ters — the subject of this sketch is the 
youngest. Peter Helfrich was an officer 
in Napoleon Bonaparte's army, but after 
settlin": in Ohio he gave all his attention 
to pastoral pursuits. 

N. C. Helfrich obtained a primary edu- 
cation in the public schools of his native 
place, which was supplemented by a course 
in Iberia (now Central) College. He 
graduated in 1868, and was appointed pro- 
fessor of mathematics, a position he tilled 



most satisfactorily for three years. In 
1868 he entered Union Theological Semi- 
nary, N. Y., and graduating from that in- 
stitution in 1870 he was called to the 
pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at 
New Concord, Ohio, where he remained 
six years. From 1876 to 1889 he served 
the churches at Newton Falls, Hayesville 
and Weston, and in 1889 accepted a call 
to the Plymouth Church, of which he is 
regular pastor, as he also was over his 
other charges. Mr. Helfrich is a close 
student and an earnest worker, and being 
endowed with a strong constitution, he is 
in every way well fitted for the profession 
he selected. 

His marriage with Miss Josephine Gra- 
ham took place August 23, 1866, at 
Gallon, Ohio. She died in 1873, and on 
August 26, 1875, he married Miss Carrie 
Marquis. Their home is the center of 
Presbyterian unity in Columbus, Ohio. 
He accepted a call to the West Broad 
street Presbyterian Church of that city in 
August, 1893. 




W. GRAHAM. The subject of 
this biographical memoir is a 
typical American, not alone by 
birth, but also because of his 
characteristic push, energy and progress- 
iveness; and of those whose names will 
remain permanently associated with the 
development of enterprises of magnitude, 
there is none deserving of more promi- 
nence in the pages of this volume. 

Mr. Graham was born in Wayne county, 
W. Y., in 1842, a son of Zachariah and 
Lydia (Carrier) Graham, the former of 
whom, a blacksmith by trade, was born of 
Scotch ancestry, in Cayuga county, N. Y., 
the latter being a native of New York 
City. The father died in 1852, at tiie aije 
of fifty-four years, the mother in 1888, 
when seventy-nine years old; our subject's 
paternal grandparents died at very ad- 
vanced ages, the grandfather when ninety- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



137 



seven years old, the grandmother when 
one luiridred and four. 

At the age of thirteen, W. W. Graham 
left the paternal roof-tree, and turning his 
face toward the setting sun, boldly ad- 
vanced westward in the direction of the 
fertile State of Illinois, arriving in 1859 
at Urbana, Champaign county. For 
twentj-two years he resided here, engaged, 
the greater part of the time, in mercantile 
pursuits. In 1861, on the first call for 
troops to suppress the Rebellion, he 
offered his service in the army to the 
Union cause, but was rejected on account 
of his youth; however, on the second call 
for troops. May 1, 1861, he enlisted in 
Company K, Twenty-fifth 111. V. I., under 
Gen. Sigel, serving in the army of the 
Southwest. The first battle in which he 
participated was Pea Ridge, and afterward 
he was quartered at RoUa, Mo., until the 
following- spring. After eighteen month's 
service, he was detailed for special duty, and 
at the close of the war he was at Memphis, 
Tenn., while his regiment was stationed at 
Vicksburg, Miss. He was honorably dis- 
charged at Sedalia, Mo., as corporal, and 
returned to his home in Urbana, 111. He 
was there engaged in the dry-goods busi- 
ness until 1880, in which year he came to 
Ohio, having been appointed paymaster 
for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad 
Company. While serving in that capacity 
he did some railroad contracting, and as 
he could not be engaged in both businesses 
at the same time, he in 1884 resigned his 
paymastership, since when he has given 
his almost exclusive attention to contract- 
ing. He contracted for and built nearly 
all the bridges, and furnished the bulk of 
the ties, for the Wheeling & Lake Erie 
Railroad; and within the past eight years 
the amount of his contracting has reached 
the large sum of one and one-halt' million 
dollars. During the four years he served 
as paytnaster on the road, he paid out over 
three and one-half million dollars, without 
ever making any mistake amounting to as 
much as fifty dollars. During the past 



year he built seventy miles of bridges for 
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The Lake 
Erie Tobacco Company had been organized 
at Cleveland, Ohio, but on account of ad- 
verse circumstances of some nature was 
about to go into insolvency. This concern 
Mr. Grabam and others bought and moved 
to Norwalk, where they placed it on a firm 
and promising basis, and it is now in a 
flourishing condition. 

In 1864 W. W. Graham was united in 
marriage, at Urbana, 111., with Miss 
Nellie M. Griggs, whose father was general 
contractor for the Wheeling & Lake Erie 
Railroad. In 1887 Mrs. Graham was 
called from earth, leaving two children. 
Maude and King. In 1890 our subject 
married Miss Carrie M. Rude, of Sandusky, 
Ohio. Mr. Graham is a F. & A. M., 
32nd degree, and a member of the Mystic 
Shrine at Cleveland. 



^Tr^EV. JOSEPH BLASER, pastor of 

IJ^T^ St. Alphonsus Church, Peru, Ohio, 

I \^ ^^® born November 8, 1846, at 

J) Schlier, in the Kingdom of Wur- 

temberg, South Germany, a son of 

Anton and Crescentia Blaser, who belonged 

to the agricultural class. 

Their parents and ancestors for genera- 
tions were farmers, perhaps as far back as 
the time when tlie bearded and pious 
Eberhard V was created Duke of Wur- 
temberg, by Maximilian I, in 1494. The 
youth, Joseph, received a practical educa- 
tion in his native town of Schlier, and 
when fourteen years old was so far advanced 
in study as to warrant his parents sending 
him to the famous Jesuit College at Feld- 
kirch, Austria. There he completed his 
study of the classics, and thence was sent 
to Eichstadt, Bavaria, to study philosophy 
and theology. In 1870, when he was 
twenty-three years and six months old, he 
was ordained priest, and l)ecame assistant 
pastor at Basel, Switzerland. Six weeks 
after he was appointed pastor at Klein - 
lutzel, Switzerland, and there had charge 



138 



HUIi02i COUNTY, OHIO. 



of a congregation of 1,100 souls, and 
was director of three schools. For two 
years he labored at Kleinlutzel, and here 
won golden opinions. In 1874 Father 
Blaser left Europe, then in a much dis- 
turbed condition, called Culturkanipf, to 
seek a home in the New World, and com- 
ing to Ohio, found a resting place for a 
time. 

Some tin)e after his arrival at Cleveland, 
he was appointed, by the late Rt. Rev. 
Bishop of the diocese, pastor of the 
churches at Nordridge and Mud Creek, in 
Defiance county. At Mud C)'eek he built 
a neat frame church, and, under his admin- 
istration of three years, progress was 
unmistakable. Bishop Gilmour trans- 
ferred him to Millersville, Sandusky 
county, where he erected an elegant resi- 
dence and enlarged and restored the old 
church. After ten years and eight months 
of pastoral labor, he was removed from 
Millersville and appointed, by Bishop Gil- 
mour, to his present charge. His resto- 
ration and enlargement of the church 
building here, and its conversion into a 
modern Gothic house, pronounce him a 
luan of culture aud taste. 



JOSEPH ROE Mcknight. The sub- 
ject of this sketch, whose portrait is 
seen on the opposite page, would, if 
called upon, disclaim any of that kind 
of modesty which would exclude him from 
these pages; not that he is so egotistical 
as to believe his own achievements entitle 
him to public notice; but because he 
deems it honorable and just to associate 
liimself at all opportune times, both in 
name and person, with good men and good 
deeds. 

His ancestral line, both paternal and 
maternal, runs unbroken to what is known 
as Scotch-Irish people. He was born on a 
farm in Richland county, Ohio, on the 
25th day of Decemlier, 1853. His father's 
name was John Beard McKnight; his 
mother's maiden name was Susanna Lori- 



mor. The fifth one of eight children, he 
is the only member of his father's family 
living. His father died on the 16th day 
of August, 1865; his mother on the 24th 
day of May, 1893. His youth and early 
manhood were spent on a farm, where les- 
sons of industry are practically and continu- 
ously taught. His educational training was 
obtained at a country-district school, sup- 
plemented by one year at Ohio Central 
College, and a three- months' terra at Iron 
City College. 

Mr. McKnight was married to Sarah 
Jeimette McCullough, on the 14th day of 
April, 1874, at the home of her mother in 
Mansfield, Ohio, and they immediately 
went to house-keeping on the farm on 
which he was born. Although inured to 
farm life, it had always been distasteful to 
him, which caused him to seek a favorable 
opportunity to change his business, which 
opportunity was found in 1880, at which 
time he engaged in the 'drug business in 
Shelby, Ohio. Having conceived a very 
great liking for the law as a profession, he 
commenced the study of it in connection 
with the drug business, using what spare 
moments he couid find, without neglecting 
his other interests, in reading law. In the 
summer of 1886 he disposed of his inter- 
est in thejdrug business, and on the 5th day 
of October, in same year, was at Colum- 
bus, Ohio, admitted to the practice of law. 
On "the 22nd day of November, of the same 
year, in partnership with George T. Thomas, 
he opened a law office in Norwalk, Ohio. At 
first business came slowly, but an increas- 
ing acquaintanceship bi'ought an increase 
in clientage, and it was not long until he 
had every reason to be satisfied with his 
choice of profession and location. 

No careful observer can well doubt that 
the administration of the county prosecut- 
ing attorney's office exerts a co-ordinate 
influence which penetrates and inoculates 
the sociology of its own and surrounding 
counties, making it one of the most impor- 
tant offices in a county. In 1891 Mr. Mc- 
Knight was elected to this office in Huron 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



141 



county, Ohio. Entering upon the duties 
of the office on the first Monday of Janu- 
ary, 1892, he has, witli the utmost in- 
tegrity, faithfully and impartially adminis- 
tered the affairs of the olKce. Ilis domes- 
tic relations are congenial; he and his 
wife have three children: Edna Ninetta, 
John Eronsou, and Ethel Bird. 



FEREY TILLSON, a representative 
well-to-do agriculturist of Norwalk 
township, was born in Peru, Huron 
Co., Ohio, September 3, 1855, on 
the farm where his grandfather, 
Thomas Tillson, had settled in 1816. 

Our subject is a son of the late Rufus 
Tillson, who was born in Butternuts, Mass., 
a son of the Thomas Tillson above men- 
tiom.'d, a weaver by trade. Thomas mar- 
ried Martha Stewart in his native State, 
and in 1816 he came alone on foot to 
Huron county, Ohio; two years later his 
wife followed him, making the trip on 
horseback, carrying in her arms her first 
born, Rufns, who afterward became the 
fatherof the subject of this sketch. Thomas 
Tillson made a settlement in Peru town- 
ship, where were born the rest of his 
family, to wit: Stephen, who moved to 
Chicago, 111., where he practiced law in an 
early day, and died in Iowa; Harriet, mar- 
ried to Alba 0. Turner, and died in 
Wyandot county, Ohio; and Thomas, de- 
ceased. The father of this family passed 
tiie rest of his useful life in Peru town- 
ship, dying in 1844, the owner of 450 
acres oi land, the greater part of which he 
had cleared himself. He had extensive 
farming interests, employing a large num- 
ber of hands; and beitig a o-ood manao-er 
he made a success. His first dwelling was 
the traditional log cabin, but later he 
erected substantial and capacious build- 
ings. He also conducted a tavern tor the 
benefit of wayfarers — in those days 
chiefly "freighters" and persons traveling 



from the lake to the southern part of the 
State. In politics he was a Wliig, in re- 
ligious faith a Universalist. His wifesur- 
vived him some years, and they lie side by 
side in Peru cemetery. 

Rufus Tillson, eldest son of Thomas 
Tillson, was born in Massachusetts, May 
19, 1818, and was, as has already been 
stated, an infant when brought to Peru 
township, Huron county. He received 
such education as the subscription schools 
of his boyhood days afforded, proving an 
apt student, and, compared with the rest 
oi the scholars, an expert mathematician 
and good penman. He was i-eared to agri- 
cultural pursuits, and continued to con- 
duct the home farm till 1882, after which 
he lived a retired life until his decease in 
July, 1890; his remains were laid to rest 
in Peru cemetery. First a Whig, later a 
Republican, his maiden Presidential vote 
was cast for William H. Hari'ison. He 
was a great reader, intelligent above the 
average, most unassuming and a despisei- 
of shams. As an all-round farmer he made 
a success, and took a close interest in the 
many details of agriculture, including the 
care of stock. Rufus Tillson was twice 
married, first time, in 1841, to Miss Julia 
Perry, a native of New Jersey, daughter 
of Joseph Perry, and the children of this 
union are as follows: Irving- a farmer of 
Peru township, Huron county; Annette, 
now wife of E. P. Snyder, also a farmer of 
Peru township, and Perry, the subject 
proper of sketch. The mother of these 
died in 1873, and for his second wife 
Rufus Tillson married Mrs. A. J. Canfield. 

Perry Tillson passed his boyhood in 
much the same way as most country boys 
— working on the farm in summer and 
attending in winter the district school, 
where he received all his education, except- 
ing what he gleaned dnrinjj a few terms at 
the normal school in Milan, Erie county. 
He has been a farmer all his dai^s, and 
after marriage he and his wife purchased 
the property where they now reside in 
Norwalk township, near Norwalk, known 



142 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



as the old Lewis farm, it having been pur- 
chased by Mr. Lewis in 1815, and was the 
second farm settled in the township. 

In 1881 Mr. Tillson was married to 
Grace M. Clapp, daughter of Aro Clapp, 
of Norwalk township, where she was born 
February 12, 1860. The children of this 
marriage were: Carl Dean, born May 6, 
1884, died Febrnary 20, 1887; Howard 
Clapp, born June 20, 1886, and Helen 
Lucile, born May 16, 1893. Mr. Tillson 
is a very successful farmer, and while he 
raises considerable grain and potatoes, 
makes a specialty of dairying, selling milk 
to the milkmen for the city trade. In 1889 
he replaced the old house (built about the 
year 1830 by Mr. Lewis') with a handsome 
residence, and in 1891 he put up a second 
house for the use of his hired help. These 
and other improvements, together with the 
natural fine buildiog s]jot the farm affords, 
make their place an ideal country home. 
Politically Mr. Tillson is a Republican, 
and, although not a member of any Church, 
lie attends the TJniversalist, and contributes 
to its support. 



ARDNER roUXG. The rugged 
hills of New England have seem- 
ingly imparted a strength of charac- 
<^ ter to those born and bred beneath 
their shadow, which iiarmonizes well 
with the aspect of Nature in the Granite 
and Green Mountain States. Strong men 
and true have breathed the bracing air of 
New England, and gone forth from the 
borders to found new homes, there im- 
planting those principles of honor and en- 
terprise characteristic of their native States. 
From such ancestors is descended the sub- 
ject of this sketch. 

Josiah Young was born February 25, 
1780, in New Hampshire, passing his 
boyhood on the home farm, and in 1804 
was there married to Mary Bardin, a native 
of the same State, born in 1785. They 
remained in New Hampshire until about 
1812, when they removed to Rochester, 



Windsor Co., Vt. On May 2, 1836, Josiah 
Young, accompanied by his son, Gardner, 
set out on an exploring expedition, intend- 
ing to find a home in the then "Far 
West." Tiieir route was from Whitehall, 
N. Y., to Albany, thence via the Erie Canal 
to Buffalo, from there sailing on Lake Erie 
to a northern Ohio port, then proceeding 
to Akron, Ohio, where they visited friends. 
From Akron they walked to De Kalb 
county, Ind., where the father purchased 
land, and, leaving liis son Gardner in 
cliarge, returned to Vermont for the fam- 
ily. While en route to his new home, 
Josiah Young was persuaded by some rela- 
tives to locate in Ohio, and consequently 
he bouglit 117 acres near North Monrue- 
ville in Ridgetield township, Huron county, 
wliere he died September 18, 1870, wiien 
nearly ninety-one years of age. He was 
an indulgent husband and father, finding 
his chief pleasures in domestic life, and a 
zealous member of the First M. E. Church 
of Monroeville. He was one of the found- 
ers of that Church, and in addition to 

liberal contribution, made a valuable gift 

.... 
to the congregation. In political opinion 

he 'was formerly a Whig, afterward uniting 
with the Republican party, of which he 
was an enthusiastic supporter. Mrs. Young 
was laid to rest February 10, 1880, at the 
age of ninety-four years, and was buried 
beside her husband in the cemetery at 
North Monroeville. Their children were 
as follows: Reuben, who left Vermont and 
went west, wliere all trace of him was lost; 
Lorenzo, first married in Vermont (he 
came west after the death of his wife, and 
was married to Lena Mackey; he died in 
Monroe county, Mich.); Orrilla, widow of 
Mahlon Young, is living in Norwalk, Ohio; 
Gardner, whose sketch follows; Sophronia, 
who died August 23, 1893, while in Chica- 
go attending the World's Fair (she was tlie 
widow of Joel P. Brown, of Lenawee 
county, Mich.); Mary, deceased wife of 
Lewis Pearce; Martha, married to Isaac 
DeWitt, of Ridgetield town^hip; Joseph, 
deceased farmer of Ridgetield township; 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



143 



Ellen, wife of Milton Margatt, of Oakland, 
Cai.; and John, a resident of Norwalk, 
Ohio. 

Gardner Youncr was born Deceinber 23, 
1815, in Koeliester, Windsor Co., Vt., 
there receiving his early education. After 
coming to Ohio he learned the cooper 
trade, but followed it only a short time. 
On September 6, 1847, he selected a life 
coitipanion in the person of Martha, daugh- 
ter of John and Hannah (Austin) Warren, 
born in 1822, in Vermont, where the mar- 
riage took place. The younuj couple im- 
mediately came to Ridgetield township, 
Huron county, Ohio, where he had pre- 
viously pui'chased land. In 1870 Mrs. 
Young met with a fatal accident. She 
was returning from Mouroeville in a 
buggy by lierself, when her horse became 
frightened at a hand-car and ran away. 
After running with iier nearly two miles, 
8he fell from the buggy, was picked up in- 
sensible, and lived but a few minutes. 
She was the mother of the following chil- 
dren: Henry J., a farmer of Sumner 
county, Kans.; Clara A., deceased in early 
youth; Charles S., a real estate man of 
San Francisco, Cal.; Alice L. and Albert 
W. (twins), the former a school teacher, 
the latter a farmer in Colorado; Jennie, 
who died in 1882; Jessie, living at iiome, 
and Cora B., a resident of San Francisco, 
California. 

In 1880 Mr. Young moved to his present 
home in Monroeville, where he lives in 
semi-retirement, simply superintending the 
care of his property. He has been a most 
successful business man. In politics lie 
is a loading Republican, formerly a Whig, 
and has served in various local offices. All 
of his children enjoy the advantages of a 
college education. 

I A. NICOLLS was born May 12, 
k. I 1827, in Lock. Cayuga Co., N. Y., a 
}^) son of John and Sarah (Peck) Nicolls. 
William Nicolls, his grandfather, a 
native of New York, was in the service of 
his country during the entire seven years 



of the Kevolutionary war. The father of 
8ul)ject, also a native of New York, was a 
soldier in the war of 1812, serving 
tliri)Ughout that conflict, and was in the 
battle of Fort George under Gen. Schuyler. 

In 1837 John Nicolls came to Ohio, 
locating in Bronson township, Huron 
county, and cleared off a farm, becoming 
a prominent farmer in the township, where 
he died in 1845. His widow was after- 
ward granted a pension for his services in 
the war; she died in 1876, aged eio-hty- 
five years. Tiieir children were seven in 
number, as follows: William, who died 
when aged twenty-five, unmarried; Lorina, 
Mrs. Hagermann, of Bronson township; 
Samantha; Newell Ray, who died in 1865, 
aged forty-five; J. A., subject of sketch; 
George, of Bronson township, and one de- 
ceased in infancy. 

J. A. Nicolls was ten years of age when 
he came with the family to Ohio. He at- 
tended the common schools of that period, 
the days of the primitive log schoolhouses, 
where eauli pupil furnished so much wood, 
as well as paying the teacher. When he 
was fifteen years old he commenced to 
work out as a hired man at six dollars per 
month, which money all went to help sup- 
port the family. He thus labored four 
years, tilling the land on shares, when he 
went into debt and bought a farm. By 
working hard and saving closely, and buy- 
ing other land on credit, in the end he 
paid off all the accumulated debts, to the 
sum of over four thousand two hundred 
dollars (including six years interest), with 
several lucky years' crops. He continued 
to follow farming till 1877. 

On August 24^ 1870, J. A. Nicolls and 
Miss Rosanna Fisher were united in mar- 
riage by Rev. John Hawker, and to them 
were born four children, as follows: Ralph, 
Dean, Jessie and John A. lu 1877 the 
family removed to Norwalk, and made ex- 
tensive investments in real estate, at the 
same time farming and dealing extensively 
in stock. Mr. Nicolls has served accept- 
ably as township assessor during seven 



144 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



successive terms; he was also township 
clei-k, and for about three years was post- 
master at Bronson, having his appointtneiit 
(which was signed by President Fillmore) 
still in his possession. One of his Nor- 
walk entei'prises was the erection, in the 
fall and winter of 1877, of the elegant 
"NicoUs Block,'' whieii was burned in 
September, 1888; but he rebuilt it at once, 
and still owns the fine property; he also 
owns 270 acres of land in Bronson town- 
ship, and the elegant grocery house build- 
ing on Benedict avenue, in Norwalk. In 
1S76 he built his elegant residence on 
Norwood avenue, where the fatnily now 
resides, the grounds around which include 
about three acies, tastefully laid out and 
highly ornamented, making, altogether, one 
of the finest homes in the city. Mr. Nicolls 
did not go into the army to put down the 
rebellion, having an aged mother and aunt 
to care for; but he gave liberally of his 
means to those that did enlist for their 
country's protection. Politically he is an 
active Prohibitionist, having enlisted with 
the party at its commencement. 



CHARLES M. NIVER, prominent 
among the most prosperous and in- 
fluential of the farmers of Norwich 
township, Huron county, is a native 
of the same, born in 1835. 

C. B. Niver, father of the subject of 
this sketch, came in 1833 from Orange 
county, N. Y., to Norwdch township, 
Huron county, where he settled on a farm 
of 600 acres, part of which he sold to his 
brothers, owning at the time of his death 
250 acres of valuable land which he had 
cleared. He was by trade a wagon maker, 
but after coming to Huron county devoted 
his attention exclusively to agriculture. 
He married Miss Emily Moore, of Seneca 
county, N. Y., and four children were 
born to them, viz.: Laura J. and John M. 
(both deceased), Albert E. and Charles M. 
The father died in 1886, in politics a solid 
Republican. 



Charles M. Niver, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was born on his father's farm, 
and was there reared to agricultural pur- 
suits, attetiding during the winter months 
the public schools of the neighborhood of 
his place of birth. He now owns 151 
acres of prime land, where he successfully 
carries on general farming. Politically he 
follows in the footsteps of his father, being 
an uncompromising Republican. 



GALVIN WHITNEY. The flexibil- 
ity of American genius — the ability 
to project and successfully manipu- 
late the details of a new business, after 
having for a protracted period conducted 
one, perhaps diametrically different in its 
nature — is one of its distinguishing char- 
acteristics. This easy transition from an 
old to a new vocation may be said to lie 
at the bottom of nearly all great material 
development in the United States. 

Capitalists, who for the most part are 
discreet in their investments, embark in 
new enterprises only when tlie way has 
been carefully mapped out by this quality 
of genius, and liberal returns are insured; 
and, as a consummation of plans and ven- 
tures of men of this type, on grass-covered 
prairies have sprung up towns and cities 
where the incessant hum and roar of in- 
dustry in all its phases is the ^Eolian 
music of commerce and trade. Thus capi- 
talists, who furnish employment to the 
masses by the establishment of such 
enterprises, become our greatest bene- 
factors — our practical philanthropists — 
to whom the public owe no less a debt of 
gratitude than to men of letters, to the 
statesmen, or to the soldier. In this con- 
nection we here introduce a brief bio- 
graphical sketch of Mr. Calvin Whitney, 
president of the A. B. Chase Company, 
of Norwalk, one of the leading industries 
of the kind in the country, and certainly 
the leading one in the State of Ohio. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



145 



The Whitney family are of English 
origin, Henry Whitney, grandsire of the 
branch of the family in tliis country, hav- 
inor been born in the "ti<xht little island'' 
about the year 1020. Immigrating to this 
country, he became a pioneer of the, then, 
New England Colonies, and the family 
lived for successive generations in and 
around the vicinity of Norwalk, Conn., 
until the migrating therefrom of Henry 
Whitney, grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, as will be presenlly related. 

This last mentioned Henry Whitney 
was born in 1791, in Norvvalk, Conn., 
where lie married Miss Lucy Grumman, 
afterward moving to the western border of 
civilization, and, in 1819, settling in what 
is now Shelby, Kichland Co., Ohio. To 
this honored pioneer couple were born 
eleven children, ten of whom lived till 
after the youngest had passed the fiftieth 
milestone on the highway of life. One of 
these children, by name Charles, born Sep- 
tember 23, 1812, in his younger days fol- 
lowed blacksmithing and farming-, and he 
is now a resident of North Fairtield, Ohio, 
a hale and hearty octogenarian. He mar- 
ried a widow lady whose maiden name 
was Koxanna Palmer, and they became 
the parents of si.x children, the eldest of 
whom, Palmer, gave every promise of a 
bright career, but at the age of nineteen 
he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-fourth 
Regiment O. V. 1., and after a gallant 
service in the Federal cause was mortally 
wounded at the battle of Shiloli; Anne, 
the second child, died in infancy; Calvin, 
John L., Richard B. and Idalia L. are yet 
living. 

Calvin Whitney was born in Townsend, 
Huron Co., Ohio, September 25, 1846. 
As a boy he pursued the usual vocations of 
farm life during the summer seasons, in 
winter time attending the common schools 
of the neighborhood, where he developed 
an ambition for learning, and exhibited a 
special fondness for mathematics. He 
proved an apt and diligent scholar, and by 
close study at home by the cheerless light 



of a tallow candle, and daily encouraged 
by a loving, patient, painstaking mother, 
he succeeded in mastering the elements of 
an English education; and when at the age 
of fifteen he found his school days termi- 
nated, he had acquired a higher mental 
discipline than many whose advantages in 
that respect had been greater. Something 
he learned also — the greatest lesson of life 
— to think for himself. 

At the age of eighteen Mr. Whitney 
began business for his own account by 
taking a farm to work on shares, but a hail- 
storm came and destroyed his crops, which 
disaster he interpreted as an ill-omen, 
and concluding that Providence did not 
design him for a farmer (to use his own 
words), he determined to change his voca- 
tion. Accordingly, in the fall of 1865, hus- 
banding his means — some four hundred 
dollars — he went West and opened out a 
hardwood lumber business, on a scale such 
as his finances admitted, soon established 
a credit, and so made the venture a success 
from the outset. Under his care the busi- 
ness grew rapidly, and for several years 
before he commenced to withdraw his at- 
tention from it, and look after matters of 
still greater magnitude, the lumber sales 
aggregated from one hundred and fifty 
thousand to two hundred thousand dollars 
per annum. 

But notM'ithstanding the extensive and 
remunerative trade in this line of industry 
which he had built up, Mr. Whitney was 
ever on the '' qiii lu'tv," watching for pos- 
sibilities in other dii'ections. In the fall 
of 1875 lie assisted in organizing the A. 
B. Chase Organ Company, for the purpose 
of manufacturing reed organs, the capital 
stock of the concern being then fifty thou- 
sand dollars. Of this company he was a 
director until April, 1877, when, on the 
death of Mr. A. B. Chase, he was unani- 
mously elected president of the same. 
Now, after fifteen consecutive years of 
assiduous duty, he still occupies the re- 
sponsible position, and it may be added 
that since his administration, the business 



146 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



has grown extensively in its proportions. 
The following excerpt from the com- 
pany's latest statistical statement speaks 
for itself: 

September 1, 1875. Charter was granted and 
Company organized to manufacture Organs and 
Pianos. January 1, 1876. First factory building 
erected, 40 x 100 feet, three stories, frame. July 1, 
1876. The first organ was completed. July 1, 
lyyO. First addition, 40 x 80 feet, three stories, 
completed. September 1, 1880. Entire factory 
destroyed by fire. Loss, $05,000. January 1, 1881. 
Brick factory erected, 40 x 200 feet, three storie?. 
July 1, 1S8:J. Brick addition, 56x150 feet, three 
stories, completed. January 1, 1886. Commenced 
the manufacture of pianos. July 1, 1890. Second 
addition, 56 x 85 feet, completed. 

STATISTICAL RECORD. 

At this date, January, 1892, about 200 men are 
employed in the manufacture and sale of their 
goods, 25 dillerenl styles of Pianos, and 70 different 
styles of Organs are now being made; 200 Organs 
and 100 Pianos are turned out each month. 30,- 
000 Pianos and Organs have been made and sold 
by this Company in the United States since it 
was organized. $10,000 is paid out by them each 
month for wages alone $1,250,000 has been paid 
for labor in this county by this Co. since it com- 
menced business. $2,500,000 worth of instruments 
have been sold by them. These have gone into all 
parts of the world, and the money returned to 
Norwalk, where a large proportion of it has been 
spent for labor and material. ^ 

With superior business tact the sale of 
the instruments has been pushed into not 
only the rural districts, but into all the 
great business centers, in the metropolitan 
cities, in all parts of the United States, 
besides a considerable export trade to Can- 
ada, Australia and Europe. Mr. Whitney 
gradually withdrew from the lumber busi- 
ness, and for the past three years has given 
his undivided attention to the manufactur- 
ing business at JS'orwalk. 

Calvin Whitney was united in marriage, 
November 5, 18G8, to Miss Marian, daugh- 
ter of Royal Cady and Marian (Smith) 
Dean, of Townsend, Huron Co., Ohio, 
and this union has been blessed with four 
children, viz.: Marian Daisy, Ruby L., 
Ida C. and Warren C. After spending 
one year of married life in the West, Mr. 
and Mrs. Wltitney removed to Norwalk, 
where they now live in a comfortable and 
commodious residence on West Main street, 



surrounded by an interesting and growing 
family, and an abundance of everything 
that can make life worth living. 

Although so natch pressed by business 
cares, Mr. AVhitney finds time to attend 
to social, domestic and religious matters. 
He and his wife united with the First 
Methodist Church of Norwalk in Feb- 
ruary, 1875, and he is a prominent lay- 
man in that Society. In 1884 he repre- 
sented the laymen of Northern Ohio in 
the general 'Conference at Philadelphia, 
Peiin, and assisted in the electing of five 
bishops. In 1888 he attended the general 
Conference at New York in similar ca- 
pacity, and assisted in the election of six 
bishops. Mr. Whitney's parents were 
members of the Baptist Church for over 
fifty years, and have imparted much of 
their religious zeal to their son. He do- 
nated ten thousand dollars to the Church 
Extension Society of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, for the purpose of building 
churches in the Far West; and in honor of 
his beloved wife, this is known as the 
"Marian Whitney Fimd." 



John W. roorback, for over 
k. I sixty years a resident of New Lon- 
^J/ don township, where he is held in 
the highest esteem both as a loyal 
citizen and an industrious agriculturist, is 
a native of Orange county, Ind., born Jan- 
uary 12, 1824. 

John Roorback, his father, born in 
Adams county, Penn., in 1796. married Miss 
Ann Spooner, a native of Yates county, N. 
Y., born in 1800, and five children came 
to them, namely: Martha A., Mary B., 
Frederick S., John W. and Jillizabeth, the 
last named dying at the age of two years. 
In 1825 John Roorback and his, then, 
little family, moved to Yates county, N. Y., 
and in 1830 came to Huron county, Ohio, 
locating in New London township, at the 
time when there were but eight voters be- 
sides himself in the township. The 
country was very wild, and turkeys, deer 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



147 



and other animals were numerous, afford- 
ing plenty of sport and supplying an un- 
limited amount of food. John Roorback 
died in 1S(!2, his wife in 1879. Martha A., 
died in 1892. 

John W. Roorback, whose name intro- 
duces this sketch, attended the primitive 
subscription schools of the neighborhood 
of his new home in Huron county, at the 
same time assisting his father in the clear- 
ing of the land. In 1855 he married Miss 
Rebecca J. JfcConnell, and one child was 
born to them — Annie, wife of Reter Rob- 
ertson, by whom she has three children: 
Nellie J., John W., and Gordon. The 
mother of these dying in 1874, Mr. Roor- 
back married, for his second wife, in 1878, 
Miss Eva Doty, by which union there are 
two cliildren: Marie and Paul J. Our 
subject in his political sympathies is a 
straight Democrat, and has served with 
great credit as township trustee. He is 
enterprising and public-spirited, and is 
ever to be found on the side of progres- 
slveness and good government. 



f[J ENRY F. BROWN, dairy farmer 
IpH and milk dealer, is a son of Frank 
I 1| Brown, whose father was born in 
•J) Connecticut. The latter afterward 

moved to New York, and pur- 
purchased 300 acres of land near Bing- 
hamton, where he died. 

Frank Brown was born iu Counecticut, 
afterward moving with his parents to 
Broome county, N. Y^., where he followed 
agricultural pursuits. When a young man 
he was united in marriage with Susan 
Rose, whose parents were of English de- 
scent. Frank Brown in politics was a 
Henry Clay Whig, in religion a member 
of the Presbyterian Church. He died at 
about the age of fifty-five years; his widow 
is now living in Toledo, Ohio, in her 
seventy-first year. They were the parents 
of eight children, of whom Henry F. is 
the eldest. 



Henry F. Brown was born August 24, 
1836, in Broome county, N. Y., and re- 
ceived his education at the schools of 
Binghamtou. About the year 1861 he 
came to and settled in Norwalk, Ohio, and 
was there married, in February, 1865, to 
Ellen Brown, a native of Peru township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, of which locality her 
parents were early settlers. Three sons 
have blessed this union, as follows: George, 
an engineer on the Wheeling & Lake Erie 
Railroad; Hiram, livingat home, and Lewis, 
attending school. After locating in Nor- 
walk, Mr. Brown conducted a gristmill for 
some time; then devoted his attention to 
agricultural pursuits, which he has fol- 
lowed in various localities. For the past 
nineteen years he has resided on his pleas- 
ant farm containing sixty-five acres, forty- 
three of which are included within the 
limits of Norwalk. He has conducted a 
milk business about nine years, now own- 
ing sixteen cows, and sells about one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars' worth of milk per 
month, buying milk also at wholesale to 
furnish customers. Politically he is an 
active member of the Republican party, 
and in April, 1892, he was elected a mem- 
ber of the city council from the Fourth 
Ward. He has erected a pleasant dwell- 
ing and commodious barn, ample evidence 
in themselves of his prosperity. 




ELSON O. ALLEN, son of Joseph 
and Martha (I)evore) Allen, was 
born in Richland county, Ohio, in 
1858. Joseph Allen was a native of 
the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, 
and is a descendant of the pioneer Aliens of 
the Valley of Virginia, whose names are 
associated with agrarian affairs in Ireland 
in the seventeenth and eighteenth centu- 
ries, and with the Revolution here, in 
M-hich many of them served their adopted 
country. Martha (Devore) Allen is a na- 
tive of liichland township, and the mother 
of seven children, the subject of this sketch 
being the eldest. 



148 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Nelson O. Allen grew to manhood in 
Richland county. Less than a decade ago 
he came to New London, and was engaged 
as clerk in one of the honses there nntil 
he became connected with tl)e D. J. C. 
Arnold mannfactnring concern when it 
was organized. His bnsiness ability was 
so apparent that his connection with this 
mannfacturing enterprise promised snc- 
cess, and redeemed the promise. His 
marriage with Josephine Reich, daughter 
of Uriah and Mary Reicli, took place on 
the eighth day of January, 1880, at New 
London; she was born in Cleveland, Ohio. 
Politically Mr. Allen is a Republican, one 
of the most active members of the party 
in Huron county. A representative of 
his township in county and district con- 
vention, and chairman of the New London 
delegation in the county convention of 
1891, he was nominated for sheriff on the 
Republican ticket in 1892, and elected 
' sheriff in 1892. 

In Society affairs our subject is a mem- 
ber of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. He is a bright and progressive 
young man, who can fill tlie dual role of 
business man and politician with ease and 
success. As sheriff of Huron county, the 
administration of that office must be satis- 
factory to all. 




RTHUR. The families of this name 
in Greenfield township are de- 
scen<led from sturdy, honest Nortii- 
of-Ireland people, for the most part 
tillers of the spil. 
John Arthur, grandfather of Robert 
and William II. Arthur, of Greenfield 
township, was a native of County Tyrone, 
Ireland, where his son John was boi-n 
February 18, 1795. This Joiin received 
a practical education at the schools of his 
native place, and was reared to agricultural 
pursuits. He married Martha Easter, also 
a native of County Tyrone, and to this 
union was born, in Ireland, one child, 
Margaret. In 1822 the family emigrated 



to America, pushed westward from New 
York to Huron county, Ohio, and settled 
on a tract of land in Greenfield township. 
There was a small clearing on this tract, 
which was an extra inducement to the 
stranger to purchase it for two dollars and 
a half per acre. On this farm the other 
children of the family were born, namely: 
Ann J., who is now the widow of James 
McPherson; Mary, widow of Thomas 
Irwin; Robert and William H., sketches 
of whom follow, and Catherine, who re- 
sides in Greenfield township. Margaret, 
the eldest child, married Alexancler Lewis, 
and lived to be sixty-two years of age. 
Tiie mother of this family died in 1879. 
Joim Arthur was one of the most success- 
ful pioneers of Greenfield township. His 
farm grew from very small beginnings to 
a tract of 700 acres, and wlien lie died, in 
1888, this large place was highly improved 
from end to end — the result of bis in- 
domitable energy coupled with industry 
and shrewdness. In political affairs he 
aftiliated with the Democratic party, and 
held various township offices, in which he 
was always faithful in the discharge of his 
duties. In religious matters he and his 
wife were active members of the Congre- 
gational Church, which they iielped or- 
ganize, and were its main supporters in 
this district. Mr. Arthur filled several 
offices in this church. 

Robert Arthur, eldest son of these 
honored pioneers, was born March 4, 1829. 

lie passed his lioyhood in the manner 
common to pioneer children — farm work, 
in one form or another, taking first place 
in his training. On December 27, 1867, 
he married Julia E. Cook, who was born 
in Peru township, Huron county, daughter 
of Wyatt Cook, a native of Mt. Holly, 
Vt., who came to Huron county, Ohio, in 
1818, settling in Peru township. Here 
lie was married to Sophia Root, of Noi'th 
Monroeville, and they resided in Peru 
township until 1870, when they removed 
to Fairfield township, where he died. 
Their children were Sarah, Mrs. Spencer 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



149 



Sumerlin; Chaimcey C, uow in Waterloo, 
Iowa; Elma, deceased; Jay, deceased; 
Anna and James, in Fairfield township; 
and Jnlia E. In politics Mr. Cook was 
originally a Whicr. afterward becoming a 
Kepublican, and an ardent Abolitionist. 
In religious belief he was from his youth 
a member of the Freewill Baptist Church 
at Greenfield. To Mr. and Mrs. Eobert 
Arthur the following named children were 
born: Mattie G., Clarence C, J. Vinton, 
Laura A. and Fred K. Immediately after 
his marriage he located on his present 
farm. He is now the owner of 1,200 
acres of choice land, and is the heaviest 
tax-payer on real estate in his township. 
In addition to carrying on general farm 
work, he is also engaged in stock growing 
and dealing in cattle. While he inherited 
considerable land, he is personally deserv- 
ing of great credit for the progress he has 
made. Other young men could and would 
liave dissipated the inheritance in a little 
while; but over it and around it he has 
built up a most valuable property, and has 
become, if not the largest farmer in Huron 
county, the largest, certainly, in Greenfield 
township. Almost two square miles of 
land tell of his acquisitions in a quarter of 
a century, while his sheep and cattle speak 
of the varied directions in which his agri- 
cultural tastes run. A heavy wool-grower 
and cattle dealer as well as an extensive 
farmer, he appears to have developed the 
very best principles of agriculture. His 
residence is the finest in the township, 
elegantly furnished and homelike. 

A warm-hearted neighbor, and a most 
lenient landlord, Mr. Arthur walks through 
life unassumingly, as one who cannot 
realize the important relation which he 
bears to the community or the very high 
place which he and his family hold in the 
public estimation. Politically he is a 
Democrat, and is an enthusiastic supporter 
of his party. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church, in 
which he has been a trustee for some 
years. 



William H. Arthur, second son of 
John and Martha (Eastei-) Arthur, was 
born February 20, 1831. 

He received a fair education in the 
common schools of his district, and snl)- 
sequently labored on the home farm until 
1867. when he married Jennie, daughter 
of William H. Armstrong, of the same 
township. To this marriage was born one 
son, wlio died in infancy. Mrs. Arthur 
died April 15, 1888, and was buried in 
Steuben cemetery. After his marriage 
Mr. Arthur located on the farm where he 
now resides, but for the last quarter of a 
century has not been actively engaged in 
farm M'ork. Beyond the business of loan- 
ing money on real estate, and collecting 
rents from the tenants on his property, 
his life is practically a retired one, so far 
as business is concerned. He takes an 
active interest in the success of the Demo- 
cratic party; but althougli he has held 
various township ofhees he is not a poli- 
tician, and he has never sought office. 
He is a member of the Congregational 
Church, and for several years was a 
trustee in that Society. He is a reader 
and a close observer, conversant with the 
times and manners, and well posted on 
American public affairs. 




ilLLIAM W. TWADDLE, one of 
the most successful farmers of 
Clarksfield township, was born 
November 16, 1833, in Holmes 
county, Ohio, the fourth son and twelfth 
child of Alexander and Elizabeth (Ramage) 
Twaddle. 

William Twaddle was educated in the 
district schools of Huron county (where 
his family settled in 1836), a Miss Starr 
being his first teacher. When school days 
were over, he l)egan work as a farm hand 
and ox driver at eighteen pence per day, 
and from his savings he was enabled to 
pay the shoemaker (Hinman) for the first 
pair of boots he wore. On October 30, 



150 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



1856, in South Milford, Iiid., he was mar- 
ried to Sahra A. Pixley, who was horn in 
October, 1838, in Clarksfield township, 
daugliter of Eli and Czarina (Blackmail) 
Pixley, who migrated from New York 
State to La Grange county, Ind., and later 
moved to Minnesota, where they died. 

The following children came to the inar- 
ch 

riage of AVilliam W. and Sabra A. Twad- 
dle: Herbert A., who married Sadie A. 
Campbell, and lives in Clarkstield town- 
ship; and Posa M., now Mrs. Xnland Lee, 
of Lorain, Ohio. For about a year after 
marriage they resided in an old log house 
on the present farm. He then became 
owner of the old Alexander Twaddle farm, 
where he has since resided. For the last 
two decades he has given much attention 
to the dairy business, which he has carried 
on in conjunction with general farming. 
Since 18G7 he has been a Prohibitionist, 
and voted that ticket when there were but 
three votes cast for it in his township. 
He has served as trustee of Clarksfield 
township, and takes a deep interest in 
local political affairs. His wife is an 
active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and both are highly respected 
citizens of Huron county. 



D.OPtR TWADDLE, a representative 
I farmer of Huron county, was horn 
,'' March 28, 1852, in Clarksfield 

township. He is a grandson of 
Alexander Twaddle, and a son of John J. 
Twaddle, who was born February 23, 1820, 
in Jefferson county, Ohio. 

John J. Tvvaddle passed his youth in 
Holmes county, Ohio (where the family 
lived from 1823 to 1836), and he experi- 
enced all the hardships and privations in- 
cident to the life of a pioneer boy, but he 
was never found wanting in fidelity to his 
parents or the work which he was called 
upon to perform. He and his brother 
Alexander purchased land in Clarksfield 
township, Huron county, in 1835. Some 
time after locating thereon John J. Twad- 



dle married Julia A. Palmer, a native of 
Westchester county, JSf. Y., who came 
to Ohio with her parents when a girl. 
After marriage the young couple resided 
near Norwalk, Ohio, where he worked for 
Isaac Underbill, a pioneer of that region. 
While employed there he saved sufficient 
money to pay for his land in Clarkstield 
township, where he resided until his death, 
December 28, 1885. His widow died No- 
vember 8, 188U, and both lie buried in 
Clarkstield cemetery. Of their children 
the following record is made: Frank died 
in infancy; Ella married J. T. King, and 
resides in her native township; Dorr is the 
subject of this sketch; Charlotte married 
Eugene Fox, of Clarksfield township; 
Leroy and Lillie A. (twins), the former of 
whom resides here; Lillie A., Mrs. J. L. 
Judd, lives in Marshall county, Kansas. 

Dorr Twaddle entered industrial life on 
the farm at a very early age, but his edu- 
cation was not overlooked, for he attended 
the school taught by Miss Delia Dunham, 
who was his first teacher. At the age of 
fifteen ye&vi he set out for Michigan, and 
remained in that State three years, engaged 
in various businesses. At the age of nine- 
teen years he began learning the cheese- 
manfacturing industry, and for four years 
worked in Parker, Morgan & Hovey's 
factory. Later he was appointed night 
superintendent of the factory, and subse- 
quently was given charge of it. Some 
time after the last promotion he became a 
partner in the concern, also taking a half 
interest in another cheese factory located 
in the southern part of Clarksfield town- 
ship. For seven years he carried on that 
factory, and later became the " Co." in the 
firm of J. C. Kansom tV: Co., being known 
to the cheese manufacturers as a most suc- 
cessful operator. 

Mr. Twaddle's marriage with Celia 
Rowland took place December 30, 1874. 
She was born March 16, 1856, in Clarks- 
tield township, to Daniel and Harriet 
(Chaffee) Rowland, and the children of 
this union are Wanda P., William E. and 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



151 



Jay C, all residing with their parents. 
In 1882 Mr. Twaddle took up his resi- 
dence on his present farm, and has since 
been engaged in general farming; he also 
gives some attention to the cheese raanw- 
facturing business. Since 1882 he has 
made many impi'overaents on this farm; 
he is methodical in everything, and carries 
on the difi'erent departments of his busi- 
ness systematically. Politically a Demo- 
crat, he is one of the leaders of his party 
in this county. 




WASHINGTON SANGER, promi- 
nent amoncp the well-to-do asri- 
lL[ cnlturists of Wakeman township, 
is a native of New York State, 
born in Oneida county October 7, 1821. 

Richard Sanger, father of subject, a 
native of Massachusetts, removed to New 
Hartford, N. Y., and from there to Oneida 
county, N. Y., where he was engaged 
in mercantile pursuits during the rest of 
his life. His eldest daughter married 
Cyrus Bntler, and moved to Birmingham, 
Ohio. After the death of Richard Sanger 
his eldest son came to Ohio, being shortly 
afterward followed l)y the rest of the fam- 
ily, including our subject, who was then 
between five and six years old. At the 
age of eleven years he went to live with 
John Carter, a farmer, in a part of Huron 
county that is now in Erie county, and re- 
mained with him until 1850, in which 
year he married Miss Gitty J. Stryker, 
sister of Judge Stryker, of Birmingham, 
Ohio. After marriage they lived on a 
small farm in Erie county, two miles 
south of Birmingham, a couple of years, 
and then, in 1843, Mr. Sanger purchased 
eighty acres of wild land in Wakeman 
township, Huron county, on what is now 
known as the "Butler road." After Mr. 
Sanger had paid for these eighty acres at 
eight dollars per acre, he bought forty 
acres more near his former residence, at 
twenty-five dollars ])er acre, and set to 
work to clear the land; but he experienced 



adversity as well as prosperity. He had 
eleven acres of this new land seeded to 
wheat just after clearing it, and a heavy 
June frost completely killed it. In addi- 
tion to cereals he raised sheep, etc., and in 
the long run became very successful in all 
his undertaking's. Mr. Sanger has had 
two children, viz.: Watson T. and Etta, 
who died in 1870. His wife died in May, 
1883. 

In 1859 Mr. Sanger moved to Ashland 
county, Ohio, and was there engaged in 
mercantile business until 1861, when he 
traded his stock in trade for a farm ; then 
carried on a grocery in Oberlin for a time 
(his farm being in the meantime conducted 
by his son), after which he returned to 
Wakeman, in which township he now 
owns 120 acres of land. In politics our 
subject is a Republican. 




||) RADLEY HAYES, a prominent 
farmer and stock-raiser of AVake- 
man township, is a native of Con- 
necticut, born in New Fairfield, 
September 24, 1828. 

Sturgis Hayes, his father, was born and 
reared in the same locality, and taught the 
trade of wagon-maker. He married Anna 
Wakeman, also a native of New Fairfield, 
Conn., where for a few years thereafter he 
worked at his trade, saving liis earnings. 
Aljout 1830, with their four children born 
in Connecticut, he and his wife came to 
Ohio, locating in Clarksfield township, 
Huron county, the journey being made via 
Buffalo and Cleveland. Here the father 
bought seventy-eight acres of wild land, 
which he cleared and transformed into one 
of the most productive farms in his sec- 
tion. In later years he added 122 acres, 
and in his success he was loyally assisted 
by his amiable wife and stalwart family of 
cliildren, of whom the following is a brief 
record: Edward died in Missouri; Lewis 
is a farmer in Kansas; Bradley is the sub- 
ject of sketch; Eli is a farmer at Hickory 
Grove, Mo.; Hanna and Phoebe are de- 



152 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



ceased; Maria is the widow of Ezra Stone, 
and lives in Ciarksiield, Huron county; 
Harriet is tlie wii^e of Abrain Harris, also 
of Clarkstield; Fi-ancis is deceased. The 
father of this family died in 186'J, the 
mother in 1880. 

Bradley Hayes was two years old when 
the family came to Ohio, and to Huron 
county; and here amid the dense forest, 
still haunted by wild animals, the boy was 
reared and educated. Until he was twenty- 
three years old he worked for his father, 
and then commenced for hiujself, laboring 
on a farm for three years on day wages tor 
I. Underbill in a sawmill, while they had 
water, and on farm the rest of the time. 
From there he went to Branch county, 
Mich., remaining one year, at the end of 
which time he returned to Wakeman, and 
for the following six years worked for one 
Bissell. While in Michigan he bought 
eighty acres of land there. 

In 1857 Mr. Hayes married Mrs. Mary 
A. Hanford, who was born October 17, 
1828, in South Britain, Conn., a daughter 
of Justus Wheeler. To this inarriage were 
born Hinda J., who married Caiiarus V. 
Clawson, and is now residing in St. Louis; 
Jess. J., a resident of Wakeman township, 
married to Uoxy C. Koss; and Hattie A., 
deceased. Mrs. Mary A. Hayes was two 
years old when she came from South 
Britain, Conn., to Wakeman, Huron Co., 
Ohio. Mr. Hayes is a stanch Republican, 
and is respected by all as a useful, loyal 
citizen. 



DAVID FOX, son of David and Bar- 
bara (Belts) Fox, was born July I'.l, 
' 1817, in Columbia county, Penn., 

and when five years of age came 
to Ohio with his parents. 

David Fox, Sr., migrated in 1822 from 
Pennsylvania to Ohio, and settled near 
Tiffin, Seneca county, on a farm where, to 
use a pioneer phrase, "there was not a 
stick amiss." At that time the family 
comprised Isaac, Peter, William, David, 



Jr., and John. In Seneca county were 
born Lizzie, Jacob. Margaret, Charles aiid 
George. A brief record of this family is 
as follows: Isaac was engaged in teaching 
school and in farming until bis death, 
which occurred at Madison, Wis.; Peter, a 
bachelor, opened a fishery at Marblehead, 
Ohio, where he was drowned; William is 
a farmer of Seneca county, Ohio; David is 
the subject of this sketch ; John served in 
the war of the Rebellion, and suffered 
much from fatigue and hardship in the 
service (he is now a gardener at Muncie, 
Ind.); Lizzie married Irviu Bums, and 
died in Seneca county; Jacob, who resides 
at Columbia City, Ind., lost an eye in the 
service dui'iiiij the Civil war; Margaret is 
the wife of Isaiah Hartley, of Seneca 
county; Charles died in infancy; George is 
a farmer of Whitley county, Ind. 

David Fox, Sr., entered the Southeast 
quarter. Section Fifteen, Township One, 
Range Fourteen, now Seneca township, 
Seneca A)unty, on June 3, 1823, and re- 
sided thereon until his death in 1830. He 
was in poor health for eleven years pre- 
vious to his decease, and came to Seneca 
county with the hope that the change 
would check the consumption which was 
wasting him away. His widow died in 
July, 1851, and was buried beside her hus- 
band in the little cemetery on Wolf creek; 
he was the first person interred there, and 
his brother-in-law, Peter Wagner, the next. 
The farm was cleared by his sons, who 
were earnest workers. 

David Fox, the subject of this memoir, 
was reared in Seneca county, where he at- 
tended the school of his brother Isaac, 
who after the father's death was appointed 
guardian of his younger brother. Some 
time afterward, Isaac was married, and for 
some reason young David did not become 
a favorite with his sister-in-law. The 
youth left his brother's home and went to 
Franklin county, Ohio. Isaac provided an- 
other guardian for the boy in the person 
of Chi'istian Mussetter, and for awhile 
affairs ran along nicely; but the master 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



153 



soon began to think that action ratlier than 
words was necessary to the hoy's welfare, 
and the "gad" or "birch" appeared. 
David resented tliis, and in 1837 fled to 
Canada, where he joined the rebellion 
there of that year, serving some seven 
months, and participating in the destruc- 
tion of McCormick's property' (this Mc- 
Corniick set fire to the steamboat 
"Caroline," which contained provisions 
and aininnnition for the rebels, and cut- 
ting her moorings let her drift down the 
Niagara river and over the Falls of Niag- 
ara). David returned to Seneca county, 
and Mussetter, glad to surrender liis 
rights as guardian, allowed the lad to go 
free. 

Our subject tlien went to Bellevue, Ohio, 
entered the brickyard of Barney Kline, 
and remained in his employ for live years, 
less one tnouth. On May 7, 1845, he 
married Louisa J. Johnson, who was born 
July 20, 1827, at Freedom, Cattaraugus 
Co., N. Y., to Peter and Eliza Ann (Hose) 
Johnson. Her parents went in 1834 to 
Genesee county, N. Y.. tiieu to Harbor Creek 
•township, Erie Co., Penn.; next in 1844 
to Noble county, Ind . (where the fever and 
ague warned them off), and in the same j'ear 
to Sandusky county, Ohio. The children 
born to David and Louisa Fox are Sarah, 
widow of Samuel P. DeWolf; William F., 
a farmer of Gratiot county, Mich.; George 
R., a farmer of Clai-ksfield township; Alice, 
wife of Joiin Kingsbury, of Hartland 
township; Florence L., Mrs. Salmon 
Haynes, and Alvah A., both of Clarks- 
field township; Clara B., wife of L. M. 
Kingsbury, of Hartland township, and 
Elsie C, wife of D. L. Justus, of Clarks- 
field. 

Mr. Fox received fi'om his fatiier's estate 
the sum of sixty dollars. After his mar- 
riage he located on the home farm in 
Seneca county, purchased the interests of 
five of the eight heirs, and made his home 
there until he sold the place and removed 
to Rock county. Wis., the trip from Ohiooc- 
cupying eighteen days. On his arrival he 



purchased eighty acres, resided thereon 
for three or four years, and then sold the 
tract and bought other lands. Later he 
purchased land in Delaware county, Iowa, 
where he also resided three or four years, 
until his health ur<red him to retire from 
farm life. Renting the farm he removed 
to Clinton, Wis., where he recovered his 
health; then returning to Iowa he resided 
there until 1861, when he traded his 320 
Iowa acres for 120 acres in Ciarksfield 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, where betook 
up his residence. In twenty-one years he 
moved eighteen times, making a profit by 
each move and improving his knowledge 
of the country. Politically he is a Demo- 
crat, but not a politician. The close personal 
attention which he gives to agriculture 
and stock growitig, in which he is largely 
interested, militates against his political 
interests, withdrawing him from public 
circles. Mrs. Fox and the family liold a 
high place in the esteem of the commu- 
nity, while Mr. Fox is known and appre- 
ciated far beyond the boundaries of 
Ciarksfield township. 



^J 



MAJOR SMITH (deceased) was 
born August 17, 1809, in On- 
ondaga county, N. Y., son of 

Elisha and Margaret (Matthews) 

Smith. 

Elisha Smith was born in 1766 at 
Plymouth, Conn., where he married Mar- 
garet Matthews, who was born in 1776. 
Thej^ lived at Plymouth, where Elisha 
carried on his trade of blacksmith, until 
1805, when the family moved to a point 
near Syracuse, Onondaga Co., N. Y. In 
1811 the father, mother, three sons and 
one daughter set out from their New York 
home for Ohio, traveling by wagon road 
via Buffalo (N. Y.), and Erie (Penn.), 
and then through the wilderness to the 
settlement called Beef, on the Allegheny 
river. There the father purchased a boat, 
loaded thereon the wagon and team, and 
then embarked with the members of his 



154 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



family for a voyage to Pittsburgh. Ar- 
rived in safety, they proceeded to Cincin- 
nati, Ohio (then a small place), whence 
they journeyed by wagon road to Spring- 
field, Ohio, where they rested after a trip 
of.forty days. While tliere Elisha Smith 
served* in the war of 1812 as artificer in 
Gen. Harrison's army, shoeing horses and 
oxen, and performing all the work assigned 
to him. His wife died in Springfield July 
28, 1814, he in September following, after 
which tiie eldest son, Sherman, assumed 
the direction of the family. 

Major Smith was i-eared in the manner 
of boys of that time and jjlace. After the 
death of his parents, whicli occurred when 
he was five years old, he was cared for by 
his brother Sherman, and in 1815 accom- 
panied his elder brothers to Huron county, 
Ohio. The journey was made with a 
wagon drawn by oxen, and was attended 
by many hardships and privations; nor 
did the hardships cease with their settle- 
ment in New London township, for the 
brothers had to work early and late and 
under circumstances trying even to pio- 
neers. Major resided with his brother 
Sherman until June 6, 1831, when he 
married Eliza Knapp, and settled on a 
farm of twenty acres in Clarksfield town- 
ship, which liis brother Sherman helped 
him to secure. On it was a small log 
house in a small clearing, but the im- 
provements were so rude that its change 
from the wilderness to a cultivated farm 
must be credited to Mr. Smith, as also the 
additions to the original farm. On May 
6, 18G6, he located on the place where he 
resided until his death, August 4, 18.85, 
and it is now the property of his widow. 

Mrs. Eliza Smith was born March 16, 
1813, at Danbury, Conn., to Jolni and 
Mindwell (Wood) Knapp. John Knapp 
died at Danbury, and his widow afterward 
married Simeon Hoyt, with whom she 
came to Ohio in 1816, bringing her daugh- 
ter Eliza, and settling in the southern 
part of Clarksfield township. Simeon 
Hoyt was the son of Comfort Hoyt, a 



merchant of Danbury, who received from 
Connecticut a large grant of the " Fire- 
lands" for damages his business interests 
sustained during the Revolution and the 
war of 1812. He sent his son Simeon to 
survey the tract in Huron county, and the 
latter made his home here. 

Major Smith was always a farmer, and 
succeeded in biiilding up a valuable prop- 
erty by his own labor and industry. His 
illness in 1881 prevented the celebration 
of his "golden wedding," for in June of 
that year was the fiftieth anniversary of 
his marriage. Politically he was first a 
Jacksonian Democrat, in 1840 a Harrison 
Whig, and in 1884 a Blaine Kepublican. 
He took a deep interest in political affairs, 
held various township otfices, and was es- 
teemed in public and private life. The 
only child of Major and Eliza Smith was 
Dolly E., born July 27, 1835, who mar- 
ried Wesley Smith (son of John Smith), a 
native of Clarksfield township. He died 
November 12, 1863, leaving one child, H. 
A. Smith, who resides with his grand- 
mother on the Major Smith farm. In 
1866 his widow married W. F. Barnum, 
and two children were born to them: 
Charles P., August 4, 1866, and Jay M., 
August 29, 1870, both residing at Mica 
Bay, Kootenai Co., Idaho. Their mother 
died April 11, 1875. 



El LIAS EASTER. This gentleman, 
who is. now living a retired life in 
I the city of Norwalk, was for many 

years a leading, progressive agri- 
culturist of Greenfield township where he 
was born Septemlier 19, 1834. 

John Easter, grandfather of our subject, 
was a well-to-do farmer and cloth manu- 
facturer in the town of Berragh, near 
Londonderry, Ireland. His son, Archi- 
bald, was born in 1783 in County Tyrone, 
Ireland, and received a very good common- 
school education, as his parents were in 
comfortable circumstances. When yet a 
young man lie was sent to America on 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



155 



business pertaining to some real estate 
which they (the family of John Easter) 
had in question, and, his business con- 
cluded, he was about to return home to 
Ireland, when he was prevented from so 
doing by the "Embargo Act" in force 
during the war of 1812. Being familiar 
with the art of weaving, he obtained a 
situation in some mills at Chambersburg, 
Penn., where he' remained for three years, 
during which time he was given the posi- 
tion of foreman, a lucrative and responsible 
situation, and one which, notwithstanding 
his youth, lie was perfectly capable of fill- 
ing. Returning to Ireland he stayed at 
home a short time, and then again came to 
America, landing in New York in 1817. 
He came westward by canal and lake to 
Sandusky, Ohio, thence proceeding to the 
center of the State, arid locating on a farm 
near Columbus, where he resided for some 
time; this farm is now included in the city 
of Columbus. Later he removed to Lower 
Sandusky (now Fremont), Ohio, where he 
owned some land, but the ague being very 
prevalent in that vicinity he left his farm 
and afterward sold it. Before purchasing 
the tract at Lower Sandusky, Mr. Easter 
rode around the country on horseback for 
many months in search of land, traveling 
throueh nine States, but the bottom lands 
of the Sandusky river seemed so inviting 
that he located there, as already related. 
In 1819 he came to Greenfield township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, and purchased a farm 
near the center of the township (which 
tract is now occupied by Robert Arthur), 
where he lived for several years. Here he 
was married, in 1824, to Rebecca Easter, 
who was born in 1801, in County Tyrone, 
Ireland, daughter of James Easter. The 
minister who performeil the ceremony was 
" Elder John Wheeler," who, in observance 
of a custom of those times, stood in his 
shoes, but wore no stockings. Al)ont 1820 
or 1821 there came from Ireland James 
Easter (maternal grandfather of subject) 
and family, John Easter (paternal grand- 
father of subject) and family, and along 



with them John Arthur and his family. 
The latter had been persuaded to emigrate, 
by Archibald Easter, who after their ar- 
rival took considerable interest iu their 
success, and aided them materially during 
their first years in America. 

To the union of Archibald and Rebecca 
Easter were born six children, as follows: 
Two sons who died in infancy; Elias, sul)- 
ject of this memoir; Sarah, Mrs. John 
McLane, of Greenfield township, Huron 
county; Kezia, Mrs. Samuel Arthur, of 
Greenfield township; and John, who was 
drowned when a youth. About 1830 
Archibald Easter settled on the farm 
where he passed the remainder of his 
days, and continued to follow agricultural 
pursuits until 1860, when he retired, worn 
out by a long life of unceasing industry. 
He died May 1, 1867, and his wife sur- 
vived him until June 6, 1884, when she 
too passed away, and w'as buried by tiie 
side of her husband in Steuben cemetery. 
They were both members of the Congre- 
gational Church. Politically Mr. Easter 
was a Republican, originally a Whig, and 
he was an ardent party man, well posted 
in politics, in which he took considerable 
interest. He was a great reader, thor- 
oughly conversant with current events, 
and through his business sagacity and 
able management of affairs became one of 
the leading farmers in the county in his 
day. His father, John Easter, died in 
Greenfield township at an advanced age. 

Elias Easter received his primary educa- 
tion at the common schools of his native 
township, and afterward attended select 
schools at various places. He was reared 
to farm life, and resided on the home place 
with his parents until his literary educa- 
tion was finished, and also for some years 
afterward, having charge of the farm for 
several years prior to his father's decease. 
On June 7, 1871, he was united in mar- 
riage with Jennie E. McMorris, a native 
of Greenfield township, daughter of John 
and Nancy (Arthur) McMorris, who had 
come from Ireland in an early day. This 



156 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



wife died November 25, 1876, and was in- 
terred in Steuben cemetery. She was the 
mother of two children: jNTancy, who died 
in infancy, and Cliarles A., now a well- 
educated young man. On June 14, 1888, 
Mr. Easter married, for his second wife, 
Mrs. Margery (Chilcott) Aiken (widow of 
James A. Aiken), who was born March 
30, 1846, in Union township, Huntingdon 
Co., Penn., daughter of Ilichard Chilcott. 
Mr. Easter remained on the farm until 
May, 1892, when he removed to Norwalk, 
where lie now lives a retired life, engaged 
in no active labor, but still overseeing the 
work of the farm, which is now in the 
hands of tenants. In politics lie is a life- 
long Republican, and has served in various 
township otiices, tilling the positions of 
trustee and justice of the peace with much 
credit to himself and satisfaction to all 
concerned. Mr. Easter is a member of the 
First Congregational Church of Greenfield, 
in which he has held office. He is very 
fond of reading, and is well informed on 
the topics of the day. 



M. DAY, a well-known farmer citi- 
zen of Clarkstield township, is a 
October 20, 
Day, who 



IL^i native of same, born 

1842, a son of Ephraim 
was born May 26, 1804, in IJnderiiui, 
Chittenden Co., Vt., a son of Samuel 
Day, a farmer and "herb-doctor" of that 
place. 

When Ephraim was eight years old his 
mother died, the family circle was broken 
up, and he was obliged to begin life on 
his own account, doing such work as a boy 
of his age could. Whatever education he 
had was ac([uired after he was eleven years 
of age, though he continued to work. 
When sixteen years of age he migrated to 
Ohio, coming from Chenango county, 
N. Y., where he had located a year pre- 
vious. In February, 1821, four In-others 
— John, Josiah, Ephi-aim and William — 
started on foot for Ohio, with twenty 



shillings each and a haversack full of pro- 
visions, and arrived after a journey of six 
weeks, having traveled over 700 miles. 
The year previous Josiah Day had come 
to look at the land, and had made arrange- 
ments for coming, he and his brothers 
John and William settling in New London 
township, Huron county. The next year 
the father of these boys, Samuel, came to 
Ohio with the remainder of the family, 
which originally consisted of eighteen chil- 
dren, one of whom died in infancy. The 
father gave John, Josiah and William 
their time before they reached their major- 
ity, but Ephraim was obliged to remain 
on the home farm until twenty-one. Sam- 
uel Day had learned much from an old In- 
dian about the use of herbs, and was 
known as "Dr. Day." He ])assed tiie re- 
mainder of his life in New London town- 
ship, where he died in 1840. 

After coming of age E|)hraim Day pur- 
chased an axe, and went to clearing land, 
receiving fifty cents an acre, which took 
four days to clear. He continued in this 
for some time, and then with his hard- 
earned savings purchased a small piece of 
land in Clarkstield township, which he sub- 
sequently sold. He then purchased eighty- 
nine acres at three dollars per acre, which at 
the time was all timber-land. On Decem- 
ber 25, 1833, he was united in marriage 
with Sarah Parker, who was born Novem- 
ber 4, 1816, in Ontario county, N. Y., 
daughter of Samuel and Kuth (Root) Par- 
ker, who came to Ohio in 1817, first located 
in Florence townsliiji, Erie (then Huron) 
county; Mr. Parker was a "clothier and 
dyer," and would dye and dress up the 
homespun. After residing for some time 
in Florence township he went to Birming- 
ham, Erie county, where he conducted a 
mill; then became a farmer in Clarkstield 
township, Huron county, after which he 
followed his trade in Elyria, Lorain county; 
in later years he migrated to Wisconsin, 
where he died. 

After marriage Ephraim and Sarah Day 
settled on his farm in Clarksfield which 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



157 



he cleared and improved, and where he 
passed the remainder of his life. The 
children born to their union were as fol- 
lows: George M., born October 4, 1835, 
died Septeml)er 13, 1838; Harriet L., born 
May 6, 1838, died June 0, 1865; Arriette 
E., born August 18, 1840, who married 
J. M. Rogers, and died in Clarksfield 
township; Edward M., subject of this 
sketch; Elmer P., born August 29, 1844, 
died iSepteniher 2, 1850; and Isabel, born 
November 12, 1848, died September 6. 
1850. The father of this family certainly 
fought well against adversity, and was re- 
warded with success. Beyinnincr with a 
capital of determination, he overcame every 
obstacle, and left to his wife and children 
one of the best improved farms in the 
county, which at the time of his decease 
comprised 300 acres. He passed from earth 
June 14, 1872, and was buried in South 
Clarksfield cemetery, since when his widow 
has generally made her home with her son, 
Edward M. He was a Jacksonian Demo 
crat until 1850, when he cast his vote for 
Fremont, and thereafter was faithful to 
the Republican party until his death. He 
was a lifelong member of the Baptist 
Church, while his wife has always been a 
Methodist Episcopalian. 

Edward M. Day was reared in Clarks- 
field township, and there received a pri- 
mary education, the first school he attended 
being presided over by Miss Fannie Bar- 
num, and held in his father's house. He 
completed his education in Milan Academy. 
From boyhood until lS(i7 he worked on 
tlie home farm, learning practical lessons 
in agriculture under his father. His mar- 
riage with Cynthia A. Waugh took place 
March 29, 1867; she was born October 
13, 1846, in Camden townshij), Lorain 
Co., Ohio, daughter of Rev. Lansing and 
Docia (Minor) Waugh. Mr. Waugh was 
a minister of tiie Baptist Church, and gave 
every opportunity to his daughter to be- 
come well educated, sending her to the 
school at Nor walk and the colleffe at Ober- 
lin. To the marriage of Edward M. and 



Cynthia Day came the following named 
children: Nora M., born Septeml)er 22, 
1869, now Mrs. B. E. Meacham, of Clarks- 
field township, and Frank L., born April 
23, 1872, died November 20, 1893. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Day settled on 
their present farm, known as "The Upton 
Clark Farm." In 1882 he erected there 
one of the finest farm residences in the 
township, and during the last decade has 
proved himself a most systematic agricul- 
turist and a thoroughly progressive citizen. 
His first vote was cast for Abi-aham Lin- 
coln. For twenty years he was recognized 
as an able young Republican, but in 1880 
he joined the Prohibition party, and has 
since remained in their ranks; he is not a 
politician from the office-seeker's point of 
view. In religious affairs he affiliates with 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
he is a trustee. 



L 



EVI HALES, a native of Ohio, born 
in Lorain county, September 24, 
1840, is a prominent and progress- 
ive farmer and stock-raiser of New 
London township, Huron county. 

Lie is a son of William and Laura 
(Blackham) Hales, the former of whom 
was of English descent, and one of the 
famous "Ludlow heirs"; he lived to the 
patriarchal age of ninety years, and died a 
charter member uf the Baptist Church of 
Henrietta Hill, Lorain county. Eleven 
ciiildren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hales, 
nameil as follows: Lucy, Harriet, Levi, 
Simeon, Ansel, Mary, Elon, Leah, Berton, 
Etta and Sarah. Mr. Hales was a success- 
ful farmer, owning 600 acres before re- 
tiring from active labor. 

Levi Hales, the suliject of this bio- 
graphical sketch, received a common- 
school education, and was reared on his 
father's farm up to the age of twenty-two 
years. In 1863 he married Miss Cather- 
ine Haynes, from whom at the end of a 
year and a half he was divorced, and he 
remained single four and a half years. In 



158 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



18G9 he married, for his second wife, Miss 
Arabella Lee, daughter of James Lee, of 
New London. She died December 25, 
1880, after a long illness, and September 
24, 1891, Mr. Hales married his pi-esent 
wife, Miss Carrie Monger, of Oberlin, 
Ohio. On March 30, 1893, was born to 
him his first child, a daughter named 
Laura Elizabeth. 

In 1882 Mr. Hales made a trip to Cali- 
fornia, spending a year in traveling, and 
on his return he took up his home in New 
London, embarkino; in his present business 
of buying, selling and breeding fine horses, 
at the same time carrying on his farm. Po- 
litically he is an earnest and active sup- 
porter of the Republican party, and he 
and his wife are members of the Congre- 
gational Church. Mr. Hales is a thorough- 
going business man, and enjoys the respect 
and esteem of the community at large. 




J'jILLIAM DENMAN, who in his 
lifetime was one of the nnost 
prosperous, wide-awake agricul- 
turists of Wakeman township, 
was born August 10, 1822, in that part of 
the old county that is now included in Erie. 
AVilliam Denman, grandfather of sub- 
ject, was a native of Kent, England, and 
when he came to America was a farmer in 
good circumstances. He made his home 
not far from Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y., 
and in the neighborhood of the Catskill 
Mountains. He had married in England, 
and was blessed with a family of uine 
children. He died at the age of about 
ninety-eight years, after a life of active 
work. In England for eleven years he 
had been a pastor in the Baptist Church, 
but abandoned the ministry under the con- 
viction that he had never produced any 
good results. However, in this country he 
preached the Gospel many years with 
marked success. 

John Denman, father of subject, was 
born in England, and was si.x years old 



when his father brought him to America 
and to New York State. LTntil the age of 
eighteen years his life at his new home 
was spent working at whatever he conld 
find to do — making shingles, chopping 
wood, etc., and only attended evening 
school six weeks. When he had been 
safely piloted past the interesting age of 
eighteen, he set out from the paternal 
home to seek his fortune in the " wide, 
wide world." When he was about twenty- 
four years of age he came from Sullivan 
county, N. Y., to Huron county, Ohio, on 
foot, carrying on his back aqnantity of apple 
seed, weighing about thirty pounds, which, 
having secured and cleared a piece of land 
in Huron county, he sowed, and this was 
the nucleus to the first nursery in Huron 
county. He then bought land; worked in 
the salt works at East Liverpool, and from 
his savings purchased oxen, wagons, and 
other requisites for the proper conducting 
of his farm and nursery. In 1819 he mar- 
ried Miss Miranda Blackman, whose father 
was a captain in the war of 1812, living in 
Buffalo at the time that city was burned 
by the British. Fourteen children were 
born of this marriage, to wit: Edward, 
in Wakeman township, Huron county; 
William, Bul)jectof sketch; Roxanna (Mrs. 
White), in Toledo, Ohio; Ann, deceased; 
Laura (Mrs. Joseph Booth) and Charles 
(a traveler) both in Pueblo, Colo.; Amos, 
in Valparaiso, Neb. ; Miranda, who died 
in Hampton, Iowa; Henry, in Des Moines, 
Iowa; L. B., in Valparaiso, Neb.; John J., 
of Erie county, Ohio; Mary Fuller, in Nor- 
walk, Ohio; A. B., in Elyria, Ohio; and 
Martin, in Elyria, Ohio. The father of 
this large family was a Whig and Repub- 
lican ; a member and earnest supporter of 
the Methodist Church. 

William Denman, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was reared on the home farm, 
and received his education at the district 
schools. He remained under the parental 
roof until he was twenty-one years of age, 
and then moved to his late home in Wake- 
man township. He had but three hundred 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



159 



dollars when he first commenced for him- 
self, and at the time of his deatli owned 
183 aci'es of land in Huron county, 
together with an elegant and comfortable 
dwellino-and commodious outhouses. 

On September 8, 1853, Mr. Denman 
was married to Cordelia Hough, daughter 
of John Hough, of Clarksfield township, 
Huron county, and three cluldren were 
born to this marriage, viz.: (1) William, 
(2) Nellie, and (3) Ella Ann. Of these 
(1) William was in the real-estate business 
in various places in the West, making a 
great success; in Kansas alone he bought 
on speculation 13,000 acres of land which 
he sold at a great protit; he owned stores 
in Pueblo, Colo., and Boise City, Idaho, in 
which latter place he was killed by a fall 
from a horse, when he was thirty-four 
years old. (2) Nellie married M. L. Dorr, 
of Colorado Springs, Colo., and (3) Ella 
Ann was drowned in a cistern in 1858. 
The mother of tliese died in 1868, and in 
1809 Mr. Denman married Miss Julia 
Partello, daughter of W. P. Partello, a 
farmer of near St. Louis, Mich. The 
children by this last union are Julia; 
Lester C, at home; and Freddy (now 
eleven years old) at school. Of these 
Julia was married to Harry G. Carter Oc- 
tober 22, 1892, and lives on the east part 
of farm. The father died December 12, 
1892. Li politics he was a Republican; 
in religious faith he had been a member 
of the Methodist Church at Wakeman for 
many years, and at the time of his decease 
was tilling tlie ofKce of trustee. 



E 



DWIN S. PROSSER, well known 
in Wakeman township as a pro- 
I gressive and enterprising agricul- 
turist, was born in Clarksfield town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio, March 6, 1843, a 
son of Daniel Prosser. 

Our subject received his education at 
the public schools of his native place, and 
was reared to agricultural pursuits on his 
father's farm. At the commencement of 



the Civil war he enlisted in Company F, 
Third O. V. C, Capt. O. G. Smith, in 
which he served over a year. His regi- 
ment was attached to the army of the 
Cumberland, and participated in many 
battles. At Shiloh Mr. Prosser was seized 
with heart disease, but continued on duty 
at the front in tlie advance on Corinth 
until its evacuation. On May 30, 1862, 
he was taken ill of a violent fever, was 
sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was dis- 
charged on account of heart disease, re- 
turning home vei-y much emaciated. For 
some years thereafter lie moved from place 
to place, being for a time in Iowa and 
Minnesota. 

In 1871 he returned to Clarksfield town- 
ship, Huron county, where he married 
Mrs. Nancy J. Byron, daughter of Robert 
and Mary T. Barnes, and widow of John 
I'yron. Mr. Byron was a member of 
Company H, Seventy-sixth O. V. I., and 
died 111 Georgia, leaving a son, Frank J. 
Byron, who was thirteen years old when 
his mother married Mr. Prosser. They 
moved to Minnesota in April, 1871, 
locating on a farm he had bought some 
time before marriage. Here they lived 
until 1872, when Mr. Prosser sold out 
and moved to Nebraska. On June 4, 
1873, he entered a homestead of 160 
acres, and eighty acres under the timber 
culture Act; also, as guardian of F. J. 
Byron, he entered 160 acres, all being 
prairie lands, and all adjoining, in Frank- 
lin county, Neb. While residing there 
thev encraged in farming and the raising: 
of live-stock, chiefly cattle, and tliere they 
remained until 1882, in which year they 
sold their stock and returned to Clarks- 
field, Ohio, in July, same year. On Au- 
gust 8, following, Mr. Prosser and Frank 
J. Byron entered into copartnership and 
bought a farm of 103 acres in Wakeman 
townshi]!. In 1883, owing to impaired 
health, Mr. Prosser sold his land in Ne- 
braska, as did also Mr. Byron. They have 
since added 170 acres to their property in 
Wakeman township, and have now one of 



160 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



the finest farms in this part of the county. 
Here, in addition to genera! agriculture, 
they are extensively engaged in the raising 
of stock, making a specialty of sheep, and 
bestowintr considerable attention to fruit 
raising. 

Mr. Prosser has one child, Guy O., born 
in Franklin county, Neb., October 14, 
1884. Politically our subject is a Demo- 
crat; socially, he lias been a member of 
the F. & A. M. some twenty-live years. 



djAMES L. VAN DITSEN, one of 
Huron county's best known and 
) most highly respected citizens, was 

born in Constantia, Oswego Co., N. 
Y., January 27, 1835. 

His father. Judo Van Dusen, and his 
mother, Anna Van Dusen, are now both 
deceased. By occupation they were farm- 
ers. In 1837 the family moved to Wayne 
county, N. Y., and subsequently, in 1849, 
tliey removed to Ohio, having purchased 
a farm in Fitchville township, Huron 
county. Here, during the summer months, 
James worked on his fatlier's farm, attend- 
ing tiie sessions of the District school 
during the winter months. At the age of 
twenty-one years he was married to Cece- 
lia A. Pray, a worthy and accomplished 
lady, daughter of Ethan A. Pray, Esq. 
The young couple purchased a piece of 
land in Henry county, Ohio, a portion of 
whicii land is now occupied by the village 
of Liberty Center. Here they remained 
for two years, succeeding admirably, not- 
withstanding the many trials and difficul- 
ties usually incident upon a settlement in 
a new country. 

In 18G1 Mr. Van Dusen was tendered 
the office of Superintendent of the Huron 
County Infirmary. He accepted the posi- 
tion, disposed of his interests in Henry 
county, and returned to Huron county to 
un(k'rtake the discharge of his new duties. 
AVliile at all times and in all respects 
these duties have not been to his liking, 



he has nevertheless in their discharge 
reaped the honors and enjoyed the pleas- 
ures of a noble work well done. For 
nearly thirty-three years he has retained 
this position of Infirmary Superintendent. 
At the end of each terra his re-appoint- 
ment has come unsought by him, and in a 
manner clearly showing the unqualified 
endorsement of the jieople of the county. 
Under his management the Huron County 
Infirmary has been made a model Institu- 
tion of the kind, always referred to with 
pride by local and State authorities. To 
the accomplish]nent of this end he has at 
all times lent his untiring energy and 
splendid business and executive ability. 
Although in public life continuously for 
so long a time, not once has the voice of 
scandal, criticism, or of suspicion, even, 
been raised against him. This is indeed 
a marvelous record — more marvelous be- 
cause true — more worthy of mention be- 
cause deserved. 

While not a partisan in any sense of 
tile word, Mr. Van Dusen has always been 
a firm supporter of the Kepubliean party. 
He is naturally modest and unassuming, 
but nevertheless takes a decided interest 
in all matters pertaining to the public or 
private good, and never hesitates to advo- 
cate and to do what he considers to be his 
duty. His habits are strictly temperate. 

About twenty-five years ago he united 
with tiie First Presbyterian Church of 
Norwalk, Ohio, and was soon after elected 
one of the Church's Trustees. He served 
as a Trustee for three years, and was then 
elected one of the Elders, wiiich office he 
now holds, by virtue of several re-elec- 
tions. He is a faithful contributor to the 
spiritual and material welfare of his 
church. 

For nearly thirty years Mr. Van Dusen 
has been a prominent and active member 
of the Masonic Fi-aternity, being a member 
of Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 04, F. & A. M., 
Huron Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M., Nor- 
walk Council, R. & S. M., and Norwalk 
Commandery, No. 18, K. T. He has 




^/( 'i ^ /y.^^^^ 



IIUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



163 



filled several offices in this Order with 
great credit, notal)ly that of High Priest 
of the Chapter and Eminent Commander 
of Norwalk Comniandery. 

In his private business he has been care- 
ful and conservative, but has acquired a 
goodly competence, and is regarded as one 
of the financially sound men of his county. 
While not given to extravagance, he is 
generous, and is liberal to his family, 
affording them every advan-tage. Three 
children of the five born to him are now 
living: Frank, an attorney, and now city 
solicitor of Norwalk, Ohio; Wallace, a 
student in the Medical Department of the 
University of Michigan; and Clara, a 
member of the senior class of the Norwalk 
High School. 

No biography of Mr. J. L. Van Dusen 
would be complete which failed to make 
mention of his most estimable wife. Side 
by side, mutually encouraging and helpful, 
they have thus far journeyed along life's 
pathway — he a kind busband and indul- 
gent father; she a faithful wife and loving 
mother. Whatever success in life he has 
attained, with her must the credit and the 
honor be shared.' A countless number of 
friends wish this worthy couple long life 
and continued prosperity and lia])piness. 



FRANK W. VAN DUSEN, Attorney 
at Law and (!ity Solicitor, was born 
_ Feb. 15, 18t)2, in Norwalk, Huron 
Co., Ohio. He received his elemen- 
tary education in thepublicschools, graduat- 
ing from the Norwalk Hiffh School in 1879. 
His elementary education was supple- 
mented by a four years' course in Adelbert 
College of Western Reserve University, 
from which institution he craduated in 
1884 with tlie degree of B. L., and was 
subsequently honored by his Alma Mater 
with the degree of A. M. In college he 
was an excellent student, popular with his 
fellows, and received many College Hon- 
ors. He was a member of the well-known 
D. K. E. College Fraternity. In the fall 



of 1884 he began the study of law in the 
office of Judge Stevenson Burke, of Cleve- 
land, and at the September (1886) term of 
the Supreme Court of Ohio was admitted 
to the bar after passing a highly satisfac- 
tory examination. In 1887 he opened a 
law office in Norwalk, and has since been 
in the active practice of his profession. 

On August 22, 1888, Mr. Van Dusen 
married Miss Kittie B. Thomas, a well- 
known and accomplished lady. In the 
spring of 1889 he was elected to the City 
Council of Norwalk, Ohio, from the then 
Third Ward of that city, he being the only 
Republican councilman elected at that 
election. His excellent and marked serv- 
ices in that capacity won for him, in the 
spring of 1891, the nomination for the 
office of City Solicitor, to which office he 
was elected by a large majority, notwitli- 
standing the general triumph of the op- 
posing political party at that time. In 
the spring of 1893 he was unanimously 
renominated as City Solicitor, and was re- 
elected by a majority nearly double that 
received two years before. Mr. Van- 
Dusen is universally recognized as a com- 
petent and expert lawyer. As City Solici- 
tor of Norwalk, he has shown marked 
ability, and has given general satisfaction. 

In politics he is a Republican; socially, 
he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, 
being an officer of Norwalk Commandery, 
No. 18, K. T. He is a prominent K. of 
P., and Captain of Norwalk Division of 
the U. R. of that Order. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Order of Elks, and of the Royal 
Arcanum. In i-eligious faith he is a Pres- 
byterian, being a member of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Norwalk, Ohio. 



\ EV. FREDERICK SCHULZ, pas- 

J tor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 

V\ Sherman township, was born in 

Leisten, Prussia, March 17, 1860, 

a member of an old and highly 

esteemed family, and is the only one of 

them who left the Fatherland. 



164 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



He received his primary education in his 
native country, and after reaching Amer- 
ica, in 1876, entered a college at Colum- 
bus, Ohio, from which he graduated with 
honors fonr years later. In the fall of 
1880 he entered the Theological Seminary, 
where he remained until Easter, 1883, at 
which time he moved to Kandolph county, 
111. He took charge of a church near 
Chester in that county, and for six years 
labored faithfully for the temporal and 
spiritual welfare of his congregation. He 
then took ciiarge of a church in Philo, 
same State, remaining one year, and in 
March, 1890, came to Sherman township, 
where lie has since been pastor of St. 
Peter's Church. 

Rev. Schulz is a gentleman of noble im- 
piilses and religious mind, and teaches 
much of morality by his pious, godly life, 
and by the deeds of charity and mercy that 
characterize his actions. He is beloved by 
his entire congre£;ation, and highly es- 
teemed by the citizens of Sherman town- 
ship. He is also instructor in the paro- 
chial school four months in each year. 

In 1889 Rev. Schulz was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Martha Sickmeyer, daugh- 
ter of E. F. Sickmeyer, a prominent citizen 
of Bremen, 111., and their union has been 
blessed with one daughter, Hnlda, and one 
son, Paul. The subject of this biograph- 
ical memoir is very happy in his domestic 
relations, and is devoting mnch attention 
to the intellectual, physical and spiritual 
development of his children. 



D 



S. WASHBURN. This gentleman, 
one of the most prominent of Huron 
^mJfJ county's prosperous agriculturists, 
deserves more than a passing 
notice in the pages of this work. 

Mr. Washburn traces his ancestry to 
James Washburn, who was born about the 
year 1760, was a weaver by trade, and had 
his early home at Plainfield, Conn. As 
the writer understands the subject matter 



by data and traditions (such as he has been 
able to obtain), he fully believes that 
James Washimrn is a direct descendant 
from John Washburn, who came over in 
the " Mayflower,'' and was subsequently 
secretary of the Plymouth Colony. He 
had born to him nine children, viz.: Wal- 
ter, Joseph, Robert, Henry, Phoebe, 
Betsy, Hannah, Rosanna, and Sally Ann, 
all long since gathered to their rest, and 
their descendants scattered over many 
States. 

The eldest son, Walter, grandfather of 
subject, was born, in 1790, east of the 
Hudson river, in A\'^estchestercounty, N. Y., 
whence in 1805 he moved with his father 
to Ulster county, same State, remaining 
there till 1833, in which year he came to 
Fitchville township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
M'here he passed the rest of his days, dying 
in 1865, at the age of seventy-five years. 
He was a lifelong and successful farmer. 
In 1809 he married Miss Nellie Van Ben- 
scoten, of Ulster county, N. Y., daughter 
of Larry Van Benscoten, and they had six 
children, viz.: Julia Ann, Henry G., 
Louisa R., John, Hannali and Maria. 
The mother of these died in 1825, and 
in 1827 Mr. Washburn wedded Mrs. 
Polly Van Benscoten, also of Ulster 
county, N. Y. 

D. S. Washburn, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was born April 8, 1843, in 
Greenwich township), Huron Co., Ohio, 
and was reared from early boyhood to the 
life of a farmer. His education was re- 
ceived at the common schools of the 
neighborhood of his place of birth, and at 
the academy in Milan, Erie county, after 
which he commenced to devote his entire 
attention to agricultural pursnits. 

In 1867 Mr. Washburn was united in 
marriage with Miss Sarah J. McConilier, 
of Ripley township, born March 30, 1845, 
a daughter of Egbert McComber, by occu- 
pation a farmer, a native of Westciiester 
county, N. Y. From his younger boyhood 
till shortly after his marriage with Miss 
Anna Benedict, of his native county, he 



HUEOy COUNTY, OHIO. 



165 



had his residence in Cayuga connty, N. Y., 
and tiieii moved to Ripley township. Here 
they lived until 1870, in which year they 
moved to Berlin Heights, Erie county, 
where he died October 5, 1888, his wife 
on March 30, 1892. After marriage Mr. 
Washburn and his bride moved to the 
farm whereon they are still living, and 
which comprises over 300 acres of prime 
land — -considered one of the best in Ripley 
township. Five children have been born 
to our subject and wife, of whom the fol- 
lowino; is a brief record: Anna Maude, 
born September 24, 1868, is now Mrs. 
Oscar Hills, of Lorain county; Earnest 
Linton, born Aug^ust 1, 1870, ie at home 
with his father; Inez, born August 1, 1871, 
is now Mrs. Warren O. Smith, of Rich- 
land count}', Ohio; Wayne was born No- 
vember 25, 1880, and Leo on August 6, 
1883. Mr. Washburn, in his political 
afliliations, has always been active as a 
loyal member of the Republican party. 
During the Civil war lie served in the 
National Guards. 



JOHN McDonald, a leading farmer 
of Clarksfield township, was born 
April 15, 1817, in Aberdeenshire, 
Scotland, the son of Charles and 
Barbara (Stratton) McDonald, both also 
natives nf Aberdeenshire. 

Cliarles McDonald was born in 1783, 
and grew to manhood and married in his 
native county. To his niarriage were born 
three children, viz.: Margaret, who died 
in Scotland when twenty-three years old; 
John, and Charles. The mother of these 
died in 1820, and Mr. McDonald then 
took up his residence with his mother, 
John (subject of this sketch) being con- 
signed to the care of his aunt Margaret. 
In 1838 Charles McDonald, brint^iiig his 
son John and sister Margaret, sailed from 
Aberdeen on the schooner "Nimrod," 
landing, after a voyage of six weeks, in 
New York City. The youngest son, 



Charles, had emigrated three years pre- 
viously; he taught school in Ashland, 
Richland and Wayne counties, Ohio, 
studied law at Mansfield, and after his ad- 
mission to the bar moved to Lexington, 
Ky., where he taught school until his re- 
moval to Mississippi, where all trace of 
him was lost. 

Charles McDonald, Sr., traveled from 
New York to Ashland county, Ohio, by rail- 
I'oad, boat and wagon, the latter being tiie 
vehicle of transportation from the port of 
Huron to Savannah, Ashland county, then 
known as the "Scotch settlement." Ow- 
ing to the poor condition of his health, the 
support of the family devolved upon John, 
and he labored for all until death relieved 
his father, February 12, 1843. His aunt 
Margaret lived with him until her death, 
which occurred February 19, 1859. 

John McDonald was reared in the man- 
ner then common to farmer boys in Scot- 
land, beginning work as a farm hand when 
nine years old, and during the winters of 
Ills youth he attended the school of his na- 
tive place. Onhisarrivaliii Ashland county, 
Ohio, in 1838, he found work on a farm, 
and was later employed as boss and time- 
keeper on St. Mary's Reservoir in Mercer 
county, Ohio. Within less than a year after 
his arrival in the United States, in July, 
1838, he had paid one hundred and fifty 
dollars of the three hundred and twenty he 
contracted to pay for a tract of forty acres 
of land. Before the close of 1841 the 
debt was cleared off, and a fertile farm in 
Ashland county was his without ijuestioa. 
To accomplish this, he accepted various 
offers of work — farming, cutting wood and 
laying stone. Strong and healthy, his 
friends held for him work too heavy for 
themselves, and paid for it at the rates 
prevailing at the time. In 1847 he moved 
to Clarksfield township, Huron county, 
where he became owner of part of his 
present farm, received in exchange for the 
land in Ashland county. On April 7, 
1855, he married Sally Phillips, daughter 
of James Phillips, of New York, where 



166 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



she was born June 26, 1836. When fif- 
teen years old she accompanied a sister to 
Huron county, and liere met and married 
Mr. McDonald. The children born to 
them are as follows: Charles M., bora 
July 10, 1856, died at about the age of 
twenty years; John, born August 5, 1858, 
a farmer of Clarkstield township; George 
W., born February 20, 1860, residing on 
the homestead; and Jesse K., born Sep- 
tember 1, 1862, a farmer of Clarkslield 
township. The mother of these cliildren 
died February 23, 1SG5, and was buried in 
Clarkstield cemetery. On September 30, 
1865, he married, for his second wife, 
Mary A. Kingsbury, who was born in 
Genesee, N. Y., June 8, 1835, daughter of 
Lemuel and Jerusha (Durbon) Kingsbury; 
she came to Ohio in 1838. To this mar- 
riage came one child, Jamie, born June 4, 
1874, who died July 21, 1876. 

Since taking up his residence in Clarks- 
field township, Mr. McDonald has followed 
farming, grsidually adding to the original 
place in Huron county, until now he owns 
184 acres of fine land. This property has 
been accumulated by his own efforts, 
showing what can be done by industry 
and good management. Politically he is 
a Ivepiiblican; but while influential in the 
party, he never took from his business a 
moment's time which it appeared to re- 
quire prior to his retirement from active 
farm life in 1882. For forty years he has 
suffered from rheumatism, but only with- 
in the last decade could the disease make 
any headway against liis naturally strong 
constitution. He and wife are members 
of the Congregational Church at Clarke- 
field, and both are highly esteemed. 



diOHN P. LEE, contractor and builder, 
of Clarkstield township, was born 
' February 5, 1830, in Oswego county, 
New York. 
Thomas Lee, his father, was born Janu- 
ary 17, 1799, in Franklin township, Herki- 
mer Co., N. Y.; was brought up there in 



the manner common to farmers' boys, and, 
when a young man, obtained the position 
of a "boss" on the Erie Canal. Subse- 
quently he engaged in hauling wood to 
Utica, N. Y., and still later worked on a 
canal near Richmond, Va. In 1827 he 
was married, in Oswego county, to Lucinda 
Waugh, who was born there July 10, 
1811, a daughter of 'Squire Norman 
Waugh. To this marriage the following 
named children were born in Oswego 
county: Truman T., a farmer of Rock 
county, Wis.; John P., the subject of this 
sketch; and Margaret, who married Elan- 
son Rose, of Camden township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, and died in Norwalk in 1890. 
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lee located 
on a farm in Oswego county, and he was 
engaged in agriculture there until 1833, 
when with their three children they mi- 
grated to Camden township, Lorain Co., 
(_)hio, where the father had purchased, in 
1832, 150 acres, at three dollars per acre. 
On the Journey to Ohio, the Waughs and 
Douglasses accompanied them, and the 
three families occupied one log cabin until 
Thomas Lee built a rude shelter on his 
farm, which he occupied until 1S48, when 
he built a commodious dwelling house. 
During the first spring the family passed 
in Ohio, the father suffered from erysipe- 
las, the disease causing him the loss of his 
left hand. He died in 1878, and was 
buried in Camden township. He left his 
widow and children a valuable property, 
including the old homestead, on which she 
resided since coming to Ohio. The chil- 
dren born to her in Camden township 
were as follows: George F., a farmer of 
Rock county. Wis.; Philip E., who died 
at Trinidad, Col., where lie had resided 
for many years; Norman, a farmer of 
Camden township, Lorain county; and An- 
drew, who is also a farmer of Camden 
township. 

John P. Lee was a lad of three years 
when he settled in Ohio, but he well re- 
members the cooking of the first breakfast 
in Lorain county. Forked sticks, bearing 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



im 



a pole, frotn wliicli a kettle suspended over 
the tire, tell more clearly than words coijld 
of his primitive surroundings. He received 
a primary education in Camden township, 
his first school teacher being Elxperience 
Gifford, who presided over a few pupils in 
a log cabin not far from the Lee home- 
stead. At the age of nineteen years he 
was apprenticed to Edward Gager, with 
whom be learned the carpenter's trade, his 
progress in acquiring a knowledge of same 
being very rapid. On January 23, 1856, 
he was married to Sarah J. Rood, who was 
born JMarcli 1, 1838, in Washington county, 
N.Y. Iler parents, Lewis and Hulda (Mo- 
sier) Rood, came to Stark county, Ohio, in 
1841, and located near Masillon, whence 
in 1847 they removed to Camden town- 
ship, Lorain county, where the daughter 
met her husband. The children born to 
Joiin P. and Sarah J. Lee are named as 
follows: Eva C. (Mrs. E. E. Rowland), of 
Clarksfield; John A., a farmer of Clarks- 
. field, married to Sarah E.Barnes; El ma 
(Mrs. Almar McChaflin), of Eaton county, 
Mich.; Nuland W., a mason by trade, 
married to Rose M. Twaddle; and Lillie 
K. (Mrs. Lewis Johnson), of Clarkstield. 

For three years after marriage Mr. Lee 
worked at his trade in Camden. In 1859 
he purciiased a farm in that township, and 
carried on agriculture in connection with 
his trade until 1861, when he lost his left 
hand. He had just signed a contract for 
the erection of a dwelling house, and was 
planing lumber for the window frames, 
when he discovered that the adjusting 
screw of the planer had to be set. While 
setting it his thumb was drawn into the 
machine, the hand receiving such injuries 
that amputation became necessary. In the 
spring of 1863 he located in Clarkstield 
township, Huron county, on his present 
farm, and gave closer attention than for- 
merly to agricultnre, but later resumed 
carpentry, leaving the care of the farm to 
his family. Mr. Lee has been quite suc- 
cessful as a builder and contractor; one of 
the largest lime- kilns at Lakeside, Ohio, is 



the result of his work, and several resi- 
dences and barns, as well as the leading 
cheese factory buildings in Huron and Lo- 
rain counties, were built by him. He is 
known as a conscientious contractor, who 
will carry out his contracts to the letter. 
A Republican in politics, Mr. Lee has 
held the office of assessor for quite a num- 
ber of years. In religious connection he 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



^ 



l\ iff ARK MYERS, a typical German 
\l/\ — honest, industrious and well-to- 
ll do — is a native of Baden, born 
April 14, 1820, a son of Joseph 
and Agnes Myers, the former of 
whom was a hard-working man in Baden, 
where he lived many years, and, like most 
married poor men, had a large family. 

Joseph Myers was twice married, and 
had three children by his first wife, and 
ten by his second. In 1834, with his wife 
and ten children (the others being yet un- 
born), he set sail for the United States 
from the port of Havre de Grace, France, 
and after a stormy passage of tifty-two 
days, during which the mainmast was car- 
ried away, they landed at New York on 
the Fourth of July. Hearing the firing 
of cannon, the imraio-rants were somewhat 
dismayed, imagining that war must have 
broken out; but on learning that it was 
only their "American cousins" celebrating 
the anniversary of the Declaration of In- 
dependence, their fears were at once dis- 
pelled. On the ocean another child was 
born, and was named Frank. From New 
York the family proceeded to Ohio, via 
the Hudson river and Erie Canal to San- 
dusky, thence to Monroeville, Huron 
county. In Ridgefield township Joseph 
bought seven acres of land at six dollars 
per acre, the payment of which exhausted 
all his savings, as the expense of bringing 
his family was very heavy. This land he 
bravely set to work to clear with the 
assistance of his sturdy sons, and his 



168 



HURON COUNTY. OHIO. 



not less robust and industrious wife and 
daughters. Soon their efforts were crowned 
with success, and the rugged wildwood 
gave place to green fields and rich pas- 
tures. Here Joseph JVIyers was gathered 
to his fathers, dying on Easter Sunday, 
1873, and was buried in the Underbill 
Cemetery. Before his death the original 
little homestead of seven acres had been 
iucreased, by his unceasing dilligence and 
perseverance, to 150 acres of excellent 
farm laud. His wife was called from earth 
in 18—. 

Mark Myers, the subject of this sketch, 
received a fair education in his native land, 
and was fourteen years old when he came 
to the United States with the rest of the 
family. In Ridgetield township, Huron 
county, he found employment at various 
occupations, and all his earnings he gave 
over to his father until he was twenty-two 
years old. During part of this time he 
worked on the Wabash & Erie Canal at 
twenty dollars per month, and for eight 
years was employed in a distillery at Mon- 
i-oeville, carefully saving his earnings, so 
that by the time of his marriage he had a 
nice snug sum laid by. In 1849 he bought 
land in Sherman township, to which two 
years later he and his wife moved, taking 
up their abode in a rude log house sur- 
rounded with woods, where by dint of 
hard work they effected a clearing and de- 
veloped a farm. From this compai'atively 
small beginning Mr. Myers kept on pros- 
pering until his original small farm had 
grown to one of 325 acres, a good part of 
which he has given to his sons, all of whom 
he assisted in their stai't in life. 

On October 12, 1847, our subject was 
married to Miss Mary Ann Harman, who 
was born November 15, 1825, in Buffalo, 
N. Y., a daughter of Henry Harman, and 
who came to Huron county in 1835. Thir- 
teen children were born of this union, 
their names and dates of birth being as 
follows: Kate, April 28, 1849; Mary, 
December 23, 1850; Frank, December 30, 
1852; Joseph, September 8, 1854; Gracie, 



July 10, 1856; George, May 20, 1858; 
Henry, October 16, 1859; Hannah, March 
10, 1801: Lena, November 30, 1862; 
Mark L., May 23, 1865; Ida, November 
18, 1867; Mark AV., January 20, 1869; 
and Rosa R:, May 13, 1871. Of these, 
Mary died August 27, 1885, and Mark 
died December 26, 1868. 

Politically our subject is a Democrat, 
but voted for Abrahani Lincoln, on account 
of his views on the slavery question. He 
has held various oftices of trust in his 
township, where he is highly respected, 
and with his wife is a wortliy member of 
the Catholic Church. 



'jT^j H. EMERSON, a resident of East 

L^^ Norwalk, where he carries on a lu- 

I \^ crative blacksmithing business, is 

•fj a native of Yerniont, Ijorn in 1827, 

a son of Thomas Einei'son, also a 

native of the Green Mountain State. 

The father of subject, who was a shoe- 
maker by trade, came to Ohio in 1816, 
locatinii' in Seneca euutity. In 1826 ho 
married Miss Sarah Glick, and then moved 
to Fremont, same State, where he resided 
till 1839. in which year the family came 
to Huron county, settling on a farm near 
Monroeville. Five children were born to 
Mr. and JNIis. Thomas Emerson, viz.: 
Thomas E., Christian, Anna, Laurel, and 
R. H. 

In Monroeville our subject remained till 
he was twenty-one years of age, when he 
went to Milan, Erie county, same State, 
and after two and one-half years' sojourn 
there came to Norwalk and engaged in 
blacksmithing, a trade he has followed 
there some forty years. He also carries 
on a farm of twenty-five acres. In 1864 
he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred- 
and Sixty-sixth O. V. 1., and served four 
months and nine days, on guard duty, 
after which he returned home, and for five 
years following was a sergeant in the State 
troops. In 1850 Mr. Emerson married 



nUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



169 



Miss Jane Cortritflit, of Norwalk, who bore 
him children as t'oliows: Sarah, wife of 
Nelson Bailey, of Townsend, Ohio; Lon- 
ella Norman; Lewis, in Michigan; Lanra 
Trumbull, in East Norwalk, Ohio; JMary 
Denman, of Townsend; Anna Sirls, of 
Lakeside, Ohio; Lilly, iu Kansas; and 
Melinda, who died, in 1892, in Michigan. 
The raotiier of these died iu 1878, and for 
his second wife Mr. Emerson wedded Mrs. 
Sarah Bender, of Chicago Junction, by 
whom tliere is no issue. Politically our 
subject is a Republican, and he is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Ciiurch. 



flOEL ROSS. This well-known influ- 
k. I ential farmer and stock raiser of 
y^j Wakeman township first saw the light 
March 12, 1828, the locality of his 
birth being the same farm where his father 
was born March 5, 1799, in Groveland 
township, Livingston county. New York. 

Joel P. and Maria (Ordaway) Ross, par- 
ents of the subject of this sketch, liad a 
family of thirteen children, of whom are 
living the following: Anna (Mrs. William 
Jeffries), a widow, living in Hartland; 
Fannie Jane, wife of William Harrison 
Fletcher, living in Wakeman, Ohio; Ange- 
line, wife of John Moon, and Charity, wife 
of Melvin Gunn, both residents of Brighton, 
Lorain county; and William, a farmer of 
Michigan. When our subject was about 
eighteen months old he came down the 
Ohio river on a raft with his parents, and 
his father moved to Scioto county, Ohio, 
afterward coming to Lorain county, dying 
in Brighton, March 9, 1881, at the age of 
eighty-two years; for some time prior to 
his death he had resided in Florence 
township, Erie county. He was a lifelong 
farmer; politically, he was a Republican, 
and he was a member of the Methodist 
Church, as is also his widow, who is yet 
living in Brighton, Ohio, now in her 
eighty-eighth year. 

Joel Ross, whose name opens this sketch, 
received his education at the common 



schools of the vicinity of his home, at the 
same time assisting his parents in the 
work of cultivating and improving the 
farm. When he was nineteen years old 
he commenced working away from home 
by the month, and, saving his money, paid 
for fifty- thi-ee acres of land in Brighton 
township, Lorain county. After live years 
he went to California, where for four and 
one-half years he was engaged iu mining, 
driving team, etc., saving liis money with 
judicious care. Returning to Huron county 
he bought 150 acres of wild land in Wake- 
man township, and leased the fifty-three 
acres in Brighton to his father, who lived 
thereon to the time of his death. Clear- 
ing the land, our subject sold the timber, 
built himself a comfortable log house, 
barn, etc., and prospered. He now owns 
150 acres, and successfully carries on gen- 
eral agriculture, including stock-raising. 

On November 25, 1858, Mr. Ross mar- 
ried Miss Ann E. Haines, a native of 
Bronson township, Huron county, daugh- 
ter of George W. Haines, of Clarksfield 
township, same county, and children as 
follows were born to them: Anna (Mrs. 
Hayes), living in Wakeman; Dennis, mar- 
ried, and living near, working on the home 
farm ; Ida, married to Charles Fletcher, 
and living in Michigan; and Ella (Mrs. 
Charles Whitney), residing in Clarkstield 
township. In his political associations 
our subject is a straight Republican, and 
has served his township as school director 
and in other offices of trust. 



A. McCULLOW is a young and 
progressive business man of Green- 
wicli,en2;a2ed in the merchant tailor- 
ing, clothing and men's furnishing 
trade. He is a native of Huron county, 
born in 1857, was educated here, and since 
the close of his school days lias been en- 
gaged in various mercantile enterprises. 
In 1880 he and a Mr. Thomas estalilished 
the present business, but in 1882 Mr. Mc- 



170 



IIUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



Cnllow purchased his partner's interest, 
and for over a decade has carried on a suc- 
cessful trade. On October 24, 1881, he 
married Miss Lovezilla liiblet, of Cleve- 
land, lioru in Galion, Crawford Co., Ohio, 
adaugliterof David and Caroline (Mathias) 
Riblet, the former a native of Pennsylva- 
nia, the latter of Ohio. To this union one 
child, Mable, was born. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics. 

J. E. and Agnes (Bartlett) McCullow, 
parents of the subject of this sketch, are 
old settlers of Huron county. J. E. Mc- 
Cullow was born in Xew Jersey State, 
came with his parents to this county when 
a child, and was engaged in farming until 
his retirement from active life a few years 
ago. He lives at Greenwich, but still 
owns the line farm near that town, known 
as the McCullow homestead. He was 
married twice, C. A. McCullow being the 
only child of the iirst marriage, while to 
the second marriage was also born one son. 

C. A. McCullow devotes two Hoors to 
his business, each 20 .x 52 feet in area. 
Here a large assortment of domestic and 
foreign cloths may be seen. From four to 
six journeyman tailors are employed, and 
an air of business pervades the whole 
establishment. He is a member of the 
National Union; and is popular in the com- 
mercial aud social circles of Greenwich. 



ILBERT L. JOHNSON, a promi- 

.. nent representative agriculturist of 
Clarkstield township, was born Feb- 
ruary 26, 1828, in the town of Dan- 
by, Tompkins Co., N. Y., a son of 
Abraham Johnson, who was born in 
Connecticut. 

Abraham Johnson was educated in the 
schools of his native town, and there 
learned the two great branches of the 
building trade, becoming a stone mason 
and carpenter. When a young man he 
migrated to Tompkins county, N. Y., and 
located in Caroline township, where he 
met and married Sally Walton, also a 



native of Connecticut, who came to Tomp- 
kins county, N. Y., when a girl, and re- 
sided there until 184G, when the family 
migrated to Ohio. The children born to 
Abraham and Sally Johnson are as follows: 
Ph(ul)e, who married Abraham Smith, and 
died in Clarkstield township; Wesley, a 
farmer of Crawford county, Penn. ; George, 
who resides in Branch county, Mich.; Jane, 
who married Anthony Shipman, and died 
in Clarkstield township; Gilbert L., the 
subject of this sketch; Emily, wife of 
Aaron Thomas, of Henry county, Ohio; 
Lewis, residing in Branch county, Mich., 
and Amanda, who tirst married John Wil- 
son, and is now the wife of Anson Wheeler, 
of Henry county, Ohio. With the exception 
of Wesley the wiiole family came to Ohio 
in 1846, making the journey with a wagon 
drawn by two horses. On this wagon were 
packed the household goods, so that the 
adults of the family had, practically, to 
walk over rough roads from their old home 
in New 1 ork to their new one in Ohio. 
On arriving in Clarkstield township, Huron 
county, they found themselves in the midst 
of a dense forest, but a space for a cabin 
was at once cleared and the erection of a 
small log house begun. Before the structure 
was completed a storm swept over the for- 
est, blew down the trees on one side of 
the little clearing, and one, falling on the 
house, demolished it. Undeterred, the work 
of building was resumed, and the pioneers 
occupied their first home in Ohio. The 
clearing away of the forest was then begun, 
and there was soon another open space in 
the wilderness. Subsequently the father 
built for his family a frame house, and fol- 
lowed his trades, giving much more atten- 
tion thereto than to agriculture, until his 
death, which occurred in February, 1866. 
He was buried in East Creek cemetery, in 
New London township, where the remains 
of his widow were interred in 1872. Po- 
litically he was originally a Whig, having 
voted for William Henry Flarrison, later 
became an Abolitionist, a Free-soiler, and 
finally a Republican. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



171 



Gilbe;'t L. Jolinson was raised in the 
manner common to boys of the pioneer 
period, attending school only as circum- 
stances permitted. When twelve or thir- 
teen years old he assisted his father in 
making barrels, for the latter was a cooper 
as well as a stone mason and carpenter. 
When eighteen years old he accompanied 
his parents to Ohio, and at once went to 
work in clearing the farm, in which he 
was engaged until 1849, when he com- 
inenced to work for himself. He found 
employment at eleven dollars per month, 
cutting cord wood near Norwalk; and 
having a knowledge of coopering, also 
earned money at that trade, and steadily 
advanced. Plis marriage with lihoda Cot- 
ton took place March 1, 1855. She was 
horn May 9, 1829, at Truxton, Cortland 
Co., N. Y., a daughter of Jonathan and 
Polly (Kingsley) Cotton, who settled in 
Wayne county, Ohio, in 1832, where Mr. 
Johnson met and married Miss Cotton, 
while he was an employe of the Cleveland, 
Tuscarawas Valley lV Wlieeling Railroad 
Company, then in course of construction. 
Mrs. Johnson was a schoolteacher in 
Wayne county, Ohio, and Mr. Johnson 
boarded at her father's house while work- 
ing on the railroad in that section. The 
children born to this marriage were as fol- 
lows: Effie, now Mrs. Reuben Knapp, of 
Huntington, Lorain county, Walton, who 
died in 1864 at the age of six years; Lewis, 
who married Lillie Lee, and resides in 
Clarksfield; and Clara, now Mrs. Earl 
Ketcham, of New London, Huron county. 
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 
moved to Cold water, Mich., where he 
worked at the trade of cooper until he 
learned of the illness of his wife's parents, 
when he and his wife returned to Wayne 
county to care for them. For four years 
he was engaged in farming in Milton 
township. 

In 1860 he removed to Hui'on county, 
purchased a farm of forty acres in Clarks- 
field township, and there lived until 1866, 
when he took possession of his present 



farm. This tract contains 120 acres, well 
improved, with a substantial, well-furnished 
house, good farm buildings, fences, and 
large orchard, representing his savings 
since the close of the Civil war. Mr. 
Johnson cast his first Presidential vote for 
John C. Fremont, and has ever since been 
a Republican. He takes a deep interest 
in political affairs, studies current subjects, 
and is well posted on the issues of the d&y. 
He and his wife are Free-will Baptists, and 
he is trustee in the church. 



T M. HARKNESS, leading liveryman, 
k. I horse dealer and transferraan, of Nor- 
}^)) walk, is descended from an old New 
England family. 

His father, Abner Harkness, was born 
in Vermont, and became a pioneer settler 
of New Haven township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
He was married to Nancy Garrett, a na- 
tive of Auburn, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and 
passed the later portion of his life in Nor- 
walk. He purchased the first sheep brought 
to Huron county, having been a prominent 
agriculturist; in politics he was originally 
a Henry Clay Whig, afterward uniting 
with the Republican party. He was a 
member of the M. E. Church for over fifty 
years, his family being also members of 
the same. He was a strong man in earlv 
life, but had poor health for over fifty 
years. He died about 1870, at the age of 
eighty-three, his widow surviving him 
until 1877, when she passed away in her 
eighty-third year. Of the children born 
to this couple, seven grew to maturity and 
five are yet living. 

J. M. Harkness was born April 1, 1837, 
in Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio, and was 
educated at the seminary in his native 
place. He then learned the trade of tile 
making, a business he followed till he 
went in the service, as follows: He en- 
listed for three months in Company C, 
Eighty-eighth O. V. L, June 6, 1862, at 
Norwalk, Ohio; mustered in at Camp 



172 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Chase, Ohio, June 10, 1862; appointed 
second sergeant June 12, 18f32; promoted 
to first sergeant June 27, 1862, and mus- 
tered out with tlie company as such at 
Camp Chase, Ohio, September 26, 1862. 
Re-enlisted as private in Company F, 
Tenth Kegriment, O. V. C, on the 1st 
day ot November, 1862, at Cleveland, 
Ohio; mustered in U. S. service for the 
period of three years on the 15th day of 
January, 1863, at Cleveland, Ohio; ap- 
pointed first sergeant January 15, 1863; 
commissioned second lieutenant June 14, 
1864, and mustered as such July 19, 1864, 
at Cartersville, Ga., to date June 25, 1864; 
promoted to first lieutenant January 30, 
1865; entered on duty as first lieutenant 
and adjutant May 1, 1865, and mustered 
out with i-egiment at Lexington, N. C, 
July 24, 1865. He was with the regi- 
ment in all its engagements from start to 
finish, including Sherman's celebrated 
march to the sea. 

After the war Mr. Ilarkness returned to 
Huron county, Ohio, and embarked in the 
livery business; he has dealt extensively 
in carriage horses, and also carries on a 
transfer business. Politically he is a mem- 
ber of the llepublican party, and takes an 
active interest in all jnovements tending 
to the advancement of the community. 
On Aucrnst 18, 1856, he was married to 
Julia I)uughtoii, a native of Lorain county, 
Ohio, and they are the parents of four 
children: George C, J. C, Willie and 
Katie, the only idolized daughter, who 
died in February, 1891, at the age of six- 
teen years, deeply mourned by the be- 
reaved parents and relatives. 



rE. WILDMAN. A leading repre- 
sentative citizen and prosperous 
_^ merchant of West Clarksfield, this 
gentleman deserves more than a 
passing notice in the pages of this volume. 
He conies of old Connecticut stock, the 
homestead of liis great-grandfather, Sam- 



uel Wildman, being now a part of the town 
of Danbury. The following is a brief 
record of the ciiildren of this Samuel Wild- 
man: Esther, born in 1779, married Sam- 
uel Husted, and they came to Clarksfield 
township, being pioneers (she died at the 
age of sixty-three); Satnuel died in Octo- 
ber, 1842, in Danbury, Conn., aged eighty 
years; Mary married Levi Stone, in Dan- 
bury, and later moved to Kent, Ohio, 
where she died in September, 1845, when 
aged eighty-six years; Grace was married 
in Connecticut to Hezekiah Rowland, a 
Kevolntionary soldier, and she died in 
Clarksfield, Ohio, in May, 1846, when 
aged eighty-five years; Eli, who was a 
farmer, died in Danbury, Conn., July 5, 
1849, at the age o£ eighty-four; Ezra was 
the grandfather of our subject; he had a 
twin brother that died in infancy. 

Ezra Wildman, grandfather of F. E., 
was born April 20, 1775, on his father's 
farm near Danbury, Conn., and learned 
the hatter's trade. On June 10, 1798, he 
married Anne Hoyt, who was born April 
19, 1779, near Danbury, a daughter of 
Comfort aiid Eunice (Mallory) Hoyt, the 
former of whom was liorn May 4, 1751 
(old style), the latter on March 23, 1751 
(old style). After marriage Ezra Wild- 
man continued his trade in Danbui-y, 
where were born to him and his wife chil- 
dren as follows: Mary Ann, born January 
21, 1804, who married Daniel Stone and 
moved to Clarksfield, Huron county, 
where they both died; Cornelia, born 
November 14, 1806, died at the age 
of three years; William H.; Freder- 
ick A., born June 5, 1813, ex-county 
clerk, and a prominent citizen of Nor- 
walk, Huron county; and Cornelia E., 
born June 18. 1816, who married Alfred 
R. Segar, and afterward became the wife 
of S. G. Wright (she died in Kansas City). 
Comfort Hoyt, Mrs. Ezra AYildman's father, 
who was a merchant in Danbury, had his 
store and contents damaged by British 
soldiers during the war of the Revolution, 
in coinpensation for which he was given, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



173 



by the Government of Connecticut, a tract 
of land in what was tlien known as the 
" Western Connecticut Reserve," afterward 
becoming the State of Ohio. This land 
Comfort Iloyt divided among his children, 
Anne's portion lying in what is nowClarks- 
field township, Huron county, the same 
being recorded as "Lot 10, Section 3." 
Ezra Wildman made several trips from the 
East to inspect this land, and iiave im- 
provements made thereon. In May, 1828, 
he and his son, William H., drove to Ohio, 
arrivin'' on June 1 following, and here 
the son remained, the father, after a brief 
sojourn, returning eastward. In the fall 
of the same year Ezra came finally witii 
his enlii'e family, both single and married, 
tiie journey being made by canal and lake, 
the party arriving in Hnron county Octo- 
ber 21, and they immediately took up their 
residence in Clarksfield township, at the 
home prepared for them, where they set 
to work to clear the land and cultivate the 
new soil. Grandfather AVildman died here 
February 26, 1858, his wife in June, 1859, 
after a married life of nearly sixty years. 
Their remains repose in Clarksfield ceme- 
tery, east of Hollow. Politically, Ezra 
Wildman was originally a Federalist of the 
old school, then a Whig, and finally a Re- 
publican. 

William H. AVildman, father of the 
subject proper of this sketch, was born 
July 23, 1810, in Danbury, Conn., and 
was there educated, first attending sub- 
scription school, afterward select school. 
Wiien fifteen years old he commenced 
learning the hatter's trade with his father, 
and was eighteen years old when, as 
already related, he came to Ohio, where, 
in Milan, Erie county, he worked four 
years at his trade for Henry Lockwood. 
On April 20, 1831, in Fitchville, Huron 
county, he married Miss Mary Ann Seger, 
who was born Feliruary 27, 181-f, in Con- 
necticut, a daughter of Eli Seger, an early 
settler of Clarksfield township. This wife 
died childless July 29, 1834, and was 
buried in Clarksfield. On March 27, 1836, 



Mr. AVildman was united in wedlock, in 
Genesee county, N. Y., with Miss Fanny 
Knapp, born February 11, 1815, in Dan- 
bury, Conn., a daughter of Thomas B. and 
Mercy (Seger) Knapp, highly respectable 
farming people. The children born of this 
union were as follows: Elbert K., born Au- 
gust 3, 1837, died when three years and 
nine months old; Alfred R., born August 
31, 1844, now of Cleveland, Ohio, an at- 
tache of the Cleveland Plain Dealer; and 
Frank E.. the subject proper of this sketch. 
Until 1880, Mr. and Mrs. William H. 
AVildman resided in Clarksfield township, 
on their farm, which was a part of the 
Connecticut grant; afterward lived two 
years in Oberlin, then seven in Wakeman, 
and they now have their home with their 
son, F. E., in West Clarksfield, respected 
and honored by all who know them. 

F. E. AVildman, whose name opens this 
sketch, was born September 24, 1846, in 
Clarksfield township, Huron county, where 
he received a liberal education in part at 
the common schools and in part at select 
school. In early manhood he entered the 
employ of Bates & Gilbert, millers at Xor- 
walk, Huron county, as a helper; later went 
west, and at Iowa Falls, Iowa, was engaged 
in a general store as clerk. Returning 
home, he resided for several years on the 
farm owned by his father. In 1880 he re- 
moved to Oberlin, Ohio, where he bought 
a wholesale notion wagon, and carried on a 
wholesale notion business. After a few 
years he bought a stock of goods in Kip- 
ton, Ohio, remaining there two years; then 
in 1889 he removed to Clarksfield, same 
State, and in 1891 to West Clarksfield, 
where he has since been engaged in 
merchandising, conducting one of the 
largest general stores in the county. Mr. 
Wildman's well-known pleasantness and 
courtesy, together with his thorough busi- 
ness principles, have won for him a wide 
popularity. 

In 1872 Mr. Wildman was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Akers, who was 
born in Bii-mingham, Erie Co., Ohio, April 



174 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



2, 1850, a daughter of P. G. Akers, a 
farmer and mechanic of that town. Two 
children have blessed this union: William 
II., clerking in his father's store, and Mary 
Grace. Mr. AVildman is a stanch Repub- 
lican, and April 1, 1892, he was appointed 
postmaster at West Clai-kslield ; at present 
with characteristic fidelity and ability he 
is tillino; various offices of trust. An active 
member of the Congregational Church, he 
is a deacon in same, and for several years 
was superintendent of the Sabbath-school. 



Ill LBEIIT GAGE, an influential and 

iLW progressive citizen of Centerton, 

[r\i Norwich township, is a son of 

■^ George Gage, who was a son of 

James, a native of Vermont, and a 

descendant of the family of which Gen. Gage 

was a member. He, James Gage, had a 

family of eif;ht sons — James, Moses, John, 

Georfre, Muiison, Rodman, Theodore and 

Judah — and two daughters — Anna and 

Lucy. 

George Gage, father of subject, was 
born about the year 1802, in New York, 
at a place known as " the Grout," and there 
his boyhood days were passed on a farm, 
and in attending the subscription schools 
of the neighborhood of his boyhood home. 
He worked for a time in a salt factory, 
and in 1834 came to Ohio, settling in 
Lake county, where lie continued fanning 
pursuits nntil his retirement from active 
life. In 18 — lie married Miss Ph(ebe 
Hatch, of Herkimer county, N. Y., and 
they have three children, Albert, Adelia 
M. and Sarah L. 

Albert Gage, the subject of this sketch, 
was born, in 1825, in Syracuse, N. Y., 
and received a liberal common-school edu- 
cation. When a youth he went on the 
lakes as a common sailor, and was wrecked 
several times. In 1850 he came to Huron 
county, taking uj) his residence in Center- 
ton, where for ten years he was engaged in 
the lumber business. The Civil war hav- 



ing then broken out, he enlisted, in 1861, 
in the Fifty-fifth Regiment U. Y. I., par- 
ticipated in the l)attle of Cross Keys, and 
was discharged as sergeant in 1862 on ac- 
count of disability. On his return home 
he was taken sick, and was invalided till 
1864, when he joined the One Hundred 
and Sixty-sixth O. V. I., as orderly ser- 
geant, remaining at the front one hundred 
days. On his return once more to the 
pursTiits of peace, he clerked two years for 
Hester it Bank, merchants of Centerton, 
Huron county, and then for Crow & 
Miller, general merchants of same place, 
one year, and after the death of Crow he 
took over his interest by purchase. In 
1873 he bought out Miller, and has since 
been found at the same stand, doing a 
flourishing and profitable business. 

In 1854 Mr. Gage married Miss Eliza- 
beth Van Horn, of Norwich township, 
Huron couTity, and five children were born 
to this union, viz.: Henry F., Eugene W., 
Stanley, Frederick and Bertha. In his 
political proclivities our subject has been 
a stanch Republican, and has held various 
township offices witli honor. 



d I AMES BELLAMY, a well-known 
farmer of Townsend township, was 
_ 1 born August 12, 1839, in Hunting- 
don, England, and is the seventh 
child in a family of ten born to Samuel and 
Susanna (Ilighiam) Bellamy, the former 
of whom was born in Huntingdonshire, 
England, and the latter in Glasgow, 
Scotland. 

Samuel Bellamy was educated and mar- 
ried in England, where he was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits for many years, in 
fact most of his life. His educational ad- 
vantages were very limited in youth, con- 
sequently such literary knowledge as he 
possessed was mainly acquired in the 
practical school of experience. In Sep- 
tember, 1862, he emigrated with his wife 
and youngest child to the United States, 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



175 



all the other members of the family having 
preceded them. F'irst stopping with their 
son, the subject of this sketch, in Huron 
township, Erie Co., Ohio, they remained 
until the following spring (1863) and then 
ren)0ved to P'ord county. 111., where Sam- 
uel Bellamy died August 3, 1863, when 
in his sixty- third year. Both he and his 
wife were consistent members of the 
Church of England; the latter, however, 
became in her later years a member of the 
M. E. Church at Townsend Center, Huron 
Co., Ohio. 

William Bellamy, grandfather of our 
subject, was a lifelong farmer in his native 
England, where for many generations the 
Bellamys were engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. John Highiam, maternal grand- 
father of our subject, was a non-commis- 
sioned officer in the British army, all his 
life being passed in the military service. 
He was born at a military post (as were 
also all his own ciiildren), his father being 
a lifelong soldier, as was also his grand- 
father, and the ancestors of the family for 
generations. 

James Bellamy, the subject of this 
sketch, received but meager literary ad- 
vantages in youth, never having attended 
school more than two or three weeks in 
his life, and that in England before reach- 
ing his seventh year. He has, however, 
since attaining manhood's years, succeeded 
by his own efforts in acquiring a very fair 
business education. He is a man of o-ood 
judgment, quick perceptions aiul a close 
observer of everything around him; and 
he is also quite a reader, well informed in 
current literature and in the Scriptures 
and Bible literature generally. At the age 
of sixteen, in 1855, he immigrated to the 
United States, landing at New York City 
on Christmas Day of that year, and arriv- 
ing at his sister's home in Berlin town- 
ship, Erie Co., Ohio, on January 1, 1856. 
He immediately went to work by the 
month on a farm in that neighborhood, for 
a Mr. James Oates, with whom he re- 
mained until the following spring. He 



continued working out by the month or 
day, occasionally taking a job of chopping 
cordwood or ditching, until the spring of 
1873, when he bought wild land in Town- 
send township, Huron county. There were 
only four acres cleared on the place, out of 
which he has since improved the farm 
upon which he now resides, and to which 
he has added other lands, now owning two 
well-improved ])laces. During eight or 
nine winters he chopped 1,200 cords of 
wood for Mr. Frank Pinney, in Townsend 
township. Prior to his settling in Huron 
county Mr. Bellamy had purchased wild 
lands in Wood county, Ohio, and also in 
Michigan, as a speculation, but never re- 
sided on either tract. On April 22, 1861, 
he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Regi- 
ment O. V. I., for three months, and was 
mustered out at Norwalk on August 22 
following. 

Mr. Bellamy was married December 14, 
1860, to Miss Eliza Coultrip, who was 
born in Kent, England, June 8, 1842, a 
daughter of James and Sophia (Fulligar) 
Coultrip, both of whom were also natives 
of Kent. Two sons have blessed their 
union, viz.: John Charles, born Marcii 
17, 1862, and William Porter, born De- 
cember 12, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Bellamy 
are devout members of the M. E. Church, 
and are identified with the the class at 
Townsend Center. Socially he is a charter 
member of Townsend Post No. 414, G. A. 
R., in which Post he has several tinies 
tilled the office of chaplain. Mrs. Bellamy 
is an active memljer of Townsend W. R. 
C. No. 142, Auxiliary to Townsend Post 
No. 414, G. A. R. In politics Mr. Bel- 
lamy is a Republican, and he is one of the 
enterprising, successful farmers of the 
neighboriiood, as well as one of her most 
prominent and respected citizens. 

Mr. Bellamy's brother, William Bellamy, 
in company with wdiom our subject immi- 
grated to America, was employed, like 
him, in working by the month, day or job 
until the breaking out of the Civil war, 
when he enlisted in the same company and 



176 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



regiment with our subject, and on the 
same day. Soon after his discharge, in 
September, 1861, he re-enlisted, this time 
in Company C, Fiftytiith O. V. I., and 
served with his regiment in all its marches 
and entjacrements to the second battle of 
Bull linn, in which engagement he was 
killed by a cannon ball. No truer patriot 
or braver soldier ever stood upon a battle- 
field than he. He was always ready for 
duty, never hesitating or flinching from 
any post assigned him, no matter how 
arduous or dangerous the work. He was 
color bearer of his regiment, and fell while 
in the front ranks. He left a widow, hav- 
ing been married just before proceeding to 
the front. 

James Coultrip, father of Mrs. James 
Bellamy, was a shepherd by occupation, 
in his native land. In 1850 he immigrated 
to the United States, first haltincr near Al- 
liany, N. Y., where he was engaged in 
chopping wood for one winter. The next 
spring, 1851, he removed to Lorain 
county, Ohio, locating near Avon, where 
he was employed at shearing sheep and on 
a large ditch contract, until the fall of the 
same year, when he took a contract for 
grading a part of the northern division of 
tiie Lake Shore & Micliigan Southern Rail- 
road in Lorain county. He completed the 
same, but was defrauded of the fruits of 
his labor, never receiving a cent of pay. 
After this he was employed at any thing 
which promised to bring him an honest 
dollar. In the fall of 1852 he sent for his 
wife and children, whom he had left be- 
hind in Old England, and the family, 
among whom was Mrs. Bellamy, then ten 
years old, arrived in New York in No- 
vember, that year, and came thence by 
rail and steamboat to Berlin township, 
Erie Co., Ohio. There they rejoined Mr. 
Coultrip, who for several years afterward 
farmed on rented lands in both Erie and 
Huron counties. In about 1857 or 1858 
he bought a farm in Townsend township, 
Huron county, upon which lie remained 
until the spring of 1868, when he sold out 



and bought another place in Berlin town- 
ship, Erie county. After a few years he 
sold this place, and later rented in various 
parts of Huron county. The last two 
years of his life were passed with his son- 
in-law, the subject of our sketch, at whose 
home his death occurred January 5, 1878, 
wiien he was aged sixty-three years. Dar- 
ing the Civil war he served in the Nine- 
teenth O. V. I., from October 3, 1864, to 
June 8, 1865. He was not assicrned to 
any company, and for a time did duty as 
a cattle guard, and afterward as nurse in 
a hospital at Moorehead City, N. Carolina. 



FRANK J. RUFFING, a prominent 
agriculturist of Sherman township, 
_^ is a native of same, born September 
13, 1859, a son of Joseph Rutting, one 
of the pioneers of the county. His fatiier 
numbered among those who came to Ohio 
when it was necessary to clear in the forest 
a place on which to build a log hut, and 
make a home in the wilderness. 

Our subject passed his childhood on his 
father's farm, and remained there until he 
was married. He attended the subscrip- 
tion school of his neighborhood, receiving 
such education as was furnished in those 
days, when the schoolhouse was a rude log 
hut, scarcely protected from the elements, 
and furnished with benches nailed to one 
side of the wall, and where the teachers 
were but indifferently prepared to impart 
information. In 1884 Mr. Rufling mar- 
ried Miss Victoria Layman, daughter of 
Balsor Layman, a well-known farmer of 
Sherman township, and their marriage has 
been blessed with three children, viz.: Al- 
fred, I'ertha and Nora, all of whom are yet 
living. Mr. and Mrs. Rutting are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Clhurch. 

Mr. Rutting is singularly fortunate in 
his domestic relations, his children being 
a great source of pride to him, and his in- 
terest in educational matters is demon- 
strated by the manner in which he controls 



UURON^ COUNTY, OniO. 



177 



and directs the intellectual necessities of 
his children. He is public-spirited and 
enterprising, and readily endosres any pro- 
ject calculated to stimulate the develop- 
ment and prosperity of the township and- 
county in which he resides. He is gener- 
ous and affable, his sympathies expressing 
themselves in kindness to friends and in 
charities when they are merited. It may 
he said of him, that in all the relations of 
life in which he is called upon to act, he 
is trustworthy, constant and honest. His 
habits of industry and application have 
enabled him to accumulate a handsome 
property, and he owns eighty-four acres of 
valuable land, devoted to general agricul- 
ture, includinir stock raising. He is 
popular in political circles, and has served 
as supervisor for several years. 



T[ H. McELHINNEY, M. D., a mem- 
V. I ber of the medical firm of J. H. & F. 
}^Jj 13. McElHinney, of New London, was 
born in Washington county, Ohio, in 
1850, a son of Dr. Joseph M. McElHinney, 
who was born within four miles of the city 
of Londonderry, Ireland. 

Brought to the United States when seven 

years old, the father of our subject was 

educated in Ohio, and while still a youth 

began school teaching, presiding over a 

school in the village of Newport, Ohio, for 

eight years. During that period he read 

medicine, and, enterinirthe Eclectic Medi- 
co 

cal Institute at Cincinnati, o-raduated, 
afterward establishing himself in practice 
at Newport. There he married Miss Ara- 
bella Hannold, and made his home. He 
served a term in the armv in 1864, as 
captain of Company G, One Hundred and 
Forty-eighth O. V.' I. 

J. H. McElHinney, the subject proper 
of this sketch, grew to manhood at New- 
port, Ohio, received a practical education 
in the schools there, and completed his 
literary course in Marietta Colleire. When 
not at school he assisted his father in office 



work. School days over, he read medicine 
under the direction of his father, and as- 
sisted him in practice, even before entering 
the medical college. He attended lectures 
at the Eclectic Medical Institute, of Cin- 
cinnati, and, graduating from that institu- 
tion in 1873, returned home, where he 
remained until his brother Frank won a 
diploma. From that time until 1881 he 
practiced at Hills, Washington county; 
then moving to Ruggles, Ashland county, 
and from there to New London, Ohio, in 
1888, established himself at once as a skill- 
ful physician. 

In i877 Dr. McElHinney married Miss 
Mary E. Greene, the second daughter of 
Christopher and Mary F. (Wood) Greene. 
Christopher Greene was born in Newport, 
Ohio, in 1809, son of John Greene, one of 
the tirst settlers of Newport, which was 
settled soon after the settling of Marietta, 
Ohio. He was fond of hunting in his 
younger days; also spent considerable time 
running flat-boats on the Ohio and Missis- 
sippi rivers, in the capacity of pilot. At 
tlie age of Hfty-five he entered tlie United 
States service in Company G, One Hun- 
dred and Forty-eighth O. V. I., under 
Capt. J. M. McElHinney, in Gen. Benj. 

F. Butler's corps on the James river, near 
Petersburg, Va. He is still (1894) living 
at Newpoi-t, Ohio. To Dr. and Mrs. J. 
H. McElHinney have been born f(jur chil- 
dren, namly: Mary A., Glenna E., Bessie 

G. and Clare B. 

The Doctor is a member of the Ohio 
Eclectic Medical Society, and is now the 
secretary; was a member of the Grand 
Lodge of the I. O. G. T. for ten years, and 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. A Pro- 
hibitionist in politics, he is a consistent 
member of that party. He is recognized 
as an able general practitioner, and well 
known as a most successful surgeon. With 
the exception of tlie time devoted to field 
sports, he gives close personal attention to 
professional work. During certain seasons 
he seeks out some good hunting and tisli- 
ing grounds, and passes a short season in 



178 



HURON- COUNTY, OniO. 



the role of hunter and fisherman. The 
trophies in his office speak of his success 
as a [sportsnian. He was mustered out of 
tlie United States service in the fail of 
1864 when not quite fourteen years old. 
He still has a fondness for target shooting 
with the rifle, at which he is quite pro- 
ficient. 




F. STARBIRD, a druggist of New 
London, was born in Stark county, 
Ohio, October 24, 1844. His father, 
Austin Starbird.anativeof Pennsyl- 
vania, studied medicine at Cleveland, Ohio, 
and graduated from the Medical College of 
that city. About the year 1850 he located 
in New London, and soon established him- 
self as a physician and surgeon. His study 
did not at all cease witli graduation. The 
responsibilities of practice led him to 
deeper studies and research, so that the 
reputation he won, in the profession, was 
based on a solid foundation; for his knowl- 
edge of medicine and surgery, in both 
tlieory and practice, was wide. He died 
in the spring of 1877, his widow, Mary J. 
(Fulton), in 1891. 

B. F. Starbird is the eldest in a family 
of five children. He received a practical 
education in the common school of New 
London, and completed a commercial 
course in Oberlin College. When he was 
of age his father presented him and brother 
with a fully equipped drug store, and this 
business he has carried on since 1867. In 
the spring of 1890 he purchased his 
brotiier"s interest in the store, at whicii 
time the brother was appointed postmaster 
at New London. The building in whicli 
his business is carried on is 20 x 85 feet in 
area, two stories liigh, with basement. 
Throughout, it is fully stocked with drugs, 
paints and oils. The prescription depart- 
ment receives the close personal attention 
of the owner, wlio gives general supervis- 
ion to the whole establisliment. 

In 1878 Mr. Starbird married Miss 
Alice E. Kilburn, a daughter of one of the 



pioneers of New London, where she was 
born. To this marriage the followincj 
named children were born: Mary Ella, 
Burton Hoyte, Frank Kilburn and Mar- 
gurite J. With the exception of three 
years passed in Chicago, 111., and many 
days in school at Oberlin, Mr. Starbird has 
been a resident of New London since the 
family moved from Stark county, Ohio, 
and holds a high position in the social as 
well as in the commercial circle. He has 
held the office of township clerk for over 
fifteen years. The beginnings of the fam- 
ily in America were made in Maine, from 
which center they branched out. The 
grandfather of B. F. Starbird migrated to 
Stark county, and carried on a farm there 
until his removal to Maumee, Lucas Co., 
Ohio, where he died at a ripe old age. 



rjflRAM SMITH. Ranking among 
jp^i the first and best of the early fam- 
I 1| ilies of Huron county is the Smith 
■^ family, descended from the New 

England pioneer, Erastus Smith, 
and his wife, Fannie (Spencer) Smith. 

Hiram Smith, although still superin- 
tending, and not actively engaged in farm- 
ing, is one of Huron county's largest 
practical farmers and landowners. He 
was born in Greenfield township, Huron 
county, November 21, 1816. His father, 
Erastus Smith, was united in wedlock to 
Faimie Spencer on the 19th day of De- 
cember, 1805, and of this union were born 
seven children, viz.: Martin, Lydia, Tru- 
man, Erastus, Lester, Hiram and Hen- 
rietta. At the time of the arrival in this 
county of Erastus and Fannie Smith there 
was i)ut one cal)in in Greenfield township, 
and in this Mrs. Smith stayed while her 
husband built their log cabin. This brave 
pioneer woman lived to the great age of 
ninety-seven years, retaining in a great 
measure her wonderful mental powers up 
to the time of her death. Erastus Smith 
died July 10, 1820. Hiram Smith and 





''c-^^^<^^Cp 




/l^ 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



181 



family are owners of 800 acres of finely 
improved land in Greenfield township, the 
development of which is almost entirely 
the result of Mr. Smith's personal energy 
and resolution in overcoming all obstacles. 

In connection with his farming inter- 
ests he, about the year 1850, engaged in 
mercantile business at Steuben. In this 
pursuit the results of his business sagacity 
were as apparent as in iiis farming and 
stock business. " Uncle Hi," as he has 
tbi' many years been popularly addressed, 
is well and favorably known among the 
farmers and stock-raisers of Huron county, 
as his wool and stock buying tended to 
make his a familiar atid welcome figure 
where his business called him in these 
pursuits. 

Mr. Smith is largely a self-educated 
man, and an extensive and profound 
reader. His views of political and finan- 
cial affairs, fiuently and lucidly enunciated, 
are eagerly solicited by many who admire 
and repose confidence in his well-demon- 
strated judgtnent in these matters. Among 
his most striking characteristic traits is 
his extreme fondness for children, his resi- 
dence having been and being the chosen 
and favorite resort for his grandchildren; 
his presence and ever-open home preferred 
by them to that of all others. His kind- 
ness and genetosity, extended even to 
those past the privileges of childhood's 
claim, is proverbial. 

Except as a matter of history, it is need- 
less to state the esteem and confidence Mr. 
Smith is held in, in a business way. His 
honorable career has no blemish, and no 
man can or does regret any dealing ever 
entered into with him. In 1887 Mr. 
Smith, fully justified in retiring from 
active life, came to Norwalk, pni-chasing 
his present residence o,n West Main street, 
a quiet but luxurious home his exemplary 
life so richly deserves. 

Hiram Sinith and Polly Rockwell were 
united in wedlock December 31, 1840; 
she was the daughter of Thaddeus and 
Polly Rockwell, then of Greenfield, but 

10 



formerly of New York State. To our 
subject and wife were born six children (of 
whom five are living), as follows: Emma 
Fanette, widow of Harry C. Sturges, re- 
siding with her parents; Hiram J., in 
Steuben, Ohio, who has eight children, 
seven of whom are living — three daughters 
and four sons — having lost by death one 
son, RoUin J.; Henry Dayton, a resident 
of Washington, who has one child, a son, 
H. J.; Sarah Frances (deceased); George 
Rockwell, of Kansas, who has three chil- 
dren — one son and two daughters; and 
Fannie Eliza (Mrs. Frank Lamkin), living 
in Norwalk, who has one child, a daugh- 
ter, Mary Finette. Mr. Smith's imme- 
diate family worship at the Universalist 
Church, and are esteemed among the best 
of Norwalk's citizens. 



AMUEL C. TOUGH, traveling sales- 
man, in the agricultural implement 
line, with residence in Townsend 
township, is a native of Huron 
county, born November 11, 1845, in 
Ridgefield township. He is the eldest of 
two children born to Seth and Eliza(Fisher) 
Tough, the former of whom was born in 
Edinburgh, Scotland, the latter in North- 
umberland county, Penn., of German ex- 
traction. 

Seth Tough was born March 25, 1807, 
and received in his youth a very good 
common-school education in his native 
country. Soon after attaining his majority 
he emigrated from Scotland to the United 
States, settling in Ridgefield township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, where he was married 
October 3, 1844. Here he engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, in which he con- 
tinued until his death, which occurred 
October 10, 1853. Mrs. Eliza Tough was 
born February 24, 1807, and was a devoted, 
lifelong member of the Baptist Church; 
she died October 13, 1879. Her father, 
William Fisher, was born in Pennsylvania, 
and received a fair English education in 
his native State, where he married and 



182 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



engaged in farming pursuite. In about 
1S55 he removed with his wife and family 
to Huron county, Ohio, where he bouglit 
a farm and successfully engaged in agri- 
culture until his death. He was an earnesl 
member of the Congregational Church. 

Samuel C. Tough, subject proper of this 
sketch, received in his early years a good 
common-school and academic education, 
and remained on the old homestead until 
rtaching his majority. He then, lor the 
next ten or twelve years, engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits, during which time he 
also followed the profession of teacher. 
Since that time he has been employed as a 
traveling salesman in the agricultural im- 
plement trade, with tlie exception of two 
years, when he was engaged in the local 
trade at Norwalk. For eight years he was 
with the Bryan Flow Co., of Fryan, Ohio, 
and for the past thrte years has repre- 
sented the Genesee Valley Manufacturing 
Co., of Mt. Morris, N. Y., having control 
of northwestern Ohio and the whole State 
of Michigan. 

On October 1, 1867, Mr. Tough was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary E. 
Kile, who was a native of Huron county, 
Ohio, daughter of Adam and Sarah S. 
(Milkcs) Kile, and to this union have been 
born two children, viz.: Percy Washing- 
ton and Sarah Gladys. Socially Mr. 
Tough is a popular member of Mt. Ver- 
non Lodge No. 64, F. & A. M., and of 
Huron Chapter No. 7, R. A. M., both of 
Norwalk, Ohio. 



E 



UGENE L. McCAGUE, a promi- 
nent young citizen of Bronson town- 
ship, is a son of Thomas J. Mc- 
Cagne, and a grandson of Thomas 
McCague, whose parents, James and Janet 
(Cochran) McCague, came to the United 
States about the year 1784. They had a 
family of four sons and four daughters. 

Thomas McCague, son of this pioneer 
couple, was born, in 1784, near Fhiladel- 
phia, Fenn. He was there married to 



Rosanna Coyan, daughter of Edward 
Coyan, by trade a weaver, and also a native 
of Ireland, and the young couple soon aft- 
erward (in 1819) came to Columbiana 
county, Ohio. There Thomas McCague 
bought land, but same year moved to a 
farm in Summit county, san:e State) which 
he had bought. In 1839 they moved to 
Holmes county, same State, remaining 
there eleven years; then settled in Hart- 
land township, Hui'on county, where lie 
died in 1863 at the age of seventy-nine 
years. He was a Democrat in politics; in 
religion Mrs. McCague was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church. She died in 
1873, the mother of seven children, four 
of whom were deceased in youth and three 
are yet living, viz.: Samuel, living on the 
old farm in Hartland township; Thomas 
J., and Jane, wife of R. G. Bishop, of 
Akron, Ohio. 

Thomas J. McCague was born August 
14, 1826, in Summit county, Ohio, and 
passed his youth on the home farm. He 
received a subscription-school education, 
and when nineteen years of age began life 
for himself by working on a farm for eight 
dollars per month. He continued to fol- 
low farming during his earlier years, and 
was also employed in the sawmills. In 
1850 he passed a year in Olena, Huron 
Co., Ohio, and January 1,1851, was mar- 
I'ied to Adeline, daughter of Bethuel Cole, 
who was a son of Ebenezer Cole, for twenty 
years justice of the peace in Vermont; his 
son Bethuel was born in Rensselaer county, 
N. Y. Thomas J. and Adeline (Cole) 
McCague resided as tenants on a farm in 
liartland township, Huron county, for 
three years after their marriage. In the 
autumn of 1854 they moved to the old 
Cole homestead, where Bethuel Cole died 
in 1874, aged seventy-seven years, followed 
by his wife in 189t), who was ninety years 
of aire. Mr. and Mrs. McCague continued 
to reside on the place after the death of 
lier parents. The farm contains one hun- 
dred acres, \vhcre he conducts a general 
agricultural business. Tliey were the par- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



183 



ents of one son, Eugene L. Mrs. Adeline 
(Cole) McOagiie died October 8, 189d, in 
her sixty-eighth year. 

Eugene L. McCagiie was born August 
14, 1853, in Hartland township, Huron 
Co., Ohio, and received a good practical 
education in the county schools. On May 
23, 1877, he married Mary E. Godfrey, a 
native of Ruggles township, Ashland Co., 
Ohio. Between the year.s 1881 and 1885 
Eugene L. McCague was traveling sales - 
man for dealers in agricultural implements. 
He then learned the painting business, to 
which he has since devoted s6me attention 
in connection with farming. He is a 
proninent member of the Republican 
party, and is now serving his third term 
as township trustee. The cliildren of Mr. 
and Mrs. Eugene L. McCajjue are Ida 
Vione, born January 14, 1880; Carleton 
Eugene, born March 21, 1890; and Harold 
B. Godfrey, born August 7, 1892. 




P. CLTRTISS, son of Charles Cur- 
tiss, and grandson on the maternal 
side of Ebenezer Treat, was born 
in Ashland county, Ohio, in 1841. 
Charles Curtiss was born in New York 
State, but passed his boyhood in Canada. 
About the year 183S he migrated to Ohio, 
locating in Ashland county, and erected 
i>ne of the first saw and grist mills in 
Ruggles township. Water power was used; 
so that, as the country was cleared and the 
swamps converted into fertile fields, the 
water courses dwindled into streamlets, the 
water-wheel became of little use, and tne 
owner turned his attention to agriculture. 
Charles Curtiss was married in New York 
State, and ten children were born to him, 
of whom eight grew to manhood and wo- 
manhood, two being now residents of 
Ohio. The father of this familj' died in 
1865, aged seventy-three years, and the 
mother, Jemima (Treat) Curtiss, died in 
1872 at the age of seventy-two years. 
Charles Curtiss was a Democrat down to 



18P)0, when lie cast his vote for Lincoln, 
being a stern Union man during the war. 
W. P. Curtiss is an experienced manu- 
facturer and employer. Raised on the farm 
in Ruggles township, he was educated in 
the school of his district and in the high 
school at Savannah. At an early age he 
ventured into the business world by oper- 
ating a stone quarry on the home farm. 
Ill 1864 he commenced the bondino- busi- 
ness at New London, and this business 
was carried on by him and his brother, 
Charles L. Curtiss, for two years, when he 
bought his brother's interest. He then 
associated himself with W. R. Santley for 
the terra of three years, at the expiration 
of which Mr. Curtiss sold his interests in 
the bending industry to his partner, and 
commenced the manufacture of cheese 
boxes, a business he carried on for four or 
five years. He then added to his business 
the inanufactui'e of butter tubs, and ao-ain 
took his brother, C. L. Curtiss, as a part- 
ner. This firm continued the business 
about two years, when they organized a 
joint-stock company for the purpose of 
manufacturing cheese and buttei- packao-es, 
and other cooperage stock and lu tuber. 
The management of this then passed into 
other hands, and was operated by them 
some three or four years at a loss to the 
stockholders of nearly the whole invest- 
ment of which Mr. Curtiss and his brother, 
C. L., owned a large amount. Durincrtiie 
most of this time Mr. Curtiss was at work 
for the luml)er firm of W. R. Santley & 
Co., of Wellington, Ohio. About nine 
years ago he purchased the old concern, 
and commenced the same business again, 
with Mr. O. C. Harvey (his nephew) as 
partner, under the name of Curtiss & 
Harvey. About one year later Mr. Harvey 
died, and his widow (Mrs. Harvey) has 
retained his interest with Mr. Curtiss until 
the present time. The business of this 
firm has increased to four or five times its 
original amount within the past five years. 
The buildings now devoted to this industry 
comprise one two-story 34 x 88 feet in 



184 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



area; one 30x60 feet two-story, and one 
28x30 feet; one large steam- lieated dry 
kiln, and two sheds, each one hundred feet 
in length; one seventy-five horse-power 
engine is used for driving the machinery. 
This is without doubt the most extensive 
and best equipped butter tub factory in the 
State of Ohio. Several of the machines 
used in this factory were designed espe- 
cially for the business by Mr. (Jurtiss, 
some of which he has several patents on. 

Being located in a section of the coun- 
try where there is an abundant amount of 
white ash timber of the very best quality 
for butter tubs, tliis concern anticipates a 
still greater increase in their business for 
the next few years. The part this industry 
has taken and now takes in tlie develop- 
ment of this section of the country is an 
important one, and worthy the study of 
the economist. 

The marriage of Mr. Gurtiss with Louisa 
M. Fish, a native of New York, took place 
October 17, 1871. To this union two 
children — Mattie E. and William Ray- 
mond — were born. William Raymond 
died in December, 1882, at the acre of one 
year and fifteen days. In social affairs Mr. 
Cui-tiss is a Royal Arch Mason, and a 
member of the National Union. As a 
citizen he is enterprising and progressive. 



FAUL WILLIAM PFRANKLIN, 
proprietor of meat market, Bellevue, 
was born at Venice, Erie Co., Ohio, 
February 6, 1866, son of David and 
Elizabeth (Reiser) Pfrankliu. The 
parents were born in "Baden, Germany, 
whence they came to the United States, 
settling at Sandusky, Ohio, where the 
mother still resides. The father died 
April 29, 1888, aged sixty years. Of ten 
children born to them, seven are yet 
living. 

Paul W. Pfranklin grew to manhood in 
Sandusky, and received a practical educa- 
tion in the German Catholic schools of 



that city. When school days were ended 
he entered a meat market, and there learned 
all the details of the butcher's trade. 
About two years ago he piirchased a half 
interest in a meat market, later bought out 
his partner's interest, and is now sole pro- 
prietor of the house. By industry and 
equitable dealing he has built up a large 
trade, and is unquestionably the leading 
dealer in fresh and cured meats at Belle- 
vue. He carries in stock all kinds of meat 
foods, while his abattoir furnishes fresh 
meats to supply the daily demand. His 
enterprise has made Mr. Pfranklin an im- 
portant factor in the community. 




II. PEASE. This gentleinan, 
who by his own individual effoi'ts 
has become one of the leading suc- 
cessful citizens of Wakeman, is 
a son of Sylvester' Pease, one of the first 
settlers of Cuyahoga county, Ohio. 

Sylvester Pease was a hatter by trade, 
and part proprietor of the first hat store 
opened in Cleveland, the firm being Dock- 
stater & Pease, still within the recollection 
of the older business houses of that city. 
For many years he was a resident of Sum- 
mit county, Ohio, and he had a family of 
two sons (of whom one is living) and two 
daughters — Mrs. Jnlia L' Ilommedieu, 
living at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and Susie 
Case, of San Francisco, Cal. The father 
of Sylvester Pease, by name George Pease, 
was a quartermaster in the Revolutionary 
war, with headquarters at Hudson, Ohio. 
Ha was a native of New York State. 

W. II. Pease, the subject proper of tliis 
memoir, was born in January, 1839, in 
Cleveland, Ohio, whence when six years 
old he was taken to Cuyahoga Falls, Sum- 
mit county, where at the age of twenty- 
two years he enlisted in the Nineteenth 
O. V. 1., Capt. Andi'ew J. Konkle's com- 
pany, the regimetit being under the com- 
mand of Col. Beatty. After three months' 
service he was commissioned lieutenant in 



HURON COUNTY, OIIip. 



185 



the First Ohio Light Artillery, Battery D, 
afterward transferred to Battery F as cap- 
tain, and participated in all the engage- 
ments of the Tennessee and other cam- 
paigns, among which may be mentioned 
Stone River, Mission Ridge, Knoxville 
and Pumpkin Vine Creek, where he was 
wounded and captured by the Confeder- 
ates. He was confined in Libby Prison 
for several weeks, then exchanged and re- 
turned to his battery. On resuming the 
pursuits of peace, Mr. Pease went on the 
road as a traveling salesman, continuing as 
such nntil 1808, when he went to Mil- 
waukee, Wis., where for two years he was 
employed in the telegraph office. From 
there after marriage he moved to Chicago, 
and after a year's residence in that city 
came to Wakeman, Huron county, where 
for two years he conducted a hotel. We 
ne.xt find our snbject embarked in the in- 
surance, furniture and undertaking busi- 
ness, in which he is still prosperously 
engaged. 

On November 17, 1870, Mr. Pease was 
married to Miss Josephine Bright, daugh- 
ter of J. Y. and Fanny M. B. Bright, and 
three children, as follows, came to their 
union: James S., born in May, 1874, died 
January 14. 1881; William L., born March 
12, 1885; and Joseph B., born April 12, 
1888, died April 9, 1891. In his politi- 
cal predilections Mr. Pease is a Republi- 
can, has held various township offices, and 
for twelve years has been a notary public. 




Peck, a 
of nine 
Ohio, 
Huron 
western 
The 
reared 



ARREN M. PECK, a well-to-do 
farmer of Wakeman township, is 
a native of same, born September 
10, 1834. His father, Henry T. 

native of Vermont, was at the age 
years brought by his parents to 

where, in Clarksfield township, 
county, they made their first 

home. 

subject of this brief notice was 

to agricultural pursuits, and re- 



mained on his father's farm till he was 
thirfy-three years old, when he moved to 
his present farm, at that time comprising 
ninety acres, now 141 acres of prime land, 
where he has since successfully followed 
general farming, including stock raising. 
His father aided him in a very substantial 
manner when he left the paternal roof, 
giving him one thousand dollars in hard 
cash, of which he made good use, for he 
has on his farm some as tine buildings as 
can be seen in the county. In 1867 our 
subject married Miss Millie J. Henry, 
daughter of Mendell Henry, of Erie county, 
Ohio, who was killed by "bushwhackers" 
in Kentucky, during the Civil war. Two 
children were born to this union, to wit: 
Clarence W. and Harry M., both at school. 
In his political preferences Mr. Peck is a 
strong Republican, his first Presidential 
vote being cast for John C. Fremont. He 
served in the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth , 
O. V. I., N. G., and is a member of G. 
A. R Post No. 559, Wakeman. Edward 
Peck, a brother, was a member of the 
Twenty-fourth O. V. I., having enlisted at 
the commencement of the Civil war, and 
was killed at Pittsburgh Landing (Shiloh). 



IjOHN HURST, who in his lifetime 

k. Ii was a well-known and generally re- 

}^J spected farmer of Wakeman township, 

was a native of Canada, born 

August 29, 1828, near Toronto, Ontario. 

His father, also named John, was born 
in Lancashire, England, and at the age of 
twenty-one enlisted in the British army as 
artilleryman, serving in all twenty-six 
years, six months. His battery being 
sent to America during the Revolution, it 
was present at the battle of Plattsburg; 
and at the conclusion of that struggle was 
ordered to Quebec, whence it sailed for 
Europe, to take part in the sanguinary 
Napoleonic wars. Under Sir Arthur 
Wellesley (afterward Duke of Wellington) 
he served in the Peninsular war (in Spain 



186 



HURON COUNTY, OUIO. 



and Portugal), and among the many en- 
gagements in wliicli he participated may 
be mentioned tbe battles of Salamanca, 
Albuera and Badajoz; under Sir John 
Moore, in the same campaign, he was in 
the memorahle six weeks retreat of the 
Britisli army to the seaboard, the rations 
served out to the men for four weeks being 
one-quarter pound of biscuit and a gill of 
rum, each, pei' day, to which the soldiers 
added roasted or boiled acorns and chest- 
nuts gathered in the woods as they passed 
along. He also participated in the battle 
of Waterloo a few years later, which under 
Wellinirton decided the liberties of Eu- 
rope. On his discharge from the army 
Mr. Hurst came to Canada, where be mar- 
ried Margaret Hislop, a native of Edin- 
i)urgli, Scotland, a daughter of James 
Hislop, a stonemason by trade, who died 
in Canada at the age of over seventy years. 
Eleven children were born to this union, 
as follows: Isabella P., Ann, Jennette, 
Mariai], Sarah Ellen, two daughters that 
died in infancy, John (subject of sketch), 
James (in Vermont), Thomas (in Town- 
send, Huron county), and George (de- 
ceased in 1802); four of tbe daughters are 
living in the Province of Quebec, the other 
in Vermont. 

John Hurst, whose name opens this 
sketch, passed the most of bis boyhood 
days about forty miles from Montueal, 
Canada, also in New York State and Ver- 
mont. On March 10, 1852, he married 
Miss Mary A. Longeway, daughter of 
Nicholas Longeway, a native of Lower 
Canada, whose father, John Longeway, 
came from France; Mrs. Hurst's mother 
was also horn in Canada, of Dutch ances- 
try. To our subject and wife were born 
children as follows: Elizabeth Parmelia, 
Noble G., Margaret Hannah and Melvin 
John. Of these, Elizabeth P. was married 
February 11, 1871, to Charles E. AVeeks, 
who died January 19, 1878; she passed 
away June 21, 1880, leaving four orphan 
childi-en — three boys and one girl, the lat- 
ter of whom diea February 24, 1890. 



Noble G. was married November 29, 
1876, to Ida A. Pierce, who died June 16, 
1883, leaving one child, Mabel E., who 
was taken care of by her grandmother 
Hurst until she was about two vears of 
age; at that time her father married Miss 
Margaret M. Morgan, of Camden, when 
he moved from Wakeman to that place, 
where he now resides; by this last mar- 
riage there is one child, Edna M., born 
July 23, 1887. Margaret II. manied, in 
May, 1879, liobert McKiidey, a prominent 
farmer of Ashland township, Newaygo 
Co., Mich., to which union were born 
seven children, as follows: Luhi, Perine- 
lia, Robert, John, Estella, Nolde and 
Mary. Melvin J. was married January 4, 
1890, to Miss Mary J. Beecher, and they 
have two children: Horace and John. 
Melvin now resides on the farm his father 
had l)ought in Wakeman township. 

In 1855 our subject and family set out 
for Ohio, locating in Lorain county, near 
Kipton, where they arrived April 20. 
Here he rented a small farm. After a resi- 
dence here of six years he bought forty- 
two acres, and then in Wakeman township, 
Huron county, purchased eighty-two acres. 

In 1871 he came to Wakeman, where, 
having sold his farm in Lorain county, be 
bought fifty-eight acres, and subsequently 
another piece of land. Here Mr. Hurst 
was successful in general farming and 
stock raising. He died October 21, 1892, 
a member (as are his widow and daughters) 
of the Congregational Church; in politics 
he was a Pepublican. In 1885 he took a 
trip to his old home in Canada. 




] OBERT SLY, a representative agri- 
-^ culturist of Townsend townsliip, 



was born August 24, 1829, in 
Montgomery county, N. Y., the 
second in a family of seven chil- 
dren of John and Philena (Titus) Sly, 
both of whom were natives of New York 
State and of English descent. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



187 



John Sly, who was one of a family of 
four brothers, received in his youth but 
meager educational advantagres, but in after 
years acquired an ordinary business train- 
ing. He was married in his native town, 
and in the spring of 1831 removed, with 
his wife and faiuiiy, to what was tlien 
the western frontier, near Buffalo, N. Y. 
Here lie bought wild lands, and cleared 
and improved a farm, where he was suc- 
cessfully and extensively engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits until his death, which 
occurred December 26, 1886, when he 
was in his eighty-fifth year. Mrs. Sly, 
also deceased, was a member of the Bap- 
tist Church. Robert Sly, father of John, 
was a lifelonjr farmer of eastern New York 
State, where he died in 1855 in his eighty- 
fifth year. Both the Sly and Titus fami- 
lies were amontr the early Eno'lish settlers 
in eastern New York State, and several 
members thereof served with distinction 
in the Continental army during the Revo- 
lution. 

Robert Sly, whose name opens this 
sketch, received in his boyhood days a 
limited education in the primitive frontier 
schools of western New York, and never 
attended a day after he was twelve years old. 
He is in the main self-educated, is well- 
informed on cnrrent topics and literature, 
and has all his life been a careful and ex- 
tensive reader. He remained with his 
parents, working on the homestead farm, 
until 1858, when he came to northern 
Ohio and purchased a partially improved 
farm in Townsend township, Huron county, 
to which he has since made numerous im- 
provements and additions, now having a 
line farm of 130 acres, where he sucaess- 
fiiUy follows agricultural pursuits. On 
December 4, 1861, our subject was mar- 
ried to Miss Jane B. Draper, who was born 
January 25, 1837, in Bronson toMmship, 
Huron county, daughter of Sheldon and 
Clarissa (Cole) Draper, both of whom were 
natives of New York State — the formei' 
of Dutchess, the latter of Chenango county 
— and of English descent. To Mr. and 



Mrs. Sly have been born three children, 
namely: Clarissa P., now Mrs. S.G. Evarts; 
Arthur, and Nettie L., Mrs. A. T. Gam- 
ber. Mrs. Sly is an ardent member of the 
Baptist Church, and Mr. Sly, thougii not 
a church member, is a firm believer in 
practical Christianity. In politics he is a 
Republican, stanch and uncompromising, 
and is recognized generally as a leading 
citizen in his community. In his early 
years Mr. Sly was a member of the New 
York Home Guards. 



JM. STITLTZ, a well-known farmer of 
Huron county, was born there on 
^ September 25, 1837, a son of Ralph 
and Ann (Faniung) Stultz, and a 
member of an old and highly respected 
family. His grandfather, Blodgett Stultz, 
was born in New York, but came to Ohio 
at an early date, numbering among the 
pioneers who cleared the land and trans- 
forme 1 dense woods into fertile farms. 

Ralph Stultz, father of our subject, was 
born in 1806 in Ontario county, N. Y. 
He moved to Ohio in 1833, locating in 
Huron county, where he devoted his atten- 
tion to manaffing his farm, which consisted 
of 150 acres of valuable land. He was 
married in New York to Miss Ann Fan- 
ning, who was also born in Ontario county, 
and their union was blessed with seven 
children, three of whom are still living, 
viz.: B. F., A. J. and J. M. B. F. and 
J. M. served one hundred days in the 
Civil war. Mr. Stultz was trustee of Lyme 
township for a number of years, and also 
served as assessor. II is family were mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church, and always 
took an active part in charitable work. 
He died in 1856, his widow in December, 
1891. 

J. M. Stultz, the subject of this bio- 
graphical memoir, received his primary 
education in the schools of his neighbor- 
hood, and for three years attended school 
in Granville, Ohio, but before completing 



188 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



his studies was compelled to withdraw on 
account of the Civil w^ar. He now owns 
and lives upon the northern part of the 
farm formerly owned by his father, and is 
one of the progressive agriculturists who 
realize that as much judgment, study and 
executive ability are required by the farmer 
as by any professional man, and each year 
adds some improvement to his estate. On 
July 7, 1869, Mr. Stultz married Miss 
Ellen Seymour, daughter of John Sey- 
mour, a merchant of Huron county, and 
their marriage has been blessed with four 
children: Sadie, Bertha, and Ealph and 
Minnie (^twins), the last of whom died at 
an early age. Mr. Stultz is prominent in 
business, social and political circles. He 
makes a specialty of raising Jersey cows 
and line road horses. He iias been presi- 
dent of the board of education, also school 
director tor a number of years, and takes 
an active part in all movements that have 
for their object public advancement. 



EiZRA S. JENNINGS, a retired 
farmer, and one of the most es- 
I teemed citizens of Fitchville town- 
ship, was born near Bridgeport, 
Conn., August 21, 1827. 

Daniel Jennings, his maternal grand- 
father, was born October 14, 1770, and 
died March 14, 1840; his wife, Pha3be 
Jenninsijs, was born February 14, 1773, 
and died December 26, 1856. Their chil- 
dren were as follows: Rhoda, born De- 
cember 25, 1802, died March 12, 1869; 
Eunice, born February 10, 1804, died April 
13, 1881; Gregory, born May 7, 1805, died 
October 12, 1805 ; Ezra, born September 
1, 1806, died December 5, 1826; Abigail, 
born April 30, 1809, died November 5, 
1870; Daniel, born May 4, 1811; Gersham, 
born May 29, 1813, died January 3,1887; 
Sarah, born August 31, 1815, died De- 
cember 27, 1856; Esther, born May 24, 
1817, died September 27, 1873; Alva, 
born November 16, 1819, died February 
28, 1898. 



Walter Jennings, father of subject, was 
born May 31, 1798, near Bridgeport, Conn., 
the fittii son in a family of nine sons and 
two daughters, viz.: James (deceased Jan- 
uary 28, 1846), Isaac, Nathan, Albin, 
Walter, Elijah, Peter, Barlow, Nehemiah, 
Anna and Esther. Educated in the primi- 
tive schools of his time and place, Walter 
Jennings saw in industry, rather than in 
school, a way to succeed, and, at tlie same 
time, win an education in the practical 
work-a-day life. At the age of twenty-one 
he began to learn the trade of carpenter 
and joiner, and his inclinations running in 
this direction, he made rapid progress in 
acquiring a complete knowledge of the 
trade. In 1822 he married Rhoda Jen- 
nings, eldest child of Daniel and Phasbe 
Jennings, as above recorded, and by this 
union were children as follows: Mary A., 
born November 1, 1824, married F. C. 
Payne, and died in Ripley township De- 
cember 25, 1889; Ezra S., subject of 
sketch; Nelson B., born October 14, 1829, 
now a farmer near Buffalo, Mo.; Daniel 
G., born May 4, 1832, a farmer in Fair- 
fiekl township; Sarah M. and Elizabeth S. 
(twins), born April 1, 1834 (Sarah M. died 
May 21, 1885, Elizabeth S. two days later); 
these six children were natives of Con- 
necticut, and in Ohio was born, December 
27, 1836, one child, Sarah E., who became 
the wife of James Young, of Chicago, 
Ohio. The father of this family died I"el)- 
ruary 12, 1843, the mother on March 12, 
1809, and they lie side by side in Hinck- 
ley cemetery, Fairfield township. 

In Connecticut Walter Jennings was a 
farmer, using his knowledge of the trades 
he learned in improving his home and 
farm buildings there. From his brother, 
who was a shoemaker, he learned enough 
of that trade to make shoes for himself 
and family, and was thus possessed of a 
knowledge of three useful trades, as well 
as of farming. With confidence in him- 
self lie set out, with the family, for Ohio 
in 1835. Proceeding by wagon to Bridge- 
port, the journey was continued by boat 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



189 



to New Yoi-k and Albany, and thence by 
canal- boat to lUiffalo. Here they re-em- 
barked for Hnron, Ohio, but owing to 
gales on shallow P^rie, the lake-boat could 
not approacli the shore, so had to continue 
on her way to Detroit. The sufferings of 
the passengers during the storm, and the 
disappointments, fears and fatigues of the 
journey were never forgotten by the pio- 
neers or their children. The twin sisters, 
Sarah M. and Elizal)eth S., died shortly 
after the landing at Detroit, the result of 
exposure. Wlien the storm abated its 
fury, the boat returned on its course and 
landed the family at Huron, whence they 
proceeded by team to Fairfield township, 
Huron county. There they passed one 
night at the home of John VVakeman, an 
old friend of the family in Connecticut, 
and nextdayAV^alter Jennings began active 
life in Ohio. Purchasing a tract of eighty 
acres at sixteen dollars per acre, with a log 
cabin thereon, he worked hard at clearing 
the tract and cultivating the new land. 
8oon he built abetter log house, and made 
many substantial improvements prior to 
1839, when the hard work of four years in 
the wilderness and the troubles of the 
journey to (.)hio began to tell on his con- 
stitution, and brought on the lingeriiia; 
illness which ended with his death. The 
early taking awav of the father left the 
burden of completing payment for the farm 
on the widow and her eldest son. How 
bravely they battled to linish the work, 
which Walter Jennings set going, was 
known and appreciated at tlie time, and 
how tiiey succeeded is told in the subse- 
quent history of the family. Walter Jen- 
nings was an Old-line Whig, and one of 
the voters for Harrison in 1840. He and 
his wife were members of the Methodist 
Church at Fairfield Center. 

E. S. Jennings, the subject proper of 
these lines, received an elementary educa- 
tion in Connecticut, aiul even after the 
coming of the family to Ohio he attended 
the school of the district at intervals until 
he was eighteen years old. Being the eld- 



est son, many duties devolved upon him 
here. Owing to the failing health of his 
father, the boy was compelled to play the 
part of an able farm hand, and at the age 
of fifteen years was really one of the most 
industrious workers in his section of the 
township. Through his labors the farm 
was paid for, and at the age of twenty-one 
years, when he went forth to work for 
himself, his mother, brotiiers and sisters 
were left in possession of a good frame 
residence and a well-improved farm. In 
1848 he began work for other farmers, and 
within two years saved enough to make a 
start in life. On November 28, 1850, he 
married HaiTiet K. Godden, born at Utica, 
N. Y., October 23, 1829, to William H. 
and Lucina (Butler) Godden, who settled 
in P'airfield township, Huron county, in 
1834. 

William H. Godden was born August 
6, 1804, in Albany, N. Y., and at tlie age 
of thirteen he went by raft down the Ohio 
river with his married sister, landing at 
Dayton, Ohio, where he lived with her and 
her husband, learning the trade of njason, 
and he became a stonemason, plasterer and 
brick layer. At the age of twenty-one he 
set out on foot from Dayton for the pur- 
pose of visiting his parents in Albany, 
walking as far as Sandusky, where he took 
vessel for Buffalo, from which port he 
traveled by canal to Albany. In 1828 he 
married Lucina Butler, who was born June 
19, 1809, in the town of Lee, Oneida Co., 
N. Y., and they lived in Utieaafew years, 
where were born to them two children: 
Harriet li. (Mrs. E. S. Jennings) and 
Elizabeth (born May 25, 1832). The 
family then moved to Buffalo, where the 
eldest son, John, was born August 17, 
1834 (he died in October, 1841), after 
wliich [\n 1834) they came to Ohio, set- 
tling in Fairfield township, Huron county. 
Here the remainder of the children were 
born, to wit: Emory, June 5, 1837 (died 
September 8, 1878); Mary, August 18, 
1839; Jennie and Julia (twins), January 
17, 1845 (Jennie died March 10, 1887, 



190 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Julia in infancy); Sarali. March 21, 1848, 
and Lucina, February 14, 1850. The 
father of these died November 2, 1856, at 
the age of tifty-two years; the mother, now 
(189i3j at the advanced age of eighty-four 
years, is still active, retaining all her fac- 
ulties. When the family catue to Ohio 
the country was nearly all covered vrith 
forest, there being but few clearings, and 
Mr. Godden had to work hard, suffering 
many privations and inconveniences. He 
followed his trade as well as he could in a 
sparsely settled district, in order to get 
money to support his family, and clear up 
his farm of one hundred acres which he 
had taken up. He would walk nine miles 
in the morning to do a day's work, return- 
ing same night, and following morning 
walk another nine miles in a different di- 
rection tor a similar purpose. In those 
pioneer days mills were a long way off, and 
the settlers would send one man with a 
load of their wheat to be ground; on one 
occasion the carrier was so long gone that 
the Godden family ran out of flour, so that 
the father had to grind some wheat in the 
coffee mill, with which the mother made 
pancakes. Indians were still to be seen 
in the neighborhood, and there was an 
abundance of deer and great droves of 
wild turkeys, providing ample food of that 
description. 

Mrs. Lucina Godden, mother of Mrs. 
Harriet R. Jennings, is a daughter of 
Jonathan and Lucina (^Wright) Butler, the 
former of whoni was born August 1, 1781, 
the latter on December 2;-3, 1779. Their 
children were as follows: Ezra, born 
September 12, 1804; Adin, born April 4, 
1806; Lncina, born June 19, 1809; Har- 
riet, born December 24, 1813; and Edward, 
born July 4, 1818. 

To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ezra 
S. Jennings the following named children 
were born: Desseline, who died when 
twelve years old; Byron E., a fanner of 
Fairfield townsliio; Edwin K., a farmer of 
Fitchville township; Mary L., Mrs. George 
Pond, of Norwalk, Ohio; Edson G., who 



was drowned when two years old; Herbert 
F., a farmer of Fairfield township; Hattie 
M., residing with her parents, and Lena 
R., who died in infancy. After marriage 
Mr. Jennings purchased a farm of fifty 
acres in Fairfield township, leaving part of 
the purchase money outstanding. This 
tract he improved and, for seventeen years 
to a day, made his home thereon; in 1876 
he sold it to his sou Byron E. In 18(J8 
he purchased the farm on which his pres- 
ent home is located, and developed both 
tracts up to 1890, when he retired from 
active agricultural life, renting his la'ids 
to tenants. While not a politician, Mr. 
Jennings takes a special jiride in being a 
stanch Republican. He and his wife were 
formerly members of the Congregational 
Church. Socially they are held in the 
highest esteem in their neighborhood — for 
their individual merits; for their share in 
the development of Fitchville township, 
and for the example of progress their lives 
have shown. 



E'LMER E. ROWLAND, one of the 
most prosperous and best known 
I young farmers of Clarksfield town- 
ship, was born there in 1854, on the 
farm which he now lives on and owns. He is 
a grandson of the old pioneer, Aaron Row- 
land, who came in 1818 from Danbury, 
Conn., to Clarksfield township, and was for 
many years the leading miller in that part 
of the country. 

Daniel Rowland, father of the suljject, 
was born in September, 1822, in Clarks- 
field township, lluron Co., Ohio, where in 
his early manhood he took an active part 
in the felling of the trees and making the 
clearings necessaiy to bring about the 
great change he witnessed in his lifetime 
— the converting of the grim forests into 
smiling farms, and the deep-tangled wild 
wood into fruitful orchards, clover-clad 
fields and meadows ripe with golden grain. 
After his marriage Mr. Rowland and his 
young wife commenced housekeeping a 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



I'Jl 



short (iit^tanee from where he was living at 
tlie time of his death. He built a new 
house on the same spot of ground on which 
the old loo; cabin used to stand, in 1877, 
where lie died September 24, 1881, at the 
age of lifty-nine years and twenty-four 
days, his end, no doubt, being hastened by 
hard work, wliich seemed to be a second 
nature to him. He was first a Whig, 
afterward a Republican, and served as 
township trustee. His widow followed 
him to the grave June 1, 1889, and they 
now sleep side by side in Clarkstield cem- 
etery. 

On November 9, 1843, Daniel Rowland 
and Harriet Chaffee were united in the 
bonds of matrimony. She was a native of 
the State of New York, born at the foot of 
tiie Catskill Mountains, in the picturesque 
town of Hunter, Greene county, a daughter 
of George and Furdy (Richards) Chaffee. 
Her father one day mysteriously disap- 
peared, and was supposed to have been 
murdered. He left a widow, one son and 
four daughters. Some time later Mrs. 
Chaffee married Ezra B. Gray, who after- 
ward came with the family to Ohio, land- 
ing at Huron, on Lake Erie, where Harriet 
found employment in the millinery busi- 
ness, which she had learned in New York. 
The children horn to Mr. and Mrs. Row- 
land were as follows: Emma, who died 
March 30, 1853, at the age of two years 
and seven days; Carrie M., deceased No- 
vember 18, 1870, when aged eleven years, 
ten months, and twenty-four days; Elmer 
E., subject of tliis memoir; and Celia, 
Mrs. Dorr Twaddle, of Clarkstield town- 
ship. 

Elmer E. Rowland, whose name intro- 
duces this biographical notice, received liis 
education at the common schools of his 
boyhood period, and was reared to farming 
pursuits under the preceptorship of his 
father, with whom he continued to live up 
to the time of his marriage. In addition 
to his literary training lie took a course in 
bookkeeping at Oberlin, Oiiio. On Oc- 
tober 25, 1877, he was married to Eva (L 



Lee, who was born, in 1858, in Camden 
townsliip, Lorain county, a daughter of 
John P. Lee, and two children have come 
to brighten their liome: Ray L., born 
November 7, 1879, and Ralph D., born 
September 9, 1884. After marriage our 
subject and wife located on the old home- 
stead, of which since his father's death lie 
has had charge. In addition to general 
farming Mr. Rowland gives considerable 
attention to the rearing of tine-bred sheep. 
Politically he is one of the leading Repub- 
licans of his township, and he has served 
as trustee, and three years as justice of the 
peace, declining to serve longer. His wife 
is a member of the M. E. Church. 



M 



ARTIN BEEBE, M. D. (deceased), 
was born September 1, 183(>, at Do- 
ver, Lenawee Co., Mich. His par- 
^} ents, Mr. and Mrs. George Beebe, 

migrated from Massachusetts in an 
early day, and may be enumerated among 
the pioneersof Michigan. About the year 
1840 the family moved to Ohio, and set- 
tled in Norwich township, Huron county. 
Martin Beebe may be said to have been 
reared in Huron county. Brought iiere 
when a child, he received a primary edu- 
cation in the school at Norwich, later 
attended a select school and a seminary at 
Norwalk, and subsequently taught schools 
in Fairfield and Norwich townships. In 
1863 he entered a medical college at Cleve- 
land, where lie attendeil lectures, and 
graduated in 1866. His marriage with 
Miss Mary L. Barrett took place Decem- 
ber 27, 1865; she was born October 29, 
1843, in Clarkstield township to Augustus 
and Clarissa (Cochran) Barrett, natives of 
Monroe county, N. Y. To this union 
came two children: Augustus C, born 
January 12, 1807, a farmer, residing on 
the homestead, and George P., born Oc- 
tol)er 11, 1871, also residing at hi)me. 
Early in 1866 Dr. and Mrs. Beebe located 
near Wakeman village, but within a short 



192 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



time moved to Oberliii, where they re- 
mained until the fall of 1S09, when they 
came to reside on the "Peter Hoag; Farm." 
During his residence there he was actively 
engaged in the duties of his profession, 
while liis leisure hours were given to the 
direction of farm work. Politically a 
Democrat, he was a man of influence in the 
local councils of that party. In religious 
connection he affiliated with the Disciple 
Ciuirch. He was an active, energetic man, 
whose soul was in his profession. As a 
farmer, too, lie was most successful, and 
socially he made many friends up to the 
time of his death, March 28, 1890. His 
remains were interred in the cemetery at 
New Loudon. Since her husband's death 
Mrs. Mary L. Beebe has managed the 
estate with singular ability. Her home is 
a modern house in its furnishings, and her 
lands are as well cultivated and as judi- 
ciously and economically managed as they 
would be under the direction of an ex- 
perienced agriculturist. 



JOHN JAMES McGLONE, well 
known and highly respected in the 
community in which he lives in 
Wakeman township, is a native of 
New York State, born in Tyrone in 1822. 
Mr. McGlone is a son of Patrick Mc- 
Glone, who in 1833 brought him when a 
boy of ten summers to Reed township, 
Seneca Co., Ohio. Leaving home after 
two years he w'orked on tiie canal near 
Toledo, Ohio, at twenty cents per day, re- 
ceiving a portion of his education from his 
employer's wife, after which he attended 
regular school. At the age of eighteen 
years, having saved a little money, he went 
to school one winter, and boarded with 
Judge Lemon, in Attica, Seneca Co., Ohio, 
after which he worked summers for Thomas 
Keed, of Norwich township, Huron county, 
until he attained his majority, attending 
school in winter time. In 1843 he bought 
out of his savings fifty acres of land in 
Norwich township, Huron Co., Ohio, 



which he resold for four hundred dollars. 
Two years after he was taken sick, and 
he was carried on an improvised ambulance 
to Berlin Heights, Erie Co., Oliio, whence 
he was conveyed by stage to Elyria, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, and on recovering found em- 
ployment in Medina, Ohio, as porter in a 
hotel, his pay being twelve dollars per 
month and board. After a time he bought 
fifty acres of laud in Litchfield township, 
Medina county, about seven miles from 
the county seat, and having improved 
same sold it for seven hundred dollars. 
He then bought a four-year-old horse, and 
moved to Berlin Heights, Erie Co., Ohio, 
wdiere the horse was attached for the debt 
of former owner, but the horse being taken 
sick, a lawsuit ensued which resulted in 
his favor. In 1849 Mr. McGloue pur- 
chased about fifty acres of land in Wake- 
man township, Huron Co., Ohio, which he 
sold in 1855, and bought and sold several 
farms until 1884, when he bought the 
farm known as the Cyrus Strong place, 
where he has since resided. 

In 1848 Mr. McGlone married Miss 
Catherine Stryker, of New York State, 
and children as follows were born to them: 
Isadore (Mrs. Jackson), in Norwalk, Ohio; 
Mary (Mrs. Hall), in Wakeman; John L. 
(deceased at age of twenty-one years); and 
Florence (deceased at the age of nineteen). 
Mr. McGlone is now the owner of one 
hundred acres of prime land in Wakeman 
township, on which he has made many 
improvements. Politically he was at one 
time a Republican, having cast his vote 
for Lincoln, but is now a Democrat. 



EiDWIN L. PERRY, a prominent 
and well-to-do farmer and stock 
I raiser of Fairfield township, was 

born November 13, 1841, on his 
father's farm in Peru township, Huron Co., 
Ohio. 

Joseph Perry, grandfather of subject, 
was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 
1785, and was there educated and reared. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



1<J3 



Some time after marriage he was induced 
to go to Cayuga county, N. Y., and there 
remained until 1832, when he came to 
Oliio, settling in Peru township, Huron 
county. The journey was made by boat 
from liutl'alo to Sandusky, and from there 
by wagon to Peru, where Mr. Perry took 
up wild land and cleared same. Iti JSew 
Jersey he married Miss Sarah Seward, a 
second cousin of Gen. Seward, and the 
children born to tiiis union were Horace, 
Emeline, Catharine, Daniel S., Eliza, Julia, 
Sarah A., Joseph and C. O. H. The 
mother of these died in October, 1861, the 
father on May 31, 1859; he was a hardy 
pioneer of sterling worth, much respected, 
and in politics he was first an Old-line 
Whig, later a Republican. 

Daniel Seward Perry, father of Edwin 
L., was born, in 1815, in Cayuga county, 
N. y., and was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits. He was married December 11, 
1840, to Elizabeth Dowe Tilson, of Peru 
township, Huron county, and children as 
follows were born to them: Edwin L., 
Charles H., in Nebraska; Seward N.. a 
farmer, of Kansas; William D., in Ne- 
braska; Dorcas A., Mrs. Wilcox, in Peru 
township; and Annie L. and Libbie C. 
(both deceased). The father died in 1866, 
the mother in 1886; they were members 
of the Baptist Churcli, and in politics he 
was a straight Republican. He was a 
hard-working, plodding man, and not only 
assisted in the clearing of his father's 
farm, but also developed his own from the 
wild woods. 

Edwin L. Perry, tiie subject proper of 
this sketch, was educated in Peru town- 
ship, Huron county, where he continued 
to reside until 1876, when he moved with 
his family to Fairfield township, settling 
on the farm where he has since had his 
residence. In November. 1866, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Emily T. 
RiilTSles, and there were ten children born 
to them, seven of whom are yet living: 
Ralph, Edith, Irene, Daisy, Oiaddey, 
Branch and Thayer; those deceased are: 



One that died in infancy, Floyd, and Beth- 
beryl. Mr. Perry owns eighty-eight acres 
of land, where he successfully follows gen- 
eral farming and stock raising. Politically 
he is a Prohibitionist, and, vvitii his wife 
and family, he is an active meujber of the 
Baptist Church. 



IfSRAEL GREENLEAF, one of the 
early settlers of Huron county, traces 
_[ his ancestry to one Dr. Daniel Green- 
leaf, a pioneer of Boston, Mass., where 
his son was born. The latter was twice 
married, and was the father of twenty-two 
children. 

Of this family Tille Greenleaf was born 
in New Hampshire, and there learned the 
blacksmith trade. He was married to 
Mary Sparford, and when twenty-six years 
of age moved to a farm in Oneida county, 
N. Y., where his remaining days were 
passed. Politically, he was identitied with 
the Democratic party, and gave a liberal 
support to the Presbyterian Church, of 
which his wife was a member. She died 
in her forty-seventh year, the mother of 
seventeen children (of whom fifteen grew 
to maturity), as follows: Anna, William, 
Sophronia, Betsey, Lucinda, Melinda. 
David, Abel, Emily, Israel, Mary, Harriet, 
Maria, Joseph, Israel (whose name opens 
this sketch), and two deceased in infancy. 
After the death of the mother the father 
married Elizabeth Dickson, who bore him 
two children, of whom Levi is a physician 
of Chenango county, N. Y. The father 
died in 1850, at the age of eighty-six 
years. 

Israel Greenleaf was born June 8, 1813, 
in Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y., and on 
New Years day, 1833, lie married Emily 
Whitney, who was born October 16, 1810, 
in New York. (Her parents were natives 
of Vermont, and she was one of twelve 
children). They resided in their native 
State two years after marriage, and coming 
to Ohio in 1885 located on a pioneer farm 
near Charleston, Portage connty. They 



194 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



celebrated their golden weddincr on New 
Year's day, 1SS3, and on the twenty-eighth 
day ot the same January Mrs. Greenleaf 
passed away after fifty years and twenty- 
eight days of happy wedded life. On No- 
vember 6, 1883, Israel Greenleaf was 
united in marriage with Mrs. Piiilotlia 
(Sparks) Movvrey, who died February 7, 
1892, leaving the bereaved husband alone 
and childless. Five children were born to 
his tirst marriage, as follows: One de- 
ceased in early infancy; John Whitney; 
Sarah, married August 23, 1851, to A. L. 
Curtis, and died June 29, 1871; Alcebe, 
born August 7, 1840, died October 16, 
1866; and Harriet, born July 5, 1848, 
married March 6, 1867, and died in 1872. 
Of these children, John Whitney was born 
May 3, 1836, and grew to manhood on the 
home farm. His father had bouc/ht but a 
poor farm for him, which John, however, 
converted into valuable property by dint 
of assiduous labor. He was first married 
to Martha Wadsworth, who l)ore him two 
children: Sebe and Mark Israel, now living 
in the AVest. After the death of this wife 
John Whitney Greenleaf was married to 
Mrs. Sarali (Strong) Mason, which union 
resulted in two daughters: Ethel, born in 
1864, and Mason, born March 5, 1881. 
The father died December 2, 1887; the 
mother is yet living. 

The life of Israel Greenleaf has been 
shadowed with heavy sorrows which none 
but a strong and noble nature could have 
borne so bravely. One by one he lias seen 
his loved ones fall to rest by the way, 
leavinjr him alone, though in the midst of 
friends — for new friends cannot replace 
the old. Although he appreciates tlie 
kindly deeds of those who would cheer his 
loneliness, lie is eagerly waiting till the 
white-robed angel comes, and ''over the 
river, the silver river," the boat will drift 
to the loved ones on the other side. Home 
is there now; and with the poet his heart 
echoes tliose lines, which voice the grief 
of evei'y mourner: "The hand of death 
may rend asunder our dearest earthly ties, 



yet faith unveils a world of glory, and 
there we long to rise." His loved ones 
sleep in tlie quiet churchyard of Charles- 
ton, Portage Co., Ohio. In addition to 
his domestic troubles, Mr. Greenleaf has 
suffered several serious accidents, liaving 
lost his teeth by a tree falling upon him, 
and also has had his hip broken. He is a 
member of the Congregational Church. 
In polities he cast his first vote for Jack- 
son; he was a strong Abolitionist, and has 
been identified with the Republican party 
from the time of its organization. After 
his second marriage, in 1884, he retired to 
his present home in Noi'walk, Huron Co., 
Ohio. On February 7, 1893, Mr. Green- 
leaf was married to Miss Wealthy Watros, 
of Carlisle, Eaton Co., Michigati. 



dlOHN M WHITON, a prosperous 
merchant of Wakeman, Huron coun- 
' ty, is a native of Massachusetts, born 
in Berkshire county, in 1830. 
He is a son of J. M. and Sallie (Brad- 
ley) Whiton, also of Massachusetts, re- 
spectively born in 1781 and 1793, and 
died in 1833 and 1867. The father was 
a consistent Christian; the mother after 
his death joined the M. E. Church, and 
was a devoted member. They came to 
what was then known as the ■' Western 
Keserve," and settled in' Huntington when 
our subject was a one-year-old child, and 
he here received three months schooling 
during a ^ew winter seasons, at the same 
time learning the trade of blacksmith. For 
his services his employer was to give him 
one hundred doUai's and two suits of 
clothes when he reached the age of twenty- 
one; but at nineteen he left for California, 
in various parts of which State he worked 
at mining. In July, 1852, having retui'ued 
to Ohio, lie commenced mercantile busi- 
ness at Huntington, Lorain county, in 
which he continued until 1855, and then 
moved to Iowa, where he pre-em])ted and 
bought land in Hardin county. In the 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



195 



spring of 1856 he helped to organize 
Pleasant townsliip, Hardin Co., Iowa, and 
the winter of 1856-57 he passed in Platte- 
ville, Wis., clerking in a store. Returning 
in the spring of 1857 to Ohio, he engaged 
in mercantile business in Brighton, Lorain 
county, till the spring of 1872, at which 
time he purchased a farm in Wakeman 
township, Huron county, carrying same on 
until 1880. In that year he moved into 
the village of Wakeman, and opened his 
|)refent mercantile business. 

In 1800 Mr. Whiton married Miss Sarah- 
Kimmel, by whom he has two children: 
Eva and William W. Politically our sub- 
ject was a Republican, having assisted in 
forming the party; and wdien the Prohibi- 
tion party was organized he became a 
strong worker in their ranks. He is a 
member of the Congregational Cluircii, is 
an earnest Sunday-school worker and has 
served many years as sup rintendent of 
different Sunday-schools. lie is an active 
member of the Firelands Historical Society. 



rii D. STOTTS, a successful, repre- 

/[\\ sentative agriculturist of Huron 

Irl^ county, was born in 1822 in Bel- 

^J mont county, Ohio, and has been a 

residentof Huron county since 1823. 

Abram Stotts, grandfather of our subject, 
was born in Scotland, and when a young 
man immigrated to the United States, find- 
ing a home in Maryland. After some 
years he became owner of a farm in that 
State, and there married Elizabeth Wine- 
burner, a native of same, where were born 
to them eigiit children, of whom John, the 
fatiier of xV. I). Stotts, was the eldest. 

John Stotts was born in 1794, and when 
ten years old left Maryland for Ohio, and 
located in Belmont county. He never at- 
tended school and never learned to read or 
write, but his natural aliility conquered 
Bucli disadvantages, and he succeeded on 
the farm. While little more than a youth 
he married Miss Eafy Winters, a daughter 



of Henry Winters, of Marshall county, 
W. Va. Her father, who was a soldier 
and officer in the war of 1812, was captured 
by the Hritish and Indians, and held by 
them for five years, until he escaped from 
them near Detroit. Walking from Detroit 
to West Virginia, he resumed farming, be- 
came very prominent, and died about 1827. 
After his marriage John Stotts resided for 
a short time in Belmont county, Ohio, and 
then settled in Ripley township, Huron 
county. Of the nine children born to 
them, A. D., the subject of this sketch, is 
a native of Belmont county; while Isaac, 
Elizabeth, Sarah, Jacob, Martin, Daniel, 
Catherine and George are natives of Hu- 
ron county. 

As has been stated, our subject came to 
Huron county with his parents about 1823, 
and he had no opportunity to attend school 
until he was ten years old. Huron county 
was then a veritable wilderness; deer were 
as common as sheep are now; the bear was 
monarch of the forest, and Indians were 
regular visitants. In his youth our sub- 
ject acquired a good knowledge of mathe- 
matics, geography and grammar, studying 
mainly without a teacher's aid. On Octo- 
ber 23, 1850, he married Miss Maryette 
Bougliton, daughter of John Boughton, of 
Fitchville township, and settled on the 
farm on which he yet resides. He in- 
iierited from his father about one thousand 
dollars, and has added to his real property 
at intervals, until now he owns over 500 
acres of as tine land as can be found in 
Ohio. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Stotts have been born 
four children, namely: Flora, who married 
John Hopkins, of Ripley township; Adilla, 
wdio married T. A. Hilton, of Coldwator, 
Mich.; Clarence, a grain merchant of Rip- 
ley; and Elmer, who resides on the home- 
stead. Mr. Stotts has beeti a stanch 
Republican since the organizarion of the 
party, has served on the board of county 
commissioners for six years, and fiileil 
many town.ship offices. In business mat- 
ters, he is president of the fluron County 



196 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Faimers' Insurance Company, and lias held 
that position since the organization of the 
company in 187H. In religious connection 
he is a member of the Baptist Church at 
Fairfield, and is one of the best supporters 
of that body. While Mr. Stotts inherited 
considerable property, he may be consid- 
ered a self-made man, one who by intelli- 
gent industry has carved a fortune out 
of the wilderness. The appearance of his 
home testifies to his energy, for it is a 
model one. In every branch of life with 
which he is associated he has won success, 
and to-day he is classed with the represent- 
ative men of Huron county. 



qEO 
, . in 



EORGE I). FULLER was a son of 
Samuel Fuller, who was born in 
'rattleboro, Vt., in 1793, and died 
1828. Coming to Ohio about 
the year 1825, Samuel located in 
Strongsville, Cuyahoga county, where lie 
bouglit a small improved farm on the 
banks of the river, but the floods were so 
destructive that he had to sell out and 
move to near Cleveland, where he took up 
a farm on which a few improvements had 
heen made. In the morning of the day he 
started from Vermont for Ohio he married 
Lorinda Doty, daughter of Ellis W. Doty, 
a Revolutionai'y soldier who enlisted in 
the patriot army at the age of si.xteen. 
Samuel Fuller died at the age of thirty- 
five, a lifelong Whig, his wife in Middle- 
burgh, Ohio, when tifty-eight years old. 

George D. Fuller, whose name opens 
this sketch, was born June 20, 1832, in 
Cuyahoga county, Ohio, the elder of two 
cliildren born to his parents, the younger 
being Henry S. As will be seen, our sub- 
ject was three years old at the time of his 
father's death, and an uncle then took 
charge of the farm and family. This uncle 
died at the home of George D. some years 
since. The latter received his education 
at the subscription schools of tiie neigh- 
borhood of his boyhood home, and was 



reared to farming pursuits. He remained 
on the old liomestead until about thirty- 
five years of age, and then in 1867 came 
to Ilartland township, Huron county,' 
where he now owns a well-cultivated farm 
of 167 acres. In 1880 they built a hand- 
some residence, and made other substan- 
tial improvenienfs on the farm. 

In 1857 Mr. Fuller married Miss Lucy 
A. Humiston, daughter of Willis Humis- 
ton, a native of Massachusetts, and a 
pioneer of Summit county, Ohio, who lived 
in Huron county twenty-four years, dying 
in May, 1891. Five children, as follows, 
were born of this union: Frank H., an 
engineer on the "Big Four" Railroad, 
living in Cleveland; Hattie L., married to 
Marion Hood, of Denver, Colo.; George 
S., in Philadelphia, a veterinary surgeon, 
and a graduate of the New York College 
of Veterinary Surgery; Carrie E., residing 
at home; and William W. D., at school in 
Norwalk, Ohio. 



GPIARLES W. MANAHAN. This 
gentleman was born in Cayuga 
county, N. Y., May 16, 1813, a son 
of Thomas and Violetta (Silcox) 
Manahan, of New Jersey, the former 
born in 1770, the latter in 1780. 

His grandfather Manahan was a school- 
teacher in Ireland before coming to Ame-r- 
ica; the Silcoxes were from New England, 
and of those who came at an early day. 
Thomas Manahan and family migrated 
from Cayuga county, N. Y., to Nor- 
walk, Ohio, in the spring of 1833, and 
with them was their son Charles, twenty 
years of age at the time. They were plain 
farmer people, braving the severe trials, 
dangers and the long self-denials of a 
frontier life with heroic fortitude. Here 
they passed the remainder of their honor- 
able lives, the father dying in 1856, aged 
eighty-six, the mother in 1874, at the ripe 
age of ninety-four years. The family 
were Methodists; in political connection 





'pLeA.-f'-T___ 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



199 



the veneralAe head of the lionse was a 
Jackson Democrat. They could give their 
children but the meager school and other 
advantau;es as the day aii<l time afforded. 
In early life Charles was apprenticed to 
the carpenter's trade, which had not heen 
completed fully when he came with his 
parents to Norwalk. Here, before he had 
reached legal age, his first business trans- 
action was to jiurehase fifty acres of land 
near the town of xiorwalk. at the price of 
three dollars per acre, to be paid as he 
could earn the money. This was an object 
lesson in the youth's life. Stopping one 
year in Norwalk the young man went to 
Monroeville. same county, then a mere 
hamlet, and here made his home for a 
long time. Both he and his brother 
George had considerable mechanical in- 
ventiveness, and as early as 1835, working 
at their odd hours, and with the scan test 
means, they constructed the first threshing 
machine ever built in Ohio — the second in 
the United States, all the work being done 
by hand, not even having a lathe to aid 
them. Such was their prevision that they 
well knew the world's wants in this re- 
gard, and it was only their very limited 
ca|)ital that prevented them from starting 
a great factory. 

Charles then purchased a blacksmith 
shop, building a wagon shop by it, and in 
order to make this purchase he had to get 
a couple of his farmer neighbors to go his 
security for the purchase money. As 
primitive as were the tools he liad,he soon 
was doing quite a business; but everything 
had to be " booked," and his debts were 
accruing, and his credit must be ir^ain- 
tained. He traded his book accounts, 
notes and wagons for iiorses, and to sell 
these he started to the nearest innrket, 
which was Detroit, a long and terrible 
journey tiirough the "Black Swamp," a 
trip those of this generation can have no 
idea of. At that time what is now Kala- 
mazoo, Mich., was " Bronson's Land Of- 
fice," where so many were then going 
through the " Swamp " to enter land. 



Without stopping to describe a trip 
through the " Black Swamp," it is enough 
to now say the yonng man successfully 
made his -way there and sold his horses, 
and after a three weeks' trip returned 
iiorae witii money enough to pay every 
debt, and had the princely sum of twenty- 
five dollars left. His first financial ven- 
ture was to purchase land on credit. 
While this was characteristic, yet this sec- 
ond financial transaction was quite as 
prophetic of ids future life as was the 
first. All his debts paid, and a cash capi- 
tal on hand of no mean proportions for 
that day, the young man began to enlarge 
his business affairs, and we soon find him 
also farmino; and beginnino; to trade in 
stock. 

The year 1886 marked the flood tide of 
town speculation in the West, and througli- 
out the country was a fever to go West 
and get rich at a stroke. Milwaukee be- 
ing the strong objective point, that year a 
number of young men from this- section 
had gone thither, and their letters back to 
their friends raised a whirlwind of excite- 
ment in the minds of the average ambi- 
tious young and even old men. " Buying 
and selling city lots^' was the dream of 
all. During the winter one of tlie young 
men had returned to Monroeville, and his 
reports completed the fever of excitement. 
And all believed that, like the valley brook, 
this would "go on forever." In April, 
1837, four young men, including Charles 
and his brother Henry, were ready and 
started to the promised land. The hour 
of departure was a "red letter day" in 
Motiroeville — to be eclipsed only by the 
arrival of a circus. Levi Ashley and 
James Handford were the other two young 
men of the party of four who had provided 
a three-spring wagon and a pair of ciiest- 
nut or sorrel horses; and thus equipped 
they sallied forth in high hopes, leaving 
behind a sciire of young men sad of heart 
that cruel fate compelled them to stay at 
home. As propitious as was the outset, 
they soon met trouble on the way. When 



200 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



they reached Lower Sandusky (now Fre- 
munt) tliey began to hear of the awfnl 
road throiigli the "Black Swamp." From 
Fremont to Perrysburg is thirty-one miles, 
nearly all the way through the terrible 
" Swamp," and one of the stories of the 
day was of the man found in the mud to 
his waist, who, when help was offered, 
said, " Fve a good horse under me, and 
propose to go tlirough." They took two 
days to journey from Monroeville to Per- 
rysburg — fifty miles of hard traveling — 
and strung along the way tbey saw sights 
of others that were both laughable and 
pathetic. In Michigan, such was the 
scarcity of feed, that they gave their horses 
wlieat to eat; and one was badly foundered ; 
but here Charles Manahan's ready re- 
sources and knowledge of the horse enabled 
them to resume their journey with only 
the loss of half a day. 

The party stopped in Michigan City one 
day, and traded tiieir team and wagon for 
lots in Winnebago City (one of the 
"boom" cities), on Winnebago Lake, and 
with the "boot" money the young men 
took the stage for Chicago. The stage 
driver went out of his way to show them 
a remarkable curiosity: In a tree some 
twelve feet from tlie ground was a pair of 
deer antlejs imbedded and nearly grown 
over, the timber being all smooth and 
solid around them. They found Chicago 
a small, muddy and forbidding place, and 
here they took a sail vessel for Milwaukee, 
glad to get away from the future " Fair 
city," and eager to reach the haven where 
cities grew in a night. At the " Leiand 
Hotel," Milwi^ukee, they found about 
eighty millionaire boarders — all with beau- 
tiful maps showing their lots for sale — 
every one of whom seemed to own one or 
more great cities, and tiieir wealth was 
simply incalculable, yet not one of them 
could pay his board bill. But they were 
happy as clams, waiting for the "spring 
run " of " suckers " to buy lots and get 
rich quick. The landlord was waiting for 
navigation to open, praying for it to be 



early, or they would soon have to eat 
million dollar lots, instead of bread and 
butter. Happy day! a boat came and 
among others landed eighty mechanics, ail 
rich in hope of work and a quick fortune. 
By tiiis time came the memorable financial 
crash of 1837, and tlie speculative bubble 
burst. Li less than ten days any of these 
arriving mechanics could be hired for less 
than half they could have got at home, and 
one could have bought the erstwhile mil- 
lionaires in "job lots" for a "grub- 
stake" to help them on their way back to 
where they came from. The one hundred 
dollars "boot" money they had got in 
their trade of team for the lots in the end 
proved to be their good fortune. In the 
scramble to get from under the financial 
ruins, it was a question with nearly every 
one how to save enough to return iiome 
with. They had carefully husbanded the 
one hundred dollars, and by so doing were 
enabled to return, bringing the deeds to a 
lot each in " Winnebago City," a metropo- 
lis like the squal), biggest when first 
hatched. They kept laid away their deeds 
which stood them in lieu of one hundred 
dollars each paid therefor, and in time 
Henry sold his for an overcoat, while 
Charles finally traded his for ten dollars to 
a man who worked on his farm. 

In the month of February, 1838, with 
a younger brother, Charles and Henry 
Manahan determined to revisit the scenes 
of their birthplace. In order to pay ex- 
penses of the trip they bought on credit, 
having no cash, a lot of work oxen, and 
were successful in buying twenty-four 
yoke of cattle. They borrowed one hun- 
dred dollars, at twenty per cent, interest, 
to pay the expenses of the long trip, which 
they made with forty-eight cattle, encoun- 
tering deep snow, and occu}iying four 
weeks on the way. When they reached 
and crossed Cayuga bridge their funds 
were nearly exhausted, but their hard task 
was about accomplished. After they had 
been gone a few weeks, one of the men of 
whom they had purchased became uneasy. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



201 



and began to throw doubts on their ever 
payiiii^ for tlie cattle. He said " the 
Maiiaiian lioys had bought all the oxen in 
the couuty on credit." This was said in 
presence of Daniel Williams, who assured 
the man he need not fear, that the boys 
would pay every cent; if they did not pay 
him for his cattle that he, Williams, would. 
Their trip was successful, and it was said 
they brought more money back than had 
been paid into Campbell A: Latimer's store 
during the season. Tiie two trips men- 
tioned give ample evidence of the young 
men's ability and shrewdness as stock 
traders. 

While carrying on his shop, owing to 
the great scarcity of money in the country 
Charles Manahan would exchange wagons 
for horses. When he had secured six head 
he would, alone, ride and lead them back 
to liis old home and sell them, and in this 
way get money to pay on his land, having 
sold his first purchase and bought 200 
acres near Olena. On one of these trips 
he first naet Miss Delana 13. Wiieeler, his 
future wife. When he broueht his school- 
girl wife to his home it was not the inten- 
tion to live on his farm. She had been 
tenderly reared on her father's finely im- 
proved farm, with every comfort of the 
times. They rented rooms on a second 
floor in the viliao-e of Monroeville. He 
took his wife to show her the farm, and it 
was the brave little woman who said: 
"Let us fix up this old cabin and live in 
our own house." This squat old log house 
was where Mr. Manahan had often kept 
his horses when getting ready to go to 
market. He went to work, cleaned it out, 
spread abundant ashes, built higher the 
stick chimney, turned the '• shakes," 
cliinked and daubed the walls, and then 
they moved into their own house. The 
careful wife put down her new self made 
rag carpet, but the rains descended and 
the house leaked like a riddle, washed the 
mud from the walls and nearly ruined the 
carpet. The " loft," whicii was reached 
by a ladder, was covered with loose boards, 



one of which was quite broad, and by sit- 
ting under this when it rained, if the rain 
was not too hard, they could keep tolera- 
bly dry. His recollection is now that they 
had to raise the umbrella but on one or 
two occasions. Her father had given her 
one hundred dollars to buy furniture, but 
instead of so spending it, the young hus- 
band went into the woods, cut the timber 
and aaade beech blocks, used to make car- 
penter's planes, which he exchanged for a 
bureau, bedstead, looking-glass and two 
chairs. When they moved into their 
cabin, he made their second bedstead — a 
one-legged one, attached to the logs on 
two sides — and altogether they got to be 
very comfortable. Here were passed many 
of the happiest days of their lives. In 
time they were aware that they were 
slowly prospering, and Mr. Manahan set 
about the task of building a new house, 
and being a carpenter commenced with 
the material in the tree; and, except the 
sawing of the lumber, with his own hands 
built a nice frame cottao-e, even doiuir his 
own plastering, laid the stone wall founda- 
ti(jn, built his chimnies and did his own 
painting. It was much of his labor for 
eighteen months, but when completed they 
had the satisfaction of moving from the 
poorest cabin in the neighborhood to the 
best frame house. 

In 1849 they left the farm and went to 
Ciena, where he engaged in merchandis- 
ing. With the view of providing capital 
^ to buy good«, he had purchased, the fall 
bef<ire, 300 sheep, fed them during the 
winter, and took them to New York in 
open cars, three days and two nights be- 
ing occupied on the way, sold the lot and 
purchased his goods. He had no experi- 
ence in the business, but he liad faith in 
himself, that self-reliance that is the crown 
and glory of the highest type of true edu- 
cation. The old gentleman would doubt- 
less tell you with a sigh, that he had not 
such advantages in schooling as those of 
this favored time. Wliile the truth is of 
the thousands of over- trained and misedu- 



202 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



cated of to-day, the most may ever regret 
that they were deprived of nearly all the 
opportunities of real education; such as 
the circumstances that surrounded the 
young life of Mr. Manahaii. 

The most active part of his career was 
now on; his .store, farm and trading in 
stock. The war was raging, and the need 
of the Government for supplies for the 
army was urgent. lie filled an order in a 
brief time for 200,000 walnut gun stocks, 
the material loading 300 cars. He was 
appointed to inspect the horses of tlie iirst 
• company of cavalry raised in Norwalk. 
He contracted to furnish cavalry horses, 
and supplied between 1,200 and 1,300 
prime animals, shipping to New York, 
Columbus and Washino-toii. He has in 
his possession an order, dated in the fall of 
18G2, from John Cooper, of New York, to 
furnish " si.xty horses delivered at New 
York within eighteen days"; and iri that 
brief time the order was satisfactorily 
filled. 

In 1862 Mr. Manahau was elected treas- 
urer of Huron county, was re-elected at 
the end of his first two years' term, and 
served four years. When first elected he 
sold out in Olena, removing to Norwalk, 
and in 1807 was formed the partnership 
of Parker, Manahau & Tabor, merchants 
of Norwalk. Tliis was successful from 
the start. Mr. Parker retired after six 
years, and the next six years it was Mana- 
han & Tabor, when Mr. Manalian sold and 
retired from mercantile life. About this 
time he platted and laid off an addition to 
the city of Norwalk, which is now finely 
built up, he owning the improvements, 
and one of the principal streets of tlje 
towii is '> Manahan avenue." 

On February 18, 1841, Charles W. 
Manahan and Delana B. Wheeler were 
united in marriage, in the place of his 
birth — Cayuga county, N. Y. She was 
born at Fall River, Mass., the daugh- 
ter of Cyrenus and Thursa (Evans) 
Wheeler. Her father lived to the age of 
ninety- live; he was the brother of Dexter 



Wheeler, who made the first iron shovel 
in the United States, at Lowell, Mass. 
Cyrenus Wheeler, Jr., invented tli£ first 
two-wheeled mowing machine. After 
years of litigation he fully vindicated his 
right to that important invention, and sold 
his ])atents for the sum of three hundred 
thousand dollars. The children of Mr. 
and Mrs. Charles Manahan were as fol- 
lows: Charles W. Manahan, born March 
12, 1844; Jeroline, born May 30, 1847; 
William Kendall IManahan, born October 
6, 1857. Mrs. Delana 15. Manahan died 
Marcli 29, 1887. William Kendall Mana- 
han died April 23, 18U1. 



Tp^DWARD DENMAN, prominent 
■ Ip among the progressive farmers of 
JL^i Huron county, was born, in 1820, 
in that part of the old county that 
is now included in Erie, his father, John 
Denman, having migrated thither in 1814. 
His early training was that of a pioneer 
farmer boy; hard and rugged work, in 
clearing the land, his lot from sunrise to 
sunset. His education was necessarily 
very meager, as the schools were of the 
most primitive kind, and his opportunities 
of attending them were but few. Until 
he was twenty-two years old he worked 
for his father, and the latter tlien crave 
him a start in life by presenting him with 
a small piece of land to cultivate for his 
own account; and also allowed him wages 
for whatever work he might do on the old 
homestead. Industriously he plodded along, 
until at the end of about three years he 
liad saved some eight hundred dollars. He 
then rented 160 acres of his father for three 
years, and stocked it with 400 sheep; then 
bought 183 acres of land in the wc)ods of 
Wakeman township, for eight dollars per 
acre. In the course of time he cleared 
this and sowed it to wheat, his first crop 
yielding 575 bushels, which he hauled to 
Milan, Erie county, distant about twenty 
miles. Thus he continued- to prosppr until 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



203 



lie found kimself the owner of one of the 
finest farms in Wakeman township, one 
hundred acres of which are of the highest 
fertility. He has tliereoii a productive 
orchard, grown from apple seeds planted 
while working for his father on the old 
homestead. In 1866 our suhject built a 
handsome residence, and the entire sur- 
roundings testify to tiie industry and judg- 
ment of the owner. 

On October 13, 1847, Mr. Denman was 
married to Jane Archer, daughter of Joseph 
Archer, of New York City, and seven 
children were born to them, of whom a 
son died in infancy. Their eldest son, 
Joseph, resides in Wakeman; Addie, the 
wife of Stanley Pierce, also resides in 
Wakeman; John E. resides in Norwalk, 
Ohio; Anna Belie, wife of Elmer Pierce, 
is also a resident of AVakeman ; two daugh- 
ters, Jennie and Louise, are living at home 
with their parents. The family are all 
well educated, the sons having attended 
school at Berea and Oberlin. 

Politically, Mr. Denman was originally 
a Whig, later, on the organization of the 
party, becoming a Republican. He has 
served as school director and in other 
offices of trust with commendable zeal, and 
to the satisfaction of the community. 



'jT^) HAENSLER, a well-known mer- 
p^ chant of Bellevue, was born, in 
If ^ 1854, in Baden, Germany. His 
■/) parents, Frank and Francesca (Egle) 

Haensler, were also natives of Ba- 
den, where the former followed farming 
until his death, which occuri'ed in the 
eighty-second year of his age. The mother 
died November 24, 1893. 

R. Haensler received the ordinary pub- 
lic-school education in Baden, and at the 
age of sixteen years immigrated to the 
United States. Arriving at Monroeville, 
Huron Co., Ohio, he found work on a 
farm, and for the succeeding five years was 
engaged in agriculture. Subsecpiently he 



worked in the grocery store at Hunt's Cor- 
ners, and in 1880 embarked in business 
for himselfat Bellevue. In 1881 his mar- 
riage with Miss Mary Urlan, a native of 
Bellevue, was celebrated at Monroeville. 
Five children have blessed this union, 
namely: Rolertina, Edgar, Clarence, Marie 
and Corenia. The family belong to the 
'Catholic Congregation of Bellevue. Mr. 
Haensler has built up a fine trade in gen- 
eral groceries since 1881. Attending to 
his own business closely, and dealing with 
his patrons as he would wish to be dealt 
by, he has made an enviable reputation, 
and is regarded as a man whose business 
methods are strictly upright and honorable. 



d I AMES M. CAIIOON. In the front 
rank of the influential, well-to-do 
^ agriculturists of Wakeman township 
stands this gentleman, a grandson of 
Joseph Cahoon, who was born on Block 
Island, R. I., and was an extensive manii- 
facturer in the East. He built a large 
nail factory in Newark, R. I., and in an 
early day came west to Ohio, settling in 
Dover Bay, where he cleared laud at a 
time when Indians and wild animals were 
more numei'ous than welcome. He died 
about the year 1838 at the age of seventy- 
five years, a Whig in politics, and a hard- 
working pioneer. 

Samuel Cahoon, father of our subject, 
was a native of Rhode Island, born in 
1777, and received his primary education 
in the primitive old-time log schoolhouse, 
after which he attended Yale College, be- 
coming a classmate of Perry Penfield. 
When yet a young man he came to Cleve- 
land, Ohio, and was there employed by the 
Government in boat building. During the 
war of 1812 he carried the mail for Har- 
rison's army, traveling at night, sometimes 
up streams, at other times over steep hills 
or through deep valleys, meeting with 
many adventures. After the war ho l)0Uglit 
a small farm in Lorain county, at that time 



204 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



covered with timber, which by dint of 
liard labor he cleared. The Indians in those 
restless days were very hostile to the white 
man, and Mr. Cahoon organized a militia 
company, of which he was made captain; 
he also assisted in the building of Fort 
Columbus in Lorain county. L)ocuments 
show that he received two commissions as 
captain from Gov. Wortliington. His wife, 
Lucinda (Barnum), was a distant I'elative 
of P. T. Ijarnum, and a daughter of John 
Barnum, a native of Connecticut and a 
well-known iron manufacturer, who when 
well advanced in years came to Ohio, 
locatinjjj in Cuyahoga county, where he 
died a few years later. To Mr. ai\d Mrs. 
Samuel Cahoon were born two children: 
John, living on the old homestead in Lo- 
rain county, and James M., the subject of 
this sketch. The father of these died in 
1862. Li politics he was originally a 
Jackson Democrat, but during the later 
years of his life he was a stanch Republi- 
can. He was a devout Christian, a mem- 
ber of the Disciple Church. Socially he 
was a charter member of the F. & A. M., 
of Elyria. His widow survived hitn sev- 
eral years, dying at the advanced age of 
eighty-five years. 

James M. Cahoon, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was born March 3, 1826, on 
the old homestead in Lorain county, in an 
old doorless log house, and was reared to 
the arduous duties of the farm. In 1855 
he married Miss Cynthia D. Parish, daugh- 
ter of John Parish, a native of New York, 
and shortly afterward they went to Wis- 
consin, where he invested his few hard- 
earned dollars in land, but the climate not 
agreeing with him, he sold the land and 
returned to Lorain county, where they con- 
tinued to live from 1857 to 1863, at which 
time they moved to their present home in 
AVakeman township, Huron county. Here 
Mr. Cahoon owns a farm of about 160 
acres of as fine land as can be found in the 
county, on which he has built an ele- 
gant and comfortable residence, having no 
superior for many miles around. He has 



carried on general farming, and the raising 
of large quantities of fruit. To our sub- 
ject anil wife were born two children, viz.: 
Fred P., a very popular young man, and 
Julia, who died at the age of seventeen 
months. Politicallv our subject is a Re- 
publican, and before he was twenty-one 
years old he served as school director. 
Both he and his wife are members of the 
Congregational Church at Wakeman, 




( LEXAKDER TWADDLE, Sr., may 
[\ well be classed among the "sons of 
the American Revolution." He was 
born in 1782 in Allegheny county, 
Penn., and was a son of the Twad- 
dles who emigrated from County Donegal, 
Ireland, to Pennsylvania about the time of 
the Revolution, took a part in that brilliant 
struggle for liberty, and died about the 
beginning of this century, leaving nine 
children, of whom the following is a brief 
record: (1) John Twaddle, the eldest son. 
died at Moore's Salt AYoi'ks, Jefferson 
county, Ohio. He reared a large family, 
nearly all of whom were blind at birth. 
He received from the United States a grant 
of land, which he iinpioved, and on which 
he resided until his death. (2) Margai-et 
Twaddle married a Mr. Deffenbaugh, and 
they moved to Muskingum county. Ohio, 
where she died. (3j William moved to 
Muskingum comity, Ohio, in early days, 
and was sheriff of that county for many 
years; he died at Zanesville. (4) James 
served in the war of 1812; after Harri- 
son's and Perry's repeated victories, on 
land and water, over the British and Indi- 
ans, enabled him to j-eturn, he engaged in 
the Ohio river trade, went down that river 
on a flat-boat, and was never heard of 
again. (5) Ale.xander, sketch of whom 
follows. Of the four other children, Philip, 
Archie, Mary and Sarah, but little is 
known. 

Alexander Twaddle was reared on the 
home farm. He married Elizabeth Ram- 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



205 



age, who was born September 23, 1788. in 
Pennsylvania, and broiigiit her to Jefferson 
coimty, Ohio, then on the frontier. lie 
rented a farm near East Springfield, but 
soon after moved to a place called Moore's 
Salt Works, on Yellow creek, where he 
was employed for six years. AVhile attend- 
ing to his duties there, he was walking out 
on a plank, between two rows of boilers, 
when a false step cast him into one, scald- 
ing him so severely from ankle to hip as 
to make him a cripple for life. To him 
and his wife were born eight children in 
Jefferson county, namely: Jemima, born 
JVovember 18, 1807, married Daniel Haley, 
of Holmes county, Ohio, and died in Kan- 
sas ill 1893; Abner, born December 11, 
1809, died at Rochester, Lorain county, 
where for several years he conducted an 
ashery; Lydia, born October 22, 1811, 
married Peter Justice, of Holmes county, 
Ohio, and died in Clarksfield township, 
June 1, 1873; Mary, born May 6, 1814, 
married Robert Barnes, of Huron county, 
Ohio, and died in Wakeman townsliip; 
Alexander, born February 28, 181G; Eliza- 
beth, born April 8, 1818, married Peter 
Bevington, of Holmes county, Ohio, and 
now resides in Clarkstield township; John 
J., born February 23, 1820, married Julia 
A. Palmer, of Westchester county, N. Y.; 
and Sarah, born July 21, 1822, married 
Adam Shank, of Holmes county, Ohio, 
and now resides in Clarksfield township. 
In the spring of 1823 the family left for 
the West, as Holmes county was then con- 
sidered. Locating in Paint township, thev 
bought 200 acres at one dollar per acre, 
occupied a log house which stood on the 
tract, and began the work of clearing the 
timber. Soon after Mr. Twaddle sold one 
hundred acres to his brother-in-law, AbneV 
Rainage, who had come from Pennsylvania. 
In 1835 he sold the remaining one hundred 
acres, and giving one hundred dollars to 
his son, Alexander, Jr., and another one 
iiundred dollars to his son Jolin J., as their 
share or inheritau(;e, suggested the invest- 
ment of the money in land. The boys 



proceeded at once to Clarkstield township, 
Huron county, purchased 170 acres in the 
deep forest at three dollars per acre, erected 
a log house thereon, and in the fall of 1836 
invited the rest of the family to come to 
the new land, which they found nntonched 
by civilization. The father purchased fifty 
acres from the sous, erected a log cabin, 
and lived therein until within a few years 
of his death, which occurred February 11, 

1859, at the home of his youngest son, 
Willianr. The children born in Holmes 
county, Ohio, are named as follows: Susan, 
born December 17, 1824, widow of Royal 
Gridley, residing in Clarksfield township; 
Marjjaret, born January 8, 1827, who mar- 
ried Samuel Gaines, and died near Kinder- 
hook, 111., being the first of the children 
to die; Nancy, born January 27, 1830, now 
widow of Elijah Minkler, residing in Mis- 
souri (her first husband was Philip Mag- 
lone); and AVilliam W., born November 
Itj, 1833, a farmer of Clarkstield township. 
The mother of this family died October 12, 

1860, and was buried near her husband in 
Clarksfield cemetery. The life of the father 
was one of constant work. To provide for 
his family he had to seek employment out- 
side his farm, and with his son Abner 
labored on the Beaver and Sandy Canal. 
He was a Jacksonian Democrat, who always 
found time to vote that ticket. 

Alexander Twaddle, fifth child of Alex- 
ander Twaddle, Sr., and oldest of the fam- 
ily now living, was reared in Jefferson and 
Holmes counties, and settled in Huron 
county in 1835. Before locating here he 
worked for four months on a farm near 
Maumee City, but was stricken with fever 
and ague. Returning to his father's home, 
he set out with his brother to locate in 
Huron county, where he has since resided. 
His marriage with Sarah Lee took place 
June 27, 1839; she was born February 5. 
1816, in New York State, a daughter of 
David and Mercy (Barber) Lee, who set- 
tled in Townsend townshi]) in 1819. Her 
father and mother died in Clarksfield town- 
ship, the former in his ninety-ninth year. 



':o6 



IIUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



Alexander and Sarah Twaddle resided on 
tlie farm until 1848, when he sold the pio- 
neer home and located on liis present farm 
of 211 acres. The children born to them 
are named as follows : Abner D., who served 
in Company D, Fifty-fifth O. V. I., and 
was killed at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864, 
where he was buried; John J., a farmer of 
Glarkstield townsiiip; and Dorinda A., who 
married Clark Auble, and died in Clarks- 
field township. Politically Mr. Twaddle 
lias been a Prohibitionist since 1872; his 
first vote was cast for Andrew Jackson, 
but in 1856 he l)ecame a Republican, and 
affiliated with that party until 1872. In 
church connection he is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Society, and has 
served as steward and class-leader for many 
years. He was formerly superintendent of 
Sunday-school, and has always been in- 
fluential in church affairs. 



^J 



t Jl R COLEMAN, New London, is 
^1 undoubtedly one of the n:ost en- 
1] terprising business men of Hu- 
ron county. Philip Coleman, his 
father, was born in 1814 in New 
York State, where he was reared on a farm, 
and when a young man married Sarah A. 
Haight, a native of Dutchess county, same 
State, born in 1820. 

Immediately after marriage Philip Cole- 
man and his wife migrated to Ohio, and 
settled on a farm near New London, Hu- 
ron county, which is now in the possession 
of their youngest son, the subject of this 
sketch. Here five children were born to 
them, three of whom are living. Mr. 
Coleirian was a progressive farmer. Po- 
litically a Republican, he was true to the 
faith of that party down to the period of 
his death, which occurred six years ago. 
His widow resides with iier son at New 
London. 

M. R. Coleman was born in Huron 
county in 1850. The territory was then 
far advanced beyond pioneer condition, so 



that as a boy he enjoyed advantages un- 
known to older natives of that section. His 
education was received in the common and 
high schools of the district. About the 
year 1870 he began business for himself, 
and for eight or ten years was engaged in 
farming. Then he estahlifehed himself in 
New London as a hay merchant — buying, 
baling and shipping tiiis staple to corre- 
spondents in southern and eastern cities, 
New York being his leading market. The 
extent of his ti-ade may be learned from 
the fact that in 1892 he shipped 250 car- 
loads of baled hay. His flax mill is also 
an important industry, and contributes its 
quota to more than one American industry. 
The product of this mill is principally up- 
holsterers' tow, in which a laro-e trade is 
done. With his hay and flax interests, 
Mr. Coleman also carries on the farm, near 
New London, giving to it a full share of 
the attention it merits. 

Politically a Republican, our subject is 
influential among the men of his party; 
while as a citizen he is a boon to the neitrh- 
borhood in which he exercises his ])U8inesB 
talents. 



I[SAAC De WITT, a prominent and 
much respected agriculturist of Ridge- 
J field township, is descended from Dutch 
ancestry, the pioneers of his family 
liaving emigrated from Holland to New 
Jersey many years ago. 

Isaac DeWitt, the grandfather of our 
subject, was an extensive landowner along 
the Delaware river, and in Warren county, 
N.J. He reared a family of eight chil- 
dren, among whom is mentioned a son 
named Jacob. 

Jacob DeWitt was born in Warren 
county, N. J., went to school in his boy- 
hood, assisting also in the farm duties, and 
then learned the trade of blacksmith. 
While yet a young man he married Eliza- 
beth Winters, a native of New Jersey, 
who bore him six children, viz.: James, a 
farmer of Perkins townshij), Erie county, 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



207 



Ohio, where he died in 1888; John, at one 
time a boot and shoe dealei', of 8andnsky, 
Ohio, who died in 1866; Catherine, wiio 
was married in New Jersey to Barnett 
Matthews, and died in Ohio in 1888; 
Elizabeth, deceased in 181(0, in Hui'on 
county, Ohio, wife of William Miller; 
Margaretta, deceased wife of James Per- 
son, of Belvidere, N. J.; and Isaac, whose 
sketch follows. In 1837 the father of this 
family, accompanied by his son Isaac and 
some of the other children, started west. 
They crossed the Alleghany mountains, 
then, proceeding to Pittsburgh, crossed 
the Oliio river and pushed westward to 
Ohio. After a long, tiresome journey 
they arrived at Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, and 
there made a temporary location. But 
this rude home in the wilderness offered 
little "attraction for Mr. DeWitt, who had 
always been accustomed to the luxuries of 
civilization. He resolved to return to his 
native State, and would have done so had 
it not been for the persuasions of his son 
Isaac, who used all his persuasive powers 
to induce his fatlier to remain. The latter 
finally concluded to do so, purchased land, 
and foUow'ed his trade at Cook's Corners 
(now North Monroeville). In politics he 
was actively identified with the Demo- 
cratic party, and in I'eligion he and his 
wife were members of the Presbyterian 
Church. She died in 1863, he in 1866, 
and both are buried in Perkins cemetery, 
in Erie county. 

Isaac DeWitt was born September 17, 
1816, in Warren county, N. J., where he 
attended school. lie was an eager student, 
and after leaving school fitted himself for 
the profession of civil engineer, which he 
followed for some time. After coming to 
Ohio he devoted his attention to agri- 
culture, and on December 23, 1840, was 
united in marriage with Martha Young, 
who was born August 18, 1823, in Roches- 
ter, AVindsor Co., Vt. She is a daughter 
of Josiah and Mary (Barden) Voung, 
natives of New Ilauipshire and early set- 
tlers of Huron county, Ohio. Soon after 



their marriage Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt 
moved from liidgefield township to Gro- 
ton township, Erie Co., Ohio, and in 1843 
purchased a farm in Ridgeiield township, 
to which they removed. In 1857 he bought 
the place which is now their home, and has 
since been engaged in farming, with the 
exception of a few years when he carried 
on the grape industry on Catawba Island. 
He has been an energetic and successful 
business man, and though now far ad- 
vanced in life is yet able to do a great deal 
of work. He possesses remarkable vitality, 
and knows nothing of sickness from per- 
sonal experience. In politics Mr. DeWitt 
has been a Republican since the organiza- 
tion of that party, at the same time sympa- 
thized with the Prohibition movement, 
and is now a strong Prohibitionist. In 
religion he and his wife are members of 
the M. E. Church, with which he has been 
connected fifty-six years. In 1890 this 
couple celebrated the fiftieth anniversary 
of their wedding day, on which occasion 
they were the recipients of many beautiful 
presents. They have had three cliildren: 
Mary Ellen (deceased in 1867), wife of 
James G. Fish; Isaac E., a successful 
prospector and miner of Colorado; and 
Burton L., formerly in business at North 
Monroeville, now a traveling salesman for 
several large wholesale houses of Cleveland. 



E. SIMMONS, M. D., a well-known 
practicing physician of Norwalk, 
was born in Huron county, Ohio, 
son of Charles B. and Aura (Palmer) 
Simmons. 

Our subject received his primary educa- 
tion in the public schools, and subse- 
quently became a student at Oberlin 
College (Oberlin, Ohio), and also at Ohio 
Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. He 
studied medicine with Dr. Keith, of North 
Fairfield, Ohio, and graduated in Cincin- 
nati, in 1881. The Doctor practiced his 
profesbion in North Fairfield, Ohio, from 



208 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



1881 to 1883; then in Milan, same State, 
from 1883 to 1891. In the latter year he 
took a special course of study in Chicago, 
and in 1892 came to Xorwalk, where he 
is at present located, being surgeon to the 
Huron County Infirmary. He is a mem- 
ber of the Board of Pension Examiners; 
a member of the State Homeopathic So- 
ciety and of the National Society. 

Dr. Simmons was united in marriage 
with Miss Hattie Dimon, a native of 
Milan, Ohio, and two children — Charles 
and Mary — have been born to them. 



EORGE M. DILLON, active in real- 



estate interests in Bellevue, is a na- 



r 

\L_J tive of the State of Ohio, born March 
^l 19, 1851, in Zanesville. In 1854 
he was taken by his parents to Min- 
nesota, where he remained until 1864, at 
which time the family returned to Ohio, 
locating in Zanesville, but subsequently 
settling in Chicago Junction, Huron 
county. 

George M. Dillon received hisedncation 
in the common schools of Zanesville. He 
then entered the service of the old Balti- 
more & Ohio Railway Company, serving 
for ten years as conductor on that division, 
and he is to-day one of tlie great army of 
300,000 raih'oad men in the United States. 
In 1882 he entered the employ of the N. 
Y. C. & St. L. R. R. Company, as passen- 
ger train conductor, and he is at present 
one of the most ])opular officials on that 
division of the -'Nickel Plate." 

On November 3, 1872, Mr. Dillon was 
united in marriage at Zanesville, Ohio, 
with Miss Jennie S. Ogier, who was born 
July 12, 1850, at Cambridge, Ohio, a 
daugiiter of John P. and Martha Ogicr, 
natives of the Isle of AVight, England. To 
this unio!i have been born five children, 
viz.: Thomas E., George B., Edith P., 
Sidney R. and Gracie M., all of whom re- 
side with their parents. Politically Mr. 
Dillon is a Republican; in religious 



connection he is a member of the M. E. 
Church. In social and benevolent affairs 
he is a member of the F. & A. M. 
(thirty-second degree), I. O. O. F., Royal 
Arcanum, and of the Order of Railroad 
Conductors. Since locating at Belluvue 
he has been prominent in real-estate en- 
terprises, owning considerable property, 
and dealing generally in real estate. He 
is the builder and principal stockholder of 
the "Commercial Hotel" at Bellevue, and 
is interested in many other projects. In 
the spring of 1883 he was elected a mem- 
ber of the city council, and with the ex- 
ception of one year has since continuously 
served in that capacity. The interest which 
he takes in town affairs overmasters party 
interests, for in this Democratic city the 
people have elected and reelected him with- 
out questioning his Republicanism. A 
natural leader, he is popular among rail- 
road men, for through him they have made 
their influence felt, not only in Bellevue, 
but also in the other towns on his division 
of the "Nickel Plate." As a citizen he is 
held in general esteem. 




ENDRICK W. LAMOREUX. Tiiis 
gentleman traces his genealogy to 
natives of the "Sunny Land of 
France." His pioneer ancestors 
immigrated to America in an early 
day, locating in Luzerne county, Penn., 
where Joshua Lamoreux was born Atigust 
30, 1793, and reared to manhood. He 
was married to Martha Ives, who was born 
July 24, 1796, and their children were 
named as follows: Samuel A., Josiah, 
Darius, Thomas, Elizabeth, Clarissa, AVill- 
iam, Elmira, Lucy, Emily and Mary J. 

Samuel A. Lamoreux, eldest son of 
Joshua and Martha (Ives) Lamoreux, was 
born October 11, 1815, on the home place 
in Luzerne county, Penn. He attended 
the schools of the period, and post^essing 
marked mechanical al)ility followed various 
trades. In 1837 he selected a life com- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



209 



paiiion in the person of Amelia M. Skad- 
den, wlio was born Marcii 12, 1819, in 
Luzerne county, Penn., daughter of Anson 
C. Skadden. After his marriage Samuel 
A. Lamorenx located on a farm, and in 
connection followed the lumber business, 
working also at the trade of millwright. 
His ciiildren were there born, as follows: 
Joshua, Jannary 14, 1840, deceased in in- 
fancy; Delia, November 6, 1841, wife of 
W. F. Bradley, of Sandusky, Ohio; 
Emnieline, January 0, 1843, living in 
California; llendrick W., whose name 
opens this sketch, January 30, 1845; An- 
son, August 29, 1846, a carpenter of Mon- 
roeville, Ohio; Benton L., January 23, 
1849, now living in South America; Al- 
bert and Absalom (twins, both deceased in 
infancy), December 31, 1851; and Elmira 
J., April 15, 1853, wife of David Wilkin- 
son, of Norwalk. The parents of this 
family left Pennsylvania December 25, 
1854, locatinw; on a rented farm in Oxford 
township, Erie Co., Ohio. Mr. Lamoreux, 
being in limited circumstances, remained 
a tenant four years after coming to Ohio, 
and then bought a small tract of land. In 
1874 he purchased a farm in Ridgetleld 
tovvnship, Huron county, and in 1871) 
n)oved upon it. He was actively interested 
in politics, and was first a Democi-at, be- 
cotning a Republican after the war; he 
served in various local offices. He was a 
member of the Baptist Cliurch for forty- 
three years, and subscribed regularly to 
The Examiner, a Baptist periodical which 
had been known as the BajAist Re<jister 
since 1837. He was an officer in the 
church, and tauj^ht the Bible class for 
twelve years. He died October 31, 1890, 
leaving many friends to mourn his death, 
who knew his worth as a Christian man 
and progressive citizen. His widow is yet 
living on the home farm with lu^r son, 
Hendrick W. She has been a meitiher of 
the Baptist Church for fifty-five years. 

Hendrick W. Lamoreux was born on 
the home place in Luzerne county, Penn., 
where he attended the district schools. 



On October 26, 1870, he was united in 
marriage with Ruth H., daughter of 
Daniel Fi'azier, and a native of Erie 
county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Lamoreux 
have resided on his father's farm in 
Ridgefield township, Huron county, since 
their marriage, where two children have 
beer) born to them: Bertha E. and Wilbur 
L. Mr. Lamoreux is a prosperous busi- 
ness man, and takes an active interest in 
the Republican party. He and wife are 
members of the BaptistCliurch, with wliich 
he has been connected twenty-two years. 



(GEORGE SUTLIFF, who represents 
, an old and well-known family of 



r 

\Ji\ Bronson township, is a son of Na 
~~^ than Sutliff, who was born near 
Genoa, New York. 

Nathan Sutliff passed his youth in 
Cayuga county, N. Y., and in early man- 
hood was there married to Loretta Law- 
rence, a native of Genoa, same State. The 
young couple resided in the home neigh- 
borhood some time after their marriage, 
and then came to Huron county, Ohio, 
where Mr. Sutliff purchased 200 acres of 
land. At the time of this purchase Bron- 
son township was a wilderness, the only 
njarks then evident of coming civilization 
being two log cabins in Norwalk, and one 
which had been erected the previous year 
on the land now owned by Martin Kellog. 
With these few neighbors to brighten the 
lonely wilderness, Nathan Sutliff and his 
wife set bravely to work and prepared a 
home for those who followed. He was a 
Whig in politics, and in religion was one 
of the first members of the T'l-esbyterian 
Church in Peru township. Some time 
after the death of his wife this pioneer was 
laid to rest at a good old age. They were 
the parents of eight children: Alice, Sam- 
uel, Mary, David, Loretta, John, Nathan 
and George. 

George Sutliff, son of Natiian and Lo- 
retta (Lawrence) Sutliff, was born March 



210 



IIUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



14, 1832, till the farm where he is now 
living, in Iliiroi) countj, Ohio. He re- 
ceived a limited country-school education, 
passing his earlj^ youth on the home farm, 
and then worked four years at the carpen- 
try trade. On Fe])ruary 1, 1854, he was 
united in marriage with Emily Fancher, a 
native of Huron county, and daughter of 
Daniel Fancher, who was married to a 
Miss Mitchell, and settled in (rreenwich 
township, Huron county, many years ago. 
In the autumn following their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Sutliff moved to De Kalb 
county, Ind., where he bought eighty acres 
of land (about si.xteen of which were then 
tillable), afterward adding twenty acres. 
He continued to farm on this place seven- 
teen years, hut fiually returned to Ohio, 
and purchasing the old homestead, consist- 
ing of 104 acres, has since resided upon it, 
and has made many improvements. Po- 
litically he votes with the Hepublican 
party. Mr. and Mrs. Sutliff have three 
children: FUa S., Oberka F. and Ger- 
trude L. Oberka F. was married January 
8, 1887, to Clara Barto, who has borne 
him two children: Lelia Gertrude and 
Nathan Koy. 



Ei) ARNETT ROE, one of the most 
i\ p''t)gressive farmers of Greenfield 
I) township, is a descendant of Thomas 

Roe, the pioneer of the family in 
America. 

Thomas Roe, a native of Northampton- 
shire, England, left his country in 1822, 
and with his wife and seven children came 
to the United States, locating near Flem- 
ing, Cayuga Co., N. Y. He had eight 
children born to him in England, of whom 
one, Thomas, died there. The seven who 
accompanied their parents to America 
were Charles, married to Corinna Carver, 
of Fleming, Cayuga Co., N. Y., who bore 
him one daughter, Selina (Mrs. George VV. 
Atherton),of Peru township, Huron county 
(Charles Roe died in Peru township in 
1891); Anna, who married Samuel Weeks, 



and died at Pioneer, Williams Co., Ohio; 
Mark, now residing at Granville, Ohio; 
Joseph, a sketch of whom appears in the 
biograpiiy of A. G. Roe, of Peru town- 
ship; Barnett, a short record of whom 
follows; Mary Ann, who married Hiram 
Jjarnum, and died in Fairfield township, 
and William, who was a farmer of Fair- 
field township, where he died. While re- 
siding in New York State, two more 
sons were born: Thomas, now a resident 
of Oregon, and Reuben, of Toledo, Ohio. 
About 1834 Thomas Roe and his son, 
Charles, came to Huron county and pur- 
chased a tract of laud in Peru township. 
The father remained here, while the son 
went back to Cayuga county, N. Y., for 
the remainder of the family, with whom 
he returned and introduced to their new 
home. Here the father and mother both 
died. They were members of the Baptist 
Church, and were much esteemed citizens 
of the community. 

Barnett Roe, son of Thomas, was born 
in 1810, in England, and, accompanying 
his parents to America, resided with them 
in New York State, later moving with 
them to Huron county, Ohio. His school 
days were passed in Cayuga county, N. Y., 
where he also began to learn the carpen- 
ter's trade, which he followed with such a 
measure of success that he was enabled 
from time to time to invest in small tracts 
of laud, in Greenfield township, increasing 
his number of acres annually. While still 
a young man he married Harriet Bright- 
man, of Peru township, who was born in 
1814, and the children of this marriao;e 
are Elizabeth, Mrs. C. H. Strong; Anna, 
Mrs. James White, of Cleveland; Barnett, 
subject of this sketch; Maria and Mary 
(twins), of whom Maria is married to 
Theodore Niver, of Norwich (Mary died 
at the age of five years), and James K., 
who was a miner in Colorado, where he 
met his death in his thirty-second year. 
Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Roe made the homestead their residence, 
where he engaged in agriculture and 



imEOy COUNTY, OHIO. 



211 



carpentry. In 185(3 he erected what is 
known as the rhrniiix mills in Greenfield 
townsiiip, and operated same for twelve or 
tiiirteen years with marked success. After 
that long term in the milling business his 
liealth failed, compelling him to retire 
from active life. He resided on the farm, 
now occupied by his son, Barnett, until 
his death, which was the result of paraly- 
sis.- His wife died January 27, 1851, and 
both are interred in the Steuben cemetery. 
He was a strong advocate of the principles 
of the Republican party, held various 
ofhces in the township, and also served as 
county commissioner. He was one of the 
most progressive citizens who ever lived 
in Greenfield township. His farm, mill 
and stone quarries were parts of his plan 
for the development of the township, so 
that the death of such a man was a serious 
loss, not only to his family, but also to the 
entire community. 

Barnett Roe, whose name opens this 
memoir, was born January 26, 1843, on 
the home farm. He received a primary 
education in the district school, and while 
yet a boy began work in his father's mill, 
where he continued to labor until 1864. 
On Angust 29, tiiat year, he enlisted in 
Battery M, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, 
was mustered in at Sandusky, and pro- 
ceeded at once to Loudon, Tenn., where 
he joined his company. He served with 
his command in all the spirit-stirring en- 
gagements in which it participated, until 
discharged, at Knoxville, Tenn., June 20, 
1865. At Strawl)erry Plains, Dandridge, 
Bean Station, and Greenville, Battery M 
did good service, and on other fields 
offered timely aid. Mr. Roe was taken 
i-ick at Lead vale, and was taken to a 
iieirro hut, where a colored woman, 
known as '-Aunty Jane," nursed him to 
convalescence. On his return to Ohio he 
i-eentered the service of his father in the 
mill, and there worked some three or four 
years. On May 16, 1867, he was married 
to Martha J. Lowther, who was born 
August 5, 1843, in Greenfield township, 



daughter of Capt. E. H. Lowther. The 
children of this union are Earnest B., 
born September 29, 1869: Frank L., born 
November 2, 1871; Anna B., born Octo- 
bers, 1875, and Alto F. and Otto J. (^twins), 
horn February 14, 1884, all of whom are 
living. After marriage the young couple 
occupied the homestead, and here Mr. 
Roe carried on the farm in connection 
with a sawmill and other businesses. Iti 
1880 he located on his present farm, and 
has since given close attention to agricul- 
ture and stock growing. Mr. Roe and 
wife are members of the Disciple Church. 
In politics he is a Republican, and has 
served as treasurer and trustee of Green- 
field township, proving himself, in every 
particular, worthy of the confidence and 
esteem of the people. 



I[ Jl S. FANNING, a progre-ssive agri- 
r!^| culturist of Clarkstield township, is 
I 1| a native of the same, born Novem- 
■fj ber5,1864. His grandfather, James 

Fanning, was born August 13, 1789, 
and on January 2, 1809, married Sarah 
Westbrook, who was born October 25, 
1789. He died near Kushville, Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., June 9, 1827, on which day 
he was present at a barn raising for the 
proprietor of a neighboring hotel. A rain 
storm came up suddenly, driving the men 
to shelter, but when the rain ceased all re- 
sumed work. The water made the lieavy 
timbers slippery, and one of the bents fell, 
crushing Mr. Fanning's head, killing him 
instantly. He left a widow, and eight 
children all born in Onondaga county, as 
follows: Ann, born October 23, 1809; 
Eliza, born August 18, 1811; Richard, 
born April 27, 1813; Asenath, born June 
4, 1816; Julia, born May 2, 1819; John 
C, born April 8, 1821; Benjamin (r., born 
September 11, 1823, and William M., born 
May 13. 1826. 

In 1832 the widow, determined to seek 
a wider field for her children, sold her 



I 
212 



HUliOy COUNTY, OHIO. 



home in New York State, and migrated to 
Huron county, Ohio. Her son, Richard, 
who liad settled in Clarkstield township a 
year before tlie family left New York, sent 
glowing reports of the new country, and to 
that township the family directed their 
steps. Here Mrs. Fanning purchased a 
farm of sixty-five acres, where she resided 
for twenty years, or until her marriage (in 
1842 or 1843) with Jonas Clark, with 
whom she moved to Sandusky county. 
She died there July 17, 1863, and was 
buried in the cemetery at Townsend. 

Beniamin G. Fanning came with his 
mother to Ohio in 1832, and received a 
primary education in the rude school of 
the period. While a youth he left home 
to learn the shoe trade from a man named 
Long, in Lyme township, an old tradesman 
of Huron county. Mr. Fanning was an 
apt mechanic, and became as good a slioe- 
maker as his teacher; but the trade did 
not suit him, so he went into the fruit 
business and became the owner of a farm 
in Clarkstield township. Returning thither 
he found employment in Sherman Smith's 
shoe store, and while there engaged mar- 
ried Sabra, daughter of Sherman Smith, 
the wedding taking place July 4, 184G. 
Sabra Smith was born January 12, 1829, 
in Clarkstield township, a daughter of 
Sherman and (Caroline (Knapp) Smith, 
pioneers of Huron county. The young 
couple settled on the sixty-five acres which 
Mr. Fanning's mother purchased in 1832. 
Leaving that, he bought himself a farm, 
but preferring to travel as a patent-right 
salesman, he left the care of the farm to 
his wife and hired help. In 1852, how- 
evei% he assumed charge of his land, and 
resided thereon till his death, which 
occurred -December 12, 1891. In 1880 
he was stricken with paralysis, and suffered 
much from the disease. He was a fluent 
speaker and an able salesman, anil admira- 
bly filled the two positions of fruit-tree 
grower and sales agent. He was a man of 
progress, always encouraging improvement. 
A friend of the unfortunate, his kindness 



did not consist alone in words; and when 
his remains were carried to Butterfield 
cemetery for interment, there was a host 
of mourners present. 

Mr. Fanning was a Whig until the 
formation of the Republican party, when 
he cast his political fortunes with them. 
The children born to Benjamin G. and 
Sabra Fanning are named as follows: 
Escdorab, born March 11, 1847, died Au- 
gust 26, 1850; A. S., deceased June 9, 
1849; Ida B., born January 27, 1853, 
wife of Theodore Clark, a soap and per- 
fumery manufacturer, of Chicago, 111.; 
and Henry S., who manages the home 
farm, where he resides with his mother. 

Henry S. Fanning was educated in the 
common schools of his district. With the 
exception of five years whicli he passed at 
the home of Sherman Smith, his grand- 
father, he has made the house where he 
was born his home. His marriage to 
Edith Day took place April 28, 1887. 
She was born October 31, 1870, in New 
London township, daughter of Hiram K. 
and Sophia (Brenstul) Day, who were old 
settlers of New London. To this marriage 
one child was born August 18, 1887, named 
Ruth D. Politically Mr. Fanning is a Re- 
publican, and takes an active interest in 
local, State and national affairs. Like his 
father, he is a friend of progress, and a 
most successful farmer. 



|r^\ L. JUSTICE, a progressive, influ- 
I ential farmer ci 



Bl ential farmer citizen of Clarkstield 
^' township, Huron Co., Ohio, is a 

native of same, born June 18, 1852. 
His father, Peter Justice, was born July 
23, 1796, in Milford township, Somerset 
Co., Penn., son of Nathan Justice, who 
was a distiller (then a very common pur- 
suit), and manufacturer of linseed oil. 
Peter received a common-school education, 
obtained some knowledge of farming on a 
place which his father owned, and when 
yet a youth learned the trade of carpenter 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



213 



and joiner. He enlisted in the war of 
1812, but was not called into the service, 
and after the close of that conflict worked 
at his trade for five years. In early man- 
hood he started for the West in company 
with a cousin, Adam Mikesell, crossing 
the Ohio river at Steubenville, and travel- 
ing through Zanesville, Columbus and 
Delaware toward Upper Sandusky, meet- 
ing Indians and passing through Indian 
villages around Delaware, thence to Fulton 
county, Ohio, in search of land. He re- 
turned to Pennsylvania (making the entire 
journey, coming and going, on foot), and 
for some time gave his attention to his 
trade. Later he came to Holmes county, 
Ohio, wliere, on December 13, 1827, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Lydia 
Twaddle, who was born October 22, 1811, 
in Jefferson county, Ohio, daughter of 
Alex, and Elizabeth (Kamage) Twaddle. 
While living in Holmes county children 
as follows came to this union: Thomas W., 
born January 28, 1829, deceased April 27, 
1862; Nathan, born May 4, 1831, mer- 
chant and postmaster at North Morenci, 
Mich.; George W., horn June 17, 1833, 
deceased March 23. 1886; and Henry H., 
born December 31, 1835, a farmer of New 
London township, Huron county. 

In 1837 the family moved to Clarkstield 
township, Huron county, coming with an 
ox team by way of Wellington, and as the 
roads were few and very had they had to 
pick out tlieir way by marked trees. He 
purchased 116^ acres (which he paid for 
by working out by the day), where he 
passed the remainder of his life, and which 
at the time of his settlement contained no 
improvements but a small log house. Here 
the remainder of his family was born, as 
follows: John A., born January 10, 1839, 
a farmer of Brighton township, Lorain 
county; Susan, born August 25, 1841, 
livino; on the old homestead in Clarkstield 
township) (she has tieen blind all her life, 
liaviug been born so); Royal F., born April 
16, 1844, died September 23, 1891, in 
Brighton township, Lorain county; An- 



drew A., born December 24, 1846 (he was 
born blind); and Daniel L., subject of this 
memoir. Andrew uses horse power to cut 
his fodder, and has a mill to grind his 
feed. In winters he does all his own chores 
alone, only in summers hiring some one by 
the day to assist him. After the death of 
the mother, Susan kept house for the fam- 
ily, and all the work is now done by them 
with the assistance of a hired woman. 

Peter Justice was by trade a cabinet 
maker, and for years made all the coffins 
used in his section. The coffin for his eld- 
est son was among the first factory coffins 
brought to those parts, and after that he 
gradually ceased to follow iiis trade, finally, 
about 1875, discontinuing it altogether. 
He was a very robust, well-preserved man, 
and the day he was seventy-five he walked 
fourteen miles and cradled over five acres 
of wheat ground. In pioneer days he 
would walk to Ruggles, Ashland county, 
'taking his grist to the mill, where he 
would ofteu have to wait over night, as 
there were so many before him. Roads 
were few and difficult to follow, and on 
one occasion he got lost and wandered to 
Troy, Ashland county, before he could tell 
where be was. He was never sick, and 
never had occasion to call a physician until 
the illness which caused his death. Once, 
while chopping in the woods, he was 
struck by a falling timber, and received a 
cut some inches long across his forehead, 
which was sewed up by his wife, as there 
were no doctors near. He passed away 
March 7, 1881, preceded liy his wife on 
June 1, 1873, and i)oth are buried at 
Rochester, Lorain Co., Ohio. He was a 
member of the Democratic party, Init never 
took any further interest in politics than 
to cast his vote at each election. 

D. L. Justice was educated in the com- 
mon schools of his vicinity, and was reared 
to farm life. When a young man he 
commenced to learn photography in New 
London, Ohio, having previously read 
much on this subject, in which art lie be- 
came quite proiicieut. He remained on 



214 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



tlie home farm until March 23, 1890, when 
he was united in marriage with Miss Elsie 
C. Fox, who was born September 30, 18G6, 
in Clarksfield township, daughter of David 
Fox. Shortly afterward they settled on a 
farm which he had owned for some time, 
and where they have since made their 
home. On October 30, 1893, a son was 
born to them, named Peter A. Mr. Jus- 
tice, who ia engaged in general agriculture, 
is a well-int'ornied, intelligent, progressive 
citizen of the community. In politics he 
is a Democrat. 



d'AMES GILBERT GIBBS, Norwalk, 
is the lineal descendant of one of the 
^ earliest pioneer families that came 
and settled in Norwalk township. 
He is secretary, treasurer and manager of 
the Reflector Printing Company, printing 
the daily and weekly Refecf())\ which are 
among the leading publications of north- 
ern Ohio; also publishing several otlier 
newspapers, and the Norwalk City Di- 
rectory. 

Mr. Gibbs was born August 7, 1852, in 
Norwalk, where had lived his ancestors 
since 1816, the date of their coming here 
from Norwalk, Conn. He is a son of 
Ralph M. and Mary (Higgins) Gibbs, the 
former of whom was also a native of Nor- 
walk, born in 1824, and died of cliolera in 
August, 1854, then but thirty years of 
age. David Gibbs, the paternal grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Norwalk, Conn., became an officer 
in the regular army in the war of 1812, 
and did efficient service as Capt. David 
Gibbs of the Thirty-seventli Regular In- 
fantry. At the close of the war, having 
meanwhile resigned from the army, he 
came to Ohio and located where is now 
Norwalk, at which time there were but 
two other families in the township, and 
the site of the ])resent city of Norwalk was 
an unbroken wilderness. He came here a 
licensed lawyer, and in 1820 was appointed 



l)y the court as county clerk of Huron 
county, in which service he continued 
until his death in 1841. This fact of itself 
points him out, not only as among the 
first settlers, but as one of the most prom- 
inent. His father-ill-law, Henry Lock- 
wood, of Norwalk, Conn., was a wealthy 
merchant of that place, one of those who 
sustained heavy losses during the Revolu- 
tion, through the raids of the traitor Bene- 
diet Arnold upon the Connecticut coast, 
and who received from the State, as recom 
pense, lands in the " Firelands " of the 
Connecticut Western Reserve. These 
lands descended by inheritance to his pos- 
terity, several of whom are residents; but 
James G. is the only male descendant now 
living in Norwalk of the Capt. Gibbs 
branch of the Lockwood family. James' 
mother came here in 1835 to make her 
home with her grandfather, Rev. David 
Higgins, pioneer preacher of the Presby- 
terian Church, who at that time lived 
here. His son. Judge David Higgins, of 
the common pleas court, was the uncle of 
Mary Higgins; the young man, Ralph M. 
Gibbs, was a son of the clerk of the court, 
and the young people formed an acquaint- 
ance, then a friendship that in due time 
ripened into the holier jiassion, and they 
were joined in wedlock in 1846. Mrs. 
Mary H. Gibbs is living, the beloved 
mother of four children — three daughters 
and one son, whose name heads this 
article. 

James G. Gil)bs, the father dying when 
the boy was but two years of age, was 
reared as a member of the family of his 
uncle, Hon. Jose[)h M. Farr, who was the 
founder in 1835 of the Narwall' Experi- 
ment^ and who was also a member of the 
Constitutional convention of 1850, that 
formed the present State constitution of 
Ohio. In this pleasant home the lad 
passed his young days, and was given 
more than the usual advantages of youth; 
he graduated from the high school in 
1869, and at once entered the Refeefor 
printing office, to learn the trade of 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



217 



setting type and the art of publishing and 
editing a newspaper. Mastering rapidly 
tlie mysteries of tlie " art preservative of 
all arts," he laid down his " stick " and 
entered Lafayette College, being enabled 
to do so by the assistance of his uncle; but 
his college course was much shortened by 
the unfortunate death of this kind rela- 
tive. On leaving college the young man 
went to Chicago, where he was a reporter 
on the Inter Ocean newspaper, under 
Hon. E. W. Halford, since eminent as 
President Harrison's private secretary. 
In 1873 he returned to Norwalk and pur- 
chased an interest in the Refieetor, becoui- 
incr the associate of Judge Y. Wickham in 
that publication, and has since continued 
in tiiat connection. In 1881 the tirin was 
changed to a joint-stock company, and 
soon after tlie Daily lieflector was lirst 
issued, the initial number appearing in 
1882, and from the first number to the 
present time it has had unusual prosperity. 
The Reflector has long been the official 
city and county organ of the party. As 
printer, editor and publisher, the young 
man soon rose to prominence among the 
craft, and for a number of years has been 
a member of the various newspaper asso- 
ciations. His interest in his chosen voca- 
tion is manifest by his unfailing attend- 
ance upon each annual convention of the 
National' Editorial Association of the 
United States since 1889; and at the meet- 
ing in Chicago, 1893, he was unanimously 
elected its treasurer. He owns stock, and 
is a director in several companies; is vice- 
president of the (^hio Savings, Loan & 
Trust Compan}' of Norwalk; a director in 
the Laning Printing Company, who are 
the State Printers of Ohio; has l)een presi- 
dent, secretary or treasurer of numerous 
organizations, and, more than all, in pub- 
lic spirit and enterprise he is well estab- 
lished as one of our foremost citizens, 
widely respected at home and favorably 
known abroad. He has been elected and 
re-elected a member of the city board of 
education. 



James G. Gibbs and Carrie L. Wickham 
were united in wedlock, June 30, 1880; 
she is a daughter of Judge F. Wickham, 
and presides with quiet grace over their 
comfortable home. They have two inter- 
esting children: Esther, a girl of eleven 
years, and Ralpli, a lad of five. 



ri( NDREWJ.MOREHEAD. Among 

/[\\ the leading influential and repre- 

lr\\^ sentative men of that part of Lyme 

•fj township known as Hunts Corners, 

there is no one who enjoys a greater 

decrree of confidence and esteem than the 

subject of this brief memoir. 

He was born in Lyme township on the 
28th day of May, 1836, and has never lived 
anywhere else (only for temporary pur- 
poses) since. He resides now where he 
has lived for the last fifty-two years at 
Hunts Corners, Lyme township, and only 
one and one-half miles from where he was 
born. He is now the oldest resident of 
that noted burgh. His parents being poor 
could only give him the benefits of a com- 
mon-school education (and the schools were 
not fine in those days). After getting 
what education he could at these schools, 
he was able to earn money enough to pay 
his expenses at Oberlin College, where he 
remained until he was satisfied with his 
education, working through the summer 
for farmers V)y the day to get money with 
wliicii to pay expenses of a fall term at 
Oberlin. 

On leaving Oberlin he commenced 
teaching school (and by the way he got his 
first teachers' certificate at Oberlin). His 
first school was a "select school," situated 
less than a half mile from home. He then 
rented lands, and worked on the farm 
through the summer, teaching school in 
the winter for five consecutive winters. 
Finding that teaching was too confining 
and enervating for one of his constitution, 
he finally made up bis mind to try black- 
smithing. His father owned a shop and 



218 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



tools, and Andrew had occasionally helped 
his father in the shop. The latter was now 
old and crippled. Andrew took hold of 
this with a will, determined to succeed, 
and by hiring at first competent help did 
succeed in supporting respectably an aged 
parent who had l)een a widower for many 
years, and whose daughters had married 
and left him. During this time our sub- 
ject had served the township in several im- 
portant offices, and in 1879 lie was elected 
justice of the peace, whicli ofhce he has 
held almost continuously since with great 
credit to himself and satisfaction to his 
fellow citizens. His most distinguishing 
trait is that of a peace maker, there having 
been less litigation during his administra- 
tion than ever before tor the same length 
of time. 

About this time he contracted the asthma 
in its worst form, consequently had to quit 
bhicksmithing. He then turned his atten- 
tion to gardening and bee keeping for sev- 
eral years. Becoming less able to do hard 
work, he next opened agrocery store at the 
old homestead, and notwithstanding the 
hard times that soon came on, is satisfied 
with the trade that he has secured, which is 
still increasing. 

Bei)ig an original and independetit 
thinkej-, and seeking to avoid popularity 
or notoriety he has never joined any church 
or secret society, but claims that he has 
alwa^vs been a consistent Christian in the 
true sense of the word. Having ever lived 
a moral life, he says that he would not 
"swap" his chances of future bliss with 
nine-tenths of the modern "saints." Mr. 
Morehead lias always enjoyed single 
blessedness, but now that he is weaker and 
wiser admits that one of the greatest mis- 
takes of the many that he has made in life 
was in not marrying early. 

George Morehead, the father of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was born in Harrison 
county, W. Va., in January, 1795. When 
but a boy of seventeen or eighteen he en- 
listed to fight the battles of his country, 
and was sent witli other Virginia troops to 



join General Harrison in order to help to 
drive the British and Indians from their 
forts along the Maumee. He had not pro- 
ceeded much farther than the center of 
this State, when he was stricken down with 
the camp or swamp fever, and consequently 
had to be left. After a long struggle be- 
tween life and death, he recovered, but 
only as a cripple for life. He then lived 
for several j-ears in the southern part of 
Ohio, where he became acquainted with 
and married Miss Charity Patton. Of 
this union were born three children, the 
youngest of whom is the subject of this 
sketch. The father came to Huron county 
in about 1831, and moved into Lyme town- 
ship about 1832. People have a good deal 
to say now-a-days about hard times, but if 
they were obliged to live as the pioneers 
did in those days they would have some 
cause to complain. All of the meat those 
early pioneers got was procured from the 
woods by their trusty rifles. Sometimes 
they had to go twenty or thirty miles to 
get a bushel of corn ground, with whicli 
to make a johnnycake. Such was the case 
when Mr. Moreliead first came to Huron 
county. 

The eldest child born of this union was 
Mary, who afterward married Philip Hey- 
raan, and now i-esides in "Wood county, 
this State, surrounded by prosperous chil- 
dren and grandchildren. The second eld- 
est, named Emily, was married to Joseph 
Morris, and now lives in Nebraska. Charity 
Morehead died iu 1838; George Morehead 
died in 1873. 




ILBER G. FERVEK, M. D. 

Among tlie most prominent of 
Huron county's young profes- 
sional men is the irentleman 
whose name is here recorded. Although 
not a native of the county, he has, in the 
brief period of his residence here, estab- 
lished for himself an enviable reputation 
as a physician and surgeon. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



219 



Dr. Ferver \vas born February 22, 1859, 
in Lawrence connty, Penn., nt^ar the town 
of Xew Castle, and his boyhood was passed 
on his father's farm, in the successful con- 
ducting of which he proved himself of 
material assistance. At the age of seven- 
teen, having graduated from the common 
schools of the vicinity of his birth, he en- 
tered the Edinburgh State Normal School, 
and for the succeeding three years dili- 
gently pursued his studies. He then at- 
tended Allegheny College, Meadville, 
Penn., one year, thereafter taking a course 
in medicine and surgery at Jefferson Med- 
ical College, Philadelphia, graduating 
therefrom in 1884. The Doctor then at 
once located at Worth, Mercer Co., Penn., 
where for three years he successfully pur- 
sued the practice of his chosen profession. 
From there he returned to the place of his 
nativity, and after a brief sojourn came to 
Wakeman, Huron county, iu which thriv- 
ing town and for miles around he has since 
been in the enjoyment of a most successful 
practice. 

On June 15, 1885, Dr. Ferver was 
united in marriage with Miss Emma V. 
Goodge. They are iriembers of the Con- 
gregational Church of Wakeman, and, 
socially, enjoy the regard and esteem of a 
wide circle of friends. Dr. Ferver is a 
straight Republican, but is not active in 
politics, his profession demanding and re- 
ceiving his undivided attention. 



JESSE E. WHEELER is a member of 
the old and well-known family of that 
name in Greenfield township. He is 
a grandson of Rev. John Wheeler, 
who came to Ohio in 1818, and settled 
with his family in Greenfield township the 
following year. 

Rev. John Wheeler was born in Massa- 
chtisetts, but when seventeen years old 
moved to western New York, where he 
studied for the ministry, and received 
license to preach at a quarterly meeting of 



the Free-will Baptist Church. While liv- 
ing in Ontario county, N. Y., he married 
Polly Fi-anklin,also a native of Massachu- 
setts, and with her took up his residence 
on a new farm in that connty. The young 
preacher cleared iiis farm, and made it his 
home until 1818, when, as previously re- 
lated, he brought his family to Ohio. The 
children born to him in New York State 
are named as follows: Sylvester F., John 
H. and Benoni, all of whom died in Huron 
county; Aaron, now a resident of Norwalk, 
and Calvin, the father of the subject of 
this sketch. The children born in Green- 
field township were Chauncey, who died 
in Crawford county, Kansas; Almira, 
widow of — Tucker (her first husband was 
a Mr. Van Tine), and Samuel B., who 
resides at Parsons, Kansas. 

Calvin Wheeler, the fifth child of John 
and Polly Wheeler, was born January 19, 
1818, in Ontario connty, N. Y., and was 
but an infant when his parents settled in 
Ohio. He grew to manhood on his father's 
farm, and made his home there until 1870, 
when he established himself in mercantile 
business at Steuben. In February, 1842, 
he married Mary Richards, who was born 
January 27, 1821, in Herkimer county, 
N. Y., and came to Huron county, Ohio, 
in 1837. Twelve children were born to 
this nnion, a brief record of whom is as 
follows: Nancy Genette, born January 15, 
1843, married E. Trimmer, and died in 
Kalamazoo county, Mich.; Agnes E., born 
March 9, 1844, is now Mrs. Marion Par- 
sons, of Shiloh, Ohio; David M., born De- 
cember 29, 1846, is a traveling salesman, 
his home being in Plymouth, Huron 
county; Benjamin R., born November 20, 
1848, is a farmer and stock buyer of 
Greenfield township; Calvin G., born July 
31, 1850, is a farmer of Peru township; 
Chauncey B., born January 3, 1852, is an 
engineer on the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railroad; Jason A., born January 
22, 1854; Jesse E. (twin of Jason A.) is 
the subject of this sketch; Alice, born 
January 18, 1857, is the widow of Henry 



220 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



BroiiBon, and is now engaged in mercan- 
tile business at Cliicago Junction; Alfred, 
a twin brother, born January 18, 1857, is 
now a harness maker at Plymouth, Oliio; 
Lillis, born November 14, 1861, is now 
tiie widow of Dayton L. Green, residing 
at Steuben, and Linda Belle, born October 
3, 1863, is now Mrs. Elmer McMorris, of 
Steuben. 

Jesse E. Wheeler was born January 22, 
1854, in Greenfield township, was reared 
on tlie farm, and received his education in 
tlie district schools. He made his home 
with his father until 1875, when he mi- 
grated to California, wliere he was engaged 
in floriculture until 1885. In the last 
named year he returned to Ohio, worked 
in his brother's store, and after the burn- 
ing of that place labored on the home 
farui. In 1889 lie purchased from his 
brother a stock of yoods, and his interest 
in the store, which he had opened at Chi- 
cago Junction, and in partnership with his 
sister, Mrs. Alice Bronson, established the 
present business in dry goods, notions and 
wall-paper. Mr. Wheeler was married in 
February, 1890, to Mary Keesy, daughter 
of Kev. W. Allen Keesy, mention of whom 
is made elsewhere in tliis volume. Mr. 
Wheeler is an able business man, and takes 
an active interest in all enterprises for the 
benefit of his community. 



K. CALLAGHAN, editor and part 
proprietor of the Bellevue Gazette, 
was born at Bellevue, Ohio, April 
12, 1861. He was educated in the 
public and parochial schools, and when 
twelve years old entered a printing ofJice 
here, and devoted his youth to the "art 
preservative of arts." For some years he 
worked at the case, mastering every detail 
of the work in the office of a weekly news- 
paper, and over eleven years ago became 
interested in the Bellevue Gazette, pur- 
chasing an interest therein, and'changing 
the name of the firm to C. R. Callacrhan 



& Co. The Gazette is well managed. 
Neutral in political affairs, it is never 
silent wlien a wrong has to be righted, or 
a dangerous candidate unmasked. In 
ordinary local affairs, the Gazette is an 
authentic record. Cor it is the aim of the 
editor to give all the news of the city and 
tributary district. Its certified circulation 
is 1,400, and its merits, as an advertiser, 
are acknowledged by the number and 
variety of businesses, etc., which seek pub- 
licity through its columns. 

On May 6, 1886, Mr. Callaghan was 
united in marriage with Miss Johanna 
Connors, who was born in Ireland, daughter 
of Patrick Connors. 



jlOHN E. MENGES (deceased) was 
w I born in September, 1813, in Fayette 
\j) township, Seneca Co., N. Y. His 
youth was passed in the tnanner com- 
mon to boys of that time and place, but 
before his boyhood days were over he de- 
veloped a rare mechanical genius, and 
worked at several trades in his native 
county. 

In 1833 he followed his father, John 
Menges, to Ohio. This John Mengeswas 
drowned while crossing; Lake Erie, and the 
son came hither to settle the estate and 
take care of the property. After working 
for some time on a farm in Greenfield 
township, Huron county, he moved to 
Seneca county, Ohio, where he purchased 
land. On June 12, 1836, he was there 
married to Margaret Seed, who was born 
May 25, 1819, iu New York, and accom- 
panied her parents westward to Venice 
township, Seneca Co., Ohio. Mrs. Mar- 
garet Menges died May 12, 1839, without 
issue, and was buried at Attica, Ohio. On 
April 27, 1841, he married Lydia F. Wil- 
bur, who was born January 80, 1820, in 
Cayuga county, N. Y. In 1826 her par- 
ents, Nathan and Esther (Labarre) Wilbur, 
settled in Sherman township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, where they passed the remainder of 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



221 



their lives. The children born to John E. 
and Lydia Menijes were: Margaret E., 
Mrs. Alonzo Simmons, of Fairfield, Huron 
county; Fhjra, wife of Frank Marriot, a 
lawyer of Delaware, Oliio; and Desse, Mrs. 
Frank R. Williams, of Toledo, Ohio. 

In 1855 Mr. Menkes came to Huron 
county, locating in Fairfield township; 
thence removed to Greenfield township, 
and in 1878 settled in Peru township, 
where he died January 2(5, 1885. He was 
a prosperous merchant at Attica, Seneca 
county, and later carried on a successful 
business at Fairfield, before establisliing 
his farm in Greenfield township. AVhile 
a resident of Peru he was engaged in vari- 
ous enterprises, at that place, and was 
known as a most active and enterprising 
citizen. A Republican in politics, he was 
also an Abolitionist, and carried his prin- 
ciples into practice by harboring fugitive 
slaves. In religious affairs he was a Wes- 
leyan Methodist. Since the death of Mr. 
Menges his widow has managed the busi- 
ness successfully. The manner in which 
she transacts the affairs of the estate stamps 
her as a woman of executive ability, and 
gives proof of what woman may accom- 
plish in the business world. Mrs. Menges 
attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



/ 



tyifRS. AMANDA J. SKILTON, 
^1 widow of Alvah S. Skilton, is the 
1[ oldest child of John Sowers Davis 
and his wife, Catharine Pasco 
Nave. 

Mr. Davis was born in Baltimore county, 
Md., March 28, 1806. He was among the 
earliest settlers in Ridgefield township, 
having accompanied his grandparents to 
this locality when a mere boy. He at- 
tended school in the first school house 
built in Ridgefield township. In early 
manhood he removed to Lexington, and 
thence, after a short time, to Gallon. He 
lived in Galion twenty-eight years, and 
durinjr his residence there was married to 



Catharine Pasco Nave, May 17, 1843. She 
was born in Path Valley, Franklin Co., 
Penn., June 10, 1822, and moved to Galion 
with her father's family in 1839. 

In 1866 Mr. Davis with his family re- 
turned to Monroeville, his early homcT and 
there he lived until his death July 1, 1888. 
In early life Mr. Davis was a farmer; in 
middle life he was a merchant and banker; 
his last years were spent in retirement 
from active business. Mrs. Davis died at 
the family homestead in Monroeville, Feb- 
ruary 6, 1890. Four children were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Davis: Amanda Jane, 
born at Galion, married Alvah S. Skilton; 
Jolinnie and Kittieljell, liorn at Galion, 
died in infancy; Mary Elizabeth, born at 
Monroeville, married Thomas W. Latham 
and now lives in her father's old home. 

Elijah Steel Skilton was born near Wat- 
crtown. Conn., May 17, 1800. When a 
young man he left his boyhood home and 
taught school at Hunter, Greene Co., 
N. Y. Here he was married, April 4, 1827, 
to Elizabeth Wilson, who was born at 
Hunter March 5, 1805. Soon after their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Skilton emigrated 
to Ohio, and settled on a farm near Ra- 
venna, Portage county. Five cliildren 
were born to them: Lucy Cornelia, John 
Wilson, Jeannette Parthenia, Melicent 
Guernsey and Alvah Stone. Elizabeth 
Wilson Skilton died near Ravenna October 
3, 1836. Elijah Skilton was subsequently 
married a second and a third time, and 
died at his home near Ravenna, having 
passed the age of three score and ten years. 

Alvah Stone Skilton was the son of p]li- 
jah Steel Skilton and his wife, Elizabeth 
Wilson. He was born near Ravenna, 
Portage Co., Ohio, April 12, 1836, and 
when but six months old was left mother- 
less. His father committed him to the 
care of Jonathan and Catharine Thompson, 
with whom he lived until young manhood. 
At the age of twelve years he accompanied 
them to Mercer county, Ohio, wdiere they 
settled in a locality then a wilderness. 
When he left the home of the Thompsons 



222 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



he entered the employ of the Bellefontaiue 
et Indianapolis Kaih-oad Company, and 
was soon made an engineer, retaining this 
position utitil he entered the Union army. 
On November 1, 1861, Alvah Skilton en- 
listed in the Fifty-seventh Regiment, O. 
V. I., and on the tenth of the following 
Fehruary he was commissioned captain of 
Company I of that regiment. Capt. Skil- 
ton was severely wounded in tlie right 
forearm at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 
1862, and returned to Ohio on sick leave. 
When sufhciently recovered from the ef- 
fects of his wonnd, he resumed command 
of his company, and suljsequently partici- 
pated in the siege of Vicksburg and in 
many battles, among them being those at 
Missionary Kidge, Kesaca and Kenesaw 
Mountain. Upon three occasions he re- 
ceived slight wonnds, and at the battle of 
Atlanta, July 22, 1864, he was wounded 
and captured. He was held a prisoner of 
war at Camp Oglethorpe, Macon, Charles- 
ton, Columbia, Asheville, Saulsbury, 
Castle Thunder and Libby. He escaped 
from prison several times, and was once 
within sight of the Union camp iires, but 
was recaptured and compelled to travel 
three hundred miles on foot to Asheville, 
North Carolina, where he and his com- 
panions were confined in an iron cage. 
Among his papers Capt. Skilton left a 
diary wiiich he kept during his retention 
as a prisoner of war, and this little book 
tells a most pathetic story of prison life in 
Dixie. Capt. Skilton was released from 
Libby Prison April 2, 1865, and on tiie 
13th of the same month was honorably 
discharged from the military service of the 
United States. 

After his discharge from the army he 
returned to Galion, his former home, and 
engaged in the lumber business. On De- 
cember 20, 1865, he was married to Miss 
Amanda J., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. 
S. Davis, and soon afterward the newly 
married couple moved to Monroeville with 
Mr. Davis and family. With the excep- 
tion of one year spent; in Logansport, Ind., 



Capt. Skilton resided in Monroeville the 
remainder of his life. During the early 
part of his residence here he was Express 
agent for the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern Kailway, but soon engaged in 
the grain and commission business, con- 
tinuing therein until the time of his death. 
He died in Monroeville July 27, 1887, 
aged fifty-one years, three months, fifteen 
days, the cause of his death being a car- 
buncle at the base of the bi'ain. In 1877 
he was elected junior warden of Zion 
Church, Monroeville, and served in this 
capacity until he died. He was at the 
time of his death chairman of the Huron 
County Soldiers' Relief Commission. 

Capt. Skilton was 'one of the charter 
members and the first commander of Asa 
R. Hillyer Rost, No. 532, G. A. R. He 
was also a charter member of Roby Lodge, 
No. 534, F. i!c A. M., and was its first 
worshipful master. He was a member of 
Huron Royal Arch Chapter No. 113, Nor- 
walk Council No. 24, and Norwalk Com- 
mandery No. 18. In politics Capt. Skil- 
ton was a stanch Republican. 

Four children were born to Capt. and 
Mrs. Skilton — one son and throe daughters: 
The Rev. John Davis Skilton, A. M., is 
assistant minister in Saint Paul's Parish, 
Cleveland; Elizabeth Roby, Mary Grace 
and Catharine Amanda live with their 
widowed mother in Monroeville in her 
pleasant home, which embraces a part of 
the original tract purchased by her ances- 
tors when they settled in the wilderness 
during the early part of the present century. 



CHARLES A. SUTTON, a son of one 
of the pioneers of northern Ohio, 
was born July 4, 1844, in Green- 
wich township, Huron county. 
Aranson Sutton, his father, was born 
April 1, 1802, in Cayuga county, N. Y. 
While yet a boy his father died, and, 
transferred to an uncle's care, the youth 
received a practical training in farm work, 



HURON- COUNTY, OniO. 



223 



and the education whicli the early frontier 
schools afforded. In 1822 or 1823 he 
was employed ])y the Erie Canal Com- 
pany at Lockport, N. Y., as bookkeeper, 
liaviiig charge also of all the storehouses, 
and keeping the time of all the workmen. 
For his services he received twenty dollars 
per month, and after accumulating about 
three hundi-ed dollars he set out, in 1824, 
for the '-Firelands" in Ohio, traveling by 
canal and lake boat. He landed at San- 
dusky, and proceeded on foot soutliward to 
Huron county, where he passed his first 
night in the cabin of Willis Smith, in 
Greenwich township; thence he walked to 
Ruggles township, Ashland county, where 
he joined a twin brother and a man named 
Carver in the purchase of a tract of wild 
land. His marriage with Emeline Brady 
took place in 1828. She was born in 
AVestchester county, N. Y., in 1812, and 
came to Greenwich township with her 
parents when a child. The children born 
to tliem are as follows: Charity, born No- 
veinber 29, 182'.), married Hiram Town- 
send, and died August ;J1, 1892, at Cleve- 
land; Mary J., born March 9, 1832, is the 
widow of Harvey Noble; Sarah A., born 
September 2, 1837, married Dr. William 
Reynolds, and died in April, 1885, in 
Seneca county, Ohio; Louisa, born No- 
vember 27, 1838, Mrs. James Fancher, of 
Greenwich township; and Charles A., the 
subject of this sketch. The father of this 
family was accidentally killed November 
17, 1870, by being run over by a wagon 
loaded with wood. On January 28, 1873, 
his widow died, in hospital, at Columbus, 
Ohio, where she was under treatment; 
both were buried in East Greenwich ceme- 
tery. Aranson Sutton was a systematic 
farmer. At one time he hauled a load of 
wool to Greenwich depot which brought 
him over two thousand nine hundred dol- 
lars. He made money out of every other 
venture as well as agriculture and stock 
growing, and at one time was owner of 
700 acres here. In politics he was a 
Democrat, until the IVee-soil movement 



won him. When the Republican party 
was established in Ohio he cast his politi- 
cal lot with it, and was faithful to its 
principles until his death; lie tilled almost 
every township office, and for fifteen years 
served as justice of the peace, during wliich 
time he performed more marriage care- 
monies than any contemporary justice in 
the southern half of Huron county, and 
became a believer in secular marriage. He 
was an exhorter in the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and always held an importaiit 
office in that body. A liberal contributor 
to the religious organizations of his neigh- 
borhood, lie won the reputation of being 
both tolerant and benevolent. 

Charles A. Sutton was reared in the 
manner common to contemporary youth, 
working on the farm for nine months and 
attending school in winter until he entered 
Berea University. He afterward studied 
for eight months in Oberliu College, and 
later took up telegraphy and bookkeeping, 
and, refusing the offer of his father to 
educate him in any college in the United 
States he would select, returned to the 
farm, preferring to be a useful rather than 
an ornamental citizen. Ou April 28, 1870, 
he married Ann E., dauirhter of Benson 
and Esther (Rickard) Ellis, who came from 
Onondaga county, N. Y., and settled in 
Greenwich township. Mrs. Sutton was 
born in this township, July 16, 1845, and 
here, too, the following named children 
were born to her: Edward A., born April 
2, 1872, now residing at Oberlin; William 
B., born May 30, 1875, and Charles D., 
born February 17, 1880, botli residing at 
home. After marriage the young couple 
took up their residence in the Sutton home, 
and the improvements which have been 
made here since 1880 speak for the owner's 
progressive ideas. In that year tlie capa- 
cious barn was constructed, and in 1883 
the elegant brick residetice which now 
adorns the farm was erected, these being 
the two jirincipal improvements. Fences, 
small buildintrs and drainajje have been 
carefully looked after and restored, and the 



224 



IIUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



old farm revamped as it were, until now 
it is as fertile as it was when first reclaimed 
from the wilderness. Mr. Sutton is a Re- 
publican in politics, and a Methodist in 
cburcli connection. For the past twelve 
years he lias served the townsliip as school 
director, and has taken a personal, active 
interest in all measures which appeared to 
him to promise benefits to the township 
and county. 



-HARLES D. STONER, member of 
tiie well-known lumber firm of Gross 
& Stoner, Ijellevue, is a son of Jacob 
and Hannah (Webb) Stoner, natives 

of New York State, and grandson of 

Stoner, who came to the United States 
from Germany about the close of the last 
century or the hecrinnins; of the present one. 
Ciiarles D. Stoner was born in 1835 in 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., and when fifteen 
years old accompanied his parents to Wis- 
consin, in which State he grew to man- 
hood. In later years he made tlie trip to 
Pike's Peak, and after his return located 
at Conneaut, Ohio, where for several years 
be was connected with tiie Conneaut Re- 
porter. In 1876 he removed to Rellevue, 
became interested in the publication of the 
Gazette, of which paper he later became 
sole proprietor. Over eleven years ago he 
sold a half interest to Mr. C. R. Callaghan, 
in partnership with whom he still conducts 
the paper. Notwithstanding his mercan- 
tile and manufacturing interests, he still 
finds tia)e to devote to newspaper work, 
and may often be found in the Gazette 
office, busy at the case or at the editorial 
talde. Some time after locating in Belle- 
viie, Mr. Stoner established a boot and 
shoe store, subsequently adding a full line 
of men's furnishing goods, and he did a 
most satisfactory business until 1888, when 
he closed out the stock. In that year he 
purchased a half interest in the lumber 
yard and planing mill, and directed his at- 
tention to the development of the trade 
and industry. This is the only concern of 



the kind at Bellevue, and is the supply 
depot for a large area. The owners are 
practical business men, who understand 
the principles of low profits, quick sales 
and prompt returns. Mr. Stoner takes 
charge of the office, and directs the sales 
department, while Mr. Gross gives direct 
attention to the planing mill and stock. 

Mr. Stoner was married at Conneaut, 
Ohio, to Miss Mary E. Fowler, and to this 
marriage was born one child, Susan, wlio 
resides with her parents. Mr. Stoner is a 
RepTiblican, and has at all times been faith- 
ful to his party. He is well known in 
Masonic circles. While not a Church 
member, he is a strong supporter of re- 
ligious effort, and always gives financial 
aid thereto. As a citizen he is broad- 
gauged and enterprising, and must be 
credited with a large share in the develop- 
ment of Bellevue's interests. (Since the 
above was written we have been informed 
of the sudden death of Mr. Stoner in his 
office, January 16, 1898. — Ed. 



tJIfATTHEW GREGORY, son of 

\[/\ George and Polly (Warring) Greg- 

1| ory, vvas born July 7, 1829, on the 

J) same farm which he now owns 

and resides upon in Clarksfield 

township. 

Geoi'ge Gregory, his father, was born 
November 12, 1786, atWiltou, Fairfield Co., 
Conn., and there attended school until ap- 
prenticed to a saddle-tree maker, with 
whom he remained until he learned the 
trade. On December 31, 1810, he mar- 
ried Polly Wari'ing, in the southeastern 
part of Jiutchess county, N. Y., where she 
was born November 25, 1792. In his 
earlier years he was a very active man. 
After his marriage he followed his trade 
until 1828, when he set out with his 
family for Ohio. The journey was made 
by river and canal to Lake Erie, thence by 
boat to Huron, Erie county, from which 
point they came by wagon to Clarksfield 



IIUUON COUNTY, OHIO. 



225 



Hollow, ill Clarkstield township, Huron 
county, lie learned that his trade was of 
little value in northern Ohio, and resolving 
to become a farmer purchased 112 acres in 
the southern section of the township. 
With the exception of fifteen acres, on 
which stood an old and rude cabin, the 
tract was completely wild, but the forest 
was full of game, and accordingly there 
was no lack of animal food. He worked 
early and late in clearing this tract, and, 
at the time of his death, June 16, 1865, 
left a valuable property to his widow and 
children. The widow died December 29, 
1883, and was buried in Prosser cemetery, 
New London township, near the grave of 
her husband. 

The children of George and Polly Greg- 
ory were as follows: One child born Oc- 
tober 22, 1811, died in infancy; James L., 
born August 19, 1813, died in Clarkstield 
township, July 11, 1863; Mary E., born 
September 23, 1815, married llichard Fan- 
ning, and died July 15, 1844; Peter L., 
born May 11, 1818, resides at Minneapo- 
lis. Minn.; Charles W., born February 27, 
1821, was a blacksmith, and followed his 
trade until his death in New London 
township; Abbey L., born August 30, 
1823, the widow of J. M. Darling, of 
Sandusky, Ohio; Ann M., born December 
3, 1826, who married L. J. Smith, died in 
Clarkstield township; and Matthew, the 
subject of this sketch. All were born in 
the southeastern part of Dutchess county, 
N. Y., e.xcept the last named. 

Matthew Gregory is one of the few per- 
sons in this county who can boast of living 
on the home farm for so long a time as 
from 1828 to 1893. He received a pri- 
mary education in a school near his father's 
house, and otherwise was reared in the 
manner of pioneer boys. On May 11, 
1854, he married Harriet C. Rogers, born 
October 13, 1832, in Wayne county, N. Y., 
a dangliter of Joel and Betsy (Ells) Rogers, 
who came to Ohio in November, 1832. 
Their entire married life has been passed 
on the home farm, of which Matthew took 



charge after his father's death. Republi- 
can in politics, he is content to cast his 
vote for the nominees of the party, witli- 
out going into the maelstrom of the cam- 
paign. In social matters he has always 
taken a leading part; he is one of the |)il- 
lars of Grange No. 1174, and except for 
one year has been treasurer of the Associa- 
tion since its organization. Lie is a sys- 
tematic, practical farmer, successful in all 
his undertakings; and he is now enjoying 
the rewards of years of well-directed labor. 
Mrs. Gregory is a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Society of Barrett's Chapel. 




llLLIAM E. BRAMLEY, foreman 

in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad 
shops at Chicago Junction, was 
born in 1848 at Nottingham, 
England. In 1849 his parents emigrated 
from their native country, and arriving in 
the United States, located at Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. 

Some time later the family moved to 
Zanesville, Muskingum Co., Ohio, where 
William E. was apprenticed to the ma- 
chinist's trade, which he learned in the 
shops where he subsequently worked as a 
regular mechanic. His term of service 
was three and one-half years, and in this 
time he became a thorough mechanic. 
Removing to Dennison, Ohio, he worked 
in the shops there for two years, when he 
entered the employ of the P. C. C. & St. 
L. Railroad Company, as fireman. In the 
course of fourteen months he was promoted 
to engineer, in which capacity he served 
that company for five years. In 1874 he 
came to Chicago Junction, and at different 
times worked in shops and ran a yard 
engine. For several years he has been 
foreman of the shops here, and in that re- 
sponsible j)Osition has given satisfaction to 
his employers as well as to his fellow em- 
ployes. Sober, economical, industrious and 
competent, he has accumulated a compe- 
tence, and is the owner of a comfortable 



226 



nUEON COUNTY, OHIO. 



home just outside of the town. A strong 
advocate of temperance, he encourages the 
practice of this great virtue amoufj the 
men with whom he is associated, and has 
seen the good results of his example and 
teachinuf. 

Mr. Bramley has been twice married. 
In 1876 he was united with Jennie C. 
Lewis, who died in 1884, leaving three 
children: Libbie, Loula, and Jennie (who 
died when one year old). His second 
marriage, which took place in 1887, was 
with Mrs. Amanda (Miller) Halin, a daugh- 
ter of Daniel Miller and a native of Chi- 
cago Junction. Mrs. JBramley is an active 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and of the Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. 
Bramley is a Republican, but not a parti- 
san. He joined the Masonic Fraternity in 
1876 at Plymouth, Ohio, and since that 
time has become a member of the Chapter, 
R. A. He desires it to be here recorded 
that he has become a follower of Christ; 
that under the revival of Miss Jennie 
Smith he crave his heart to Cod, and 
united with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church with his wife. He is also a useful 
worker in the Temperance cause, in con- 
nection with which the organization known 
as the '' Railroad Temperance Association " 
was recently started. 



QEORGE JOINER, than whom there 
, is no more highly respected citizen 
in Norwich township, where he has 
, 1. his home, is a native of Huron 
county, born in Greenfield township 
in 1839. 

Ralph Joiner, his father, a son of Will- 
iam Joiner, was born in Slielburne Falls, 
Mass., July 28, 1804. At the age of seven 
years he was bound out by his mother, till 
twenty-one years old, to one Smead, a tan- 
ner and currier and shoemaker, with whom 
he worked his full time, and then took a 
sea voyage from Boston to Cuba and the 
West India Islands, in the capacity of 



ship's cook. After this voyage he com- 
menced the trade of boot and shoe makinsj 
in Deertield, Mass., continuing in same 
five years. He then took another trip, 
this time through the State of Illinois, to 
New Orleans, down the Ohio river, and to 
Sandusky City, Ohio, thence to Greenfield 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, to a brother's 
(Osias Joiner), where he made his home 
until he was married. In the fall of 1835 
he took charge of a grocery store for Mack- 
intire Beemer, at Greenfield Center, Ohio, 
remaining a year and a half. On August 
3, 1837, Mr. Ralph Joiner was married to 
Miss Eliza liischo, born August 5, 1817, a 
daughter of Robert Inscho, and to this 
union were born nine children, their names 
and dates of birth being as follows: George 
(subject of this sketch). May 24, 1839; 
Richard M., May 31, 1841 (deceased); 
Ralph C, June 23, 1843; Harriet, June 

28, 1845 (deceased); Charles, August 1, 
1847; Charlotte L., April 28,1850; Frank 
P., December 29, 1852; Benjamin F., Au- 
gust 14, 1855, and Augusta Arminda, July 

29, 1862 (deceased). The father of this 
family died in 1877, of cancer in the hand. 
The mother, now in the seventy-seventh 
year of her age, is at the present writing 
visiting her three sons, who are residents 
of Hillsdale county, Michigan. 

Robert Inscho, father of Mrs. Ralph 
Joiner, was Iwni in New Jersey in 1765; 
moved to Virginia in 1806, whence after 
a residence there he canie to New Haven 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, settling on a 
farm that is now owned by a grandchild 
of his. Some time in the "forties" he 
moved to Noble county, Ind., and there 
died at the age of eighty-seven years. 

George Joiner, subject of sketch, was 
I'eared to farm work, and has ever since 
been successful in his agricultural labors. 
Before he was twenty years old he bought 
thirty- eight acres of land in Greenfield 
township, and in 1861 he came to Norwich 
township, where he worked by the month 
for Wesley Robinson, and also hauled wood 
for the i-ailroad, making good wages. He 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



227 



then took up fanning ou liis present place 
in Norwich township, tirst buying eigiity 
acres, to which lie has from time to time 
added until lie now has 227i acres of as 
tine land as can be found in tlie township. 
In 1860 Mr. Joiner was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Doncer, of Norwich township, 
Huron county, daughter of George Don- 
cer, and their home has been blessed with 
five children, namely: Wesley C, born 
August 8, 1861; Sarah J., boi'n February 
4, 1864; Clara E., born August 12, 1867; 
Alice I., born November 13, 1869, and 
George Henry Harrison, born August 18, 
1876. A Republican since the breaking 
out of the Civil war, onr subject has held 
some offices in his township with character- 
istic abilit}' and fidelity — notably having 
served on the board of education, and as 
district clerk. Together with his wife he 
holds to the tenets of the U. B. Church of 
Chicago, Ohio. 



dlOHN DRURY. Prominent among 
the successful agriculturists of Huron 
^ county who till the soil and enjoy the 
fruits of their labor, ranks the sub- 
ject of this biographical sketch, who de- 
votes his time and attention to farming, 
and realizes that judgment and executive 
ability are needed to successfully carry on 
his chosen occupation. 

His father, Jonathan M. Drury, was 
born February 24, 1809,, in Worthington, 
Mass., and inherited all of the energy and 
ambition characteristic of that section of 
the United States. His childhood and 
early manhood were passed in his native 
State, and he there leai'iied habits of thrift 
that served him well through after life. In 
1837 he visited Ohio, and in the following 
year located in this State, and in 1844 he 
took possession of the farm upon which he 
and his son now reside. He has devoted 
his whole life to agricultural pursuits, and 
owns one hundred acres of valuable land, 
situated a mile from Bellevne. Mr. Drury 
wa.-i married in March, 1836, to Miss Abi- 



gail M. Knowlton, of Vei'mont, and three 
children blessed their union, viz.: John 
(our subject), and Pollen and Carrie (both 
of whom died at an early age). This wife 
died May 8, 1847. He afterward married 
Mrs. Clarissa B. Wrisley, of Massachu- 
setts, who died December 20, 1887. By 
his second marriage he has one child, 
]\Iyron M. (now located in Chicago). Mr. 
Drury has been a member of the Lyme 
Congregational Church for over fifty years, 
and a deacon in the same for a great 
length of time. 

John Drury was born March 7, 1847, 
in Lyme township. He has always re- 
sided at the place of his birth, and has 
taken a great interest in the religious, so- 
cial and educational progress of the com- 
munity. In 1871 he was united in marriage 
with Miss Ida M. Cowle, of Bellevue, 
daughter of John Cowle, who settled in 
Huron county as early as 1835. Of this 
marriage one child was born, a daughter, 
who died in infancy. Mrs. Drury died in 
1887. In May, 1889, Mr. Drury married 
Mrs. Josephine W. Nims, a daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. John AVright. Mrs. Drury's 
mother was a daughter of Rev. James 
Ford, who settled on the Ridge in 1833. 
Mr. Drury makes his home on the farm 
once owned by his father, and every year 
makes improvements both in the way of 
building and in carrying out modern ideas 
in his farming operations. Mr. and Mrs. 
Drury are members of the Lyme Congre- 
gational Church, of which they are liberal 
supporters. He has been superintendent 
of the Lyme Sabbath-school since 1882. 



[f GRACE B. SILLIMxVN, who is a 
son of ff oseph and grandson of Jus- 
tus Sill i man, was born in 1832 in 
Fairfield county. Conn. Justus 
Silliman was a farmer of Fairfield 
county. Conn., a descendant of English 
colonists of New England. In early man- 
hood he married Ruth Jennings, and to 




228 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



this union were born nine cliildien: Jo- 
sepli, Isaac, Abijali. Daniel, Stephen, Abby, 
Morinda, Sally and Ruth. Justus Silliinan 
died on the faiin, where he and his wife 
passed the greater part of their lives. 

Joseph Silliman was born in 1790 in 
Fairfield count}', Conn., was reared to man- 
hood on the farm, received a fair educa- 
tion in the school of the district, and later 
taujjfht school there. In 1812 he married 
Lucinda Banks, who was born in 1792 in 
Fairfield county, daughter of Joseph 
Banks, a farniei- of that county. After 
marriage the young couple settled on a 
farm in Fairfield county, where they re- 
sided until death removed them. • Of their 
three children, George migrated to Ohio, 
settled in Fairfield township, Huron county, 
and died on his farm ; Sarah married Cor- 
nelius Benedict, of Connecticut, and died 
in 1845; and Horace B. is the subject of 
this sketch. The mother of this family 
died in 1887. Josepli Silliman was a 
slanch Democrat, and served as sheriff of 
Fairfield county. Conn., and in nearly all 
the ofiices of his township. 

Horace B. Silliman passed his boyhood 
(jn the farm in Connecticut, received his 
education in the schools of his native place, 
and in 1855 was there married to Miss 
Abigail Hawkins, also a native of Fairfield 
(iounty. The same year he came to Kipley 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, liringing with 
him a capital of three thousand dollars. 
How judiciously this capital was invested 
may be learned from the farm and home 
of Mr. Silliman, for his lands now com- 
prise 225 acres of as pi'oductive a tract as 
exists in the "Firelands" region. While 
giving close personal attention to this 
beautiful farm, he is also interested in 
stock growing, and deals extensively in 
fine cattle. A Democrat in political faith, 
he has been elected to several offices, such 
as trustee, in his township, in the face of 
the fact that the Republicans are in the 
majority there. Twice he was nominated 
for county commissioner, once for county 
treasui'er and once for Infirmary director, 



and polled a very large vote. He is one of 
the "wheel-horses" of his party in Huron 
county. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Silliman have been 
born the following named children: 
Georgiana, J. W., Francis L., Dwight, 
Edward, Clara, Mary, Ella; there were 
others, who died in infancy; Georgiana is 
deceased; the rest reside on the homestead. 



P)ETER HOHLER. In 1834 John 
Hohler and his wife, accompanied 
by their four sons, emigrated from 
Baden, Germany, and landed in 
New York, September 14, 1834. 
They there met an old actpiaintance who 
had previously settled in Huron county, 
Ohio, and through his representations were 
induced to proceed thither. The trip was 
made by way of Lake Erie, and on arriv- 
ing in Peru, Huron county, October 8, 
John Hohler bought ninety-six acres of 
heavily timbered land in that township, 
only a small portion of which was cleared. 
With the characteristic energy of their 
race, father and sons cleared the land, 
erected a comfortable log cabin to which 
they afterward made several additions, and 
finally converted the cabin into a barn, 
after building the present commodious 
dwelling. The sons, all of whom united 
their efforts on the old place until each one 
had secured a home, were as follows: 
Frank Joseph, who is supposed to have 
been killed in the Mexican war; Peter, 
whose sketch follows; Frederick, who died 
in Peru township in November, 1863, 
leaving seven children, two of whom are 
living in Huron county, three in Cleve- 
land, one in Kansas, and one in Alaska; 
and Philip C, who died in January, 1804, 
in Peru township. The father died in 
1849, at the age of sixty-four years, and in 
1864 the mother was laid beside him, after 
having entered her eightieth year. Both 
were members of the Catholic Church. 

Peter Hohler, the only living represent- 
ative of his family, was born July 12, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



229 



1815, in Baden, Germany. He attended 
the German schools, his knowledge of En- 
glifch having been seemed solely by prac- 
tical experience. When the old estate was 
divided, he came into possession of the 
liomestead, and from poverty rapidly rose 
to attiuence, being now one of the wealth- 
iest men of the community. In 1842 he 
was united in marriage with Margaret 
Glassnes, a native of Germany, whose 
])arents Ciinie to America in the same year 
as the Ilohler family. Mrs. Holder died 
in 1889, since which time Peter Hohler 
has made his home principally witii Mrs. 
Brown (a niece of his deceased wife), of 
the German settlement in Bronson town- 
ship, right opposite his old farm, which 
after his wife's death he did not like to 
have anything more to do with. He deeded 
llOi acres to a son of his brother Fred- 
erick, named Leo Holder, whom they took 
(after his father's death) at the age of four 
years, and brought up. In consideration 
of this he has to pay to each of his 
brothers and sisters a certain sum after the 
death of Peter Hohler. 

Our subject is a Democrat, and takes an 
active interest in local politics; he iias 
served as township trustee, assessor and in 
other ofKces of trust. He is a member of 
the Catholic Church. 




TERRY, D. D. S., is the first den- 
tist of Norwalk, and one of the old- 
est living dental practitioners in the 
State of Ohio. His paternal grand- 
father was a corporal in the war of 
1812, and his son. Ira Terry, was born in 
Long Ishmd. N. Y. Ira Terry was mar- 
ried to Fannie Skinner, whose parents were 
natives of New York. 

A. Terry, son of Ira and Fannie (Skin- 
ner) Terry, was born in 1824, in Tompkins 
county, N. Y., where he was educated in 
the common schools and commenced the 
study of dentistry. In the autumn of 
1850 he came to Ohio, l)ut returnintr to 



New York in 1851, he there remained a 
few months, and then located in Plymouth, 
Huron Co., Ohio. He soon afterward 
moved to Monroeville, same county, and 
the following June again returned to New 
York. In 1853 he made a permanent lo- 
cation in Norwalk, where he has since 
resided. During the war Dr. Terry did 
not serve as a soldier, but after the battle 
of Gettysburg left his office in charge of 
an assistant, and went to the field to aid in 
caring for the wounded, paying hia own 
expenses. He is a charter member of the 
Northern Ohio Dental Association. In 
early manhood the Doctor was united in 
marriage with Miss M. I. Clapp, a native 
of Ohio, who bore him five children, 
namely: Two, Fred and Fannie, deceased 
when young; Ida, wife of C. L. Rue; Al- 
fred D. and Bessie, the latter being married 
to J. E. Clive. 



THOMAS W. LATHAM. Among 
the wealthy young citizens and en- 
ergetic real-estate men of Monroe- 
ville, this gentleman occupies the 
position of a popular leader. He is 
a son of Hiram Latham, and a grandson 
of AVolcott Latham, the latter of whom 
was a pioneer settler of Huron county, 
Ohio. 

Hiram Latham was born in Huron 
county, where he followed farming, and is 
now a resident of Lyme. He was married 
to Mary Evans, a native of England, who 
has borne hira four sons and one daughter, 
Thomas W. lieing second in order of birth. 
Our subject was born October 17, 1864, 
in Huron county, Ohio, and was there 
reared to manhood, being educated at the 
Ada Normal School, after which he took a 
business course at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
After leaving school he passed two years 
in Corwith, Iowa, being there coniiected 
with his cousin, Frank Latham, in the 
milling and grain business; and upon re- 
turning to Ohio, entered a hardware estali- 
lishment with R. G. Martin, selling out in 



230 



JIl'RON COUNTY, OHIO. 



1887. Soon after this he opened a real- 
estate and insurance l:)usiness, meeting 
with signal success in this enterprise. On 
June 2-3, 1S89, he was united in marriage 
with Mary E., daughter of John S. Davis, 
at one time president of the First National 
Bank of Monroeville, and to this union 
has been born one son, Davis Wolcott. 
Mr. Latham owns several hundred acres 
of tine farming land near Monroeville, and 
deals extensively in all departments of real 
estate. In politics he is prominently iden- 
tified with the Republican party, being at 
present a member of the county central 
committee, treasurer of the corporation, 
and a member of the school board. Socially 
lie is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, 
and also a member of the Norwalk Com- 
mandery. Knights Temj)lar, Norwalk, Ohio, 
lie is secretary of the Board of Industry, 
an organization established for the im- 
provement of Monroeville, and takes an 
active interest in all matters of public 
improvements. 

In religious faith Mr. Latham is a mem- 
ber of Zion Episcopal Church, of which 
he is, at present, vestryman and treasurer. 
He possesses an unusually energetic nature, 
and well merits his reputation as an enter- 
prising, prosperous business man. 



TfffENRY S. ARNERT, one of the 
|p4 successful farmers and stock grow- 
I 1[ ers of nortliern Ohio, now a resi- 
•^ dent of Fitchville township, was 

born May 20, 1831, in Yates county. 
New York. 

Uriah T. Arnert (son of James Arnert, 
who died in Ilartland township, Huron 
Co., Ohio) was born March 12, 1806, in 
Yates county, N. Y. The school and farm 
were the tasks of his boyhood, and the 
farm the work of his youth. In 1827 he 
married Catherine Townsend, who was born 
January 13, 1S09, in Yates county; N. Y., 
near the birthplace of her husband. There 



three children were born to them, as fol- 
lows: George T., December 24, 1S27; Mary 
E., March 21, 1829, and Henry S., the sub- 
ject of this sketch. George and Mary, just 
named, died in their native county, while 
Henry S. was brought to Ohio early in 
1832 by his parents. The journey from 
Buffalo to Hui'on, Ohio, was made on the 
"Sheldon Thomson," and from Huron to 
Hartland township, Huron county, they 
traveled in a wagon drawn by oxen. 

Arriving here, Mr. Arnert purchased 
eighty acres of wild land at twenty shillings 
per acre. The tract was clothed with heavy 
timber, and water submerged a large part 
of the land, but the pioneer went bravely 
to work, erected a rude cabin, and began 
the task of clearing. His success was 
assured from the beginning: a better dwell- 
ing house took the place of the cabin, and 
improvements were carried out until he 
sold the place and moved to Townsend 
township. About the year 1860 he located 
in New London township, where he died 
in 1863. He was buried in Ilartland 
Ridge cemetery. 

The children born in Ohio to Uriah T. 
and Catherine Arnert are as follows: Sarah 
C, born April 2, 1833, is the wife of 
Thaddeus Sprague, of Wakeinan town- 
ship; Phoebe J., born October 12, 1885, is 
the wife of Birdsall French, of Erie 
county, Ohio; Dolly A., born February 
10, 1838, married AVillnir Jefferson, and 
lives in Norwalk; Catherine C, born Oc- 
tober 4, 1840, married Edwin Burney, and 
died in New London; Uriah B., born April 
4, 1843, enlisted at the age of nineteen 
years, serving with Company B, Third 
Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, until his death in 
Tennessee, in 1862; Cyrus D., born Au- 
gust 23, 1845, is now residing at Bir- 
mingham, Ohio; and Frank, born February 
12, 1852, died in 1860. Mr. Arnert was 
a Whig prior to the organization of the 
Republican party, of which he then be- 
came a member. In Church connection 
he was a Methodist. His success in Ohio 
was a decided one, so that, at his death, he 



TlUIiOlsr COUNTY, OHIO. 



231 



left to his family a valuable property. His 
widow married Henry Riinyan, aud now 
resides at New London. 

Henry S. Arnert was bronght to Huron 
county in infancy, grew to manhood here, 
and became closely associated with its 
affairs. He received a primary education, 
his first teacher being Julia Ann Crine, 
but the fact that he was the eldest son 
militated against him in the matter of 
education, for work on the farm had to be 
attended to, in pioneer days, by the chil- 
dren as well as by the adults of the family. 
He worked on the homestead until he was 
twenty-four years old. On February 27, 
1862, he married Julia A. Barker, who 
was born October 31, 1829, in Fitchville 
township, in which township her father, 
Joseph Barker, was an early settler. To 
this marriage came one son, Frank B., 
born September 20, 1863, a farmer of 
Fitchville. After his marriage Mr. Arnert 
purchased a fai-ni in Townsend township, 
and resided thereon until 1872, when he 
moved to Fitchville township, and located 
on the "Elias Showers Farm." He now 
owns 127 acres of excellent land, which 
tract is under a high state of cultivation. 
He is also a stock grower, and takes pride 
in the appearance of his cattle, farm and 
home. Prior to 1863 lie was a Republi- 
can, but since tliat year has been a Demo- 
crat. Before bis marriage he saved enough 
from his earnings to purchase his first 
farm, and his property to-day, which repre- 
sents the savings of thirty years, is a monu- 
ment alike to his systematic farming and 
to his industry. 



'HAUNCY WOODWORTH, a well- 
known, native-born citizen of New 
Haven, is a son of Jonathan Wood- 
worth, a farmer, who was born in 
Trumansburgh, Tompkins county. New 
York. 

Jonathan P. Woodworth, grandfather of 
subject, was born July 15, 1775, in Con- 



necticut, and was reared to farm life. He 
became a minister in the Baptist Church, 
and followed his profession with much 
success. He married, and liad children as 
follows: Abigail, born in 17'J7; Anna, 
born in 1800; David, born in 1801; 
Jonathan, born September 7, 1803; 
Osaines, born in 1805; Cynthia, born in 
1807; Chauncy, born in 1809; Herman, 
born in 1811; Clarinda, born in 1814; 
Salina, born in 1817; and William C, born 
in 1819. Rev. Jonathan P.- Woodworth 
served for many years as justice of the 
peace. He died in Trumansburgh, New 
York. 

Jonathan Woodworth attended the 
schools of his native place during his boy- 
hood. He learned the shipbuilder's trade, 
and early in life became a sailor on tlie 
lakes, between Geneva and BufJalo. In 
1835 he came west to Ohio, settling on a 
tract of ninety-six acres in New Haven 
township, Huron county, where he en- 
gaged in general agriculture, in which he 
met with considerable success, at one time 
owning as much as 250 acres of land. He 
was united in marriao-e October 27, 1S28, 
with Miss Freelove Mott, of Shenango, 
Penn., daughter of Burger Mott, a farmer, 
who was born September 10, 1786. To 
this union were l)orn fourteen children, as 
follows: Herman, in 1830; E. C. . July 
25, 1831; J. P., October 13. 1832 (de- 
ceased); Mary A., March 19, 1835; So- 
phronia, November 25, 1836; Chauncy, 
December 8, 1838; William A., May 12, 
1841; James G., August 16, 1842; Mercy 
J., November 25, 1844; Salina M., April 
22, 1847; Ellen H., August 14, 1848; 
Cynthia, December 23, 1850 (deceased); 
Arsula, October 23, 1853; and one that 
died in infancy. In politics Jonathan 
Woodworth was an active member of the 
Democratic party, was a great debater, 
and served several terms as trustee of his 
township. In religious matters he was a 
prominent member of the Baptist ('hurch. 
He passed away April,16, 1867. He was 
a man of large physiipie. 



232 



IIURON^ COUNTY, OniO. 



Clianncy Woodworth ])assed his boyhood 
days on the home farm in New Haven 
township, meantime receiving his educa- 
tion in the common schools. He tlien 
worked by the month for his mother for 
twelve years. On October 6, 18G'J, he was 
married to MissMaryetta Hartman, daugh- 
ter of Peter Hartman, who was a success- 
ful farmer of Bucks county, Penn., where 
he was born. He had live children, viz.: 
Maryetta (Mrs. Wood worth), Frank, Charles, 
George and Ai'abelle. After marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Woodworth resided for two 
years on a farm in New Haven township, 
and he then bougiit a place in Kiclimond 
township, Huron county, near Chicago, 
where they also remained two years. In 
1875 they came to their present residence, 
a pleasant farm of sixty-four acres in the 
suburbs of New Haven, on wliich Mr. 
Woodworth has made numeious improve- 
ments. In his political affiliations our sub- 
ject is a Democrat, and takes an active in- 
terest in the welfare of his party. He is 
a substantial supporter of religious insti- 
tutions, giving liberally of his means to 
churches and church work. Mrs. and Mrs. 
Woodworth have had two children, one 
being still-l)orn, the other, a daughter 
named Belle, dying at the age of three years. 



ffffON. S. E. CRAWFOKD, Norwalk, 
I^H is a native of Richland county, 
I 1[ Ohio, born September 20, 1842. 
yj There are strong evidences at hand 

]iointing to the fact that he not only 
came into tliis world, but also to Norwalk, 
under propitious stai-s. 

Twice in succession was he called to the 
office of mayor of that city by the suffrages 
of ills old neighbors, the lirst time in 
188U; and so favorable was his service that 
he was re-elected, and was yet again the 
unanimous choice of his party's convention 
for a third term, chosen over the heads of 
older citizens, and. it is not too much to 
say, above all in Norwalk, because he is 
and has been of the political party that is 



in the minority in the city. Few men 
ever receive such a compliment from the 
voters as has come unsought to him; few 
men are stronger than party ties, or live in 
an atmosphere far above the active preju- 
dices of the American voter. 

Mr. Crawford is a son of David and 
Margaret (Miller) Crawford, natives of 
Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. 
They were pioneers to Richland county, 
Ohio, where they met and were married, 
thence removed to Huron county, when 
the suV)ject of this sketch was about five 
years of age. The father died March 31, 
1884, aged seventy-five; the mother Octo- 
ber 1, 1885, at the same age. They were 
Dniversalists in their religious views, and 
were possessed of the united respect of 
their fellow-men. Cominencinrc their 
young lives together, they were but briefly 
separated in death. The paternal grand- 
father of our subject was a native of Ire- 
land, and a pioneer of Beaver county, 
Penn., thence moving to Richland county, 
where he was a farmer. The paternal 
grandmother, Mary Eckles, was of Scotch 
descent, and survived to the advanced age 
of ninety years. Mayor Crawford's ma- 
ternal grandfather, Henry Miller, of Mary- 
land, removed to Harrison county, Ohio, 
when Mayor Crawford's mother was but a 
small child, locating soon after in the 
forests on the dividing line between Huron 
and Richland oounties, four miles east of 
where is now the town of Plymouth. Our 
subject's maternal grandmother died in 
the village of Peru, Huron county, at the 
advanced age of ninety-three years. 

S. E. Crawford is the fifth in a family 
of ten children. Here he has lived his 
life of useful years, receiving from the 
common schools of his locality the funda- 
mentals of an English education. When 
old enough, he was apprenticed to learn 
the wagon maker's trade, which he left un- 
completed to enter the service of his coun- 
try to aid in the suppressing of the great 
Rebellion. He first joined Company C, 
One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Regiment, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



235 



O. Y. I., and served a term of four 
months; then enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Ninety-second Regiment, O. V. I., 
Company A, and served in this command 
eight months as first lieutenant, all the 
titne being attached to the army of the 
Potomac. When peace with her blessings 
again came to the land, the young soldier 
quit the tented front and repaired to 
Bryan, Williams Co., Ohio, and again took 
up the learning of his trade, completing 
which he located, in 1867, in Norwalk, 
and commenced making wagons and car- 
riages, havincf established the firm of S. 
E. Crawford & Co. In this lie continued 
until 1872, when he sold his interest in 
the cotnpany, and at once engaged in the 
agricultural implement business. In a 
short time he organized his present indus- 
try — the manufacture of rui)ber buckets, 
chain and wood force pump supplies. 

In 1882 Mr. Crawford was elected a 
member of the city council, and was re- 
elected until 1889, when he was chosen 
mayor, as already stated. He is a promi- 
nent member of the I. O. O. F., Daughters 
of Rebekah, Knights of the Maccabees, 
National Union and G. A. R., in all of 
which he is a ])ast officer. He is a director 
of the Norwalk Metal Stamping and Spin- 
ning Company, and is vice-president of 
the Home Savings and Loan Company'. 
On June 20, 1S93, he was elected a director 
of the Sandusky, Milan & Norwalk Elec- 
tric Railway. 

On September 30, 1S69, S. E. Crawford 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
E. Harrington, daughter of Patrick and 
Mary Harrington, formerly of Cleveland, 
now deceased. 



FW. SCHNEERER. M. D., Nor- 
walk, is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, 
^ born June 27, 1850, of German 
descent, the son of Fredrick and 
Johannah (^Schwartz) Schneerer, natives of 
Germany, wiio came to this country in 

13 



an early day, and settled in Buffalo, N. Y., 
subsequently removing to Cleveland, Ohio. 

They had a family of ten children, and 
of these the subject of this notice is the 
fifth in the order of birth. He received a 
good English education in the city of his 
nativity, and after completing his literary 
education, began reading medicine under 
a preceptor, and became a student at the 
Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, 
graduating therefrom in 1875. In the 
same year he opened an ofhce for the 
practice of hie profession, in Norwalk, 
where he has since remained, commanding 
a large and lucrative business, originally 
somewiiat assisted in starting the prac- 
tice by his thorough familiarity with both 
the English and German languages, 
which, followed Ijy eminent success with 
clients, soon establisiied for him a fair and 
wide reputation. 

During the year 1892 Dr. and Mrs. 
Schneerer spent the season traveling in 
Europe, among the countries visited being 
England, France, Germany, Switzerland, 
Scotland and Holland. The doctor is a 
member of the State Eclectic Medical 
Society. On November 18, 1875, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Abbie F. 
Cahoon, and of this union were born four 
children: Fredrick B., Car! E., Mary E., 
and Theodore C. 



HW. HOFFMAN, a son of George 
and Margaret Hoffman, was born 
_ Septeml)er 5, 1857, in Sandusky 
county, Ohio. His parents, who 
are natives of Germany, emigrated 
to the United States in youth, and grew to 
maturity in Ohio. George Hoffman was 
twice married, three children being born to 
each marriage, all residing in Ohio, and of 
whom H. W. is the eldest. 

H. W. Hoffman was reared in iiis native 
county, and received all his literary train- 
ing before he was eleven years old, his 
father's circumstances not being such as 
to warrant his giving his son any great 



■236 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



educational advantages. In 1868 lie was 
apprenticed to a harness maker, and at the 
age of seventeen established at Sandusky 
his own saddle and harness shop, which he 
carried on for three years. In 1875 he 
removed to Chicago Junction, where he 
continued in his trade. In 1886 he opened 
a grocery store, just opposite his present 
store, on Myrtle avenue, and in 1889 erected 
the two-story brick building, 30 x 60 feet, 
which he now occupies. Here he car- 
ries a complete stock of standard and 
fancy groceries; the establishment is well 
fitted up, and the entire concern would do 
credit to a much larger city than Chicago 
Junction. 

Mr. Hoffman was mari'ied, April 24, 
1870, to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob 
Stahl, of New Haven township, and to 
them four children were born, namely: 
Lily, Rolson, Paul, and Herbert Henry 
(who died at the age of ten yearsV Mr. 
Hoffman is a member of Lodge !No. 748, 
I. O. O. F., also of the local Lodge, K. of 
F. No. 442, and Golden Rule Lodge 562, 
F. & A. M. The facility with which he 
changed a trade for a mercantile business, 
and the success which he has won, are 
noticeable points in Mr. Hoffman's career. 
Few men could risk making tiie change, 
and all he has accomplished must be cred- 
ited to himself, and to his energy, good 
judgment and business acumen. 




ULLIAM W. DRENNAN was 
born July 18, 1820, at Canton, 
Stark Co., Ohio, a grandson of 
David Drennan, a native of Ire- 
land, who immigrated to America prior to 
the Revolution, settling in Pennsylvania. 
David Drennan was married at Carlisle, 
Penn., to Jane Armstrong, a daughter of 
a Protestant-Irish settler in that town, and 
seven children were born to them — three 
sons and four daughters — of whom James, 
the father of suliject, was the second in 
order of birth. Prior to 1781 David 



Drennan was a "carrier of merchandise 
and produce" between Carlisle and Pitts- 
burgh. Settling in Beaver county in 1781, 
he aided in its establishment, and in the 
year 1805 was appointed associate jndge 
of that county by Gov. McKean, vice Ab- 
ner Lacock, resigned. In 1804 he was a 
member of the first grand jury. Two 
years before he and one James Drennan 
were tax-payers of the original Reaver 
township (later Ohio township), and Judge 
Drennan was a most influential citizen, 
and an intelligent judge until his death, 
which occurred in Ohio township, August 
12, 1831. 

James Drennan was born at Carlisle, 
Penn. At tlie age of fifteen years he was 
apprenticed to a cabinet maker, and worked 
for his master until his nineteenth year, 
when he bought his freedom. Removing 
to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1802, he worked 
at his trade, and also as carpenter and 
joiner, until he had earned sufficient money 
to pay for his freedom, his master giving 
him time to do so. AVhen twenty-one years 
old he married Jane Patton, a native of 
Pennsylvania, of Protestant-Irish descent, 
and to them six children were born, of 
whom David, the eldest son, became a 
Methodist preacher, and died when about 
twenty-three years old; Jane died unmar- 
ried; John Patton, now over seventy-eight 
years old, resides at Decatur, 111., where 
his son ])ublishes a daily paper; the other 
three died in childhood. In 1812 James 
Drennan was commissioned lieutenant in 
the recruiting service for eastern Ohio, and 
organized two militia companies, the second 
of which he commanded as captain; and 
going to the front at once, they served in 
Harrison's army. After his marriage Mr. 
Drennan had worked at his trade in Can- 
ton, Ohio, until called out to serve in the 
army. After the war he, in partnership 
with a wealthy German and a wealthy 
Frenchman, organized the first banking 
concern at Canton, of which he was cashier 
until 1821. His first wife died in 1818, 
and in 1810 he married Eliza AVolfe, a 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



237 



native of Wilkes-Barre, Penn., then re- 
sidint>; at MansHeld, Oliio, wlierc slie taught 
school and conducted tlie military store in 
tlie old Blockhouse. She had come to Ohio 
witli her widowed mother in 1804, first 
settling at Newark, whence they soon re- 
moved to Fredericksburo'h,remaininir there 
until Hull's surrender, after which Mrs. 
"Wolfe joined her daugliter at Mansfield. 

In 1821 Mr. Drennan resigned the posi- 
tion of cashier in the Canton Bank, and 
moved to Mansfield, where he speculated 
in land, and engaged in aixriculture. In 
1825 he came to Plymouth, same State, 
where he worked at his trade and at differ- 
ent times engaged in mercantile business. 
He was postmaster at Plymouth for four 
years, under William H. Harrison's ad- 
ministration, and during his residence in 
Stark county was justice of the peace. 
He died in December, 1859, being then 
over seventy-seven years old. His widow 
died in 1870 at the age of eighty-one years. 
Of the six children of this second marriage, 
four are living, namely: William W., the 
subject of this sketch; Artemisia D., now 
Mrs. McDonough, of Plymouth; Kachel 
C. Cook, formerly of Brooklyn, now of 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; and Manuel J., a 
professor in Vassar College, who was edu- 
cated at Oberliu and in the New York 
Presbyterian Theological Seminary. 

William W. Drennan received a some- 
what limited education. The school at 
Plymouth from 1825, when iiis parents 
settled there, to 1832, when his school days 
ended, was truly a primitive one. At the 
age of twelve years he entered a general 
store at Plymouth as clerk, and afterward 
served in the same capacity in different 
stores at Mansfield and Zanesville, until 
he was twenty-four years old, when he 
established himself in business at Shelby, 
Ohio. A year later lie and his father 
opened a store at Plymouth, wliich they 
filled witii a stock of general merchandise. 
The father retired at various times, leavinjj 
or selling his interest in the stoi-e toothers, 
so that while W. W. Drennan w'as at the 



head of the business until December, 1859, 
he had several partners. At that time he 
retired from mercantile pursuits, the con- 
dition of his health requiring a rural life, 
and for eighteen months he was engaged 
in agriculture. In the spring of 1861, 
when the war broke out, he was acting as 
mayor of his town of Plymouth, and farm- 
ing, but from that time to the 24:th of De- 
cember, 1861, he gave more time to re- 
cruiting soldiers for various regiments and 
companies than he did to his office and 
farm, and was very successful. He did 
not enter the army himself because he was 
pronounced by mustering officer unfit for 
military duty. On December 24, 1861, 
he was chosen by the officers of the Si.xty- 
fourth Ohio Infantry as their sutler, in 
which capacity he served the regiment con- 
tinuously, faithfully and acceptably through 
the war; and at tlie close of the struggle 
he engaged in the commission business in 
Cincinnati, doing a very successful trade 
for about seven months, when he sold out 
and returned to Plymouth, Ohio, where he 
gave his attention to his farm and to specu- 
lating in land for some years. 

When a youth of from sixteen to nine- 
teen years, our subject began the study of 
law, giving up the few leisure hours at hi.s 
disposal to that profession for throe years. 
Five years after the war was oyer, he. re- 
sumed the study, and in 1872 was ad- 
mitted to the bar at Norwalk, Ohio, and in 
Huron and adjacent counties he has since 
been engaged in practice. During the 
last eight or nine years he has enjoyed a 
large ])ension practice. When he was ad- 
mitted to the law circle in 1872 he had 
1,100 acres of land in Huron county, the 
greater area of which he improv^ed. For 
nine years he was justice of the peace, and 
has filled the office of notary public since 
twenty-one years of age. 

Mr. Drennan was married, in IMarch, 
1850, in Cayuga county, N. Y., to Hannah 
Brinkerhofif, a sister of Gen. R. Brinker- 
hoff, of Mansfield, Ohio. Of six children 
born to this marriage, two are living, viz.: 



238 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



George B., a traveling salesman for a 
Philadelphia house; and Edith K., a sten- 
ographer. Mr. Drennan has been a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church since 1840, 
and since 1846 of the Plymouth Presby- 
terian Society, in which he is au elder. 
Politically lie is a Republican, ha\-ing been 
an anti-slavery Whig prior to the organiza- 
tion of the Republican party. 

Before closing this sketch, the ancestors 
of Mr. Drennap on the maternal side 
should claim some attention. His great- 
grandfather was Manuel Gonzales, a 
Spaniard and a Protestant, who came to 
Wilkes- Barre, Penn., and there married 
£Vn English girl named Turner. Eleanor, 
one of the daughters of their marriage, 
wedded an Austrian Protestant by the 
name of Wolfe, who found a home in Penn- 
sylvania, where he was accidentally killed 
in his Hfty-fourth year. Soon after this 
sad event the widow and her four daugh- 
ters and three sons moved to Ohio, where 
the second daughter, Eliza Wolfe, married 
James Drennan. 



FRANK J. SMITH, who is a son of 
Frank and grandson of Joseph Smith, 
_^ natives of Baden, Germany, was 
born in Peru township, Huron Co., 
Ohio. Frank Smith, father of subject, 
when a young man left his native land in 
1829, accompanied by his bi'other Joseph, 
and they landed in the United States. 
Shortly after the brothers came to Massa- 
chusetts, and while there concluded to 
seek a home in the newer country beyond 
the Alleghany mountains. They wrote to 
the father in Baden, telling him of their 
intentions, and asking him to take his 
family to New York. 

In 1832 the entire family met in that 
city, and without delay traveled westward 
via the Hudson river and Erie Canal. 
Halting at Cleveland, Ohio, they found 
that land could be purchased there at eight 
dollars per acre, but learning that better 



land, at lower prices, could be had farther 
west, they set out on the journey which 
ended in Peru township, Huron Co., Okio. 

The incident which urged them to locate 
here was a common one in the history of 
the settlement of the western States. Halt- 
ing at a spring to drink, they found the 
water exceptionally cool and clear, the land 
in the vicinity good, and the location on 
the ridge, between the sources of the 
Huron rivers, favorable to health and in- 
dustry. The physical features of the 
country corresponded with their correct 
ideas of agriculture, and thev delayed not 
in obtaining a title to the land. They 
immediately erected a frame building on 
the west side of the road leading south- 
west from Monroeville, and there they re- 
sided until the death of Joseph Smith 
(grandfather of subject) and his widow. 

Frank Smith, son of Joseph Smith, pur- 
chased a tract of land from his father, 
paying six dollars per acre for same. He 
married Miss Generosa Ott, and to this 
union the following named children were 
born: Caroline, who died when thirty 
years old; a sou who died in infancy; 
Frank J., the subject of this sketch; John 
J., a resident of Bronson township; Charles 
S., of Peru township; Alvin P., of Fre- 
mont, Ohio; Joseph S., of Pern township, 
and Edward, who died in 1884. Frank 
Smith, Sr., was a hardworking, intelligent 
agriculturist, and a man of fine moral ideas. 
He died in 1872. His widow, a kind, 
wholesouled woman, died in 1888, in the 
midst of her children, who merited and 
won succes. Both were interred in St. 
Alphonsus cemetery. Mr. Smith was a 
member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 
in which he served as trustee and in vari- 
ous other positions. In politics he was a 
Democrat, and from 1832 to 1S72 took an 
active interest in national. State and local 
issues, and filled many township positions. 

Frank J. Smith, son of Frank and Gene- 
rosa (Ott) Smith, was born March 3, 1840, 
in Peru township, and received such an 
education as the schools of the district 



UURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



239 



afforded. Being the eldest son of a pioneer 
family, no small share of work had to be 
done by hiiu; but with all this he filled 
the double role of pupil and farm hand 
without complaining. He labored on the 
homestead farm until 1867, when he mar- 
ried Susannah Scharf, a native nf New 
Wasliini(ton, Crawford Co., Ohio. This 
marriatre was blessed with the following 
named children: Frank W. (of California), 
JMary C, Louisa C, Peter, Julia (a teaclier 
in the convent), Alfred, William, Henry, 
Jacob, John, Carl, Thei-esa and Hattie, all 
residing at home. The parents and their 
children are all members of the Catholic 
Congregation of St. Alphonsus, to which 
faith their ancestors have adhered almost 
since the Romans named the cradle of the 
family in Europe — -"Civitas Aurelia 
Aquensis." In politics Mr. Smith is a 
Democrat, but beyond matters relating to 
his township and county, is content with 
the constitutional right to vote. He de- 
votes close attention to his agricultural and 
stock growing interests, and is considered 
one of the most industrious citizens and 
one of the most systematic and intelligent 
farmers of this rich pastoral district. He 
is prominent among the people of German 
descent, and his example and counsel are 
appreciated by all within the circle of his 
acquaintance. 



FH. JONES, attorney at law, JMor- 
walk. From the unanimous testi- 
_^ mony of this cotiimunity, we may 
well say that this gentleman is one 
of the leading members of the Huron 
county bar. He was born September 15, 
1858, near Madison, Wisconsin, a son of 
James and Sabra (Alvord) Jones, who mi- 
grated from Massachusetts to the West, 
settling in Wisconsin. After a time, how- 
ever, they retraced their steps, returning 
East and locating; in Bellevue, Huron 
Co., Ohio. The paternal ancestors of the 
family came to this country about 1700, 



and settled on the island known as Martha's 
VineyaVd; the maternal ancestors were 
from England. 

F. H. Jones received his early educa- 
tion in the common schools, and then be- 
came a student In Western Ee.serve Uni- 
versity, Cleveland, where he received the 
degree of A. B. in the class of 1882. 
During the year 1882-83 he was super- 
intendent of the public schools of Mentor, 
Ohio. He then entered the Cincinnati 
Law School, and in 1885 received his 
diploma, conferring the degree of LL. B. 
Locating first in Sandusky, Ohio, he there 
commenced the practice of his profession, 
but in a short time removed to Norvvalk, 
entering into the law practice in partner- 
ship with G. R. Walker. This firm was 
subsequently dissolred, and Mr. Jones 
opened out his present office, where he has 
since been in active practice, gaining an 
unusual degree of success. Pleasant in 
address, a diligent student and graceful 
speaker, his onward course has been the 
inevitable result following strong and fixed 
causes. He has the entire respect and 
confidence of his professional brethren, and 
the courts have designated their confidence 
by appointing him referee in a number of 
important cases. He has given special 
study in the law to the subjects of equity, 
corporations and realty, and his researches 
in these lines have made him influential, 
if not an authority, even with the older 
men of the profession. Mr. Jones is yet 
a young man; the future with its fairest 
promises is all before him, and here his 
closest friends may in confidence anchor 
their fondest hopes. Li politics he has 
always been an enthusiastic and active 
Republican. 



PjHILIP SEEL was born November 
24, 1843, on his father's farm in 
Nassau, Germany, and received his 
elementary instruction in the pub- 
lic schools of the vicinity. He 
afterward took a thorough course of study 



MO 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



at a higher institution of learning, and 
fitting himself for the position of civil 
engineer, followed that profession for 
some time in his native land. In 1870, 
liaving saved a good sum of money, he 
left Germany for America, embarking: at 
Hamburg, on the steamer " Ilarmouia." 
After landing in New York, he pushed 
westward to Ohio, and renting a place in 
Ilidgefield township, Huron county, com- 
menced agricultural pursuits. 

In 1871 he was united in marriage with 
Louisa, daughter of Chris Knoll, who was 
a native of (lermany and an early settler 
of KidgeHeld township, Huron county. 
After his marriage Philip Seel purchased 
and moved upon a portion of the farm he 
now occupies, to which he added year by 
year, and the place is now one of the most 
valuable in the township. It is adorned 
with all modern improvements, including 
a commodious brick residence, and other 
substantial buildings. Politically Mr. Seel 
is a Kepublican, and has served in various 
local offices, having been school director 
for seventeen years. The family are all 
members of the Lutheran Church, and en- 
joy tlie esteem of all who know tliem. 
Four children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Seel, as follows: Otto W., Amelia, 
Lydia, and a daughter that died in infancy. 
[Since the above was written Mr. Philip 
Seel died November 24, 1892, on his 
forty-ninth liirthday. 



rjflRAM D. DRAKE, a prosperous 
IrH young farmer of Itidgetield town- 
I 1; ship, is a grandson of Hiram and 
■^ Sarah (Ruggles) Drake, both of 

whom were residents of Connecti- 
cut, descended from English ancestry. 

Salmon Drake, father of our subject, 
was born April 9, 1827, in Plymouth, 
Luzerne Co., Penn., and came to Ridge- 
field township, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1848. 
On June 17, 1850, he was united in mar- 
riage with Cynthia Dickey, and the fol- 
lowing autumn they located on the Dickey 



homestead in Ridgefield townsliip. He 
was a superior farmer, and devoted the 
greater part of his life to that vocation; he 
also had a practical knowledge of carpen- 
try, which he followed during the earlier 
years of his life. In July, 1807, Mr. and 
Mrs. Drake and their eldest daughter 
united at Fairfield, Huron county, with 
the congregation of the Christian people 
known as Disciples. In January, 1S68, 
their membership was transferred to a sis- 
ter church in Norwalk, where Mr. Drake 
was at once chosen elder, and continued to 
serve in that office the remainder of his 
life. He was a zealous Christian man, 
taking an active part in every good work 
tending to the advancement of the moral 
or religious growth of the community. 

While one day traininiT a young horse lie 
was injured in the left side, and having 
contracted a cold in a storm soon after- 
ward, it resultetl in a fatal attack of 
typhoid pneumonia. He died April 3, 
1877, and was followed to the grave l)y a 
large number of sympatliizing friends. 
Since the death of her husband Mrs. 
Drake has continued to reside on the 
home place, where her children were l)orn 
as follows: Eliza Jane, July 5, 1852; 
Hiram D., July 7, 1854; Charles W., 
May 9, 1856; Imogene, April 29, 1858; 
J. Omer, March 6, 1861; Geoi-giana, 
November 3, 1862; Sterry A., March 19, 
1864; and Ira, born October 4, 1865, died 
January 18, 1872. 

Hiram D. Drake i-eceived his early edu- 
cation at the "AVebb settlement ■' school, 
afterward attending a normal school at 
Milan, in Erie county. After the death 
of his father he began to cultivate a tract 
(if land for himself, meanwiiile boarding 
at the home of a neighbor. On March 28, 
1887, he was married to Blanche I. Killey, 
a native of Marblehead, Ottawa county, 
Ohio, and a daughter of Robert and Mary 
Killey. Since their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Drake have resided on the home 
place, in Ridgefield township, Huron 
county, on which he has made many im- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



241 



provemeiits. He is a progressive farmer, 
and for the past few years lias been ex- 
tensively engaged in small fruit culture. 
He votes witli the Republican party, but 
is not an active politican, as he gives his 
whole time to conducting his private busi- 
ness. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have two little 
sons, viz.: Lewis Earl, born December 29, 
1888, and Robert Eric, born November 
27, 1892. 



EORGE BURDUE, a prominent, 
successful farmer of Townsend town- 
ship, was born February 19, 1811, 
in what is now Milan township, 
Erie county. He is the second in 
a family of eleven children (four of whom 
died in infancy) born to William and 
Elizabeth (Dlazur) Burdue, both of whom 
were burn in Pennsylvania, the former 
of French and the latter of German ex- 
traction. 

William Burdue, the father of subject, 
was born November 2G, 1782, and received 
an ordiiiary common-school education in 
his native State, where he afterward en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. Here too 
he was married, March 28, 1809, and in 
the fall of the following year (1810) emi- 
grated with his wife and child to the then 
extreme limit of the western frontier, the 
almost unbroken and pathless wilderness 
of northern Ohio. Settling in the northern 
part of Lot No. 4, Townsend township, 
Huron county, he entered wild lands, and 
built a log cabin in the primitive manner 
of those days, with clap- board or shake 
roof, puncheon floor and wooden latches. 
During the first winter after his arrival he 
left his family in the country near the In- 
dian villatre of Milan, while he busied 
himself in getting his cabin ready for their 
reception in the spring. Here, in the 
dense forest, by which they were sur- 
rounded for miles on every side, he com- 
menced to carve out a home for himself 
and family, subsecjuently clearing up and 
improving an e.xcellent farm. On this 



home the family experienced all the hard- 
ships and privations incident to a frontier 
life, mitigated, however, by the various 
pleasures common to backwoods life in 
those early days. The vast forest around 
them teemed with wild game of all kinds, 
wild honey was abundant, and maple syrup 
and sugar easily obtained. Though their 
white neighbors were few and far between, 
there was a warm, hearty, neighborly feel- 
ing existing among thein, and their social 
intercourse at the frequent house raisings, 
log rollings and quilting bees was of the 
most friendly character. Soon after their 
arrival the family made the acquaintance 
of an old Indian in the vicinity, who sub- 
sequently, by reason of the many favors 
shown him, especially by Mrs. Burdue, a 
lady of most excellent character, became 
warmly attached to the family, and ren- 
dered them many services. On one occa- 
sion Mr. Burdue, having lost a span of 
horses and a colt, was asked by this Indian 
to show him their tracks; this being done, 
the Indian carefully measured them with 
his hands and went away, returning in a 
few days and informing Mr. Burdue that 
he had fouiul tracks answering to the de- 
scription. He also learned that the In- 
dians would, in a few days, go to Huron, 
their usual trading point, and Mr. Burdue 
requested his father, Nathaniel Burdue, 
who was able to speak the Indian language, 
to go to Huron and demand the surrender 
of the animals. This he did, but the In- 
dians refused to give them up without 
compensation, the terms being a small 
quantity of corn and whiskey, which were 
promptly furnished and the horses re- 
turned. 

This same old Indian gave frequent 
evidences of his friendship for the family, 
the most important of which occurred 
during the war of 1812-15. soon after the 
surrender of Gen. Hull, when, partly by 
signs, he made the family understand that 
the savages were preparing to massacre the 
settlers; that at the expiration of a certain 
number of moons they would all probably 



242 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



1)6 scalped if tliey remained in the country; 
and at the same time lie enjoined upon 
them the strictest secrecy as to the source 
of tlieir information, assuring them that 
death to him would be the consequence of 
this friendly warning if known to other 
members of his tribe. After this he went 
away, and was never again seen in these 
parts. Tlie family imnjediately prepared 
for tficrht, first hiding some of their house- 
hold and cooking utensils under the 
puncheon floor of their cabin, and went 
back to Pennsylvania, where they remained 
until after the close of the war, returning 
to their frontier home in the spring of 
1816; and they found the articles hidden 
under the puncheon floor undisturbed, al- 
though the cabin had been occupied by the 
savages. 

Mr. Burdue brought with him, on his 
return from Pennsylvania, two small buhrs 
or stones for a hand-mill, which he set up 
near one side of the cabin, and which was 
used by the neighbors for several miles 
around, and was for a time the only one 
in the vicinity. He afterward sold the 
mill to a potter in Milan, who used it for 
grinding clay. For many years the wolves, 
with which the woods were swarming, 
were among their greatest pests, and would 
carry off or destroy calves and young stock 
of all kinds, unless it was secured under 
the very eaves of the cabin; they were fre- 
quently seen prowling about the spring 
near the house in daytime, and on one oc- 
casion destroyed the children's playhouse 
near the cabin. Wild cats and panthers 
were also quite numerous. Game of a 
less dangerous and more useful character, 
such as deer, wild turkeys, wild hogs and 
squirrels, abounded. 

One of the greatest difficulties of the 
settlers in that early day was to procure 
fabric for clothing and other necessary 
household articles, everything of the kind 
being very scarce and very dear; prints 
and domestics were worth from fifty to 
sixty cents per yard; hence they were 
obliged to raise flax and manufacture linen, 



and to weave linsey-woolsey and jeans for 
domestic use; and not unfrequently they 
manufactured various articles of wearing 
apparel from the skins of deer and other 
wild animals. Salt, too, was very scarce, 
and at one time Mr. Burdue was obliged 
to pay ten dollars per barrel for a very in- 
ferior quality. Soon after his second ar- 
rival he went back to Pennsylvania and 
returned with several head of cattle, ail of 
which died of bloody-murrain one after 
another; their milch cows too died of the 
same disease, until they had lost their last 
cow seven different times. 

For some time after they came to the 
country there were no schools in the 
neighboihood, and when a rude log house 
was finally erected, the schools were of the 
crudest, most primitive character for sev- 
eral years. As to churclies, there were 
none in the section, and, as usual in almost 
all new countries, the Methodist itinerant 
preachers, or circuit riders, were the pio- 
neers in the religious field, holding ser- 
vices first at one, and then another, of the 
settlers' cabins. Both Mr. Burdue and his 
wife were lifelong, earnest members of the 
M. E. Church. His death occurred at his 
home in Townsend township, October 23, 
1834, and that of his wife March 29, 1868, 
when she was in her seventy-seventh year, 
her birth having occurred September 26, 
1791. They reared seven children who 
grew to maturity, of whom George is the 
subject of this sketch; Nathaniel resides 
in Norwalk; John and Benjamin are in 
Linn county, Kans. ; Isaac B. lives in Ful- 
ton county, Ohio; Jacob died August 5, 
1874, in Michigan; and William W. died 
July 22, 1886, at Collins, Ohio. 

Nathaniel Burdue, grandfather of sub- 
ject, emigrated to northern Ohio in abont 
1808, settling in Berlin township, now in 
Erie county, where he entered a large tract 
of land (including the present site of Ber- 
lin Heights), erected a cabin, and the fol- 
lowing year went l:>ack to Pentisylvania 
for his wife and family. Here he subse- 
quently cleared and improved a farm, upon 



IIUKO.Y COUNTY, OHIO. 



243 



which he resided until liis death, which 
occurred when lie was over ninety years 
old. He was born and educated in J'enn- 
sylvania, where in early life he learned the 
shoeniaker's trade. Being left an orphan 
at a very early age, he was bound out till 
lie attained his majority, soon after which 
he married Miss Margaret Welch, also a 
native of Pennsylvania. She also lived to 
be over ninety years of age, and her death 
was occasioned by an accident, her clothes 
having caught fire, whereby she was 
burned severely. She was a remarkably 
active, vigorous and energetic woman all 
her life, and was a lifelong, devout mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. 

George Buvdue, whose name appears at 
the opening of his sketch, received but a 
very limited English education in youth, 
such as could be gleaned at the primitive 
schools, held in rude log buildings, of the 
Ohio frontier in that early day. In after 
years, however, he succeeded, by his own 
exertions, in acquiring an ordinary busi- 
ness education. He is possessed of good 
judgment and a strong, active mind, and 
is a close observer of everything around 
him, thus gaining in the great school of 
experience a fund of useful knowledge and 
valuable information. He has also been a 
constant reader, and is well informed. 
Mr. Burdue owns, and has always lived 
upon, the old home farm where his youth 
and early life were passed, and where he 
has been engaged in agricultural pursuits 
with the most encouraging success. For 
several years he was also engaged in manu- 
facturing charcoal for the market, of 
which he has burned and sold many kilns. 
He is classed among the pioneers and be- 
longs to the " Firelands Historical Society," 
a pioneer association, lieiiig among the first 
white children born in the northern part 
of Huron (now Erie) county, Ohio. In 
about 1844 he went to Green Springs, 
Seneca county, thirty-three miles away, to 
mill, but there being many others ahead of 
him, he was obliged to leave his grist and 
go back a second time, thus traveling 182 



miles for one grinding. When a young 
man our subject was quite a successful 
hunter, and killed over a hundred deer, be- 
sides wild turkeys and other game without 
number. In 1830 he killed a very large 
well-known deer (but a short distance fi-om 
thehou.se), known as "Old Golden,'' which 
other hunters had frequently tried but 
failed to secure; his track was known by 
his having lost one hoof. The antlers of 
this deer, still in his possession, he keeps 
as a relic of early days. 

Mr. Burdue was married, November 20, 
1838, to Miss Susan Hill, a native of Dela- 
ware county, N. Y., born October 5, 1821, 
daughter of Moses and Sally (Brooks) Hill, 
both natives of New York State and of 
English extraction. Two children — a son 
and a daughter — have blessed this union: 
Moses W., born March 13, 1841, and Sarah 
E., now Mrs. Thomas E. Ricrccs, born June 
25, 1846. Mrs. Susan Burdue's death oc- 
curred March 17, 1885, when she was in 
her sixty-fourth year. Though a member 
of no church she was nevertheless a firm 
believer in the Christian religion, and a 
practical Chi'istian. Mr. Burdue now makes 
his home with his son Moses W. and fam- 
ily, on the old home place. He is and has 
been an earnest, lifelong member of the 
M. E. Church. In politics he was for 
many years a Democrat, but is now identi- 
fied with the Prohibition party, and is an 
earnest advocate of the temperance cause. 
He is one of the old pioneers, prominent 
and representative farmers of the entire 
county, as well as one of its most respected 
citizens. 

Moses W. Burdue, with whom our sub- 
ject now makes his home, has always re- 
sided on the old home farm, where he has 
been engaged in agricultural pursuits, the 
greater part of the time with good success. 
In early life he learned the carpenter's 
trade, at which he has been employed to 
some extent and at various places. He re- 
ceived a good English and scientific educa- 
tion in youth at the common schools and 
at the Western Reserve Normal School, 



244 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Milan, Ohio, and in his early manliood was 
encased in teaching; for a time. He was 
married, February 2, 1865, to Miss Mary 
P. Vanderpool, a iiatis^e of Hamilton 
county, N. Y., born May 27, 1842, a 
daucrhter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Six- 
bery) Vanderpool, both of whom were also 
natives of that State, and of Holland and 
English descent, respectively. Four chil- 
dren have blessed their union, namely: 
George M., Mary P., Susie E. and William 
Earle. Mr. and Mrs. Burdue and the en- 
tire family are active members of the M. E. 
Church. Socially Mr. and Mrs. Burdue 
are members of Townsend Grange, No. 
1892. He is an earnest advocate of the 
temperance cause, a Prohibitionist in polit- 
ical faith, and one of the enterprising and 
successful farmers of the community. 



HfENEY C. PINNEY, a well-known 
farmer of Townsend township, is a 
_[ native of same, born April 11, 
1842, the third in the family of 
four children born to Hollibert and 
Harriet (Fay) Pinney, both of whom were 
natives of New York State, and of English 
descent. 

Hollibert Pinney first saw the light De- 
cember 29, 1801, and received a good 
common-school and academic education. 
He was engaged in teaching for some time, 
and worked on the old homestead in New 
York until he attained his majority. In 
1822 he was married to Harriet Fay, 
whose parents were early settlers of west- 
ern New York; then bought the home farm 
and followed agricultural pursuits, also 
working on the Erie Canal and in the salt 
works. Ho was a member of the New 
York State militia until 1835, when he 
came with his wife and one child to tiie 
far western frontier of northern Ohio, lo- 
cating in Berlin township, Erie county. 
He l)ought a slightly improved place ot 
ninety acres, and selling it about three 
years afterward, bought one in Townsend 



township, Huron Co., Ohio. Here he 
continued to improve and increase his pos- 
sessions, finally becoming the owner of 
255 acres of well-improved land. For 
several years the family e,\perienced all 
the hardships and privations incident to 
frontier life, their few neighbors being 
widely separated. On this farm Hollibert 
Pinney passed his remaining days, with 
the exception of short intervals. He was 
for many years a justice of the peace in 
Townsend township, also serving as trustee. 
He belonged to no Church, hut was a firm 
believer in the Universalist doctrine ; was 
one of the most honored and respected 
citizens of the county, and a purer, more 
exemplary man in life and character it 
would be hard to find. He died October 
2, 1885. His ancestors were among the 
early settlel-s of Massachusetts. Mrs.Har 
riet Pinney was a firm believer in the 
doctrines of the M. E. Church, and a con- 
sistent Christian. Her death occurred 
March 23, 1880, when she was in her 
sixty-seventh year. 

Henry C. Pinney, whose name opens 
this sketch, received only a common-school 
education in youth, never having attended 
school after his seventeenth year. He has, 
however, by his own exertions in later 
years, succeeded in acquiring a very good 
practical business education. He is a man 
of good judgment and strong natural sense, 
and is now possessed of a fund of general 
information, having been all his life an ex- 
tensive and careful reader. He was em- 
ployed on the old home farm until he was 
nineteen years old, soon after which, in 
September, 1861, he enlisted, in Company 
C, Fifty-fifth O. V. I., was mustered in, 
and went south with his regiment January 
22. 1862. They were assigned to duty 
with the army of the Potomac, and our 
subject participated in the battles of Cedar 
Mountain, Bull Pasture, Second Bull Run, 
and many other lesser engagements, in 
fact he was with his regiment in all its 
marches and engagements until the latter 
part of August, when he had a severe at- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



245 



tack of typlioid fever, and was sent to Mt. 
Pleasant hospital, Washington, D. C, 
where he remained for several months. 
Still being unfit for active duty at the 
front, he was transferred to the V. It. C, 
and served with same at Washington until 
the e.xpiratiou of his term of service, being 
mustered out September 17, 1864. He 
then retui-ned to Huron county, Ohio, 
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, 
and has been so employed ever since, with 
good success, now owning a well-improved 
farm of 111 acres. 

Mr. Pinney was married October 16, 
1864, to Miss Sarah Jane Roberts, a na- 
tive of Perlinville, Erie Co., Ohio, born 
October 12, 1843. She is a daughter of 
Thomas and Lucy (Baley) Roberts, both of 
whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and of 
German descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Pinney 
have been born three daughters, namely : 
Lucy Harriet (now Mrs. Charles Schreiner), 
Ida Jane and Carrie Agnes. In politics 
Mr. Pinney has always been a Repulilican; 
in 1881 he was elected trustee of Townsend 
township, serving four years, and was 
again elected to the same oflice in the 
spring of 1891, for a term of three years. 
He belongs to no Churcli, but is a firm be- 
liever in tlie Christian religion, and leans 
toward the doctrines of the Universalists. 
He was a charter member of Townsend 
Post No. 414, G. A. R., in which he has 
tilled the position of quartermaster ever 
since its organization in April, 1885. 



THOMAS HURST, a member of the 
farming community of Townsend 
township, is a native of the Province 
of (Quebec, Canada, born November 
10, 1843, a son of John and Mar- 
garet (Hislop) Hurst. 

John Hurst was .born in Lancashire, 
England, a son of Thomas Hurst, a weaver, 
who followed that trade in his native land 
until his death, which occurred wheti his 
son John was very young. John Hurst 



received a very fair education in Englaiid, 
and after his father's death commenced to 
learn the weaver's trade, in which he con- 
tinued until reaching manhood. He then 
enlisted in the Pritish army, in the Royal 
Artillery, in wliich he served continuously 
twenty-seven and a half years, including 
the period during which all Europe was 
engaged in the Napoleonic wars, being for 
a considerable time under the command of 
the "Iron Duke." He also participated 
ill the famous Peninsular war, in Spain 
and Portugal, and while he was serving in 
that campaign his mother died. Later on 
— in the war of 1812-14 — his regiment 
was sent to America (landing at Quebec), 
and he was with the British forces at the 
battle of Plattsburg, near Lake Cham- 
plain. While engaged in garrison duty 
at a fort located on an island in the Riche- 
lieu river, some fifteen miles north of 
Plattsburg, he first met and became ac- 
quainted with Miss Margaret Hislop, a 
native of Edinburgh, Scotland, to whom he 
was soon afterward united in the bonds of 
wedlock. After his marriage he remained 
in the army several years, doing garrison 
duty at various posts in Canada, among 
them one near Niagara. Upon his final 
release from military duty he was obliged 
to go back to England, where he received 
his discharge and other documents, return- 
ing to Canada as soon as they were secured, 
arid locating on a farm near the Richelieu 
river, bought by his wife during his ab- 
sence. Here he continued to reside, and 
was successfully engaged in agricultural 
pursuits until his death, which occurred 
in October, 1854, when he was in his 
si.xty-eight year. Both he and his wife 
were lifelong members of the Episcopal 
Church. 

James Hislop, the father of Mrs. Mar- 
garet Hurst, was twice married in his 
native land, Scotland, first time to Miss 
Park (a cousin of the noted traveler and 
explorer, Mungo Park), who bore him four 
children, amonw whom was the mother of 
our subject. Mr. Hislop next married a 



246 



UUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



Miss Betson, and two sons blessed this 
union. During the first years of the 
present century Mr. Hisiop emigrated to 
America, settling in Lower Canada. He 
was a stone-cutter and carver by occupa- 
tiou, and was universally conceded to be 
one of the finest workmen in the country. 
Shortly before the war of 1812, he, with 
others, contracted with the English Gov- 
ernment for the coiistriictiou of extensive 
barracks and fortifications along the Cana- 
dian and American frontier, many of 
which works are still standing, monu- 
ments of their skill and energy. Mr. 
Ilislop continued to follow his trade until 
liis death. For many years before com- 
ing to America he was a prominent and 
extensive contractor in the stone-cutting 
business in Edinburgh, Scotland, during 
which time he had in his employ a man 
named Dixon, who, years afterward, be- 
came inspector of the reformatory pri- 
sons in Canada, one of which was built 
by Mr. Ilislop on the same island in the 
liichelieu before alluded to as the site of 
the fort. Prior to his immigration lie was 
a devout member of the Presbyterian 
Church, but after his arrival in Canada he 
identified himself with the Episcopal 
Churcli. 

Thomas Hurst, tiie subject proper of 
this sketch, was the ninth in the family 
of eleven children of Jolui and Margaret 
Hurst, and received a very fair English 
education at the common schools of 
Canada in early life. After his father's 
death, which occurred when he was only 
ten years old, he remained on the old 

ml 

homestead with his mother until her death, 
which occurred in 1857, when our sub- 
ject was but fourteen years of age. Being 
thus left an orphan at an early age, 
he was thrown entirely on his own re- 
sources, and compelled to begin the battle 
with the stern realities of life alone. For 
several years he was employed by the 
month — generally on a farm — but was 
neither afraid nor ashamed to turn his 
band to any honorable employment that 



offered an opportunity for making an 
honest dollar. On September 1, 18G0, he 
set out for the United States, and on Sep- 
tember 3 found himself at Kipton, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, with two dollars and a half 
in his pocket. Here he went to work 
at anything that offered, usually farm 
work, and in tlie spring of 1866 bought 
a partly improved farm of sixty acres 
in Wakeman township, Huron county, 
having no buildings and only five acres 
cleared; but during the folowing fall 
he built a house, moved onto the place 
March 13, 1867, and commenced farming 
on his own account. On this place 
he remained some fifteen years, when 
he sold out and bought the farm of one 
hundred acres in Townseud township, 
Huron county, known as the Manville 
farm (of which he is the third owner from 
the original), upon which he now resides, 
and where he has since been successfully 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. Of Mr. 
Hurst it may most truthfully be said he is 
the architect of his own fortune, having 
commenced the battle of life with no 
friend save good health and an energy 
that knew no such word as fail, and with 
no inheritance save a stout heart and will- 
ing hands; nevertheless, by strict atten- 
tion to business, industry, economy, and 
honest integrity, he has succeeded in ac- 
quiring a very fair share of this world's 
goods. He is a man of good judgment 
and quick perceptions, is at present one of 
the trustees of Townsend township, and 
has held various other township positions. 
Mr. Hurst took out his naturalization 
papers and became a citizen of the United 
States June 20, 1868, casting his first 
Presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant in 
November of that year. 

On December 25, 1866, Mr. Hurst was 
married, in Elyria, to Miss Alice M. Close, 
a native of Henrietta township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, where she was born May 9, 
1847, daughter of Chauncey R. and Eme- 
line (Ashenhurst) Close, the former of 
whom was a native of Auburn, N. Y., 



iiuitoyr COUNTY, onio. 



247 



and of English descent, while the latter 
was a native of Florence township, Erie 
Co., Ohio, and of English-German ex- 
traction. Four children have blessed the 
union of Mr. and JVlrs. Hurst, viz.; Ernest 
C, Amy M., Terry T. and Marion A. 
Mrs. Hurst is a consistent ineinber of the 
Disciple Church, and while Mr. Hurst be- 
longs to no church, he is a believer in 
practical Christianity. In politics he is a 
stanch and unconiproinising Republican, 
and is generally recognized as one of the 
leading spirits of his party in this part of 
the county, and one of its best workers 
and organizers. He has always taken a 
deep interest and an active part in the 
political affairs of the country, local. State 
and National, and is one of the prominent, 
representative citizens of his county. 



TEPHEN M. YOUNG. This 
prominent and successful attorney 
at law, who is held in the highest 
esteem by both his confreres at the 
bar of Huron county and the public at 
large, has the distinguished privilege of 
claiming descent from a variety of nation- 
alities. Through his father he has inher- 
ited the vigorous, hardy and courageous 
blood of the Scot and Scotch-Irish; to his 
mother he is indelHed for having in him 
much of the vivacity and polish of the 
French, beside the stability and conserva- 
tism of the Holland-Dutch, whilst for 
some generations back the family have 
lieen wide-awake Americans. The Young 
family are (as already intimated) Scotch- 
Irish, and the maternal grandmother of 
our subject was a Brennan. His maternal 
great-grandmotlier was a cousin to Aaron 
l>urr, 

Mr. Young is a son of Downing H. 
Younsf, who was born in Virginia August 
6, 1816, one of a family of fifteen ciiil- 
dren. At Shelby, Ohio, Downing was 
married to Angelina Marvin, a highly edu- 
cated hidy, and from her he received his 



chief English education after marriage. 
In early life he commenced the study of 
law, and in due course was admitted to 
the bar at Mansfield, Ohio, where he com- 
menced the practice of his chosen profes- 
sion. Moving to Norwalk, he here con- 
tinued to conduct his law business, his 
practice covering in all a period of ov'er 
forty-five years. He and his faithful wife 
are now passing the declining years of 
their honored lives at the old homestead. 
Eleven children were born to them, 
Stephen being eighth in order of birth. 
Four of his brothers were in the Federal 
army during the Civil war, viz.: Andrew 
J., who died' at Danville, Ky. ; Henry, 
mortally wounded December 31, 1862, at 
Stone River, Tenn., dying January 3, 
1863; Samuel, who served six years in the 
army, escaping wounds, and dying at his 
home afterward; Howard, who served his 
full time, and also escaped being wounded. 
Daniel and George Marvin, brothers of 
our subject's mother, were also in the war, 
both being wounded, the latter several 
times, but they escaped with their lives. 
Charles and John Marvin also served in 
the Union army, the former as surgeon. 
B. Howard, husband of our subject's sis- 
ter, was in an Ohio regiment, and died in 
Anderson ville prison. 

Stephen M. Young, the subject proper 
of this sketch, was born in Mansfield, 
Richland Co., Ohio, March 27, 1848. 
When he was about seven years of age he 
removed to Toledo, where he remained 
till 1860, and then came to New Haven, 
Huron Co., same State. He liad received 
his elementary education at the common 
schools in Mansfield, Toledo and New 
Haven, after which he entered Oberlin 
Colieo'e. On completing his studies, in 
1867, he commenced teaching school, first 
in Crawford county, Ohio; after which he 
became assistant in one of the public 
schools of Cincinnati, in which capacity 
he continued three years, and then, in con- 
sequence of impaired health, lie had to 
abandon teaching. We next find him 



248 



HUROX COUXTT, OHIO. 



acting in the capacity of agent in Shelby, 
Ohio, for tiie Merchants Insurance Com- 
pany, of Chicago, before the great fire in 
Cliicago, 1871, which among many other 
calamities resulted in the closing up of 
this company along with a host of others. 
Mr. Young then engaged in a similar 
capacity with the Underwriters Associa- 
tion of Philadelphia. During all this time 
he was industriously pursuing the study 
of law, and in 1873 he was admitted to the 
bar at Columbus, Ohio. After a brief 
sojourn in Plymouth, Richland Co., Ohio, 
he moved to Bucyrus, Crawford Co., same 
State, where he commenced the regular 
practice of law in May, 1875, continuing 
till October, 1878, when he came to Xor- 
walk, and has since here remained success- 
fully practicing his profession, and build- 
ing up a reputation as a learned and 
shrewd jurist, in civil, criminal and cor- 
poration law. 

On July 29, 1877, Mr. Young was mar- 
ried in Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Isabella 
Wagner, and five children were born to 
them, viz.: AVall)urga, Henry, Don John, 
Stephen Marvin, Jr., and Isabella Wagner. 
In politics Mr. Young is a Republican; 
socially he is a Freemason, and a member 
of the Knights of Pythias. 



EORGE SHEFFIELD, formerly of 
New London, Conn., was born 
April 4, 1786. In the summer of 
1809 he came on horseback to Ohio 
as far as the mouth of the Huron 
river, returning the same way the follow- 
ing autumn. 

He followed his trade (shipbuilding) till 
the beginnintr of the war of 1812. When 
the British frigate " Macedonia " was 
captured by Commodore Decatur, Mr. 
Sheffield was a member of the Home 
Guards. Early in the winter of 1813 he 
married Betsey, daughter of the late 
Abishai Woodward, of New London, and 
on November 18, 1814, a son, George 



Woodward. 



was born. In June, 1816, 
George Shettield left Connecticut with his 
wife and son in a one-horse chaise, his 
brother, J. B. Sheflield, boy, Orrin Harris, 
and man with team following. At Dun- 
kirk, N. y., the family boarded a 
schooner, and after an uneventful voyage 
landed at Huron, Ohio, some time in the 
following August. On his land on the 
Avest bank of (Jld Woman creek he built a 
log house, where the daughter, Betsey, was 
born in September. Soon after, the place 
being very unhealthy, the family moved to 
Huron, where Mrs. Sheffield died on the 
18th of the following November. The 
next spring Mr. Sheffield moved to Lyme 
township, where he, with his brothers-in- 
law, William and Gurdon Woodward, kept 
bachelors' hall for two years, during which 
time they were preparing separate homes. 
In 1819 Mr. Sheffield, for his second wife, 
married Thurza Baker, daughter of John 
Baker, of Strong's Ridge. In 1820 he was 
elected to the office of justice of the peace. 
In February, 1822, his house was burned, 
and in it his little daughter, Betsey, and 
the boy, Orrin Harris, together with all 
the household goods. His neighbors gave 
him all assistance within their power. 
About 1823 Mr. Siieffield sold his land in 
Eldridge township (now Berlin) to Daniel 
Benschooter. In 1825 or 1826 he was 
appointed to appraise the "Firelands" for 
taxation. In the autumn of 1831 he was 
elected treasurer of Huron county, moving 
to Norwalk, and he served in that capacity 
until his death. On August 20, 1834, 
Mrs. Sheffield was seized with cholera, and 
died that night; Mr. Sheffield was taken 
with the same disease, and died on the 
2Brd — three days later. There were five 
children of the second marriage, viz.: 
James King, who died at the age of four: 
Betsey; James Fredrick; Sarah T. and 
Edward. 

On June 14, 1846, George Woodward 
Sheffield married Lucy, daughter of Gur- 
don and Mary S. Woodward, of which 
union there were seven children, viz.: 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



249 



Mary, who married Henry G. Bramwell, 
formerly of Belleviie (they now live in 
Lincoln, 111.); George, who died in 1884 
(lie luiirried Mary Gertrude, daughter of 
the late Judge Joel Parker, of Gambridge, 
Mass.); Rachel, deceased in 1885; Julia, 
married to Ezra R. Oliver, of Norwalk; 
James, married to Fannie A., daughter of 
Samuel Bemiss, of Strong's Ridge; and 
Lncy and Gurdon, the latter of whom died 
in infancy. Mrs. Sheffield died in 1865. 
Mr. Sheffield still lives upon his farm two 
miles south of Bellevue, on the western 
boundary of the "Firelands." 




^ILLIAM C. PENFIELD, one of 
the prominent and prosperous 
farmers of Norwalk township, is 
a native of Huron county, born in 
North Fairfield township in 1839. 

His father, Samuel Penfield, was born 
near Dani)nry, Conn., in ISOi, where he 
passed his boyhood on a farm, and when a 
young man learned the trade of wagon 
maker. In 1827 he moved to North Fair- 
field, Ohio, with his mother and two sis- 
ters, a third sister with her husband and 
family accompanying them. He Ijad pre- 
viously walked from Connecticut to North 
Fairfield, taken possession of a tract of 
wild land inherited from his father, and 
bnilt a log cabin upon it, and on the ar- 
rival of the family they found this prim- 
itive home awaiting them. He occupied 
and improved the farm for a number of 
years, during which time, in 1831, he was 
married to Miss Clara A. Woodvvorth, of 
North Fairfield, a native of Central New 
York, and daughter of James Woodworth. 
A few years after liis marriage he rented 
the farm and moved into the village of 
North Fairfield, where he worked at his 
trade for a short time, and then enrjaged 
in mercantile business for several years. 
About 1846 he returned to the farm, and 
there ]iassed the rest of his days, dying at 
the age of fifty three years. There were 



six children born in the family, namely: 
Ephraiui P., Frances E., James W. (de- 
ceased), William C, Charles (deceased) 
and Henry B. (deceased in infancy). Of 
these, Epliraim P., a physician, resides in 
the State of Washington; Frances E. mar- 
ried T. H. Kellogg, an attorney of Nor- 
walk, Huron county; Charles enlisted in 
the One Hundred and First O. V. I., at- 
tached to the army of the Cumberland (he 
was seriously wounded in the battle of 
Stone River, and died in 1871). The 
father of this fitmily died in 1857, in poli- 
tics a stanch Alwlitionist, a strong temper- 
ance man, and in religious faith a member 
of the Baptist Church. 

William C. Penfield received his ele- 
mentary education in the common schools 
of his native township, after which he at- 
tended the Normal School at Milan, Erie 
county, also a select school, and then be- 
came a teacher himself, pursuing the voca- 
tion three years. In 1860 he took a triii 
to Pike's Peak, and for one year mined for 
gold, with fair success. The following 
year he returned home, and the Civil war 
having broken out he enlisted for three 
years in the Fifty-fifth O. V. I. He par- 
ticipated in Fremont's campaign up the 
Shenandoah Valley in pursuit of Stonewall 
Jackson, ending in tlie battle of Cross 
Keys; with Sigel along the Rappahannock, 
the Second Battle of Bull Run, Chancel- 
lorsville, Gettysburg, Peach Tree Creek, 
and in numerous minor engagements. At 
Chancellorsville he had some remarkably 
narrow escapes, being struck by bullets no 
less than three times in less than a minute 
— one bullet drawing blood on his knuckle, 
another striking his elbow, while a third 
pierced his knapsack. At Gettysburg he 
was taken prisoner, conveyed l)y way of 
the Shenandoah Valley to Richmond, and 
confined in Belle Isle prison. After his 
exchange the following spring, he rejoined 
his regiment on the Atlanta campaign. 
At the close of his three years service he 
was mustered out at Atlanta, but early in 
1865 re-eulisted, being this time attached 



250 



IIUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



to Gen. Hancock's corps, and was on duty 
in Washington dnring the trial and at the 
execution of the conspirators who took 
part in the inurder of President Lincoln. 
Ill 186(3 he was mustered out of the serv- 
ice, having been in the army over four 
years, and during all this time of service 
he was never absent from his company ex- 
cept while a prisoner. 

On his return home from tlie army Mr. 
Pentield went to Michigan, and was there 
engaged in milling for live years, at the 
end of which time he once more came to 
Huron county and engaged in farming. 
He has a nice property of about ninety 
acres, just outside the city limits of Nor- 
walk. In 1869 he married Miss Agnes 
A. Perry, of that city, a daughter of Orfus 
Perry, a farmer, and tliree children were 
born to this union, viz.: Clara M.; Leah, 
who died in infancy; and Louis P. Po- 
litically our subject has always been a 
stanch Republican, and he and his wife are 
members of the Baptist Church. 



IIARLES ROWLEY. In the career 

of Charles Rowley we find one of 
the best examples of the thrifty, 
enterprising descendants of that 
sturdy New England stock, which charac- 
terizes the Western Reserve, and has made 
it so justly famous as one of the great 
centers of intelligence, morality and pros- 
perity. He came from an old English 
family, his quite remote ancestors being 
among the very first settlers and pioneers 
of Connecticut. 

His grandfather, Eli Smith Rowley, 
born about the middle of the eighteenth 
century, was a man of strong character 
and convictions, and thoroughly patriotic. 
When but fitteen years of age he enlisted 
in the Revolutionary war, and was cap- 
tured by the British; but, though a mere 
boy, lie managed to make iiis escape, and by 
traveling at uij^ht again reached the Co- 
loniid ranks, where, by his valiant service. 



combined with his extreme youth, he ac- 
quired a distinction that was truly de- 
served. His military life was most ap- 
propriately referred to by Hon. Peter 
Dyckinan in an address delivered on July 
4, 1876. at Jefferson, N. Y., in which he 
said: "I know at least one Revolutionary 
hero, taking his lasting rest among the 
ever silent of yonder cemetery. Many are 
the scenes he has portrayed before my 
mind, in reciting 'deeds immortal' like 
unto this. * * * Among the noble 
patriots who have left a record of deeds of 
daring and patriotism, we may upon this 
Centennial Anniversary day inscribe upon 
the banner of Liberty the name of Eli 
Smith Rowley." At the close of the war 
he engaged in the pursuit of farming, 
which was conducted until at a very ad- 
vanced age he quietly retired from active 
life. 

Edward Rowley, his son, was born Oc- 
tober 23, 1788. When quite young he 
left school to learn 'the cabinet maker's 
trade, which, though later returning to the 
family trait of farm life, he followed till 
near his death, in April, 1S78. He was a 
most excellent workman, and manufactured 
the finest grades of household furniture, 
cofHns and caskets to be found at that day. 
His school days were quite limited, yet 
being of a studious nature, and a great 
observer, he became well educated, pos- 
sessed an excellent address, and was a fine 
musician. He was a prominent member 
and an ardent worker in the Presbyterian 
Church of Jefferson, N. Y., where the 
greater part of his life was spent, always 
taking an active part in the religious and 
better side of life. In business affairs he 
was successful, rearing and educating a 
large family, then retiring in comfortable 
circumstances. Of his first marriage three 
sons were born: Frederick, the eldest, 
joined the "forty-niners" in California, 
and there accumulated much property; 
returning, he served two terms as sheriff 
of Schoharie county, N. Y., where he 
spent the remainder of liis life. t)f the 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



253 



other sons, Harvey is still living in west- 
ern New York, and Edward, who went 
South wlien quite young, became a wealthy 
planter in Georgia, enlisted in the Con- 
federate army, and was probably killed 
dnrinix the war, as he has never been heard 
from since. His first wife having died, 
Edward Rowley, Sr., was again married, 
this time to Miss Lydia Decker, who was 
a member of an old family whicli has long 
been prominent in the lumber and agri- 
cultural regions of Michigan and southern 
Canada. She was a woman of considera- 
ble executiveabliity, especially in domestic 
and church circles, yet of a mild, loving 
disposition which was ever manifest. She 
died April 27, 1877, at tiie age of seventy- 
two years, at Stamford, N. Y., her hus- 
band following her a few months later. 
Of this union five children were born: 
Elizabeth (Mrs. Edwin Sweet), now living 
at Eminence, N. Y. ; Sarah (Mrs. James 
Merchant), who died at Jefferson, N. Y., 
in April, 1878; Eli, the elder son, who 
was the first Tiian in Schoharie county to 
offer his services to his country, at the be- 
ginning of the Rebellion, did noble service 
in the Union cause, where, by hard service 
and exposure, he contracted a lung trouble 
that ended in his death on July 24, 1867, 
at the age of thirty-two years; Charles; 
and Mary Jane (Mrs. Dr. E. W. Gallup), 
now living at Stamford, New York. 

Charles Rowley was l)orn in Jefferson, 
N. Y., January 11, 1838, and died at 
North Fairfield,Ohio, November 28, 1891. 
Of his life and character perhaps no better 
sketch can be given than the following, 
which appeared in tlie Norwalk, Oliio, 
Experiment-JSfews, shortly after his death: 
"On a farm, in Jefferson, N. Y., in the 
year 1838, Charles Rowley was born, the 
youngest son of Edward and Lydia Rowley. 
Tile name has since won for itself a re- 
spect and confidence so universal that only 
a most true and earnest man might hope 
to win. It is the fact tiiat the life and 
death of Charles Rowley presents every- 
where iriodels of a pure life and a pure 



quality of heart, so much so that the 
Exjyerhnent-NewK has gathered the few 
simple details of a life not great in glory 
and tinsel of cheap fame, but rich in true 
nobility of heart. 

" What may have been the home train- 
ing of Mr. Rowley on that New York 
farm is best attested by his after life. We 
do not gather figs of thistles; neither do 
men of the noblest refinements of nature 
come from other than noble parents. Nor 
did the precepts of those God-fearing par- 
ents fall on stony soil. Almost from 
boyhood earnest industry, the plodding 
step to success, marked the progress of 
the youth in his studies. After several 
terms spent in the best school of all, the 
position of teacher studying the develop- 
ing sturdy natures of scholars, Mr. Rowley 
completed his education in the Franklin 
Literary Institute, at Franklin, New York. 

>' In 18G0 Mr. Rowley left his home for 
Michigan, where he became secretary for 
extensive inillino-and lumberin": interests, 
owned by a cousin, Charles Decker, splen- 
didly fitting him for the successful prose- 
cution of his own business interests in 
after years. In April, 1863, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Elizabeth Stevens, of Ripley, 
Huron county, and took his bride to 
Michigan with him, this time to enter the 
retail store of J. L. Woods, now President 
of the Euclid Avenue Rank, of Cleveland. 
In November, 188G, he came to North 
Fairfield and engatjed in the mercantile 
business, which was conducted most profit- 
ably by him up to the time of his death. 
He was also the owner of a fine farm near 
the villao-e, the manatjement of which oc- 
cupied much of his time and attention. 
He was a director of the Norwalk Savings 
Bank Company, and vice president of the 
Huron County Mutual Insurance Com- 
pany. In politics Mr. Rowley was always 
a stanch Democrat, fearless in his opinions, 
but not jjivincr offense bv advancing them 
airaiiist contrary opinions. He was always 
a faithful worker in the interests of his 
party, and though in a community noted 



254 



HUBON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



for its radical Republican sentiment and 
with an adverse majority of three to one 
against him, has been repeatedly elected 
school director, till forced to decline to 
serve longer because of ill health. He has 
al^o held the offices of towns-hip clerk and 
township treasurer, an almost impossible 
accomplishment for a Democrat in Fair- 
field. 

" During his early life Mr. Rowley was 
a member of the strict school of the Pres- 
byterian Church. Of later years, and 
since his residence in Fairfield, he has 
been an active and devout worker in the 
Congregational Church. As a sincere 
Christian, firm in the faith, he met death 
without fear and in calm and hopeful 
resignation. His private life was without 
reproach. In his family he was a loving 
and always solicitous father, striving by 
example father than precept to inspire all 
about him with his own earnestness of 
purpose. lie vvas liberal in giving thor- 
ough educations to his (;hildren, denying 
them nothing that would better fit them 
for the struggle of life. Among his neigh- 
bors no man shared more fully the public 
confidence. It is related of liim that in 
many cases large sums of money were de- 
posited with him for safe keeping, the 
owners showing a confidence that they did 
not have in any bank or saving institution. 

"At the time of his death Mr. Rowley 
was a comparatively young man, but too 
faithful devotion to business laid the 
foundations of disease too deeply for hu- 
man skill to rcTuove. For fourteen years 
he has suffered in health, at times seri- 
ously. Last spring an attack of grip fas- 
tened its clutches onto him, developing 
complications of disease which gradually 
drew him down until he w-as forced to his 
bed, nearly seven weeks before his death. 
Nervous prostration in its worst form re- 
sulted, and he quietly breathed his last at 
6 o'clock A. M. November 28." 

He leaves surviving him his widow; 
four sons, of whom the eldest, Edward F., 
is conducting the business he left, and is 



pre.'^ident of the North Fairfield Savings 
Bank; Arthur E., who after graduating in 
the literary department of the University 
of Michigan, and being admitted to the 
bar, is now practicing law, in partnership 
with Hon. G. T. Stewart, at Norwalk, 
Ohio; two small boys, Charles Scott and 
Leveret Alcott; and one daughter, Anna 
L., now attending college at Oberlin. In 
the quiet village cemetery at North Fair- 
field his remains are resting in the beauti- 
ful family vault erected shortly after his 
death. 



?; A MITEL D. MORSE, of Norwalk 
township, is a native of the city of 
Norwalk, born in 1845. He is a 
grandson of Asaliel Morse, who in 
1818 came from Ontario county, N. Y., 
to Huron county, locating in Ridgefield 
township, at which time the country was a 
veritable wilderness, wild animals and 
Indians being still numerous. He was a 
carpenter, a trade he followed up to the 
time of coming here, after which he de- 
voted his attention almost exclusively to 
agricultural pursuits. 

After three years residence in Ridge- 
field township, he moved to Norwalk town- 
ship, same county, where he owned in all 
some 260 acres of land. He entered the 
ministry of the Baptist Church, and for 
about thirty years exhorted in the various 
localities he lived in. His wife was Esther 
Eaton, of Herkimer county, N. Y., and 
they had three children, viz.: Daniel, 
John and Elmira, the latter being deceased. 
The mother of these dying, for his second 
wife Asahel Morse married Miss Lucy 
Rayniond, of Ontario county, N. Y., and 
three children were also born to this union, 
named respectively Esther (deceased). May 
and Samuel. Asahel Morse's father served 
in the Revolutionary war, himself in that 
of 1812, in which latter he was a captain 
stationed at BuflFalo, N. Y. 

Daniel Morse, father of subject, was 
born January 3, 1810, in Gorham, Ontario 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



255 



Co., N. Y., where his boyhood days were 
spent on a farm, and in attending the 
schools of the neighborhood. llavino' 
learned the trade of a tanner, he followed 
same for some time, but farming was his 
chief occupation; he owned the old home- 
stead until 1857, in which year he came to 
his present farm in Nor walk township, 
comprising 108 acres. Mr. Morse mar- 
ried Miss Joanna Danforth, of Barnard, 
Vt., a daughter of Saiunel Danforth, 
M. D., and they had six children, as fol- 
lows: Oscar, Samuel D., Asahel, Alice, 
Roland and Euphemia. The fatiier has 
been a Whig and Republican in his politi- 
cal sympathies, and he is a member of the 
Baptist Church. 

Samuel D. Morse, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received a liberal education at 
the common and high schools of Norwalk, 
from which latter he rrraduated. He then 
went to Toledo to fill the position of book- 
keeper, and in that city enlisted, in 1864, 
in the One Hundred and Eighty-second 
Regiment O. V. I., serving one year, dur- 
ing which period he was promoted to sec- 
ond lieutenant. From 1865 to 1867 he 
attended a commercial school at Pough- 
keepsie, N. Y., graduating therefrom in 
1867. Returning to Toledo, he kept books 
there three years, and then moved to his 
present farm in Norwalk township, Huron 
county, where he has since carried on agri- 
culture. 

In 1867 Mr. Morse married Miss Elvira 
Smith, daughter of Joel Smith, and one 
child has blessed their union: Mary Alice, 
living at home. Our subject is a member 
of and deacon in the Baptist Church. 




(ILL I AM B. HOYT, a leading 
citizen of Ridgefield township, 
Mj' was born March 4, 1820, in St. 
Lawrence county, N. Y., a son of 
John and Lydia (Plyinpton) Hoyt, the 
former of wjiom was a farmer of St. Law- 
rence county, and moved to Jefferson 



county, same State, in 1832. They were 
married February 26, 1810, and John 
Hoyt died February 25, 1875, Lydia Hoyt 
on May 16, 1855. 

William B. Hoyt attended the common 
schools of St. Lawrence county, and mov- 
ing with his parents to Jefferson county, 
remained there until 1844. He and three 
sisters then joined a party bound for Illi- 
nois, and following the canal to Buffalo, 
N. Y., there embarked for Sandusky, 
Ohio, on the vessel " Commodore Perry." 
While on Lake Erie a storm compelled 
them to land at Huron, Erie Co., Ohio, 
and some of the party having intended 
to locate at Cook's Corners, in Huron 
county, they took a conveyance thither. 
They persuaded William to accompany 
them, and finally deciding to remain there, 
he purchased and settled on a small farm 
in the vicinity. On December 22, 1846, lie 
was united in marriage with Mary Ann, 
daughter of Edward and Rachel (CooJi) 
Williard. She was a native of Adams, 
Jefferson Co., N. Y., and having lost her 
parents when young, came to live with 
relatives at Cook's Corners, Huron Co., 
Ohio. She then became a pioneer school 
teacher in Ridgefield and Lyme townships, 
receiving one dollar and fifty cents per 
week as compensation for her services, and 
"boarded routid" among the pupils. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt began wedded life 
on a place near Cook's Corners, Huron 
Co., Ohio, where he remained until 1869. 
He then purchased the fertile tract of 225 
acres where he is now residing, and his 
parents, coming from New York, passed 
their last days with this son. On arriving 
in Huron county, William B. Hoyt had no 
property, but by hard work and much 
expense accumulated his pre.sent fertile 
and productive farm, which is underlaid 
with twenty-two miles of drain tile. The 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. William B. 
Hoyt are: Judson W., a farmer living 
near Bellevue; W. Julius, an agriculturist 
of Seward county, Neb.; Charles F., a 
farmer of Norwalk township, Huron 



256 



IIUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



county; Hubbard W., a physiciau of 
Belleviie; John C, a real estate dealer of 
El Dorado, Butler Co., Ivans.; Fred B., a 
real estate dealer of Chatidlei-, Oklahoma: 
Arthur and Edward W., both residing with 
their parent.s. These children have all 
received a college education, and are prov- 
ing themselves worthy of the exceptional 
advantages they have enjoyed. Mr. Hojt 
takes a pardonable pride in the fact that 
nine Republican votes were cast at one 
time bv his family, as he is an enthusiastic 
member of that' party, having served in 
numerous local offices. He and his wife 
are members of the Congregational Church, 
of which he is a deacon. Mrs. Hoyt was 
a charter member of the North Monroe- 
ville congregation. 



THOMAS DUiNMOEE, a well-known 
inventor, and prominent citizen of 
Norwalk, was born in Birmingham, 
England, in 1841, a son of Joseph 
and Mary (Mason) Dunmore, both 
natives of England, of whose family he is 
the only surviving member. 

Thomas Dunmore emigrated to this 
country in 1861, and immediately after 
landing entered the jVa\:y, in New York, 
remaining in the service four years and 
three months. He was in New Orleans 
just after its capture, and spent some time 
at Key West. Mr. Dunmore has traveled 
considerably, having crossed the ocean 
nine times. In his native land he learned 
the plumber's trade, and after the war set- 
tled in East Boston, whence in 1866 he 
removed to Cleveland, Ohio, remaining 
there until 1881, when he came to Huron 
county for the purpose of following his 
trade of plumber and steam-titter. He is 
the inventor of an improved system of 
heating and ventilating houses. He is one 
of the largest stockholders in the Norwalk 
Incandescent Light and Power Company, 
of which he was one of the chief organ- 
izers and builders, and is one of the most 



enterprising citizens of his adopted town. 
His system of heating and ventilating is 
covered by patents, and the testimony of 
experts from all parts of the country is to 
the effect that it is of the highest merit — 
as often reiterated: "the best in the 
world.'' He is master of his business, 
and all the important contracts in Nor- 
walk iiave been under Lis successful man- 
agement. 

In social life Mr. Dunmore is a memi)er 
of the I. O. O. F. and K. T., and in poli- 
tics he is a Republioan. At Birmingliam, 
England, he was united in marriage with 
Elizabeth Wright, aud to them has been 
born one son, Walter T. Our subjeet's 
grandfather Dunmore was one of the most 
extensive farmers in Lincolnshire, Englaiul. 
Mrs. Dunmore's father (Philip Wright) 
was a soldier under Wellington, and was 
in the front ranks at the battle of Water- 
loo; one of his sons was in the English 
army in India, and died in hospital. He 
had been discharged, and intended upon 
his return to England to come to America, 
but he died a short time after reaching his 
native country. 



FJREDEPJCK RICHARD was born 
November 18, 1818, in Saxony, Ger- 
_^ many, and is a son of John Richard, 
a tanner, who in his day was a well- 
known tradesman in the Saxon community 
where he lived. 

Frederick Richard attended school in 
Germany, and became a fair scholar before 
he befan to learn the tanner's trade under 
his father. In 18-17 he emigrated to 
America, sailing from Bremen to New 
York. Once in this country, he waited 
not in the city, but pushed westward to 
Bellevue, Ohio, where he worked at his 
trade four years. In 1853 he married Anna 
Yeager, a native of Saxony, who came to 
this country alone when twenty-four years 
old, and to this marriage the following 
named children were born: John, a tanner 
of Monroeville; Lena, Mrs. Fred Druner, 



HURON COUNTY, OSlO. 



257 



of Toledo; Lewis and Henry, at home; 
Tillie, Mrs. August Falirenhach, of Mon- 
roeville; and August, residing at liome. 
After his marriatje Mr. Richard located 
at Monroeville, and there enoraged in the 
tanning l)iisiness for many years, con- 
tinuing therein until he saw the tannery, 
which he labored so hard to establish, grow 
into an important industry. When lie re- 
tired to his farm, he gave the business to 
bis son, who now carries it on with marked 
success. Mr. Richard now devotes his en- 
tire attention to this tract, which contains 
165 acres. In political affairs he votes 
with the Democratic party. In religion 
the entire family are members of the 
Lutheran Church. His industry is re- 
markable. His character is well exempli- 
fied by the fact that with very little capital 
lie established a manufacturing enterprise 
at Monroeville, which subsequently de- 
veloped into a most prosperous industry. 



C. POST, the well-known liveryman 
of New London, is a native of the 
town, born April 6, 1841. He is a 
son of Hizah and Ro.xanna (Culver) 
Post, both natives of Madison county, N. 
Y., the father born in 1808, the mother in 
1826. They were naarried in New York 
State, and about the year 1840 came to 
Huron county, Ohio, locating in New 
London township, where they engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. The mother died 
there in 1862, and the father afterward 
moved to Wisconsin, making his home 
there until about 1889, when he went to 
New York, and there passed from eartii in 
1892. 

Their son, C. C. Post, the subject proper 
of this sketch, received a liberal education 
at the common schools of his native town, 
and at the early age of twelve years went 
on the "Big Four" Railroad as water boy, 
from which position he was promoted to 
brakeman, and ran the first sleeping car 
that was run from Cincinnati, Ohio, to 



Pittsburgh. Not long afterward he was 
promoted to the ])osition of traveling agent 
for the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago 
Railroad, with headquarters at Indianapo- 
lis, Ind., thence moving to Chicago, having 
been appointed city passenger agent for 
the Pennsylvania Railroad; then became 
ticket agent, with office at the corner of 
Clark and Randolph streets, same city. 
His next incumbency was a yet more re- 
sponsible one — general travel! ncr acrent for 

' c5 4 

the same Company, over the United States 
and Canada — a position he filled with 
characteristic ability and energy five years, 
after which he came to New London, 
locating on a farm with G. W. Bissell, 
father of liis first wife, Sabra L. (Bissell), 
who died in 1883. He then bought the 
livery business in the town of New Lon- 
don, which he has since successfully con- 
ducted. Our subject by his iifter marriage 
with Miss Ella Gates had two children: 
Clarence and Arline. 

Politically Mr. Post is a Republican; he 
served four years on the city council of 
New London and four years as deputy 
sheriff of Huron county. 



d[ WHITBECK FOSTER, manager of 
the Norwalk Incandescent Light and 
/ Power Company, is a son of John 
II. Foster, who was a native of New 
York, and in 1834 came to Ohio. He 
was a school teacher, afterward a stockman 
and drover, then served in the Civil war as 
major of the Tiiird Ohio Cavalry. On his 
return home from the war he conducted a 
commission establishment in Norwalk for 
some time. He was married to Nancy M. 
Boardman, also a native of New York. 
The father died in 1874 (his death being 
hastened by his wounds and exposure dur- 
ing the war), and was followed to the grave 
by his wife in 1886. In their family there 
are, besides oiir subject, two sons — Frank 
B. and William S. — and one daughter — 
Maria Louise — all yet living. 



« 
258 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



J. Whitbeck Foster was born July 25, 
184-1:, ill Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio. He 
attended the liigli schools of his native 
place, then took a two years' commercial 
course in Brooklyn, N. Y., graduating in 
1865. After leaving school he returned to 
Korwalk, and entered the sewing machine 
business in partnership witi) N.S.C. Perkins 
and W. A. Mack, with whom lie remained 
until the firm dissolved; then, in company 
with N. S. C. Perkins, manufactured the 
Queen and Dauntless sewingmachines, until 
they too went out of business. He afterward 
became connected with the Norwalk Light 
and Power Co., continuing wilh them un- 
til April, 1891, and in April, 1892, he ac- 
cepted the management of the N(jrwalk 
Incandescent Light and Power Company. 

On October 22, 1888, Mr. Foster was 
married to Clare A. Morehouse, who has 
borne him one sod, Vernon W. In poli- 
tics our subject is a Republican, and has 
served four years as a member of the coun- 
cil, during which time he was very active 
in securing electric lights for the city; also 
served on many important committees. 
He is secretary of the National Union at 
Norwalk, and president of the City Poard 
of Equalization. 



llltlLLTAM HIMBERGER, one of 
\Pvt/ *'''*^ representative, pushing, wide- 
Mi ■( fiwake business men of Norwalk, 
junior member of the firm of 
Smith ctHimherger, proprietors of lumber 
yard and planing mill, was born in the 
Province of Nassau, Prussia, November 
23, 184-1. He is the eldest in the family 
of eight I'hildren of William and Minnie 
(Horn) Ilimberger, the former of whom 
was born in Prussia in 1816, and was ac- 
cidentally killed in 1863, while his son 
William was serving in the Union army. 
The widowed mother, now seventy years 
of age, makes her home with the subject 
of this sketch. 

At the age of fourteen years William 
Himberger came with his parents to 



America, and proceeding from their place 
of landing on these shores to Huron 
county, Ohio, they here made a settlement, 
farming being their occupation, in which 
they met with well-merited success. 
Young William, after coming here, re- 
ceived about ninety days schooling in all 
of three successive winters, learnincr Entr- 
lish; German and arithmetic, in which he 
was proficient, he had learned iti his native 
land. In 1861 he enlisted in the Federal 
army, in Company C, Third Ohio Cavalry, 
in which he served sixteen months; then 
joined the Thirty-fourth Kentucky In- 
fantry, serving in same till the close of the 
war, the last two years as sergeant. His 
regiment was attached to the army of the 
Cumberland, and the company in wliich 
he was enrolled were for the most part of 
the time emj)loyed in provost duty. On 
June 21, 1865, he was mustered out at 
Knoxville, E. Tennessee, and he received 
his pay July 12, following, at Louisville, 
Ky., when he returned home to the pur- 
suits of peace. 

On February 14, 1866. Mr. Himberger 
was married to Miss Mary Iluntsdorf, a 
native of Hessen- Darmstadt, Germany, 
born in 1845, who came in 1853 to Amer- 
ica and to Huron county, her English ed- 
ucation being received in Norwalk. Four 
children have come to bless their union, 
viz.: Minnie, Katie, and Dora and Julia 
(twins). In 1868 Mr. Himberger entered 
the lumber business as yard man and 
salesman in D. E. Morehouse's planing 
mill and lumber yard, where he worked 
his way up, serving some time in the 
office, then as sui)erintendent of the plan- 
ing mill, finally liecoming salesman, being 
there some three and one half years in all; 
was in Brown & Goodnow's lumber yard 
and mill, five years; in Lawrence & Gil- 
sons lumber yard (present location of the 
Smith cfe Himberger yard and mill), three 
and one half years; and August 1, 1880, 
commenced as a member of the present 
firm. They do an excellent trade, and en- 
joy the fullest confidence of the people, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



259 



their patronage extending far and wide. 
The firm have twice suffered heavy loss 
throiij^li fire, the shop having heeii Inirned 
out March 8, 1881, loss about three thous- 
and dollars ; and October 30, 1891, the 
lumber yard was burned with a loss of 
about six thousand live hundred dollars 
over and above what was covered iiy in- 
surance. But tlieir credit remained intact, 
and Plifsnix-like they arose from their 
ashes, strengthened ratlier than weakened 
by the calamities. 

In politics Mr. Iliniberger is a Demo- 
crat, tirin and loyal, and has served as a 
uieniber of the town council two years, and 
as president of the same, one year, being 
elected in a Republican ward by a major- 
ity of over fifty votes. Socially he is a 
member of the G. A. E., U. V. U. and 
Knights of Pythias; in Church connection 
he is an Episcopalian. 



If If M. INGLER, general foreman in 

jpH the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad 

I 1 Company's shops at Chicago Junc- 

■J/ tion, is a son of Joseph and Eliza 

A. (Baldwin) Ingler, natives of 

Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. 

The father was a brick manufacturer, and 

carried on that industry from youth to old 

age. To Joseph and Eliza A. Ingler nine 

children were born — five sons and four 

daughters — H. M. being the second in 

order of birth. 

H. M. Ingler was born December 3, 
1828, in Columbiana county, Ohio, where 
he received his education. At the ao-e of 
seventeen years he was apprenticed to a 
machinist at Steubenville, Ohio, serving a 
full term of four years in the McDevitt 
shops. In 1850 Mr. Ingler joined a party 
of Argonauts, and made the journey to 
California, where he remained four years. 
In 1856, some two years after his return, 
he found employment in the shops of the 
P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad, then known as 
the Steubenville & Indiana Railroad, at 



Steubenville, and in 1857 began work in 
the B. & O. Railroad Company's shops, at 
Wheeling, W. Va., since which time, with 
the exception of five months, he has Ijeen 
continuously in their employ. He worked 
at Wheeling (W. Va.), Bellairo and Chicago 
Junction (Ohio) and at Garrett (Ind.). For 
twenty years he was general foreman at 
Bellaire, and for six months master me- 
chanic at Garrett. In July, 1885, he 
came to the Chicago Junction shops as 
general foreman. 

On July 20, 1854, Mr. Ingler married 
Mary A. Burt, daugliter of Isaac Burt, at 
Wheeling, W. Va., and to their union the 
following named children were born: 
George Eldorado, who was killed by a lo- 
comotive at Bellaire, Ohio; Viola E., wife 
of W. A. Rang, a brakeman on this divi- 
sion of the B. & O. R. R. (she was twice 
married, first time at Bellaire, Belmont 
Co., Ohio, to James McGraw, who was 
killed at Bellaire while in the service of 
the B. & O. R. R. Company as fireman, to 
which union was born one daughter; after 
a widowhood of eleven years, Mrs. Mc- 
Graw married W. A. Rang); Kate T., 
wife of G. AV. Deyarmon, owner of a paint 
store at Bellaire. and also a contractor; 
Florence, who died in infancy; Martha M., 
wife of J. L. Milligan, a shoe merchant of 
Bellaire; Emma, wife of L. C. Hess, form- 
erly of Wheeling, W. Va., now of Chicago 
Junction; Josephine A., wife of Sherman 
Williams, a farmer of Huron county, and 
Miriam E., Bessie M., Edna R. and Hirain 
K., residing with their parents. 

During the war of the Rebellion, Mr. 
Ingler was a strong Unionist. He en- 
listed in the Ohio National Guard, in 
1861, for a term of five years, and in May, 
1864, went into the United States army, 
One Hundred and Seventieth Regiment, 0. 
V. I., for 100 days service; was in active 
service in the Shenandoah Valley until 
September 30, 1864, when he was honor- 
ably discharged at Columbus, from which 
point he returned to his duties with the 
B. & O. R. R. At Bellaire he was a 



200 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



member of the board of Water-works trus- 
tees for three successive terms, aud one of 
the promoters of the water system of that 
city. At Chica<;o Junction lie was presi- 
dent of the school board for three years, 
and ever a strong advocate of line school 
buildings. Politically a Republican, he 
has always been loyal to the party. In 
social affairs he belongs to the Order of 
Good Templars, to tlie I.' O. O. F., to the 
Masonic Fraternity, and to the Ancient 
Order of Druids. The entire family affili- 
ate with tlie Methodist Episcopal Church. 




II. JACOBS. This well-known 
citizen of Norwalk traces his an- 
cestry through the dim vistas of 
many years to a Frenchman of 
the family name, who immigrated to Ver- 
mont in early Colonial days. His son, 
John W. Jacobs, who was born in Ver- 
mont, fought under Gen. Putnam at Buu- 
ker Hill, and was present during the sur- 
render of Cornwallis at Yorktown. 

His Son, Gustavus, was born in 1792, 
in Middlebury, Vt., and in 1818 was united 
in marriage with Harriet Perkins, a native 
of the same place. They removed to a 
farm in the New York colony, where he 
died at the age of eighty-five years. They 
were the parents of nine childi-en — seven 
sous and two daughters — of which family 
Henry was killed in the Civil war, and six 
are yet living. The parents were members 
of the M. E. Church. 

Gustavus Jacobs, son of Gustavus and 
Harriet (Perkins) Jacobs, was born, in 
1828, in "Wyoming county, N. Y., where 
bis youth was passed. He learned and 
followed the boat-builder's trade in con- 
nection with the lumber business, and 
came to Huron county, Ohio, in 1863. 
He was married to Sarah A. Roth, who 
was born March 24, 1831, in Seneca Falls, 
N. Y., a daughter of Jacob Roth, and 
grandchild of Casper Roth, whose parents 
were natives of Germany. Casper Roth 



served throughout the Revolution, having 
fought at Valley Forge, taking part also 
in the battle of Eutaw Springs, and was 
present at the surrender of Lord Corn- 
wallis. His son Jacob was born in 1798, 
in Pennsylvania, and was married to Cath- 
erine McBeth. He was a soldier in the 
war of 1812, and fought at Lundy's Lane. 
After the war most of his life was spent 
in New York, where he died at the age of 
seventy-uine years. Gustavus and Sarah 
A. Jacobs have passed their wedded life 
in Huron county, Ohio, where he has ac- 
cumulated a large fortune, aud is now 
conducting a sawmill at Norwalk. 

W. II. Jacobs, a son of Gustavus and 
Sarah A. (Roth) Jacobs, was born in 1862, 
in Norwalk, Ohio. lie attended the gram 
mar school and high school of his native 
place, and since his eighteenth year has 
followed carpentry and contracting. He 
and George Stewart have conducted a ijen- 
eral business in that line under the firm 
name of Stewart & Jacobs, for about one 
year and a half. They engaged in all 
classes of contract work, including paving, 
the laying of sidewalks and water pipes, 
and employing about twenty-eight men. 
W. H. Jacobs is also interested in a saw- 
mill. He was married to Miss Nettie 
Hamilton, a native of Pennsylvania, who 
has borne him one daughter — Maude — and 
one son — Gustavus. In political opinion 
Mr. Jacobs is a stanch Republican, and he 
and his wife are members of the Congre- 
gational Church. 



FRANCIS B. CROSBY (deceased) 
was a son of William Crosby, who 
^ settled iu Huron county, Ohio, at an 
early day, but subsequently moved 
to Kansas. William was born in Adams 
county. N. Y. His first wife was Eliza 
Stilwell, and for his second wife he married 
Eliza Starkey, who accompanied her hus- 
band to Huron county. 

Francis B. Crosby was born September 
16, 1833, in Ridgetield township. Huron 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



261 



Co., Ohio, where he received a primary 
education in the school of tiie district, and 
sniisequently worked on the home farm. 
On December 21, 1855, he married Ade- 
line Franklin, who was born August 22, 
1830, in Onondaga county, N. Y., and 
tiieir cliildreii were as follows: Alice O., 
married to Jolin Boweu, a farmer of 
Greenfield township; William F. and Al- 
bert W., residing at liome. The parents 
of Mrs. Adeline Crosby were Reuben and 
Tlhoda (Nobles) Franklin, wlio settled in 
Eiclimond township, Huron county, at an 
early day. Mrs. Franklin died in 1839, 
Mr. Franklin in 1840. From the death 
of her parents to the time of lier marriage 
Adeline resided with her sister, Mrs. Rufus 
Atherton. After marriage Francis B. and 
Adeline Crosby made their home on the 
William Crosljy homestead, which they 
purchased, and where he resided until his 
sudden death, April 1, 1880. After his 
death the widow assumed charge of affairs, 
and managed the farm and other interests 
with consummate ability, until the legal 
division of the estate. From 1880 to this 
time Mrs. Crosby has lived in her present 
home. She is a member of the Baptist 
Church, and she and her children hold a 
high place in the estimation of the people. 
Mr. Crosby was a lifelong farmer and 
stock-grower, and built up a valuable es- 
tate by industry and attention to details. 
Politically he was a Republican, and in 
religion a Baptist. 



rE. WILCOX, who was born Decem- 
ber 4, 1843, in Peru township, is a 
^ grandson of Daniel Wilco.x. Asahel 
Wilcox, father of subject, was born 
September 2, 1805, at Gorham, Ontario 
Co., N. Y., and migrated to Ohio in 1820. 
On March 28, 1832, he married Emily 
Adams, and they located in Peru town- 
ship, Huron county, where, with the ex- 
ception of a short time passed in Crawford 
county, Ohio, he resided until his death, 



which occurred during the cholera epi- 
demic of 1849. His widow lives with 
her son, F. E. Wilcox, on the home farm. 
Mrs. Emily Adams Wilcox was born 
September 27, 1814, at Kowe, Franklin 
Co., Mass.; iier father, Henry Adams, was 
born in 1790 in Marlboro town, ""tVindham 
Co., Vt., and was, while still a youth, a 
school teacher in that place. On October 
14, 1813, he married Annis, daughter of 
Simeon Barr, who was also born at Rowe, 
Mass., and a year later set out for that por- 
tion of Ohio known as the "Firelands," 
leaving his young wife and infant daugter 
Emily at Rowe, until he could prepare a 
home for them in tlie wildnerness. He 
took with liiiu, on this long journey, a 
load of tinware, which he sold on his ar- 
rival in Cleveland, and then proceeded to 
what is now Peru township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, where he laid the foundation of liis 
western home on a part of the farm now 
occupied by his grandson, F. E. Wilcox, 
and was tlie earliest pioneer of this divi- 
sion of Huron county. Some time later 
his wife and child and a party of relatives 
arrived. Tiiey journeyed on a wagon 
from Massachusetts to Buffalo, N. Y., 
where the team "gave out," compelling 
the young mother and the adults of the 

?arty to walk to the Adams settlement in 
'eru. The original home was constructed 
with poles and bark, but later a substantial 
log cabin was built, near the site of the 
present Wilcox residence. The children 
born to Henry and Annis (Barr) Adams 
were Emily, who married Asahel Wilcox; 
Caroline, born in Peru townshijj February 
27, 1818, married S. D. Seymour, and died 
in Taylor county, Tex.; Levi, born De- 
cember 27, 1820, died when seven months 
old; Simeon F., born October 28, 1821, 
died in infancy; Franklin L. C, born June 
5, 1823, died in 1840; Jane, born April (1, 
1S25, married Eliplialet Adams, and died 
at Norwalk, Huron county; Levi, born 
July 20, 1827, died in 1829; and Alonzo 
and Melissa (twins), !)orn April 15, 1830, 
the former of whom died May 29, 1865. 



262 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Mr. Adams resided here iiiitil his death 
from paralysis, May 24, 1881. He settled 
in the forest when there was only one 
house at Norwalk and one at Sandusky, 
endni'ed all the trials and privations com- 
mon to the pioneer, and yet, beyond the 
ordinary "chills and fever" which attacked 
strong and weak without distinction, lie 
never suffered from illness until paralysis 
came to carry him off. He was not only 
a pioneer in natne but also in fact. He 
encouraged improvements in agricultural 
methods, and was the first to introduce 
mowers, reapers and other implements of 
husT)andry into Peru township. He set out 
the first seed for fruit trees, ordering the 
seeds from Vermont. A consignment of 
seeds went down in Lake Erie with the 
vessel on which they were shipped, but a 
day later the wreckers rescued the freight 
and everything which escaped dissolution 
in the waters was sent to its destination. 
From a bag of seeds recovered at that 
time, the fruit trees on the present Wilcox 
farm sprung. Mr. Adams was a Demo- 
crat in early years; but about 1856 he 
joined the Whig party, and afterwai-d be- 
came a strong Abolitionist. He was a 
conductor on the "Underground Kailroad,'' 
and had his own depot for concealing 
refugee slaves. He taught the first school 
in Peru township, assembling the pupils 
in his own log cabin. He was one of 
the earliest adherents of Methodism, and 
helped to establish and sustain the house 
of worship in Peru village, from 1824 
until he joined the new denomination, in 
which he remained to the period of hie 
death. 

F. E. Wilcox, whose name appears at 
the head of this sketch, received his pri- 
mary education in the schools of Peru 
township. When he was six years old his 
father died, and the lad was reared at the 
home of his grandfather. On November 
6, 1873, he married Dorcas A. Perry, who 
was born October 15, 1848, in Peru town- 
ship, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth 
(Tillson) Perry. The children born to this 



marriage are named as follows: Frank T., 
born September 9, 1874; Charles N., born 
October 6, 1876; John N., born January 
27, 1879; Perry E., born March 3, 1881 
(died August 5, 1882); Fred E., born Feb- 
ruary 27, 1883; Bert O., born March 14, 
188o, and Fanny E., born April 17, 1887. 
Since 1849 Mr. AYilcox has lived on the 
old Adams homestead, giving close atten- 
tion to agricultural affairs. Politically he 
is Republican, and is actively interested in 
the success of his party. In church con- 
nection he is a leading member and officer 
in the Methodist Episcopal Society, in 
which he is class-leader, steward and 
trustee. A descendant of the pioneers of 
Peru township, and successful in all his 
undertakings, he is a man of influence 
here, one whose good citizenship has never 
been questioned in any particular. He is 
a great reader, and is thoroughly posted 
on all matters relating to the United States. 




\ILLIAM T. SMITH, one of the 

leading farmers of Greenwich 

township, and the most popular 

of all the old residents, was born 

June 17, 1823, in Cayuga county. New 

York. 

Willis R. Smith, his father, was the son 
of Daniel Smith, of Westchester county, 
N, Y., and himself was a native of that 
county. AVhen a young man he married 
Ann Underbill, also a native of West- 
chester, and shortly after marriage re- 
moved to Cayuga county, N. Y. There 
the following named children were horn to 
theni: Alfred, who died in his twelfth 
year in Huron county, Ohio; Phcebe, never 
married, who died when fifty years old; 
Daniel, a farmer of Greenwich township, 
died here, aged sixty-five; Amelia, residing 
in Greenwich township; and William T., 
the subject of this sketch. On May 6,1824, 
Mr. Smith and his family arrived in Green- 
wich township. He had been a school 
teacher in New York, where he graduated 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



263 



from a college, which profession he fol- 
lowed after settling here, and from his 
small earnings saved enough to purchase 
one hundred acres of land. The condition 
of iiis health permitted him to do but lit- 
tle work on the farm, and this resulted in 
his giving closer attention to school inter- 
ests. Satisfactory to himself, his services 
were most beneficial to the community, for 
boys who became distinguished men re- 
ceived their lessons in reading, arithmetic 
and penmanship from this pioneer teacher. 
In Huron county an addition of three 
cliihlren was made to the family: Sarah, 
living in Greeuwicli township; Mary, wife 
of Edward Golden, of Ripley township, 
and Ann, residing in her native township. 
The father died on the original farm in 
1871, the mother in 187-1:." They were 
members of the Friends Church in which 
Mr. Smith was a minister, and they were 
buried in the Friends cemetery. He was 
a mathematician of some note, and was as 
well educated as any of his comtempo- 
aries in the county. 

William T. Smith was less than eleven 
months old when his parents brought him 
to Huron county. He received an ele- 
mentary education here, and at the age of 
twenty-two years began the carpenter's 
trade under Marvin Atwater. Subse(]uently 
the relation between employer and em- 
ploye was reversed, and the former em- 
ployer became an employe of Mr. Smith. 
In 1855 Wm. T. Smith married Asenath 
Rosco, who was born in 1831 in Green- 
wich township, and to them came the fol- 
lowing named cliildren: Charity, wife of 
Wm. A White, of Colfax, Wash.; Celia, a 
recorded minister of Friends living in 
Dodson, Ohio, wife of Eugene P. Rollman; 
Yana, who died December 3, 1890, at 
Colfax, Wash., where she was teaching 
school, and was buried in the Friends 
cemetery in Greenwich township; AlvaR., 
residing in Nebraska; Willis J., a farmer 
of Greenwich township; Huron county; 
Linna, residing at home, and baby (iarland, 
who died July 2, 187-1. 



After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
located on the present farm, which was 
purchased with money saved from Mr. 
Sniitii's earnings. For over forty years lie 
has followed agriculture in connection 
with the carpenter's trade. In 1889, he 
set out on a western tour, going by the North- 
ern Pacific route, and returning by the 
Union Pacific Railroad, making sliort stays 
in the cities along each route, and on the 
the Pacific slope. In 1892 he undertook 
an eastern trip, but the condition of liis 
health urged him to return shortly after 
his arrival in New York City. His trade 
has proven very useful in the successful 
life of this pioneer, for his residence and 
large barn are specimens of his own work. 
Out of the wilderness he carved a fine 
farm, and placed thereon costly improve- 
ments. Politically he is a Prohibitionist, 
having left the Republican party. He 
took an earnest, active part in in the Pro- 
hibition movement, and yet devotes consid- 
erable attention toward developing the 
idea. The family, religiously, are all 
members of the Friends Church. [Since 
the above was written, William T. Smith, 
at the age of sixty-nine years ten months 
twenty-three days, passed from earth May 
10, 1893, after a short sickness, the im- 
mediate cause of iiis death being dropsy of 
the heart. Although his sufferings were 
intense, yet he was always cheerful, and 
often spoke edifying words about heaven 
to the many who came to see him. He 
dearly loved his family; yet toward the 
last he had intense longing to depart and 
be with Christ. The morning lie died, he 
took his wife by the hand, and sweetly 
commended her and the cliildren into the 
loving care of the Heavenly Father. He 
was buried in the Friends cemetery. 



H ARIES HOMER FISH, one of 

the progressive agriculturists of 

Ridgelield township, is a son of 

Sydney D., whose parents were John 

and Lydia (Van Schoy) P^ish. 



264 



nuRoyr county, ohio. 



Sydney' D. Fish was born November 28, 
18iy, in Licking county, Ohio, and wlien 
three years of age came with his parents 
to Huron county, Ohio. He there pre- 
pared for school teaching, following that 
vocation for some time, and then clerked 
several years for Parkins & HoUister, of 
Monroeville. In 1846 he married Harriet 
Sherman, who was born April 4, 1825, on 
the farm in Ridgetield township where she 
died; she was a daughter of Daniel and 
Laura (Hubbell) Sherman. Sydney D. 
Fish built a tirst-class grain elevator at 
Monroeville, in partnership with Mr. Sar- 
gent, the firm name being Fish & Sargent. 
In 1874 Fish & Sargent sold their interest 
to Fish ct Hill, the former of whom is a 
brother to Sydney D. Fish, and the busi- 
ness has since prospered under the skillful 
management of Mr. Fish. In 1866 he 
moved to the farm, located one and one 
half miles north of Monroeville, and con- 
ducted the place in addition to the man- 
agement of the grain elevator. During 
the later years of his life he retired to the 
farm with a comfortable competence, 
which had been acquired by years of self 
sacrificing industry. He was very popular 
in social life, and in politics lirst voted 
with the Whigs, afterward uniting with 
the Republicans. He died September 4, 
1887, followed by his wife October 22, 
1890, who was a member of the Presby- 
terian Church. Their children were as 
follows: George S., a farmer of Ridge- 
field township; Rozene, widow of R. G. 
Miller; Allen, deceased at the age of four- 
teen years; Laura J., wife of D. II. Drake, 
of Kendallville, Ind., and Charles Homer, 
whose name opens this sketch. 

Charles Homer Fish was born Novem- 
ber 9, 1859, in Monroeville, Ridgefield 
township, Huron Co., Ohio. He grew to 
manhood on the home farm, receiving a 
common-school education, and in 1882 
went to Mapleton, N. D., where he con- 
ducted a hardware and lumber business for 
four years. He then returned home, and 
on December 21, 1886, was united in mar- 



riage with Edna J. Van Horn, a native of 
Monroeville and daughter of William H. 
Van Horn. Since their marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Fish have resided on their present 
farm, where he follows general agriculture 
and stock raising, owning some very fine 
Jersey cattle. He is an energetic farmer, 
whose success is but the merited reward of 
thrifty enterprise. In politics Mr. Fish 
votes with the Republican party. Three 
children have comjileted the family circle, 
namely: Eugene. William and an infant 
daughter named Clara. 



Tp'J J. PEAT. Among the successful 
Ip business men of Norwalk, this gen- 
11.^1 tleman holds an enviable position 
from many points of view. Sur- 
rounded by a wealth of bud and blossom, 
whose sweet perfumes fill all the air with 
fragrance, his hands are busied with deftly 
arranging and caring for the fragile plants. 
While others wage fierce battle in the 
political arena or wear out their lives 
in dingy shops and crowded factories, he 
ministers to the hunger of the human soul 
for beauty and refinement. A pleasant 
task, and one which ennobles all who share 
its privileges. However humble a home 
may be, when we see a little flower treas- 
ured by the inmates, we recognize a kin- 
dred feeling which softens the hardest 
hearts, and so is this true of many homes. 
Norwalk may well be proud to know that 
a florist prospers within her limits, for no 
surer test is possible of the culture and 
innate refinement of her people. As the 
missionaries in hostile, savage lands wel- 
comed the rising spire of the Christian 
church, and knew that they were among 
friends, so the traveler who passes from 
town to town welcomes the pure, sweet 
flowers as tokens of a kindred sympathy 
with nature. 

E. J. Peat is a son of Edwin Peat, and 
was born September 21, 1862, in Birming- 
hauj, England. He came with his father 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



265 



to America, and they first settled in Mon- 
roeville, Huron Co., Ohio, where E. J. 
remained until about eight years of age. 
Tliey afterward moved to Toledti, Ohio, 
remaining there two or three years, then 
passed one year in Wauseon, finally set- 
tling in Norwalk, Ohio, vvliere he attended 
the public, schools. He was united in 
marriage with Miss Katie Bepply, who has 
borne him one son, Roy. In 1882 E. 
J. Peat established his present business as 
a florist, on a place then located two miles 
from the center of the city, just outside 
the corporation. He deals in cut iiowers, 
and carries on a prosperous business both 
in Erie and Huron counties. His father 
is yet living, but the mother passed away 
some years ago. 



ffjf P. KOHLMYER, secretary of the 
NH Metal Spinning and Stamping Com- 
I 11 pany, Norwalk, is a native of that 
•JJ city, born November 21, 1858, 

near the spot where he now resides. 
He is the eldest son in a family of six 
children born to John H. and Gertrude 
(Klegg) Kohlmyer, the former a native of 
Germany, a tinner i)y trade, who came to 
America in early manhood. He married 
after coming to this country, reared a re- 
spectable family, and by his thrift and 
energy was enabled to surround his chil- 
dren with the comforts and advantages of 
the times. He and his family are resi- 
dents of Norwalk. 

H. P. Kohlmyer attended the public 
schools of Norvvalk, and when well 
grounded in the fundamentals of a busi- 
ness education he learned the tinner's 
trade under his father. After this he en- 
tered a hardware store as clerk, in which 
line he opened out on his own account in 
1882. In 1890 he had succeeded in draw- 
ing the attention of others to the impor- 
tance of a new process of manufacturing 
tin and other ware, and they organized the 
Norwalk Metal Spinning and Stamping 
'Company, capital stock twenty thousand 



dollars, Mr. Kohlmyer taking seven thou- 
sand dollars. The works were built, were 
soon in running order, and had been in 
operation about four weeks when they ac- 
cidently caught fire and burned to the 
ground. But by Decenil)er lii, 1891, the 
plant was rebuilt, and the works were not 
only running, but ready to make a ship- 
ment of goods on that day. There are but 
three metal stamping concerns in the 
United States, and this is the only one 
that makes the metal spun goods in nickel; 
thus the products go upon the world's 
markets, practically without competition, 
the demand for them all continually out- 
running the capacity of the works. Their 
stamp to make tea-kettles, etc., weighs over 
twenty thousand pounds; all tlieir machin- 
ery is of the latest improved make, and 
complete in every department. The fac- 
tory in Norwalk is one of the institutions 
in which the people take great pride, and 
its existence is largely due to the untiriiio- 
energy and intelligent persistence of the 
gentleman whose name introduces this 
sketch. 

H. P. Kohlmyer and Emma P^ox, of 
Toledo, Ohio, were united in the bonds of 
matrimony, December 22, 1880, and to 
them have come three children: Justice, 
Cornelius and Adolph. Socially our sub- 
ject is a member of the K. of P.; the 
family worship at the Lutheran Church. 



E 



C. MORRILL, M. D. In the 

practice of homeopathy, this gcn- 
tleman is one of the oldest and best- 
known physicians in the city of 
Norwalk. He was born in Cuyahoga 
county, Ohio, in 1842, a son of Dr. Charles 
and , I uilith (Cate) Morrill, both of whom 
were natives of New Hampshire. 

Charles ilorrill graduated from an allo- 
pathic college of medicine in Cleveland, 
and after considerable practice elsewhere 
located in that city, wiiere he passed from 
earth in 1892. at the age of seventy-two. 



-'06 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



He was in continuous practice until that 
time, having made sick calls the day 
before his death. 

E. C. ^[I'lrill was educated at Oberlin 
College, and in 1862 left this school to 
join the Union army. He enlisted in 
Company C, Eighty-eighth O. V. I., and 
during his four months term of enlistment 
was at the front in Kentucky, after which 
he, with his command, was mustered out 
of the service. In 1864 he re-enlisted, in 
the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Regi- 
ment Ohio State Militia, and was with 
tiie army in defense of the city of Wash- 
ington during this enlistment. On leav- 
ing the service he resumed the study of 
medicine, which had been interrupted by 
his last enlistment, and after a thorough 
preparation under a private tutor, entered 
as student the Cleveland Homeopathic 
College, where he was graduated in the 
class of 1866. He at once engaged in the 
practice of his profession at Kent, Portage 
county, where he remained four years, 
after which he located in Nor walk, where 
he soon became one of the leading practi- 
tioners. His lite has been that of a dili- 
gent student of books and men, and his 
many friends testify to his genial and 
sunny disposition. 

On July 17, 1872, Dr. Morrill was 
mai'ried in Cincinnati to Miss Martha 
Moore, by which union there were four 
children, viz.: Alma Rebecca, born March 
21, 1873; Charles, born September 27, 
1877, died June 29, 18U0; Dee, born 
January 21, 1879; and Judith Anna, born 
February 21, 1883. 




WILLIAM E. GILL, M. D., a well- 
known homeopathic physician and 
surgeon of Norwalk, is a native 
of Huron county, Ohio, born in 
1854. He is a son of Edward and Esther 
(Young) Gill, the latter of whoju was a 
descendant of a family who were early 
settlers in Ohio. 



William E. Gill received bis education 
at the public schools of Norwalk, and after 
linishing a course in the hio;h school be- 
came a student at the Ohio State Univer- 
ity. He then commenced a course of 
medicine, reading for a time under a pri- 
vate preceptor, and afterward entering the 
Cincinnati Homeopathic School of Medi- 
cine. He was graduated at a medical 
college, in the class of 1877, and immedi- 
ately returned to Xorwalk, where he 
opened an othce, rapidly acquiring a lucra- 
tive practice; he is still actively engaged 
in the duties of his profession. He mar- 
ried Sarah Kline. 



MARVIN HIBBARD, practical 
farmer in Fitchville township 
_| from September, 1854, till his 
JfJ death, November 4, 1879, was 

born on a farm in Mansfield, 
Windham Co., Conn., August 25, 1797. 

Little is knowM) of his father, Andrew 
Hibbard, save that he served honorably as 
a company officer during the Revolution- 
ary war; that he was married twice, and 
reared seven children, two by his first wife 
— a son (the late Gen. Daniel F. Hibbard, 
of Mansfield, who died March 19, 1880, at 
the advanced age of ninety-five years), and 
a daughter (Betsey, Mrs. Park, formerly 
of Canterbury). The other children were 
John Loomis and William, who became 
farmers in Cortland county, N. Y. ; Mar- 
vin, the leading subject of this sketch; and 
Burnham, who settled in Oneida county, 
N. Y., but owned several canal boats for 
years running from Cleveland to the Ohio 
river. The daughter married Anthony 
Weaver, of Tolland, where they lived and 
died, leaving a numerous family. One of 
the sons, W. A. Weaver, has had residence 
in Fitchville township, Huron county, now 
more than twenty-live years. 

The remembrance of the familj' is that 
Francis Hibbard, the Revolutionary sol- 
dier and patriot, died, having fallen from a 
load of hay, when his son Marvin was six 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



267 



years old. This affliction caused tlie family 
to 1)6 dispersed, and Marvin was appren- 
ticed to a farmer and shoemaker in Hamp- 
ton, who was a relation of the family. 
Making shoes not a<i;reeing with his 
health, he turned his attention to out-door 
work. He beecan life for himself as a 
hired man on the farm in this section of 
the country. When he was twenty-nine 
he had accumulated about six hnndi-ed 
dollars, working for five to nine dollars per 
month winters and summers. As the story 
goes, he jilanned to go West to " Holland 
Purchase," in New York, and buy a farm, 
but while visiting an aunt in Randolph, 
Vt., he purchased a farm and made ar- 
rangements to improve it. Returning to 
Connecticut, he married, August 29, 1826, 
Zilpha Robbins, who was born September 
2, l!i02, near Westford. Purchasing a 
liorse, a yoke of o.xen and an ox cart for 
conveyance, they immediately mia;rated to 
their new home, 150 miles to the north. 
The farm was in a bad condition, some of 
it being so stony and covered with briars 
and hedge trees that a townsman claimed 
it was not worth a cent an acre. Yet this 
land was reclaimed and became very pro- 
ductire. While residing here twenty- 
eight jeaj-s, nine children were born to 
them, but six of them died very young, 
the oldest dying when about eighteen 
mouths old. The third child, Andrew 
Chirk, born September 17, 1829, received 
a good academical education at the Orange 
County Grammar School, at Randolph. 
He wa? teacher several terms in Vermont, 
also in Fitchville, Ohio. In early life he 
was engaged, on account of impaired 
healtii, in the sale of sewing machines and 
musical instruments. He is now a farmer 
in Fitchville. He married November 12, 
18<)2, Sarah Augusta Palmer, daughter of 
the late Linus Palmer. They liave three 
children: Edith May, Clarence Worden, 
and Oramel Ernest, all living. 

The fourth child. Albert Keyes (born 
l^farch 15, 1881), received an education at 
the before-mentioned grammar school, 



and became a mechanic, and has excelled 
in the manufacture of pianos and organs, 
also as an inventor in his business. He 
has been since 1854 connected with, and a 
member of, the Mason & Hamlin Piano 
and Organ Company, Boston. He has 
had three children, two living at the pre- 
sent time. 

The ninth or youngest child, John 
Loorais (born August 25, 1842), came 
with the family to Ohio in September, 
1854. It appears that in the spring of 
that year, having sold his farm in Ver- 
mont, Marvin Hibbard determined to go 
west. He visited Huron county, Ohio, 
and purchased a farm in Fitchville. The 
price paid was thirty- two dollars and fifty 
cents per acre, including personal property 
valued at about two liundred and fifty 
dollars. In this place he was engaged in 
agriculture until his death, November 4, 
1879. His widow died JIarch 10, 1884. 
They were buried in the beautiful ceme- 
tery in Fitchville, where a suitable monu- 
ment is erected to their memory. They 
were successful in the business of farming. 
In politics he was a Republican. In re- 
ligion they adhered in early life to the 
doctrines of the Christian Church, but 
later they were connected with the Advent 
Christian Church, in which faith they 
died. It is just to say that ^[arvin Hib- 
bard was a ina!) of strong, quick impulses, 
and of good integrity, while ^Irs. Hibbard 
excelled as an economist, and she con- 
stantly tangiit the art of living in her 
family. 

According to the family arrangement, 
Joiin L. svas manager after 1802, and finally 
came in possession of the home estate. 
In the spring of 18G4 he enlisted in the 
One Hundred and Sixty-Sixth O. V. I., 
Coin[)any C; on May 15 proceeded to 
Virginia with the command, and partici- 
pated in the defense of Washington, as 
one of the hundred days men of Oiiio, 
until September 9, 1864* 

On November 12, 1868, he married 
Sarah Jane Hartman, wlio was born in 



208 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Carroll county, Ohio, in 1841, daughter of 
Creorge W. Ilartman, a native of that 
county, who moved to Fitchville, where he 
died. There are six children, as follows: 
George Marvin, now with his uncle Albert, 
in Boston; Ora V.; Milo E.; Albert K., 
and Alton L. and Alta J. (twins), all 
living. Mr. Hibbard was executor and 
administrator of the estates of his father 
and his wife's father, respectively. In 
political affairs he has been a Prohibition- 
ist since 1884, having formerly been a 
Republican, and he has held various town- 
ship offices. In church connection he is 
a Congregationalist, and has taken a very 
active part in church work. Mrs. Hib- 
bard is a Seventh Day Adventist. 

As an agriculturist Mr. Hibbard takes 
pains to increase the fertility of the soil; 
he likes, too, to raise improved stock of all 
kinds. Although he deals sometimes in 
horses, he has several now on hand, direct 
descendants of the " Morgan " mare bonght 
by his father over sixty years ago. l^or 
has he failed to pay considerable attention 
to horticulture. 



JAY F. LANING, the subject of this 
sketch, is a son of John and Caroline 
Laning, both early settlers of New 
London, Huron Co., Ohio, the former 
of whom was born in Middlesex county, 
X. J., in 1819, his ancestors having set- 
tled in that locality some time prior to the 
Ilevolution. 

John Laning came to New London in 
1844. where he resided until his death, 
which occurred September 24, 1887. His 
wife was Caroline Wood, daughter of Gil- 
bert and Sally Wood, wht> removed from 
Putnam county, N. Y., to New London 
township, in 1832. John and Caroline 
Laning were the parents of three children, 
two daughters — Sarah A. (now Mrs. Will- 
iam Molsher) and Adilla E. (now Mrs. C. 
B. Post), both residing at New London — 
and one son — Jay Ford Laning, now resid- 
ing at Norwalk, in the same county. 



Jay F. Laning was born at New London, 
May 15, 1858. He gained such an edu- 
cation as could be obtained at the common 
schools of his l)irthplace, by a short course 
of study at an academy, and by self-culture 
through reading and study at home. From 
the age of fifteen to that of twenty-one his 
time was spent in teaching school and at 
manual labor. AYhatever spare hours he 
had were devoted to tlic study of law, and 
ho was admitted to the bar in 1875, enter- 
ing upon the practice at his native place. 
He followed this profession successfully 
for eight years. During this period, what 
would have otherwise been spare time was 
spent in developing ideas which became 
the foundation of the business in which 
our subject subsequently engaged. 

In 1882 he moved to Norwalk, from 
which time he gradually abandoned his 
law practice, and established the publish- 
ing house with which he is now connected. 
By energy, pluck, tact, bard work and 
close attention, lie made the business grow 
with rapidity from a very humble begin- 
ning to one of widespread and extensive 
patronage. Important among tlie publi- 
cations of which he is the author are a 
system of labor-saving books and devices 
for facilitating tiie conduct of agricultural 
fairs — a knowledge of which he gained 
while acting as the secretary of the organ- 
ization at New London — and a line of 
school supplies embracing several educa- 
tional books, the outgrowth of his experi- 
ence as an educator. His knowledge of 
the law has enabled him to prepare, also, 
sevei'al useful legal books and forms which 
have had an extensive sale. He is an 
ardent Republican, and has always taken 
an active part in local political work, 
representing his ward for four years in the 
city council. At the election of 1893 he 
was elected as Senator to repre.=ent the 
Thirtieth District, composed of Erie, 
Huron, Sandusky and Ottawa counties, 
in the General Assembly of the State. 
He has also been actively interested in 
all enterprises tending to the industrial 




cJ. r. LANING. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



271 



or coiniaercial advancement of the city. 
In 1875 Mr. leaning was married to 
Caroline E. Sheldon, youngest daughter of 
Hufus and Mary Sheldon, for many years 
residents of Greenwich township, Huron 
county, and the fruits of tliis union are 
five children, viz.: Ford H., Joanna P., 
John J., Mary G-. and Sheldon. 



QEORGE L. GUILDS (deceased), son 
, of Charles Childs, was born May 18, 
1826, at Teinpleton, Mass., where 
, I he passed his childhood. Charles 
Childs was a cooper at Teinpleton, 
Mass., until the reports of the development 
of Ohio urcred him to move westward and 
share in the work of building up tlie State. 

About 1834 the family set out on the 
journey to the "Fireiands," arrived in Hu- 
ron county, and located at Greenfield, where 
he carried on his trade in connection with 
farming. For a numijerof years he operated 
a chair factory at Greenheld, and was suc- 
cessful in all his undertakings. Some years 
prior to leaving Massachusetts he married 
Roena Baker, and to this union four chil- 
dren were born, namely: Otis, George L., 
Thomas and Frank. The mother of these 
children died in 1832, and the same year 
the father married Ilepsey Baird, to whom 
eight children were born, namely: Roena, 
James, Calvin, John, Mary, Delia, Cynthia 
and Marcius. The father died in 1875. 

George L. Childs accompanied his father 
to Huron county in 1834. The change 
from Templeton was a radical one for the 
boy, for he was transferred suddenly from 
a town, where he had never seen a cow, to 
a wilderness where the bear, wolf and deer 
abounded. His youth was passed in the 
manner common to pioneer boys, attending 
winter >chool and working on the home 
farm. Later he learned the tinner's trade, 
and worked at same for two years at Ply- 
mouth, Ohio, but returning to the farm he 
labored there for one year. He tlien bought 
an interest in the ciiair factory at Green- 



field, and held that for about two years, or 
until he lost the amount he had invested 
in that industry. Purchasing three and a 
half acres of land and the little log cabin 
thereon, he engaged in farmitig for his own 
account, and two years later bought a tract 
of eight acres with a better house, to which 
lie added twenty acres, and on which he 
resided fourteen years. Movincr to Xew 
Haven township he hought a farm of 160 
acres, resided thereon for two years, and 
next settled on a tract of a little over 100 
acres in Ripley township, the boundaries 
of which he extended until he had a beau- 
tiful farm of 399 acres. In 1847 he was 
married to Miss Ann M. Miller, daughter 
of William Miller, who was a son of John 
]\[iller, of Chambersburg, Penn. To this 
marriage eight children were born, namely: 
Julia F. (married to J. N. Kiser), Anna 
R.. (married to C. L. Harrington), William 
C, Lizzie (married to G. R. Craig), Burt, 
Othello, Henry and Edwin F. Of the sons, 
Henry married Anna Howard; William C. 
married Carrie Youn";; Edwin F. married 
Libby Miller; Burt married Nettie Stevens. 
The father of this family^ was a stanch Re- 
publican, and one of the local councilors of 
liis party from 1856 to the time of his 
death. In religious affairs he was a mem- 
ber of the Freewill Baptist Church, active 
in its work, and particularly so in Sunday- 
school matters. Out of his industry he 
created wealth, and left to his widow and 
children real and personal property valued 
at twenty-five thousand dollars. 

Mrs. Ann M. (Miller) Childs was born 
in April, 1830, at Chambersburg, Penn. 
Her father, William Miller, was born there 
in 1806, learned the mason's trade, and 
there married Elizabeth Swinard. He 
worked at his trade at Chambersburg until 
liis removal to Plymouth, Ohio, and re- 
sided in that town until 1849, when he pur- 
chased ahout 100 acres in New Haven town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio. To his marriage 
were born tiiree children: Jaco.b, Ann M. 
and Charlotte. The mother died in 1834, 
and in 1839 he married Magdalena Rook, 



272 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



who lived near Plymouth, Ohio. To this 
union came five children: Peter, John, 
Margaret, Eliza and William, all living. 
As a farmer in Huron county, the father 
made a success of life, leaving to his fam- 
ily 240 acres of fertile land and a large 
amount of personal property. Mrs. Ann 
M. Childs is the only survivor of the chil- 
dren by his first wife. She came to Ohio 
when about three years old, and attended 
school until her marriage in 1847. She 
is a lady of good executive ability, and 
manages the affairs of the estate with 
singular success. 



iT^EOPGE N. EOUNDS. a promi- 
I w, nent, progressive citizen of Hart- 
VLJ land township, is a native of New 
^ York, born October 12, 1820. His 
father, Isaac Rounds, was the son 
of a Vermont farmer, and grew to man- 
hood on the home farm. 

AVhen a young man Isaac went to 
Ontario county, N. Y., and there married 
Polly Waldron, who was Ijorn in that 
county in 1802. The Erie Canal, which 
was commenced July 4, 1817, was under 
construction when he settled in New York 
State, and there was little difficulty in find- 
ing work to do on any of the sections. 
Youncr Kounds went to work with a will, 
and proved himself a most valuable man. 
The foreman discovered that he could wheel 
more clay in a barrow than any of bis fel- 
low-workmen, and considered him a 
model lal)orer. The children born to Isaac 
and Polly Rounds in New York State 
were: George N., the subject of this 
sketch; Harriet, who married Aaron Pix- 
ley, and died in Clarksfield township; 
Mary Ann, who died when eight j'ears old 
in New York State; Benjamin, who died 
in Hartknd township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
when young; Hiram, who died a few 
weeks after; Isaac and Jacob (twins), 
farmers of Hartland township, and Lydia, 
the widow of James Conoley, of Hartland 



township. After the removal of the fam- 
ily to Huron county, the following named 
children were born: Eleanor, widow of 
Irkskine Horr, of Barry county, Mich.; 
Olive, married to Joseph Briggs, died at 
Keokuk, Iowa; Arvilla, Mrs. IVIatthias 
McKin, of Iowa; Jane, who died just six 
weeks after the death of the father, at the 
age of eight years; and Armenthia, Mrs. 
George Bostwick, of Prairie City. Illinois. 

About 1835 Mr. Rounds and his family 
moved to Cattaraugus county, N. Y., 
where they resided until June, 1840, when 
they made the journey to Ohio. Travel- 
ing by wagon road to Buffalo. N. Y., they 
embarked for Sandusky, Ohio, but while 
on the lake a storm arose, and the boat 
was driven into harbor at Erie. Pennsyl- 
vania. Sailing again they found that a 
landing could not be made at Sandusky, 
and the captain headed the boat for De- 
troit. After the hioh winds had subsided, 
the return trip to Sandusky was made, and 
the family landed. Without delay they 
proceeded to Hartland township, Huron 
county, where Mr. Rounds lented a tract 
of land. Within a year or so he purchased 
a small farm in Clarksfield township, and 
later boucrlit a second small farm in Hart- 
land township. The care of these lands, to- 
gether with other tracts which he worked 
on shares and laboring for others in clear- 
ing land, occupied his attention up to the 
time of his death, February 15, 1850, 
when a tree fell upon him, crushing his 
head to a pulp. The tragic affair cast a 
gloom over the entire township; for the 
father of a large family, and a most in- 
dustrious man, was removed from the 
circle of pioneers. Politically he was a 
Wliig? and one who took a lively interest 
in local and national affairs. [lis widow 
afterward married Simeon Chandler, and 
died August 81, 1878, in Illinois, where 
she was buried. 

George N. Rounds was about sixteen 
years of age when he accomjianied tiie 
family to Ohio. Already a bread-winner, 
the change from New York to Ohio was 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



273 



an agreeable one to liiin, ami in Huron 
county lie worked vigorously to make a 
home for the family. On December 25, 

1849, he married Mary Elizal)eth Knapp 
(a daughter of pioneer parents), who was 
born in Hartland township in 1831. To 
this marriacre came the followinir-named 
children: George F., born November 7, 
1850; Angie L., Mrs. O. T. Case, of 
Clarksfield township, and a son who died 
in infancy, unnamed. The mother of this 
family died October 13, 1886, and was 
buried in Hartland Ridge cemetery. At 
the time of his marriage, Mr. Rounds had 
practically nothing save good health and 
strong arms. After his father's death, in 

1850, he returned to the homestead and 
took charge of the farm. To-day he owns 
186 acres of good land, together with a 
good home and excellent farm buildings, 
distancing many of the men for whom he 
worked prior to 1849, in the acquisition of 
real estate. His success is due to inces- 
sant toil, untiring industry and economy. 
He now holds a place among the leading 
farmers of the county, and no one is held 
in higher respect or esteem. His life 
goes to prove the logic of the old proverb, 
" where there's a will there's a way," and 
will stand a practical demonstration for 
his descendants. They niay learn of the 
hardships and privations of the pioneers, 
but never can they endure them. After 
seventy years of work, Mr. Rounds stands 
like a giant tree in the forest of weather- 
worn pioneer oaks. Years have been given 
to him to witness the settlement and im- 

firovement of Ohio, from river to lake, and 
roni Pennsylvania to Indiana, and in sur- 
veying the scene he may look round him 
and say: "I have taken a man's part in 
bringing about this change, and no one in 
Huron county has labored for it more 
earnestly than I have." In April, 1893, Mr. 
Rounds again visited Cattaraugus county, 
the scenes of his childhood, and while 
there met an acqauintauce of his youth 
in the person of Mrs. Sally Hopkins, a 
widow, whom he brought back as a wife. 



George F. Rounds (eldest son of George 
N. Rounds) has now the entire manajje- 
ment of the farm. For some years he 
was a traveling salesman, and while thus 
employed journeyed over a large area of 
country; but in 1885 he returned to the 
homestead, which has since claimed his 
close personal attention. He is a musician 
by nature, and his ability in this direction 
is as well i-ecognized throughout this sec- 
tion of the State as his ability as an ao-ri- 
cullurist is in Hartland township. On 
April 2, 1892, he was married to Jeanette 
Jarvis. In politics he is a Republican. 




RUSE, manufacturer of tile and 
brick. New London, and a leading 
spirit in the manipulating of the 
affairs of the town, is a native of 
Ohio, born in Plymouth in 1852. 
He is a son of Andrew and Margaret 
(Prame) Ruse, natives of Bohemia, Aus^ 
tria, who came to the United States in 
1851, locating in Plymouth, Ohio. By 
trade Andrew Ruse is a stonemason, and 
he now resides in Barry county, Mich., 
whither he had moved in 1868. He is a 
Democrat in politics, and a member of the 
Catholic Church. The mother is yet liv- 
ing. They were married in Bohemia, and 
had a family of nine children, of whom 
our subject is second in order of birth. 

A. Ruse received the elementary part 
of his education in Plymouth, Ohio, 
whence when fifteen years old he moved to 
Michigan, where he had his home some 
five years. He then returned to Ohio, 
and in Shiloh, Richland county, entered 
into partnership with Y. J. Prame in a tile 
and brick business, remaining in that con- 
nection ten years, or until 18S3, in which 
year he came to New London and estab- 
lished himself in a similar business, which 
he has since successfully conducted. The 
shed for the tile works is 238 x 22 feet, and 
that for the brick is 80 x 54 feet; the out- 
put has been 100,000 brick, and about 



274 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



18,000 pieces of tile to eacli of fifteen 
kilns, regular employment beinfj; given to 
from seven to ten men. 

In 1877, Ml'. Iluse was married at 
Maple Grove, Barry Co., Mich., to Miss L. 
M. Dillin, a native of Kno.\ county, Ohio, 
and children, as follows, have been born to 
them: J. H., Minnie and Bessie. Politi- 
cally our subject is a Republican, and 
he is a member of the F. it A. M. and 
I. O. O. F. 



FRANK M. LUTTS. Norwalk town- 
is noted for its prosperous farming 
_^ community, prominent among which 
is the subject of this sketch, who 
is a native of Huron county, born in 1S61 
on his present farm in Norwalk township. 
Conrad Lutts, father of subject, was a 
son of Michael Lutts, who in an early day 
came from Germany to America, first 
locating in eastern Pennsylvania, and after- 
ward moving to Niagara county, N. Y. 
Being to poor to pay his passage across 
the ocean, he was sold to a planter to work 
out his expenses. In eastern Pennsylvania 
he married Miss Ruth Dolph, and by her 
had five children, viz.: Gideon, Conrad, 
Jonathan, Michael and Annie. Michael 
Lutts served in the war of 1812, but was 
obliged to abandon his house on account 
of the "Redcoats" and Indians. The old 
flint-lock musket, minus part of the stock, 
is still in possession of the family. He 
had a great abhorrance for the British, al- 
ways shooting them on sight, and was 
termed a " bushwhacker;" he is buried on 
the old hotnestead in Niagara county, 
New York. 

Conrad Lutts, father of Frank M., was 
born in 1799 in eastern Pennsylvania, 
whence he njoved with his parents to Nia- 
gara county, N. Y. During the war of 1812, 
owing to the hostility of the Indians, he 
was obliged to leave the "clearing," to- 
gether with his mother and the younger 
members of the family, to a safe retreat in 
another county, while his father remained 



behind to protect their log cabin home. 
After the war was over he returned to the 
home which is still in possession of his 
niece Mrs. Daniel Eaves, where the old 
family burial place is located, and many 
members of the Lutts family found their 
last resting place there, but tlie dates upon 
the slabs are not now legible. He became 
personally acquainted with Gen. W. H. 
Harrison duiiug this struggle, and after- 
ward voted for him when he ran for the 
Presidential chair, the only Presidential 
nominee Mr. Lutts ever voted for, it being 
a principle with him not to vote for any 
one with whom he was unacquainted. 
About the year 1818 he came to Huron 
county, Ohio, where in 1822 he married 
Miss Mary Fancher, five children being 
the result of this union, viz.: William, 
George, Michael, Julia, and Mary. The 
mother of these died in 1833, and for his 
second wife Mr. Lutts wedded, July 3, 
1834, Miss Panielia West, of Greenfield 
township, Huron county, who is yet liv- 
ing. She is a daughter of Augustus AVest, 
of Albany county, N. Y., a pioneer of 
Huron county, a Democrat in politics, and 
a very successful man in his business en- 
terprises. Six children were born to this 
marriage, of whom but two survive: 
Augustus, in Allegan, Mich., and Frank 
M. When Conrad Lutts came to Huron 
county, a single small log cabin stood 
within what are now the corporate limits 
of the city of Norwalk. On his arrival 
he had in his possession no more money 
than would buy a barrel of salt, and for a 
long time he made a living by hunting, 
selling or trading the furs of the animals 
he might kill. He met with many ad- 
ventures in his pioneer experiences, and 
liad some narrow escapes from death. His 
rifle is apparently as good as when used 
for killing the wild animals which sup- 
plied his home with necessaries and other 
things. 

Frank M. Lutts, the youngest sou of 
this brave pioneer, received a liberal edu- 
cation at the common schools of his native 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



275 



township, and at tlie early age of sixteen 
he took charge of the home farm, owing to 
his father's death, and here ho has since 
continued to remain. In 1881 lie married 
Miss Mary E. Soule, dangiiter of C. W. 
Soule, at tliat time a prominent farmer, of 
Bronson township, Iliiron county, now a 
resident of Norwallc. To this union were 
born five cliildren, viz.: Bertha, Conrad, 
Nellie, Howard and Idel, all living. Mr. 
Lutts is owner of one hundred acres of ex- 
cellent land, in a good state of cultivation, 
and all devoted to general crops and stock 
raising. In politics he is a stanch Repub- 
lican, and he is considered to be rather 
above the average fanner in reading and 
literature. He has a large and well-selected 
library, to which he is constantly adding 
standard works, it being his ambition to 
be, some day, the owner of one of the best 
libraries among the farmers of his county. 
He has now in his possession the anvil and 
vise which Michael Lutts used in his 
blacksmith shop, and which have been in 
use nearly one hundred years, in Huron 
county fifty-six years, and they yet show 
the hammer marks of the maker. 




E. TERWILLIGER is descended 
from pioneers of New England, 
representatives of whom migrated 
into New York State, where the 
subject of this sketch was born. 

William Terwilliger, the father of our 
subject, was an old resident of Orano-e 
county, N. Y., and there married Betsy 
Monroe. In 1834 they moved with their 
family to Cayuga county, N. Y., where 
Mrs. Terwilliger died in 1836. 

William E. Terwilliger was born De- 
cember 15, 1829, in Orange county, N. Y., 
and in 1834 accompanied his parents to 
Cayuga county, where he was reared in 
the manner commoii to boys of the pioneer 
period. The subscription school, with its 
fee of three dollars per term, was then a 
luxury, which the circumstances of his 



parents would not permit our subject to 
enjoy. When ten or twelve years old he 
lived out as a farm hand at three dollars 
per month, and worked for several farmers 
at that rate. Later he found employment 
on the Erie Canal between Cayuga Lake 
and Albany, serving first as a driver, 
afterward as a steerer. Subsequently he 
was a deck hand on one of the Cayuga 
Lake boats, and thus was engaged until 
he was nineteen years old, when he bought 
his time from his father for one hundred 
dollars, and followed boating on canal and 
lake, until 1853, when he "caught the gold 
fever," and set out for California. The 
start was made from Auburn, N. Y., the 
following-named forming the party: James 
Sherwood, Oliver Booth, Charles Clark, 
George R. Van Liew, Reuben Doty, 
Jasper and AYilliam E. Terwilliger, .all 
young men from the neighborhood. Th6y 
sailed on the " Permetias " to Greytown 
on the Isthmus, thence up the river to 
Castalla Rapids, thence on foot to Cas- 
talla, at the head of the rapids; from 
there by lake boat to Virgins Bay, and 
thence by mules, furnished by the trans- 
portation company, to San Juan del Norte. 
On this trip were 500 "argonauts." The 
cavalcade was arranged in squads, each 
squad being under direction of a driver, 
who carried a great whip and kept the 
mules in line. From San Juan del Norte 
the party sailed to San Francisco, halting 
only at Acapulco to take on coal. Arriv- 
ing at San Francisco, the party of which 
W. E. Terwilliger was a member rested 
for one day, and the next pushed on to 
Sacramento, where he found employment 
at four dollars a day, carrying brick up 
thi-ee stories, the first employment which 
presented itself. He followed various 
businesses in California, such as contract- 
ing to cut 100 acres of barley for four 
dollars per acre, his partner being a man 
named Smith. Ultimately he bought a 
gold mine, which he sold out, and returned 
to New York in May, 1858. The journey 
home was interesting in many ways. Tak- 



276 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



ing passage on the "Golden Gate" at San 
Francisco, the sliip proceeded on her way, 
but when twenty-four hours out "broke 
down," and had to return to port. Mr. 
Tervvilliger, not to be delayed, was among 
the men who then emliarked on the old 
"Menetia," an unseaworthy craft, even 
then condemned. However, she carried 
the passengers in safety to the Isthmus, 
the trip aci-oss which -was made without 
accident, and the returning adventurers 
took passage on the ship "Moses Taylor" 
for New York. The voyage was made 
in good time, and in May, 1858, he ar- 
rived among his relatives in Cayuga 
county, where he worked as a farm hand 
until November, same year. 

Mr. Terwilliger then resolved to leave 
liis native State and seek a home in Oliio, 
wliere his sister, Mrs. Silas Cain, lived, and 
in November, 1858, he arrived in Clarks- 
field township, Huron county, where in 
the spring of 1859 he bought one hundred 
acres of unimproved land at twenty-one 
dollars. A log cabin stood on the tract, 
but, such as it was, it could scarcely be 
considered an improvement, and Mr. Ter- 
williijer at once set himself to the clearing 
of the forest. On January 2, 1860, he 
was married to Elmira J. Ronk, who was 
born August 27, 1839, in Orange county, 
N. Y., daughter of George D. and Mar- 
garet (Vandemark) Ronk, who now reside 
in Brighton township, Lorain Co., Ohio. 
She came to Ohio in 1853, and worked out 
for her board and clothing, so that her edu- 
cation was limited to a short school term. 
After marriage the young couple moved 
into a house which was not yet plastered, 
so that he has, practically, accumulated 
his present valuable property since then. 
For over thirty years they have resided on 
their present place, engaged in farming 
and stock growing. For seventeen years 
he extensively carried on a dairy business 
without withdrawing his attention from 
his farm. His industry is proverbial, for 
at all times he finds something for his 
hands to do, and his surroundings speak 



of the constant care devoted to farm, stock 
and home. As a Whig, he voted for Win- 
field Scott. From 1858 to 1884 be voted with 
the llepublicans, and since 1884 has been 
in the ranks of the Prohibitionists; he is 
not a politician, and seldom takes any in- 
terest beyond casting his vote. Formerly 
a Baptist, he became a Methodist, and is 
now steward and trustee in the East 
Clarksfield Methodist Episcopal Church, 
of which his wife is also a member. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ter- 
williger are as follows: Anna E., Mrs. 
Frank McKenzie, of Brighton township, 
Lorain county ; Alma C, Mrs. George 
McDonald, of Clarksfield townsliip, Huron 
county; George L, who married Miss Stella 
Cowie, of Brigliton, Lorain county (they 
reside on one of the farms). Mr. Ter- 
willicrer is the owner of two farms, both of. 
which are cultivated and improved to the 
highest extent. 



YRUS T. KING, D. D. S., a leader 
in his profession, and a popular 
member of the Northern Ohio Den- 
tal Association, was born in Oswego 
county, N. Y., in 1849. 

Leonard King, his father, who was a 
iiative of Rhode Island, when a young man 
migrated to New York, whence in after 
years he proceeded to Huron county, Ohio. 
His wife, Julia (Tiirney) King, to whom he 
was married in Oswego county, N. Y., was 
a native of Connecticut. Of their three 
children, Warner A. is a dentist of May- 
ville, Ohio; diaries D. is a missionary of 
the Baptist Church in India, and Cyrus 
T. is the subject of this sketch. 

Cyrus T. King came to Ohio M'itb the 
family when he was six years old. Re- 
ceiving a practical education in the schools 
of liis district in Huron county, he com- 
pleted a literary course at Granville, Ohio, 
studied dentistry under Dr. Terry, of Nor- 
walk, Ohio, and commenced the practice 
of that profession. Later he attended the 
(/incinnati Dental College, took the prize 



UUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



277 



for the best itieclianical work, graduated 
from the Dental School in 1882, and re- 
sumed practice at New London. His 
patients come from a wide district, for his 
work is appreciated, and his name is well 
and favorably known in connection with 
the profession. 

In 1873 Dr. King married Miss Addie 
Knowlton, and three children were born to 
them, namely: Harry L., Vinton and Ida. 
Politically our subject is a Proliibitionist, 
in relitiious faith a member of the M. E. 
Church, and in Society aiiiliation he is 
a Royal Arch Mason, well advanced in the 
work of the Chapter. As before stated, he 
is a member of the Northern Ohio Dental 
Association, and he is as much esteemed 
by his confreres as he is by his neighbors 
and patients. In municipal affairs he is a 
member of the board of health of New 
London, and his knowledge has been of in- 
estimable value in the administration of 
that department of local goverment. He 
has made his own way through life, and 
may be classed among the self-made men 
of Ohio. 



OLOMON SILLIMAN, a worthy 
member of the Sillitnan family of 
Fairfield county, Conn., is a grand- 
son of Justus and Rebecca Silliman. 
Isaac Silliman, father of subject, was 
born in 1792, in Fairfield county. Conn., 
was reared on his father's farm, and re- 
ceived his education in the school of the 
settlement at Weston, Fairfield county. 
On arriving at man's estate, he married 
Abby Barlow, also a native of that county, 
and to them were born three children, 
namely: Polly, Catherine and Solomon, 
of whom Solomon is the sole survivor. 
The mother died about 1826, and the father 
in 1840, leaving to his children a small but 
valuable farm. 

Solomon Silliman was born in Fairfield 
county. Conn., July 26, 1824, lost his 
mother when eigliteen months old, and at 
the age of six years was placed in charge 



of Isaac Sherwood, a very extensive farmer 
of Herkimer county, N. Y. With him he 
remained until 1840, when Mr. Sherwood 
was killed by a falling tree. The youth 
was then hired by George Sherwood as a 
farm hand, the money consideration being 
fifty dollars for seven months. Complet- 
ing the contract, he attended school during 
the winter months, and worked for his 
brother-in-law during the other seasons, 
the wages being eight dollars per month, 
which in 1842 was increased to nine dol- 
lars. In the fall of 1843, he migrated 
to Ohio, locating in Fairfield township, 
Huron county, and found employment at 
ten dollars per month, with his cousin 
George Silliman. A short time after, he 
purchased a piece of wild land in Ripley 
township, Huron county, and with his 
trusty axe began the task of clearing 
away the forest. For three or four years 
he labored to create a farm out of the 
wilderness, and by 1850, had succeeded 
beyond his highest expectations. 

Mr. Silliman's marriage with Lucinda 
Peck, daughter of Isaac Peck, a promi- 
nent farmer of Danube, Herkimer Co., 
N. Y., took place April 21, 1850. They 
began housekeeping on the new farm, 
where were born to them four children, 
namely: George B.. Emma L., Hattie L., 
and Charles H., all of whom are now liv- 
ing, liow these early settlers succeeded 
is told by the fact that Mr. Silliman be- 
came the possessor of 650 acres of land 
clear of incumbrance. In the purchase of 
this large tract of fertile Ohio land, the 
owner did not incur one dollar of debt, pay- 
ing for each extension of his farm as it was 
made, besides laying by considerable 
money. To each of his children he gave 
a good farm. George B. resides near tiie 
old home, and is married to Ada Long, of 
New Haven, Ohio; Emma L. is the wife of 
J. Quincy Adams, of North Fairfield, Ohio; 
Hattie L. is the wife of Edwin C. Wood- 
worth, of North Fairfield, Ohio; Charles 
H. married Emma Kurtz, of New Haven, 
Ohio, and resides on the old homestead. 



278 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Mr. Silliman, having retired from farm 
life, has purchased a home in Plymouth, 
Huron Co., Oliio, where he now resides. 
The reputation of the father as a bread 
winner, and a man who liewed a magnifi- 
cent property out of tlie forest, honors his 
children, and the history of his life en- 
courages industry in the field. 



JS. WHITE, Norwalk. The subject 
of this sketch disclaims the possession 
of any qualities that entitle him to 
the mention which his friends believe 
should be made of him; yet it is in no 
spirit of adulation when it is said of him 
that his life is illustrative of the success 
that attends honest, well-directed endeavor, 
industry, and conscientious adherence to 
duty. 

Mr. White's grandfather, Jonathan S., 
and father, John C. White, natives of New 
York State, came to Ohio in 1829, set- 
tling on a farm near Mansfield. The last- 
named married Xancy A. Taylor, in 1840, 
after which they came to Huron county, 
settling in Ripley township, where, on a 
piece of laud entirely covered by the na- 
tive forest, they built a log cabin, and 
commenced housekeeping in true pioneer 
fashion. 

Here J. S. White was born in 1844, and 
here followed the hard routine of farm 
life from the time he was old enough until 
grown to manhood. In the early fall of 
1862 the One Hundred and First liegi- 
ment, O. Y. I., was formed. Company C 
being for the most part made up of re- 
cruits from Ripley and Greenwich town- 
ships, Huron county, and our subject was 
one of the "boys" who enlisted in its 
ranks. In August the regiment went into 
camp at Monroeville, Ohio, and although 
Mr. White had enlisted in good faith, ex- 
pecting to be a soldier and do soldier's 
duty, he was doomed to disappointment, 
for when he came before the medical ex- 
aminers, he was rejected as being too 



slender to stand the marches and hardsJiips 
incident to war. So, with a heavy heart, 
homeward he trod his lonely way. But 
conscious that he must do something for 
his country, he subsequently joined an in- 
dependent company, and in 1864, through 
the call of Gov. Brough, he had the satis- 
faction of going South and doing duty as 
a soldier of the One Hundred and Sixty- 
sixth O. V. I. 

The educational advantages of Mr. 
White's boyhood days commenced in a log 
schoolhouse, the expenses of which school 
were defrayed by private subscription; but 
he was soon enabled to avail himself ot 
the free schools, summer and winter, until 
such time as his services were re<pi)red on 
the farm. He also enjoyed a few terms ot 
select school, and, being taught by compe- 
tent teachers, he so far mastered the com- 
mon branches that he became a teacher, in 
turn, and for several winters successfully 
tanght young minds how to procure an 
education. 

In 1869 Mr. White married Marietta 
E. Barre, and they settled down to agri- 
cultural pursuits on a small farm adjoin- 
ing that of his father. Here they toiled, 
enjoying the fruits of their labor and re- 
spect of their neighbors until, in 1887, 
they moved to the city of Norwalk, where 
they have formed the acquaintance of 
many new friends to add to the list of old 
ones so dear to them. The children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. White are James Edgar, 
Blanche and John Gaylord, all at home. 

Mr. White is one of those men to whom 
the trite term "self-made" is appropriately 
applied. Though lacking the advantages 
of a higher education in college, yet he has 
attained much of that most valuable edu- 
cation of all which comes from observa- 
tion, experience and general reading of 
books. He has made for himself a char- 
acter and reputation that place him in the 
highest regard of the people who know 
him best. The feeling of confidence in 
his judgment and probity is attested by 
the fact that he has not only been called 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



281 



upon to serve in offices of trust in the 
towtisliip that was so long his home, but 
has been chosen to fill one of the most im- 
portant offices in the county. In the year 
1886 he was elected county auditor, tak- 
ing his seat in September, 1887; was re- 
elected in 1889, and now (in 1893) is 
serving out the last of his second term to 
the satisfaction of all parties ; and when he 
retires into private life it will be with the 
satisfaction that he has served the people 
of the county in a manner that will elicit 
naught but favorable comment. 

Politically Mr. White has always been a 
Republican, and has been an unswerving 
supporter of the cause which that organi- 
zation espoused. 



AMUEL A. WARD, son of Samuel 
and Ezuba (Bailey) Ward, of Oneida 
county, N. Y., was born March 18, 
1832, in Fitchville township. 
Samuel Ward was born in 1790, and was 
reared on his father's farm in Oneida 
county, N. Y. He married Ezuim Bailey, 
who was born in that county in 1793, and 
to their marriage were thirteen children — 
nine born in New York and four in Ohio, 
namely: Mary, who married Daniel Will- 
iams, died in Fitchville township; William, 
deceased in Michigan; Elizabeth (widow 
of (leorge Curry), residing in Henderson 
county, 111.; David, who died in Kentucky; 
Alpha, who also died at an adult age; Char- 
lotte, who was first married to John Jen- 
kins and subsequently to H. P. Starr, and 
died in Erie county, Ohio; Gurdon, who 
died in Michigan; James, who died in 
Bronson township, Huron county, and 
Martha, who married Benjamin P'ilkins, 
and died in Fitchville townsliip; the chil- 
dren born in Ohio are Samuel A., of whom 
a sketch follows; Amos, member of a 
Michigan Cavalry Regiment, who died in 
the South during the war; Lucy, deceased 
in infancy, and Adda, wife of A. H. Fox, 
of Wakeman township, Huron county. 



About 1830 or '31 Samuel Ward and his 
family settled in Ohio. The journey from 
Oneida county, ^. Y., was made by river, 
canal and lake boats to the lake port, and 
thence by wagon to Fitchville township. 
Here he purchased 200 acres of wild land 
at tliree dollars per acre, and entered at 
once on its improvement, leaving his fam- 
ily at his brother's house until the rude 
pioneer cabin would be ready to shelter 
them. Mr. Ward subsequently exchanged 
this property for another tract, on which 
lie resided until his death, in 1864. His 
widow died in 1873, and their remains lie 
in Fitchville cemetery. Mr. Ward ex- 
perienced all the vicissitudes of pioneer 
life, conquered every difficulty and won a 
very high position among the pioneers of 
Fitchville. In politics at first a Democrat, 
the Free-soil principles of 1848 appealed 
to his ideas and claimed his support. In 
1856 he became a Republican, and gave 
his adhesion to the new party until his 
death. He and his wife were members of 
the Congregational Church. 

Samuel A. AVard attended a school 
taught by Elder Hall, for a few months 
each year, and while yet a boy worked on 
the home place and became a valuable 
farm hand. During his youth he moved 
to Livingston county, Mich., where he 
earned good pay, residing there until 1853, 
when he returned to Ohio. On October 
16, 1853, lie was married to Weltha Fil- 
kiris, who was born March 18, 1831, at 
Stockton, Chautauqua Co., New York. 

John S. Filkins, father of Mrs. Ward, 
came with his wife and seven children from 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., in March, 1832, 
the journey, part of the way, being made 
in a sleigh. He purchased fifty acres of 
wild land in North Fitchville, paying one 
dollar and fifty cents per acre. His family 
stayed with his wife's father, Zadok Weeks, 
until such time as he could clear a place 
and build a log cabin. He iiad much to 
contend against, and many difficulties to 
surmount in the daily struggle to provide 
for the family; but he bravely stood up 



282 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



against all adverse circumstances. He had 
to ioiirney to Wooster, a distance of fifty 
miles, to buy flonr, and orj one occasion he 
walked the entire distance in order to make 
a purchase of iit'ty pounds of wool; and 
after getting it carded into rolls and placed 
in a sack, he shouldered his burden and 
walked home! His wife spun this wool 
into yarn, which in turn she wove into 
cloth wherewith she made garments for the 
family- She died of cholera in 1834, leaving 
a sorrowing husband with eight children 
on his hands, the eldest being a girl of 
thirteen summers, who with her father's 
help kept the family together two years. 
()f these eight children six are still living 
besides Mrs. Samuel A. Ward, and a brief 
record of them is as follows: Mrs. A. E. 
Vandusen resides in Milan, Ohio; A. J. 
Fiikins and Mrs. M. C. Brown are in Wis- 
consin; Mrs. P. A. Whitsell resides in Cen- 
terville, Iowa; B. Fiikins lives in Fitch- 
viUe. Ohio; W. W. Fiikins in 1852 set 
out for California by the overland route, 
enduring many hardships on the trip; he 
returned to his old home in 1876 for a 
visit, and he is now a resident of Port- 
land, Oregon. The mother of these, as 
was also her hiisband, was a member of 
the Baptist Church. In 1836 Mr. Fiikins 
married Miss Betsy Lyon, who died in 
184'J, leaving three children, all since de- 
ceased, to wit: Mrs. Eliza J. Prosser, who 
died in Hartland, Ohio, in 1864; Mrs. 
Ellen A. Williams, who died in St. Paul, 
Minn., in 1877; and Mrs. Julia E. Doane, 
who died in Hartland, Ohio, in 1873. By 
his third marriage Mr. Fiikins had three 
children, viz.: S. M. and David A., both 
engineers on the " Big Four Road," and 
residents of Cleveland, Ohio; and Mrs. O. 
F. Fish, living in Florida, her husband 
being also a railroad engineer. In 1867 
S. A. Fiikins went to California, returning 
to Fitchville in 1872, soon after which, in 
the same year, he met with an accident at 
a barn raising which caused his death. 

The children born to Samuel A. and 
Weltha Ward are as follows: Eva B., born 



October 13, 1854, died October 7, 1880; 
Adalbert, born June 27, 1856, a farmer of 
Fitchville township; Carrie A., born March 
15, 1858, died November 16,1860; Albert 
E., born July 16, 1862, a fanner of Fitch- 
ville township; and Blanche M., born May 
25, 1868, died August 13, 1881. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Wai-d 
took up their residence in the Ward home. 
and remained there until 1867, when they 
entered into possession of their present 
farm. Though now living a I'etired life, 
Mr. Ward still directs the management of 
the farm, which is worked by his sons. 
The property is a valuable one, and in its 
development the labor of Samuel A.Ward 
and the economical administration of Mrs. 
Ward have proved the most important 
factors. Politically he is a Republican, 
but he wastes but little time on politics, 
as his farm and stock interests claim his 
principal attention. Mrs. Ward is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



d[ L. HELLER, a prominent farmer 
citizen of Richmond township, was 
_^1 born March 27, 1842, in Northamp- 
ton county, Penn., a son of Abraham 
Heller, a native of Northampton county, 
Pennsylvania. 

Abraham Heller married Susan Ann 
Bower, by whom he had children as fol- 
lows: Josiah. deceased in Luzerne county, 
Penn.; William H.. of Ada, Ohio; a 
daughter that died when two years old; 
Maria, who married James Parks, and 
died in Ohio; Jacob L.. subject of this 
memoir; and Benjamin F., who enlisted 
in 1864 in Company C, Forty-ninth Regi- 
ment 0. V. I., and was killed Decemfier 
16, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn., where he 
was buried in the National cemetery. 
Abraham Heller was born and reared in a 
hotel, and conducted a hostelry for many 
years in Northampton county, Penn. He 
had been unfortunate in business, and the 
worry over his affairs hastened his death, 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



283 



which occurred in 18 — in Pennsylvania. 
He was a mnch-respected citizen. In 
politics he was a member of the Demo- 
cratic party. After the deatli of the father 
the widow kept tlie children together; she 
was subsequently married, in Pennsyl- 
vania, to David Mascho, a farmer, and in 
185U the family came westward to Ohio, 
locating in tiie village of Sulpliur Springs, 
Crawford county, where tliey followed 
farming and resided for some years. Mr. 
Maschodiedin 1882; his widow now makes 
her home at Ada, Hardin Co., Ohio. 

J. L. Heller received a common-school 
education, was reared to farm life, and 
when seventeen years old came to Ohio, as 
before stated. Here he commenced to 
learn harness-making with George Co.\, 
serving as an apprentice to that trade for 
about six months, or until liis enlistment 
in tiie Civil war. On August 15, 1861, 
at Sulphur Springs, Ohio, he joined Com- 
pany C, Forty-ninth Regiment O. V. L, 
Col. William H. Gibson, and served with 
his command to the close of the strua'O'le. 
He was then detailed with the Fourth 
Army Corps, which was ordered to Texas, 
where he served five months, and was dis- 
charged November 30, 1865, at Victoria, 
Texas, tliough he did not reach home till 
January 1, 1866. His brother, William 
H., was a member of the same regiment, 
the same company as himself, serving at 
the same time and for the same period. 

On August 30, 1866, Mr. Heller was 
married to Uretsa Briggs, who was born 
February 27, 1846, in Crawford county, 
Ohio, daughter of Dr. G. A. and Olive 
(Blowers) Briggs, and to this union have 
come three children, viz.: Lillie M., now 
Mrs. Edison Wilcox, of Henry county, 
Ohio; Harry A., of Tiffin, Oiiio, and Hat- 
tie M., at home. After marriage our 
subject located on his present place, where 
he has since continuously resided, engaged 
in general farming. In his political rela- 
tions he is a Republican, is one of the 
local counselors and advisers of his party, 
and has served creditably as township 



trustee and in various other positions. In 
religious connection Mr. and Mrs. Heller 
are members of the Methodist Protestant 
Church, in which he has been steward and 
a teacher in the Sunday-school. He is a 
prominent citizen and successful farmer, 
and takes an active interest in the welfare 
of the community in which he resides. 
Mr. Heller has traveled considerably, and 
has been all over the West. 



llV/lfRS. LOUISA BOGARDUS, who 

I VI was born November 12, 1819, in 

I L Bly'"outh, Luzerne Co., Penn., is 

■fj a daughter of Truman and Clarissa 

(Fuller) Atherton, and widow of 

the late Hon. Evert Bogardus. 

Hon. Evert Bogardus was a son of Jacob 
B. Bogardus, whose father (also named 
Jacob) was an extensive wholesale mer- 
chant and importer, of New York, being a 
representative of a very wealthy and aristo- 
cratic family. 

Jacob B. Bogardus was born November 
24, 1785, and was reared in East Haddam, 
Conn., where he grew to manhood and 
was married about 1807 to Gertrude 
Mosely, a native of the same place, whose 
father, Jonathan Mosely, served six- 
teen years in Congress. Mr. Bogardus 
followed bookkeeping for some time, 
then engaged in mercantile business, and 
spent several years in the West. He died 
November 24, 1868, at the home of iiis son 
in Ridgefield township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
Hon. Evert Bogardus was born Sep- 
tember 15, 1813, in Lehman, Luzerne Co., 
Penn., and, while receiving but a sub- 
scription-school education, made the best 
possible use of every opportunity. When 
fifteen years old he was apprenticed to a 
saddler in New York, but not liking the 
business, he went to Philadelphia. He 
then determined to secure a more general 
education, and after spending a short time 
in Kalamazoo, Mich., he followed book- 
keeping in Williamsport, Penn. On No- 



284 



UURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



veiiiber 17, 1840, lie was united in mar- 
riage with Louisa Atlierton, and resided 
on a farm in Huntsville, Luzerne Co., 
Penn., for seven years, then located at 
Wilkes-Barre, same State, where he fol- 
lowed a commission business along the 
canal. In 185G he came to Norwalk, 
Huron Co., Ohio, and in the spring of 
1S57 entered into partnership with a 
brother-in-law. He tiien purchased land 
in Ridgetield township, Huron county, and 
devoted his attention for a time to agricul- 
tural pursuits. In 1860 he opened a store 
in Nortli Monroeville, Huron county, 
whicli he sold in 1881, and afterward lived 
in retirement. Evert Bogardus was a 
Democrat prior to the war, at which time, 
however, he joined the Republican party, 
serving in various township and county 
utHces. He represented Huron county for 
four years in the State Legislature at Co- 
lumbus, and served six years as county 
commissioner. In religious faith he and 
his wife were zealous members of tlie Con- 
gregational Church at North Monroeville, 
Huron county. They were the parents of 
two children, William P., a hardware 
merchant of Mount Yernon, Ohio, and 
Emma G., deceased wife of H. C. Read. 
The father died January 26, 1892, and was 
buried in the North Monroeville cemetery. 
After his death his widow moved to Mount 
Vernon, Ohio, where she resides near her 
sfni, enjoying the society of many friends. 




RZA B. GILSON, Se., one of the 
most prominent of Huron county's 
^ representative farmer citizens, and 
one of the most prosperous, de- 
serves more than a passing notice 
in this work. 

The first of the family to come to 
America was his great-grandfather, wlio 
arrived in New York from Ireland about 
the middle of the eighteenth century. He 
was one of two brothers, the other remain- 
ing in Ireland. The one who emigrated 



settled in Saratoga county, N. Y., and 
there reared a family of thirteen children, 
of whom one, named Joel, was born about 
1750. The latter was a lifelong farmer in 
Saratoga, his native county, and in con- 
nection operated a sawmill. He was a 
collector, in the service of the United 
States Government, of Continental money, 
and had, it is alleged, in his possession the 
sum of forty-two thousand, eight hundred 
and forty dollars worth of that scrip when 
Congress repudiated the payment of same, 
and he thereby lost all he had. In his 
political affiliations lie was first a Federal- 
ist, later a Whig, and he was a man of 
considerable prominence in iiis section, 
straightforward in his dealings, and highly 
respected. He died in 1820. His wnfe 
was a Miss Adams, of Saratoga county, 
N. Y.,and they had a family of seven sons 
and three daughters, named as follows: 
Norman, Eli, Jonas, Joel, John, Asa, 
Naum, Mary, Anna and Rhoda, all of 
whom lived to a ripe old age, and are all 
now deceased. 

Naura Gilson, father of the subject of 
this sketch, was born April 27, 1793, in 
Saratoga county, N. Y., and received but 
a limited education at the subscription 
schools of the period, but by hard study at 
home he became quite a proficient scholar. 
In 1817 he came to Ohio, walking the 
entire distance to Norwich township, 
Huron county, and hewed out for himself 
a home in the dense forest. He built 
there the first known log house in the 
towrtship to be used as a residence; put up 
the first pair of rafters, and made the first 
plow and harrow ever used in the town- 
ship. At this time Indians and wild ani- 
mals, including game of all kinds, were 
numerous. He served in the war of 1812. 
as did also his six lirothers and father. 
His wife was Miss Sally Ormes, of North- 
umberland county, Mass., a daughter of 
Chauncy Ormes, a capitalist of that 
section, and the children born to them 
were Giles J., deceased; Marilla D. 
Spaulding and Sarah A. Halliday, both 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



285 



deceased; Eugenia M., now Mrs. Abrara 
DeGroflF, of Grand Ledge, Midi.; Arza B., 
subject of sketch; Elon W., of Norwalk, 
Huron cnnnty, an ex-treasurer of the 
county; and Ardelia A., now Mrs. S. W. 
Owen, of Norwalk, Ohio. Tiie fatlier 
died in 1864, mourned by all who knew 
him. He was a man of ability and con- 
siderable business tact. At one time he 
was land-agent for John W. Allen, of 
Cleveland, who owned a large tract of land 
in Huron county; was township clerk 
thirteen years, and postmaster at North 
Norwich eighteen years, being the first 
postmaster in I^orwich township He 
entertained at his house the first minister 
that came to the township, and was con- 
verted by him on the occasion of his first 
visit, bein» received into the fold of the 
M. E. t'hurch. Politically he was origin- 
ally a Whig, afterward, on the t'urTnation 
of the party, a stanch Republican. 

A. B. Gilson, the subject proper of 
these lines, was born April 23, 1827, on 
the farm whereon he now lives in Norwich 
township. He received a fair education 
at the public schools of the locality, and, 
being an apt scholar and close student, 
soon fitted himself for the position of 

teacher. At the age of eighteen he com- 
es o 

menced teaching school, and continued 
in that profession fourteen years; he also 
taught vocal music tiiirty-five years. In 
1863 he raised a company of 115 men, and 
was elected captain of Company E. Sixty- 
third Eegiment O. N. G. On May 2, 
1864, this regiment was called upon by 
the General Government for one hundred 
days service, and on that day he was 
chosen as major. On arriving at Camp 
Taylor, Cleveland, this regiment was 
joined by the Seventy-ninth Battalion 
O. N. G. from Medina county, Ohio, and 
was then known as the One Hundred and 
Sixty-sixth O. V. I., the field officers of 
which were Harrison G. Blake, Col.; Ran- 
dolph Eastman, Lt. Col.; and Arza B. 
Gilson, Major. He served the regiment 
in this capacity until the twelfth of May, 



1804, when by reason of an attack of 
pneumonia he was relieved from duty, and 
returned home. He was mustered out of 
the regiment September 9, following, at 
Cleveland, Oiiio. He then engaged in 
farming, in which he has met with well- 
merited success, now owning 228 acres of 
land, besides property in Chicago, Ohio. 

On February 8, 1860, Mr. Gilson mar- 
ried Miss Eliza A. Baker, of Medina 
county, Ohio, a daughter of Chauncy 
Baker, and two children have been born to 
them: Aida Belle, who was a pupil of 
the Conservatory of Music at Cleveland, 
Ohio, married November 22, 1893, to 
John M. Elder; and Arza Baker, at home 
and at school. Our subject, in addition 
to his many other interests, is a notary 
public, and pension attorney, in which 
capacity he enjoys a large practice, cover- 
ing several States. 



THADDEUS S. FANCHER, farmer 
and stock grower of Greenwich 
township, was born April 8, 1809, 
in Ulster county, N. Y., a son of 
Thaddeus Fancher, a native of Eng- 
land, where he was born in 1777, and where 
he learned the harness maker's trade. 

Emigrating to the United States, Thad- 
deus Fancher found a home near Stamford, 
Conn., followed his trade, and there mar- 
ried Sally Mead, a daughter of Gen. Mead, 
of Revolutionary fame. To that marriage 
twelve children wei-e born, namely: Mary, 
('aroline, Daniel, Mead, Eliza, Thaddeus 
S., Amy, William, Sarah, Mathew, Will- 
iam and Varney P., of whom Sarah, Mathew 
and Varney P. were born in Huron county. 
About the year 1808 the family moved 
from Connecticut to Ulster county, N. Y., 
where the father followed his trade until 
the war of 1812 called all loyal men to 
arms. Mr. Fancher was drawn into the 
maelstrom, and took up arms against the 
troops of his native land. After the war 
he resumed his trade, and resided with his 



286 



UUEOiir COUXTT, OHIO. 



family in Ulster county until 1815, when 
lie set out on the long journey to Huron 
county, Ohio, to see for himself whether 
the olowiiio- reports about the "Firelands" 
were reliable. The journey was made on 
foot, and satisfied Mr. Faiicher that the 
land was all that was claimed for it, how- 
ever wild the country. He returned to 
Ulster county, but in 1819 revisited Ohio, 
selected a tract in Greenwich township, 
Huron county, and went home to prepare 
for the removal of his family to a new 
home in a new land. In November, 1820, 
the family started on the journey to Ohio, 
a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen with a 
horse for leader beiiio; used during the 
long trip, which occupied live weeks and 
four days. When passing through Cleve- 
land onl^' eight huts marked the site of 
that now prosperous city, and along the 
route via Oberlin and Fitchville Caucasian 
life was scarce indeed. On Christmas Eve, 
1820, the family found shelter in a cabin 
occupied by a man named Waters. On 
Christmas Day they arrived in Greenwich 
township, and took possession of an old 
hut, which stood on the farm now owned 
by C. A. Sutton. Within a day or so 
they had a visit from David Briggs, their 
first neighbor, who lived about two miles 
away, and in the walk over that short dis- 
tance he killed seven deer. He informed 
the new comers of his feat, and with Mr. 
Fancher's help gathered in the game and 
insured to his new friends enough meat to 
supply the table for the winter. The father 
died December 26, 1854, the mother May 
1, 1857. He was truly one of the pio- 
neers of northern Ohio, was a leading 
Whig of this section, and though not an 
adherent of the Democratic party the men 
of that faction, who knew him, admired 
him for his sincerity and honesty of 
purpose. 

Thaddeus S. Fancher came to Ohio with 
his parents wdien eleven years old. There 
were no schools in Huron county for six 
years after his arrival, so that the boy was 
compelled to tramp three miles to and fro 



daily, in winter, to a school which had 
been recently established in Ruggles town- 
ship, Ashland county. He grew to man- 
hood on the home farm, in the improve- 
ment of which he assisted materially. On 
September 8, 1833, he married Annie M. 
Chapman, of Ilichland county, who was 
born at Simsbury, Conn., October 8, 1817, 
and came to Richmond county with her 
parents, Cyrus and Ciiloe (Case) Cliapman, 
in 1819. The children born to them are 
named as follows: Reuben, of Lake county, 
Ind., engaged in farming, real estate and 
insurance; Louisa. Mrs. Albert Flint, of Em- 
poria, Kans.; Lavina, widow of Warren, 

of Chicago; Varney P., who served in the 
One Hundred and Second O. V. I., suf- 
fered the horrors of Libby Prison and lost 
his health, dying in Missouri, after the 
war; Salathiel, a real-estate man in Kansas 
City; Lewis, also a resident of Kansas 
City; George, a carpenter, residing at 
home; Maria, Mrs. William Dennison, of 
Topeka, Kans.; Stephen, deceased when 
six months old; Orlando, who died when 
three years old; Seniore, an attorney at 
Crown Point, Ind., and Luella, Mrs. Alva 
Tubbs, of Osawatomie, Kans. In Septem- 
ber, 1833, our subject settled on part of 
his present farm, increasing the area of his 
lands gradually, until his large estate was 
formed. In 1859 fire destroyed his build- 
ings and much farm produce; insurance 
had expired five or six days before, so that 
he suffered total loss. He found himself 
one thousand seven hundred dollars in 
debt, but going to work with redoubled 
energy he reached the front again, and his 
progress has since been unchecked. He 
provided well for his children, and to-day 
enjoys the comforts which such a man 
should have. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fancher are the oldest 
married couple in Huron county. They 
well remember the days when the bear, 
wolf and deer were ordinary visitors, and 
when deer would come to browse on the 
leaves of the fallen trees in the clearing. 
Indians in parties of thirty-five or forty 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



287 



often passed tlieir pioneer liome, e7i route 
to tlie lumtinir iields of central Ohio. For- 
merly a Whig, and a Republican since 
1S5(), he has always been faithful to his 
party, and he and his wife have been mem- 
bers of the Methodist Cliurch forty years. 
Both are identified with the pioneer his- 
tory of northern Ohio, and are honored by 
all, old and young, who know them. 



DeWITT C. NORTON was born De- 
cember 10, 1826, in Poultney, Yt., 
' a grandson of tSolomon Norton, who 

was born in Connecticut in 1757, 
and reared to farming, which he made a 
success. 

Grandfather Norton moved to Vermont 
when a young man, bought a farm and 
erected a saw and grist mill, all of which 
lie carried on lor some years. He was 
prosperous and became a very influential 
man. At the age of seventy-five he re- 
tired from active life, and with his wife 
(his third one) moved to the town of 
Shoreham, Vt., where he passed the re- 
mainder of his days. He was first mar- 
ried, in 1774, to Miss Sarah Re.xford, who 
was born in 1757 in Vermont, and they 
had thirteen children — seven sons and si.x 
daughters. 

James R. Norton, seventh child of Solo- 
mon Norton, was born in Poultney, Vt., 
in 1786, and was higidy educated; he at- 
tended one of the best eastern colleges, 
was a good classical scholar, a great reader, 
and was possessed of a most retentive 
memory. He married Miss Chloe Savage, 
of Granville, N. Y., a daughter of Solomon 
Savage, of the same place, and then em- 
barked in mercantile business in Poultney, 
in wliich lie continued until the passage of 
the Embargo Act, which ruined his busi- 
ness. He then commenced the trade of 
cooper, and worked at same in Poultney 
till 1834, in which year he came to Huron 
county, Ohio, and settling in Norwalk 
township bought a farm of thirty acres. 



He still continued at his trade here, while 
his sons farmed the place, and became 
quite prosperous, owning before his deatii 
147 acres of land. In politics he was a 
strong Republican, one of the counsellors 
and advisers of the party. Mr. and Mrs. 
James R. Norton were the parents of six 
children, viz.: Louisa, Charlotte L., Sarah, 
James H., DeWitt C. and Henry C. 

DeAVitt C. Norton at the age of eight 
years came with his father from Poultney, 
Vt., to Norwalk township. He received 
his education at the high school of Nor- 
walk, after which he taught school nine 
winters. In 1859 he was united in mar- 
riage with Sarah Henderson, daughter of 
Joseph Henderson, of Connecticut. After 
marriage he farmed with his fathei- until 
the death of the latter in 1872, when he 
bought his present farm, then of 147, now 

of 177 acres, and commenced the rearing 
... ~ ■ 

of fine sheep, an industry he continued in 

some years with good success, and he had 
the reputation of keeping the best sheep 
in the county. He has now on his farm 
several thorough-bred cattle. Mr. and 
Mrs. Norton were the parents of four chil- 
dren, viz.: Mary and Sarali L., both of 
whom died young; Horace H., working ot) 
his father's farm; and James P., a veteri- 
nary surgeon in Fulton, Mo. In politics 
our subject is a solid Republican, but has 
never sought office. 



ip? FORGE M. RYERSON was born 
I J, March 10, 1821, in Sussex county, 
\Jl\ N. J. His father, Peter Ryerson, 
^Ji follovved farming, and was also an 
extensive tanner and currier in that 
county. 

During the youth of George M. Ryer- 
son, his native county was surrounded by 
pioneer conditions of even a more decided 
character than he found existing in Huron 
county, Ohio, in later years. He received 
such an education as the subscription 
schools of Sussex county afforded, and then 



288 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



learned the carpenter's trade, at which he 
worked continuously until some six or eight 
years after coming to Ohio in 1850. On 
January 14, 1847, he was united in mar- 
riajre with Miss Sarah C. Edsall, a native 
of Sussex county, N. J., and to them the 
follovving named children were born: 
Elizabeth, who died in childhood; Sarah, 
born October 22, 1849, who married 
Charles H. Burg, of Paterson, N. J.; 
Price v., born November 6, 1851, a 
farmer of Greenfield township, Huron Co., 
Ohio; Edsall F., born August 12. 1853, 
in Huron county, also a farmer in the 
neighborhood; Esther P., born January 11, 
1856, wife of A. G. Roe, of Peru township; 
George E., a farmer of Fairfield township; 
Dora Elzie, married to Fred Mitchell, of 
Bronson township: Delno P., a farmer of 
Peru township; Kate, married to Free- 
man Mitchell, of Greenfield township; 
and Grace, the youngest child, who was 
married November 15, 1893, to Henry T. 
Graham, of Greenfield. The mother of 
tliis large family died July 4, 1877, aged 
fifty-three years, and was buried in Center 
cemetery with the rites of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which she was a 
member. On June 25, 1878, Mr. Ryer- 
son married, for his second wife, Misa 
Haunah Harrison, who was born February 
11, 1837, in Huntingdonshire, England, 
and came thence to Norwalk, Ohio, in 
1867. The children of this marriage are: 
Mabel B., born May 4, 1879, and Susie 
A., born August 28, 1880. 

In 1850 Mr. Ryerson, with his wife and 
two children, made the journey from New 
Jersey to this part of Ohio, where he 
rented a small tract of land. Later he 
purchased a larger tract in Peru township, 
where he now resides. A farmer and car- 
penter, he found work always waiting for 
his hands, and his industrious character 
did not permit a waste of time. A good 
farmer and a good mechanic, he filled the 
double role well, and accumulated a valu- 
able property. His children were all 
reared at home, and when each required 



aid in beginning life's journey, he was al- 
ways ready with will and means to assist. 
Up to the Buchanan regime Mr. Ryerson 
was a Democrat, but since that period he 
has been a Republican. He has held vari- 
ous township offices, and is thoroughly 
versed in the principles of govern meat, 
always taking a deep interest in the success 
of his party, particularly in the manage- 
ment of township and county affairs. He 
is a leading member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he has held 
several offices, and is one of its pillars and 
most liberal supporters. His wife is a 
member of the Baptist Church. The 
family are well and favorably known here, 
and Mr. Ryerson, himself, is held in the 
highest esteem. 



URI B. THOMAS, who has been a 
resident of Huron county since 1846, 
was born October 24, 1818, in 
Otsego county. New York. 
His parents, George and Adeline (Baker) 
Thomas, bestowed care un the training of 
their son, and gave him such education as 
the common district school afforded. At 
the age of eighteen years sickness com- 
pelled him to abandon study, and for the 
three following years little attention was 
given bv him to school matters. Con- 
valescent once more, he entered Clinton 
Institute, Clinton, N. Y., in May, 1840, 
the year he claims was the turning point 
in his life, and being a studious young- 
man learned quickly — grammar, algebra, 
chemistry, surveying, philosophy and the 
higher branches of mathematics, French 
and Latin being particularly suited to hitn. 
After a stay of four months and a half at 
Clinton, he contracted to teach the village 
school at Burlington Flats, the considera- 
tion being seventeen dollars per month. 
There were fifteen applicants for this posi- 
tion, which entailed the instruction and 
control of one hundred and five pupils. 
This, his first school, began November 1, 



$r". 





^ 




^^'^^ 



^V-:^^^2'-2:^y, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



291 



1840, and ended in March, 1841. His 
success as teacher was pronounced, so 
that wlien he established a select school in 
the same village, parents gave him a lib- 
eral support. For several years after Mr. 
Thomas conducted scliool, and also found 
time to attend Clinton Institute. In 1840 
he walked nine miles to attend the Whig 
convention at Utica, making the tow-path 
of the Chenango Canal his road to and fro; 
and in November of that year he cast his 
first vote for President of the United 
States. From 1840 to 1846 he wa.s steadily 
engaged in school work, and in April of 
the last named year he set out for Huron 
county, traveling via the Erie Canal and 
lake to Huron, Ohio, whence he proceeded 
to his destination in Greenwich township. 
His father owned a piece of partly im- 
proved land in that township, half of 
which tract (to the value of about five hun- 
dred dollars) he granted to his son, pro- 
vided the latter would clear and Improve 
the whole tract. Uri B. went to work 
earnestly, and though the condition of his 
health scarcely warranted such labor as the 
contract with his father demanded, yet his 
venture was attended with marked suc- 
cess. In the fall of 1846 lie purchased 
110 acres of wild land for five hundred and 
ten dollars, and gave his attention for 
three-fourths of each year to the iiqprove- 
uient of both tracts, being engaged in 
teaching school here during the winter 
terms. 

On April 16, 1849, Mr. Thomas mar- 
ried Ellen R. McOmber, a native of Cas- 
tleton, Vt., born May 21, 1829. In 1848 
a sister of this lady, by name Charlotte, 
visited Greenwich township; she was one 
of a party going through the country, 
lecturing on mnemonics, or the science of 
n)en}orv, and gave an exhibition in the 
school, then conducted by Mr. Thomas. 
She organized a class there, which her 
sister was assigned to teach, and in this 
way Mr. Thomas became acquainted with 
her. They were married at the old '• Neil 
House," Columbus, Ohio, by a Universal- 
is 



ist preacher, Rev. N. Doolittle, and to this 
union were born the following named chil- 
dren: Orr U., residing at home; George 
T., probate judge of Huron county; Dora 
E., who died young; a son who died in in- 
fancy; and Luna A., who died young. 
Mrs. Ellen R. Tliomas died March 25, 
1861, and was buried in Fitchville ceme- 
tery. On February 17, 1864, his marriage 
with Myra B. Stowe, a native of Erie 
county, Oliio, took place, and to them were 
born: Walter S., who died in youth, and 
Myra A., Mrs. Lewis A. Akelcy, a pro- 
fessor in the University of South Dakota, 
at Vermillion. 

After his first marriage our subject 
established his home on the old place 
where he had resided since 1846, and con- 
tinued there until 1864, when he moved 
to his present residence. For a number 
of years he w'as recognized as a leading 
agriculturist, stock grower and wool dealer, 
in the latter capacity buying wool through- 
out northern Ohio. For over two years 
he has led a semi-retired life, leavinu; his 
lands and the management of the estate in 
the hands of his eldest son. Mr. Tliomas 
was a Den^ocrat until 1852. In 1848 he 
voted the Free-soil ticket, and in 1856 
voted the Republican ticket. He was a 
justice of the peace for many years, but 
stoutly refused other offices, even with- 
drawing his name when presented in con- 
vention of his party for representative in 
the Legislature. He is thoroughly versed 
in the political history of the United 
States, and well informed on a great num- 
ber of subjects. Possessing a good mem- 
ory and the gift of language, he is a fluent, 
intelligible speaker. Some two years ago 
he sustained injuries from a runaway team, 
which came near making him a cripple for 
life, and to his own knowledge of anatomy, 
more than to any other source, must be 
credited his recovery. 

On August 29, 1873, was organized a 
corporate company, under the title of 
" The Greenwich Land and Building Asso- 
ciation," having purchased the farm of 



2^2 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



121. 44 acres where Greenwicli now stands, 
for the purpose of growing the town. The 
town of Greenwich liad in 1873 a popula- 
tion of fifty within a radius of iBO rods 
from the center of the C. 0. C. & I. K K. 
tracks on Main street. In 1878 tlie popu- 
tation of Greenwicli, within the same 
radius, was over 1,000. Mr. Thomas iiav- 
ing taken stock in said Association, at the 
election of officers in September, 1873, he 
was elected its president; re-elected to that 
position annually to date, and the manage- 
ment has been largely under his control. 



El THAN C. LOVELL, a large land- 
owner of Greenfield township, was 
I born here June 17, 1819, where his 

parents, David and Mary Chilcott 
Lovell, were early pioneers. 

David Lovell was born in 1763, in 
Baltimore county, Md., which, according 
to Bancroft, was " the only place in the 
wide world where religious liberty found 
a home." His ancestors came from Elng- 
land, but whether with the Maryland or 
Virginia colonists is not recorded. He was 
reared on the home farm in his native 
county, I'eceived an education in the school 
of his district, and when yet a young man 
removed to Huntingdon county, Penn. 
There he married Mary Chilcott, also a 
native of Baltimore county, Md., and they 
resided in Trough Creek Valley until the 
fall of 1815, when he sold his farm and jour- 
neyed across the mountains with his wife 
and four children. He made a short stay 
at the home of a relative in Knox county, 
Ohio, but the reputation of the "Firelands" 
had penetrated to the wilderness of Knox 
county, and soon the family started on the 
journey to. Huron county. Arriving here 
Mr. Lovell entered a large tract of land in 
Greenfield township, butdidnot buildanew 
cabin immediately, preferring the shelter 
which the cabin of an earlier settler 
afforded until he could select a favorable 
site for a iionie. His land purchases were 



not confined to Greenfield township, so 
that he carried all he could handle. At 
this critical time the buyer of the farm in 
Himtingdon county, Penn., failed to pay 
for it, and ownership had to be resumed 
by Mr. Lovell. This circumstance com- 
pelled him to sell, not only the old farm 
at a sacrifice, but also some of his lands in 
Ohio. After this troublesome deal was con - 
eluded, he located on tiie farm where Ethan 
C. Lovell now resides, and gave all his at- 
tention to agriculture until his death, which 
occurred November 16, 1830. His widow 
died July 14, 1848, and both are interred in 
Greenfield township. Politically he was 
a Democrat, and religiously a member of 
the Close Communion Baptist Church. 
The record of their children is as follows: 
Ruth, born March 8, 1804, died February 
17, 1818, while her parents were visiting in 
Pennsylvania, and was the first person in- 
terred in Greenfield cemetery; Martha, 
born November 2, 1806, is the deceased 
wife of Edward H. Lawther, of Green- 
field township; Kachel, born August 6, 
1809, is the deceased wife of Phineas K. 
Guthrie; Mary, born September 10, 1811, 
died November 6, 1820; Eleanor, born 
August 29, 1815, is the deceased wife of 
Nehemiah Brooks; Ethan C. is the sub- 
ject of this sketch. 

Ethan C Lovell was born and reared on 
the farm where he now resides, and his 
education was such as the primitive schools 
of that period aflbrded; geograpiiy was 
the boy's favorite study. After the death 
of his father his mother assumed charge of 
the farm, and theson worked thereon. When 
seventeen or eighteen years old he took 
charge of the home farm of fifty acres, 
and also of a farm of sixty acres in Peru 
township, and carried both on with marked 
success. He was married December 30, 
1854, to Martha McKelvey, who was born 
March 31, 1831, at Plymouth, Ohio. Her 
grandfather, William McKelvey, was a 
soldier in the Bevolutionary war. In 
1811 he came to the "Firelands" of Ohio, 
and settled in Greenfield township, Huron 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



293 



county; liut .some time afterward, when 
the news of Hull's treachery and the 
capitulation of Detroit was heralded 
through the settlements, William McKel- 
Tey removed his family to Trumbull 
county, and he and his son William joined 
the army. When peace was declared they 
returned to Greenfield, Huron county. 
Matthew McKelvey, father of Mrs. Lovell, 
was born January 30, 1791, in Westmore- 
land county, Penn. He married Nancy 
Adams, who was born July 30, 1798, at 
Marlboro, Vt., a daughter of Bildad 
Adams, an early settler of Huron county, 
Ohio. Matthew McKelvey opened a 
general store near Greentield Center; the 
first dry-goods store at Plymouth, Ohio, 
was established by him, and for a long 
time he was the leading merchant in a wide 
district, wliere to-day thousands are en- 
gaged in trade. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lovell located on the 
present farm immediately after marriage, 
and to-day possess one of the finest resi- 
dences in the township. Having no chil- 
dren of their own, they adopted two, who 
bear the name of their foster-parents. In 
political life Mr. Lovell, prior to 1856, 
was a Democrat, of the Jacksonian school, 
but since then he lias been a thorough Re- 
publican; he is a strong and logical advo- 
cate for protective tariffs. The valuable 
property which he now owns is the direct 
result of his own and his wife's industry 
and perseverance. He gives to agricul- 
ture and stock growing the care which 
generally warrants success, and to-day he 
ranks with the leading farmers of this 
section of Ohio. 



FHtLIP HAUXHURST, a success- 
ful farmer and prominent citizen of 
Huron county, was born October 4, 
1829, in Ulster county. New York. 
Samson Hau.xhurst, his father, 
was born April 30, 1803, near White 
Plains, N. Y., and was raised on his 



father's farm until he was eighteen years 
old. In 1821 lie was apprenticed to a car- 
penter and millwright, with whom he 
served five years. On January 1, 1829, 
lie married Susan Briggs, who was born 
February 22, 1806, in Wawarsing town- 
ship, Ulster Co., N. Y., where her father, 
Daniel Briggs, was a fanner. To this 
marriage eight children were born, of 
whom the three first named in the follow- 
ing record were natives of New York: 
Philip, the subject of this sketch; George, 
born April 10, 1832, who died September 
11, 1840; Martha, born January 1, 1834, 
Mrs. J. W. Sprague, of Belgrade, Neb.; 
Elnora, born February 2, 1837, wife of J. 
S. Laughlin, of Golden Spring, Neb.; 
Mary Jane, born September 9, 1840, 

widow of Carscallen, of Oakdale, 

Antelope Co., Neb.; Sarah, born Septem- 
ber 9, 1842, who married Marcus Bacon, 
and died December 14, 1873, at Wells- 
worth, Mo.; Minerva, born August 1, 
1844, Mrs. Herbert Mickey, of Fitchville 
township; and Charles W., born Novem- 
ber 8, 1846, died April 13, 1847. 

In the fall of 1836 the parents and their 
three children set out from Ulster county 
for Ohio. From their home in the villao-e 
of Ellen ville, to Kingston, thirty miles 
distant, they traveled in a wagon, thence 
to Albany, on a Hudson-river boat; thence 
to Buffalo on canal boat; thence to Huron, 
Ohio, on lake boat, and lastly in a wagon 
to Fitchville township, Huron county, 
w^here the family found a temporary home 
with Robert Washburn, a brother-in-law 
of Mr. Hauxhurst. Samson Hauxhurst 
was not a stranger in the new country. In 
1834 he had visited the West to examine 
lands, and starting from Detroit traversed 
southeastern Michigan and the two north- 
ern tiers of counties in Ohio (east of Wood 
county), on horseback. In Huron county 
he found land to suit iiim, and purchased 
140 acres at sixteen dollars per acre. After 
locating here in 1836 he built a log cabin, 
which soon after gave place to a log house 
built by himself. From that time till 



294 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



October 23, 1880, wlien death removed the 
pioneer, he gave all his time and attention 
to the farm, seldom even exercising his 
trade, when snch would take him away 
from the place. Mrs. Hanxhnrst died in 
June, 1870. Politically a Republican, he 
was well posted on public affairs, faithful 
to the party platform, aud tilled several 
township offices most satisfactorily. In 
religious faith he and his wife were mem- 
bers of the M. E. Church, and ardent as 
well as liberal supporters of same. Mr. 
Hau.xhurst donated a house and lot to the 
missionary cause. He held various posi- 
tions in the church, and was, altogether, 
one of its most zealous members. 

Philip Hauxhurst was reared at Ellen- 
ville, N. y., until he was seven years of 
age, when he accompanied his parents to 
Ohio. In boyhood he attended the Fitch- 
ville high school, when Mr. DeWolfe, ex- 
State superintendent of schools, was prin- 
cipal of that institution. After school 
days had gone with the past, he returned 
to the farm. On May 4, 1804, he was 
united in marriage with Julia A. Denman, 
born Xoveraber 26, 1830, in Ulster county, 
N. Y., daughter of Martin Denman, who 
settled in Townsend township, Huron 
county, in 1833. To this marriage came 
children as follows: Carrie D., born Jan- 
uary 12, 1856, died April 7, 1864; Louisa, 
born December 7, 1857, died October 3, 
1875; Annabel M.,born August 10, 1859, 
wife of J. E. Bliss, of Fairfield township; 
and an infant, unnamed, born P"'ebruary 8, 
1863, who died a few days later. The 
mother of these children passed away Sep- 
tember 11, 1867, and Mr. Hauxhurst's 
marriage with Mrs. Mary Webster, widow 
of Guy Webster, of Ionia, Mich., took 
place June 7, 1870. She died without 
issue, February 13, 1889, and on June 3, 
1890, our subject married Anna Filkins, 
a native of Attica, N. Y., born February 
22, 1835. After his first marriage Mr. 
Hauxhurst located in his father's home. 
This property he purchased in 1870, and 
at once began the work of improving it. 



The residence, whicli was built by himself, 
is one of the finest in the township. Po- 
litically a Republican, he has always been 
true to the party. He has filled the office 
of township trustee for a greater number 
of terms than any other resident of the 
township, and has also served in other 
local offices. In religions affairs he is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and steward of the M. E. Society 
of Fairfield. 

In May, 1864, our subject enlisted in 
Company C, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth 
O. V. I. (formerly of the Sixty-third Ohio 
National Guards), proceeded to Virginia 
with the command on May 15, and served 
in the defense of Washington, D. C, 
against Jubal Early's raiders. He prac- 
tically escaped the sickness which attacked 
the regiment, and receiving honorable dis- 
charge, was mustered out September 9, 

1864, and returning home resumed farm- 
er 

ing. His civil and military records are 
without stain, and to-day he stands high 
in the opinion of the people of Huron 
county and his township. 



^jr^j M. WILLEY was born August 23, 

l^^ 1828, in the county of Durham, 

I \i England. He received but a com- 

J) mon country school education in 

his native land, and when yet a boy 

emigrated to America, locating in Gunius, 

Seneca Co., New York. 

In 1854 he came to Ohio, and being 
naturally adapted to mechanical work, 
entered the employ of the Lake Shore & 
Alichigan Southern Pailroad Company in 
the road's pioneer days. After leaving 
this company he went to Michigan, and 
became an engineer for a sawmill, in one 
of the great lumber camps. Finally re- 
turning to Ohio, he was married, July 29, 
1870, to Hattie J. Haskell, who was born 
in 1843, in Worcestershire, England. She 
is the daughter of George and Mary Ann 
(Barber) Haskell, who came to America in 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



295 



1850. locating in Erie county, Ohio. R. 
]\[. and Ilattie J. Willey were the parents 
of one daughter, Gertie M., who now has 
cliarge of tiie liome farm. On April 22, 
1872, Mr. Willey mourned the death of his 
wife, and she was laid to rest in the Nor- 
walk cemetery. He passed his remaining 
years on tiie farm in Ridgefield township, 
Huron county, following general agri- 
culture and stock raising, in which he was 
successful. His death occurred August 4, 
1890, when he was laid to rest by tlie side 
of iiis wife. 

When a joung luan Mr. Willey twice 
sustained the loss of large sums of money 
due him for labor, but not becoming dis- 
couraged he again set to work, and at last 
succeeded in acquiring a competence. He 
Tiecame an eager reader, and spent most of 
his time at home, where he could always 
be found. Although very unassuming in 
his manner, he was a very popular man, 
and his friends were numbered by the 
scores. In politics he was a Republican, 
taking an active interest in the success of 
his party. 



T| L. SLAGLE, one of the prominent 
w I railroad men of Chicago Junction, 
\^ was born July 4, 1858, at Cassel, 
Hessen-Cassel, Germany. The name, 
in Germany, was originally von Schlagel, 
but after coming to the United States the 
father of George von Schlagel, grandfather 
of our subject, changed the spelling to 
Slagle. 

George von Slagle was born in Gallia 
county, Ohio, shortly after his parents had 
emigrated to the United States. He re- 
ceived a common English education, and 
by his own labor paid for his education as 
civil engineer and land surveyor. About 
1856 he married a Miss Atkins, of south- 
ern Indiana, and while thev were visiting 
in Germany to settle an estate, the subject 
of this sketch was born. They returned 
in September, 1858, and settled in Wapello 
county, Iowa. In 1861 George Slagle en- 



listed as a private in Company E, Thirty- 
sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and later 
was promoted to corporal. Taken prisoner, 
he was compelled for seven months to ac- 
cept the tei-rible hospitality of the Con- 
federate prisons, which, with thii'ty-seven 
months in actual service, made his full 
term of three years and eight months. 
Since receiving honorable discharge he has 
resided at Seymour, Ind., where he fol- 
lows the profession of civil engineer, and 
is engaged in contracting. He has three 
children, namely: J. L., Frank, and Hattie 
C, wife of Harry Wheeler, locomotive 
engineer, of Seymour, Ind. The mother 
of this family died nineteen years ago. 

J. L. Slagle received a fair education in 
the common and graded schools of Sey- 
mour, Ind. At the age of nineteen years 
he entered the employ of the Missouri 
Pacific as fireman on the Kansas City & 
Atchison division, in which position he 
served eight months, when he was pro- 
moted to yard engineer. After eight 
months' service he resigned, returning to 
Indiana, where he again found employment 
as fireman, but in an accident of his road 
he received injuries which incapacitated 
him for heavy railroad work for three 
years. He was able, however, to do cleri- 
cal work, and traveled over the country in 
various employments. In 1881 he re- 
sumed railroad work, as fireman on the Bal- 
timore & Ohio Railroad, but later accepted 
a position as brakeman; was then promoted 
to freight, and then to passenger conductor. 
On July 23, 1886, he assisted in opening 
the new division between Philadelphia and 
Baltimore, where he remained nearly one 
year, and in 1887 returned as freight-train 
condiictor between Chicago Junction and 
Chicago, making his home at Chicago 
Junction. Since entering the service of 
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company 
he has served in nearly every capacity on 
tiie train — as brakeman, fireman, liaggage 
agent, and freight and passenger conductor. 

Mr. Slagle was married August 9, 1888, 
to Kunnegunde, eldest daughter of Capt. 



296 



HUROyr COUNTY, OHIO. 



F. J. Leydorf. They own a delightful 
home on Spring street, and enjoy many 
substantial friendships. Mr. Slagle is a 
polished, courteous gentleman, popular 
not only in railroad circles, but also among 
men in every station in Chicago Junction. 
In 1892 his name was presented to the 
Republican convention, as candidate for 
sheriff of Huron county, and he received 
a flattering support. In the great raili-oad 
system of this country promotion always 
waits on such a man, slow it may be, but 
Bure. 



J JOSEPH SMITHLA, who was born 
February 19, 1819, in Baden, Ger- 
^: niany, is a son of John and Mary 
(Gross) Smithla, natives of that 
division of what is now the German 
Empire. 

John Smithla was a miller, and died in 
1826, his wife surviving him three years. 
After the death of her first husband she 
re-married, and Joseph resided with his 
step-father during his minority. He at- 
tended the schools of his native town, and 
subsequently learned the baker's trade, at 
which he worked until 1847. In that year 
he sailed for America from the port ot 
Havre in northern France, landed at New 
York, worked one month at his trade there, 
and then proceeded to Sandusky, Ohio. 
He appears to have cast aside the baker's 
ti'ade there in favor of an ordinary labor- 
er's work, for he worked in the latter 
capacity on the Newark & Sandusky 
Railroad, which was then in course of 
construction. In 1850 he went to Cali- 
fornia, the journey occupying 103 days, 
and was engaged in the gold diggings until 
1852, when he returned to Ohio and made 
his home in Huron county. 

On May 2, 1853, he was married to 
Helena Hiss, who came from Germany 
with her parents in 1837, and the children 
born to this marriage were Joseph, 
Edward and Taophile (all three farmers of 
Pern township); Helena, Rosa, Carrie and 



Tillie, residing with parents, and Mary 
and Paul (deceased). In 1853 Mr. Smithla 
piirchased ninety acres of his present farm 
of 187 acres, afterward adding the remain- 
ing ninety-seven acres. This tract gives 
ample evidence of the care which he has 
bestowed upon it during tlie last forty 
years. It is highly improved and intrin- 
sically valuable, as well as being the 
pioneer home of the SmithJas in America. 
Like the Argonants of 1819-52, the owner 
is a whole-souled, al)le-bodied, reliable 
man, whose industry carved out of a 
forest a valuable home. The family are 
all members of the Catholic con(rreo;ation, 
and, like the father, very much esteemed. 
Mr. Smithla votes with the Democratic 
party in State and National issues; and 
even in local politics, where the man,* 
rather than the party, is considered, it is 
unusual for him to desert the nominee of 
his party. The elegant brick residence 
and farm buildings speak forcibly of Mr. 
Smithla's relation to the community. 



l"J\ILLIAM PERRIN, one of the 
yjl leading representative business 
ll[ men of Huron county, is' a native 
of the Keystone State, born in 
Wilkes-Barre, March 31, 1835, a son of 
Gurdin and Polly (Church) Perrin, the 
former of whom was born in Connecticut 
in 1801, where lie was reared and educated. 
In 1822 Gurdin Perrin moved to Penn- 
sylvania where he followed farming till 
1837, at which time he came to Huron 
county, Ohio, and continued his life 
vocation up to his death, which event 
occurred about the year 1867. He was a 
Presbyterian of the old school, in church 
connection, and an uncompromising Wliig, 
in his political predilections. About the 
year 1824 he was married to Polly Church, 
and they had a family of eleven children, 
eight of whom grew to maturity, and six 
are now living. The mother died October 
5, 1855. 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



297 



William Perrin, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was educated at the Huron 
Institute, at Milan, Ohio, and when old 
enough commenced teaching school . in 
Huron county, in which he continued some 
years. Abandonino; scholastic duties, Mr. 
Perrin next turned his attention to agri- 
cultural pursuits, stone quarrying, and 
dealing in real estate. He assisted in the 
laying' out of the route, in Huron county, 
of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Ilailroad. 

On December 26, 1860, William Perrin 
was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- 
beth Newson, who bore him one child 
that died. This wife was called from 
earth February 3, 1863, and April 5, 1864, 
Mr. Perrin married Mrs. Mary E. Jordan, 
sister to his first wif e, _ by which union 
there are two children, Emma E. and 
William N. In politics our subject was 
originally a Democrat, his first Presiden- 
tial vote having been cast for Buchanan, 
but in 1864 he became a Republican, and 
has ever since cast his suffrages for that 
party. In churcli relationship he is an 
earnest Episcopalian. 

William N. Perrin, son of William and 
Mary E. Perrin, was born in 1870 at Nor- 
walk, Ohio, and received his primary edu- 
cation at the common schools of Norwalk, 
after which he attended the Case School 
of Applied Science at Cleveland, studying 
both civil and electrical engineering. He 
made all the maps for a recent excellent atlas 
of Huron county, which have given uni- 
versal satisfaction. 



JAMES McMAHON, a well-known 
agriculturist of Huron county, was 
born May 17, 1837, in County 
Monaghan, Ireland, where he passed 
his childhood and received a moderate 
edncation. As he approached manhood he 
determined to seek a new home where he 
could have broader chances for accumulat- 
ing money, and more freedom in his ideas 
and manner of living. 



in view he emigrated from 



With thi 
Ireland in 1853, and immediately after his 
arrival in America located in Ohio, where 
he began his business career as a farm 
laborer on the estate of Steven Sawyer. 
The country at that date was in a wild 
state, thoroughly undeveloped and but 
thinly populated, and farming was hard 
work; but a determination to succeed, 
coupled with unusual energy, enabled our 
subject to persevere in the work for eight 
years. At the end of that time he had 
accumulated enough money to buy two 
horses and rent a small tract of land, and 
in a few years bought seventy-two acres of 
land, two and one half miles southeast of 
Bellevue. He has continued to add to his 
farm until it now comprises 200 acres of 
highly cultivated soil, and yields him a 
comfortable income. On October 10, 
1866, Mr. McMahon married Miss Bridget 
Perry, who was born in 1848 in Toronto, 
Canada, a daughter of James Perry, a suc- 
cessful farmer of Erie county, who died in 
1880, at the age of sixty-four. Their mar- 
riage has been blessed with eight children, 
viz.: Rose (who married Bernard Brady, 
of Portland, Oreg.), James (who lives in 
Bellevue, and is married), Mary, Susie, 
Agnes, Eddie, Julia and Isabella, all of 
whom are living. Mrs. McMahon died 
January 17, 1882, deeply mourned by her 
family and friends. 

The subject of this biograpiiical memoir 
is an example of what energy and frugal- 
ity can accomplish. He commenced life 
in a new country without either money or 
friends, and to-day has an abundance of 
both. He devotes his attention exclusively 
to farming, and principally to raising wheat 
and corn. He is a Democrat in politics, 
and served as road supervisor for a num- 
ber of years. He and his family are mem- 
bers and liberal supporters of the Catholic 
Church. 

James McMahon, father of our subject, 
was born in Ireland and lived there until 
1861, at which time became with his wife 
to America, settling in Ohio. He was a 



298 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



farmer in the old country, and always de- 
voted his attention to agricultural pursuits 
up to the time of his death. He com- 
menced work in Ohio with no money, but 
succeeded in renting a farm in Ly'ne town- 
ship, where he was highly respected by 
his neighbors, and where his wife died. 
He had six children as follows: Thomas, 
formerly of Deertield, Mich., who died 
December 25, 1887; Mary, who died in 
New York in 1839; James, subject of 
sketch; Mrs. Owen Kelly and Peter Mc- 
Mahon, of Deertield, Mich.; and Patrick, 
residing three miles southeast of Bellevue. 



'Jr^ EV. CHARLES V. CHEVRAUX, 
li*^ pastor of St. Mary's Churcli, Nor- 
ll ^ walk. The organizer of the Eng- 
J) lish-speaking congregation of Ro- 

man Catholics at jNorwalk was Rev. 
Father Narcissus Ponchell, a native of 
France, born September 19, 1825. In 
July, 1850, he bade farewell to his native 
land, and in company with Bishop Rappe 
embarked for America, landing August 6 
following. On January 1, 1851, he was 
ordained priest by Bishop Rappe. He 
was an able man, and soon became pastor 
of St. Peter's Church, at Norwalk. 

Seeing the necessity for an English- 
speaking church here, he organized St. 
Mary's parish, and in 1853 purciiased 
land on which to erect a church. The 
building was commenced in 1857, and the 
first mass was held in it on Easter Sunday, 
1859. He also purchased the cemetery of 
five acres. Before the church was com- 
pleted, however. Father Ponchell was 
called to his reward by the hand of death, 
September 15, 1860. He had labored 
zealously in the diocese for the salvation 
of souls, and was beloved by citizens of all 
denominations. He was a man of impos- 
ing appearance, amiable disposition, and a 
true priest. Although it is now over 
three decades since his remains were laid 
to rest, his memory is as fresh in the 
minds of the people as though it were but 



yesterday, and he is still spoken of as the 
perfect gentleman and true man of God. 

Rev. E. M. O'Callahan attended St. 
Mary's Church from Cleveland from Sep- 
tember 4, 1S60, till December 1, same 
year; from December 1 till April 2, 1864, 
Rev. John Quinn had charge of the parish. 
He did excellent work, and the congrega- 
tion grew under his charge. During his 
pastorate a handsoi'ne parocliial residence 
was built. It is located on the southeast 
corner of Milan and St. Mary streets. 
Rev. Thomas P. Thorpe succeeded Father 
Quinn as pastor of St. Mary's Church in 
April, 1864. He enlarged the church, and 
built a small parochial schoolhouse at the 
rear of the church. Father Thorpe was 
succeeded March 3, 1868, by the saintly 
and energetic Father Halley, whose pas- 
torate was marked by unusual progress of 
the parish, both materially and spiritually. 
Among the first moves in material matters 
during his service in the parish was the 
purchasing of a church bell, which weighs 
three thousand one hundred pounds, and 
is still one of the finest in this part of Ohio. 

As the congregation grew rapidly, and 
most of tlie members settled in the western 
part of Norwalk, it became necessary to 
build a new church and school building, and 
expedient to remove the location of the 
same to a more central portion of the 
parish. With this end in view, March 7, 
1875, I''ather Halley purchased a location 
on the northwest corner of State and 
League streets, and in 1878 a fine brick 
schoolhouse was erected. A few years 
later Father Halley was incapacitated 
through ill-health, and lingered about 
three years, when death closed his earthly 
labors, after having served for nearly sev- 
enteen years as pastor of St. Mary's 
Church. Father F. Halley was born near 
Tramore, County Waterford, Ireland, Jan- 
uary 14, 1833; was educated at Mount 
Mellory and at All Hallows College, Dub- 
lin, Ireland. In 1855 he came to Amer- 
ica, and in 1857 he entered St. Mary's 
College, Cleveland, Ohio, where he was 



HURON COUNTY, OTIIO. 



301 



ordained by Bishop Rappe, December 2, 
1860. He subsequently labored in Toledo, 
Grafton, St. Mary's Seminary (Cleveland) 
and St. Mary's parish (^Norwalk). Al- 
though his last charge was a heavy one, 
and traught with adversity, he was always 
equal to the task; a princely priest and 
veritable man of God, he died January 4, 
1885. During his pastorate in Norwalk, 
he labored hard to put down all practices 
that would tend to lower the moi'als of his 
flock. Amonu; other things his aim was 
directed against the dance. When he took 

o 

charge of the congregation it numbered 
thirty families; at his death it numbered 
130, and was out of debt. 

After the death of Father Halley, the 
present pastor, Rev. Charles Vincent 
Chevraux, was appointed. He was born 
in the eastern part of France January 22, 
184:8, a son of August and Justine (Poiusot) 
Chevraux. 

When Father Chevraux was a boy of six 
years, his parents etnigrated to America, 
and located in the town of Louisville, 
Stark Co., Ohio. Here he attended the 
local schools, and subsequently the dio- 
cesan college at that place. He afterward 
entered St. Mary's Seminary, at Cleveland, 
Ohio, where he graduated in 1874, and 
he was ordained at South Bend, Ind., by 
Bishop Gilmour. In 1874 Father Chev- 
raux was stationed at the cathedral, Cleve- 
land, Ohio, where he remained ten and 
one-half years, and while there gained 
many friends, and proved himself a priest 
by eminent qualities. When the pastorate 
of St Mary's, Norwalk, was found vacant, 
his appointment to the incumbency was 
eminently fitting. One of the first moves 
made by him was to introduce the Sisters 
of St. Joseph to take charge of the paro- 
chial schools, and under their management 
it has prospered in a high degree. He 
commenced to build a church on the prop- 
erty purchased by Father Halley, the first 
work being done in 1889. The structure 
is now almost completed, and is a beauti- 
ful piece of architecture, cruciform in 



shape, Gothic in style, and built of stone 
throughout. It will stand as a lasting 
monument to the pious zeal of Father 
Chevraux and his fiock. The laying of 
the corner-stone, which took place Sep- 
tember 22, 1889, called to Norwalk the 
largest assemblage ever gathered in the 
city, very many couiing from Cleveland, 
called hither on the occasion, greatly by 
Father Chevraux's popularity in that city. 
[Since this sketch was written the church 
has been frescoed, the windows set in. 
The fresco, windows and paintings are 
beautiful and grand. J 

Father Chevraux is a man of over me- 
dium stature, pleasing and kindly in his 
manners, at) earnest preacher of the Gos- 
pel, and an enterprising citizen. He is 
thoroughly American, and his views on 
politics are of a broad and liberal char- 
acter. The following very flattering no- 
tice of this reverend gentleman is taken 
from a recent issue of the Toledo Bee: 
" Rev. Chas. V. Chevraux, of Norwalk, 
Ohio, sang solemn high mass at St. Francis 
de Sales Church Wednesday morning. 
Father Chevraux is considered and un- 
doubtedly is the most celebrated vocalist 
in the American Priesthood, and the peo- 
ple of St. Francis de Sales parish were de- 
lighted to have an opportunity of hearing 
him. A voice of superb ' timbre,' clear, 
powerful baritone, of such volume that his 
notes could be often heard a block from 
the church, the lofty vaulted ceilings 
seemed alive with charming music. A 
cultured auditor remarked: 'There! in the 
sanctuary for once Madame Machen has 
found her match, in church music' Come 
again, noble- voiced monsieur, and give our 
thousand cultured Toledo people due notice 
of your coming." 



J( L. MEAD. Matiy years ago three 
brothers of the name of Mead left 
I their home in Wales, and sailed 
across the ocean to America. On 
arriving in the New World they finally 



302 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



located in Huron county, Ohio, and one of 
tliein, Abram Mead, became the tirst white 
settler of Fitchville township. Some years 
afterward he and his family moved to 
Norwalk township, where they became 
prominent settlers. He was married four 
times, and died near Norwalk in 1852. 

Joel E. Mead, youngest son of the pio- 
neer just mentioned, was born in Putnam 
county, N. Y., and was brought by his 
parents to Huron county, Ohio, when but 
three months old. He came with the 
family to Norwalk township when about 
fifteen years of age, and grew to manhood 
on the farm. When a yoiiug man he se- 
lected a life companion in the person of 
Betsey A. Lewis, a native of tlie "Fire- 
lands." and she bore him seven children. 
The father died in 1870, at the age of fifty- 
three years, tlie mother on December 31, 
1888. 

Jerome L. Mead, third child of Joel E. 
and Betsey (Lewis) Mead, was born No- 
vember 7, 1850, in Norwalk, Ohio, where 
he was reared and educated. He worked 
for several years handling and shipping 
stock near to Norwalk, and now has charge 
of the grain, feed and seed store in Nor- 
walk, formerly owned by Woodward Bros., 
and now the property of J. L. Mead & Co. 
Oiir subject is also a partner in the grocery 
firm of D. O. Woodward & Co. at Nor- 
walk. On May 2, 1877, he was iinited in 
marriage with Miss Lucinda AYoodward, 
who was born in Clyde, Sandusky Co., 
Ohio, and they have two sons,' Kalph and 
Fred. Politically Mr. Mead is a Repub- 
lican ; socially he is a member of the L O. 
O. F., and Royal Arcanum; in religious 
faith he is a Presbyterian. 



JJ 



(ACOB P. HOUFSTATER is a 

■ grandson of Adam Houfstater, who 
was the pioneer of the family in 
America. Adam Houfstater was 
born in 1755, in Germany, whence when 
a youth he came to the United States, and 



settling in Pennsylvania he learned the 
weaver's trade, at which he worked until 
he became a farmer. He was married in 
Pennsylvania, and moved some time later 
to Niagara county, N. Y., where most of 
the following named children were born 
to them: Adam, Philip, John, George, 
Jacob, Jane, Susan and Polly, all now 
deceased. 

George Houfstater, father of subject, 
was born in 1797, in Pennsylvaina, ac- 
companied his parents to Niagara county, 
N. Y., when a boy, and was reared on the 
frontier. In New York State he met 
Elizabeth Barre, also a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, to whom he was wedded, and after 
his marriage he began farming. Seven 
children were born to them on the home- 
stead, namely: Almira, Mary, David, 
Matilda and Fidelia (twins), Jacob and 
Catherine; Lucy Ann, the eighth child, 
was born in Huron county, Ohio, October 
15, 1836. In 1836 the family moved to 
Ohio, and settled on the farm which is now 
the property of Jacob P. Houfstater, 
which territory was then a complete 
wilderness. While the new comers were 
surrounded by neighbors, the particular 
land selected was still in the forest, and 
the clearing of this tract devolved on the 
father and sons. He subsequently bought 
a farm of 186 acres, which he saw cleared 
before his death in 1874. Of a hard- 
working, economical disposition, he left a 
valuable property to his children, and died 
with success stamped upon his work. 
Prior to 1856 he was a Whig, and from 
that time until his death, a Republican. 
In religion he affiliated with the Christian 
Church. 

Jacob P. Houfstater was born January 
17, 1830, in Niagara county, N. Y, In 
1836 he accompanied his parents to Ohio, 
where, February 16, 1854, he married 
Roena M. Carpenter, of Fairfield town- 
ship, Huron countj'. The young couple 
at once entered farm life, and for forty 
years have continued to follow it success- 
fully. Not only does Mr. Houfstater own 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



303 



130 acres of improved land in Ripley 
township, but he has also endowed three of 
his children most liberally, giving to each 
two thousand dollars. Of their children, 
Cora married Agnew Welch, editor of the 
Record, &t Ada, Ohio; Elva married Abert 
Young, a farmer of Ripley township; and 
Carrie married Edward L. Young, who 
was city editor of the Huron County 
Chronicle, at Norwalk, from 1885 to 1892, 
when he was appointed Great Record 
Keeper of the Knights of Maccabees. Mr. 
Houfstater is a Republican, an active 
member of the party, serving his township 
as justice of the peace and in various other 
offices. lie was a member of the Chris- 
tian Church of Ripley, and is a citizen 
of acknowledged worth. 



dlARMAN PATRICK, a well-known 
I agriculturist of Townsend township, 
■ Huron county, is a native of the 
State of Ohio, born December 10, 
1836, in Florence, Erie county. He is 
the eldest child and only son in a family 
of four children born to James Jarman 
and Lucy A. (Tucker) Patrick, the former 
of whona was born in the County of Norfolk, 
England, the latter in the State of New 
York. 

James Jarman Patrick was born about 
1809, and received a good English educa- 
tion in liis native land. Soon after attain- 
ing his majority he immigrated to the 
United States, landing at New York after 
a stormy passage of six weeks, during 
most of which time he suffered from sea- 
sickness. After his arrival in America he 
farmed on shares, or rented lands in New 
York for a short time, and then removed 
to the far western frontier and almost un- 
broken wilderness of northern Ohio, first 
stopping in what is now Erie county, 
where he took the job of chopping and 
clearing space for a mill-pond on the old 
Sprague farm. Hero he was married, and 
soon afterward removed to Townsend 



township, Huron county, where he bought 
wild land, built a log house, and com- 
menced to carve out of the dense forest 
around him a home for himself and 
family. He and his brother-in-law were 
both accidentallykilled, December 23, 1842, 
their death being caused by the premature 
falling of a tree, which fell upon and 
crushed them. The Patrick family in 
England were among the old and well-to- 
do families of English commoners, own- 
ing quite an extensive landed property, 
subject to the law of entail, that is, it 
descended to the eldest son, generation 
after generation. Mrs. Lucy A. Patrick's 
death occurred October 1, 1886, when she 
was in her seventy-third year. 

Jarman Patrick, the subject of this 
sketch, received a very fair common- 
school education in early life. After his 
father's death, which occurred when he 
was oidy six years old, he remained with 
his mother on the old home farm for a 
time, and then lived with his grandfather 
Tucker, who employed him on his farm, 
until he reached his twentieth year. He 
then commenced for himself, being em- 
ployed at working out by the month and 
farming on shares for several years. In 
the spring of 1862 he bought a partially- 
improved farm in Townsend township, 
Huron county, upon which he now re- 
sides, and where he has ever since been 
successfully engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, the place being now well improved 
and under a high state of cultivation. 
During the Civil war Mr. Patrick enlisted 
in Company B (organized in Townsend 
township). One Hundred and Sixty-sixth 
O. V. I., N. Ct., which was called out by 
President Lincoln in May, 1864, for one 
hundred days service. The regiment or- 
ganized at Cleveland, where Mr. Patrick 
was transferred to Company F, and did 
duty in and around Washington, D. C, 
until September 9, 1864, when they were 
mustered out and returned home, each 
soldier receiving a certificate of thanks 
from President Lincoln. 



3»4 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



On February 2, 1861, Mr. Patrick was 
married to Miss Maryette Hill, a native of 
Townsend townshiji, born August 24, 
1841, daughter of Moses and Sallie 
(Brooks) Hill, both of whom were natives 
of Delaware coiinty, N. Y. Seven chil- 
dren were the fruits of this union, only 
four of whom are now living, viz.: James 
Delbert, born October 10, 1866; Frank 
J., born November 14, 1868; Guy B., 
born September 6, 1878; and William C, 
born July 23, 1883. Edgar Royle, who 
was born August 12, 1864, died April 9, 
1886, in his twenty-second year. Mr. 
Patrick is a member of Townsend Post 
No. 414, G. A. R., and Mrs. Patrick is a 
member of the Townsend Relief Corps, 
No. 142, auxiliary to the above mentioned 
Post. He is also a member of East Town- 
send Lodge, F. k, A. M. In politics Mr. 
Patrick is a liberal Republican, but claims 
the right to think and act for himself in 
all things and at all times. 



q? M. S. SANBORN, lumber and 
w, coal dealer, is a well known business 
I man of Norwalk. He is a son of 
U John M. Sanborn, whose father was 
a native of New Hampshire, of 
EniTlish ancestry, and passed his life on a 
farm near Franklin, that State. 

John M. Sanborn was born in 1821, in 
Franklin, Merrimack Co., N. H., and 
when a young man was married to Fannie 
J. Fisher, a native of Francestown, N. H., 
and a representative of an old New Eng- 
land family. He was master mechanic of 
the Norwalk division of the Lake Shore 
Railroad from 1874 until a short time be- 
fore his death, May 12, 1890. He was a 
member of the Masonic Fraternity, of the 
thirty-second degree, and in religious faith 
was a Baptist. Mrs. Sanborn died June 
27, 1892, in Norwalk, leaving two children, 
G. M. S. and Edward D. 

G. M. S. Sanborn was born March 24, 
1858, at Nashua, Hillsborough Co. N. Y. 
He came west with his parents when 



quite young, and after attending school 
for a number of years, secured em- 
ployment with the Lake Shore Railroad 
Company, at Norwalk; in April, 1875, he 
began to learn the trade of machinist 
and draftsman. He became an expert as 
draftsman, and in July, 1884, accepted a 
position as superintendent of the drafting 
department of the Lake Shore shops at 
Elkhart, Elkhart Co., Ind. On Novem- 
ber 24, 1880, he was married to Blanche 
O. Pepoon, who was born April 1, 1857, 
in Painesville, Ohio, a daughter of Lycur- 
gus and Susan (Morse) Pepoon, the 
former of Painesville, Ohio, the latter of 
Elizabethtown, N. J.; she is still living. 
Mr. Pepoon was twice married; first time 
in 1856 to Mary Lovelace, of Painesville, 
Ohio, who died in 1861, and in 1863 he 
married Susan Morse, as above. He died 
at West Farmington, Ohio, in September, 
1891. To Mr. and Mrs. G. M. S. San- 
born have been born two sons: Willis E. 
and George Walter. Mr. Sanborn saved 
quite a sum of money from his salary, and 
in January, 1889, entered the Chicago Bap- 
tist Seminary, intending to prepare for 
the ministry. His health failed, however, 
and abandoning his studies in August, 
1889, he bought out a coal and lumber 
establishment in Norwalk, in which he 
has been very successful. He is a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church, and is Presi- 
dent of the Y. M. C. A., having assisted 
in its organization in Norwalk. 




^ILLIAM S. CREECH, proprietor 
of a stone quarry in Lyme town- 
ship, was born in England in 
1836, a son of John and Caroline 
Creech, who died while he was young. 

Our subject immigrated to the United 
States in 1871, locating in Huron county, 
Ohio. His worldly goods were few, and 
he depended solely upon health and 
strength, and a determination to succeed, 
to win friends and money in a new home. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



30i 



He cominenced bis business career in tliis 
county as a laborer in the stone quari-y of 
H^ Smith, and after eight years was able, 
through practicing rigid economy, to start 
in business for himself. He purchased 
the stone quarry he now runs so success- 
fully, and every year adds to his already 
large business some new improvement; he 
now owns the largest stone crusher in 
Lv"ne township. At one time he furnished 
as luuch as seventeen thousand build- 
ing stones for the roundhouse of the 
Nickel Plate Eailroad. He also owns a 
larti^e lime kiln, and furnishes lime 
throughout all parts of the township. In 
1860, before leaving England, Mr. Creech 
was married to Miss Anna Hole, and by 
lier had six children, live of whom are now 
living with hiin, viz.: Thomas G., Fred J., 
Caroline E., Ada F. and Anna L. Mrs. 
Creech died in 1873, and in 1884 Mr. 
Creech married Miss Elizabeth Hole, a 
sister of his iirst wife. 

Mr. Creech is a self-made man of more 
than the average intelligence, and has by 
means of his energy and executive ability 
established a good business and a comfort- 
able home. He is a man of sterling worth, 
whose integrity is never questioned, and 
who uses his time and money for the ad- 
vancement of the township in which he 
resides. 




l( LLEN T. ASHLEY, grandson of 
l\ James Ashley, was born April 2, 
\ 1829, the eighth in the family of 
twelve children born to Leonard 
and Sally (McDougal) Ashley. 
Leonard Ashley was lx»rn about 1790, 
at Deerfield, Mass., learned slioemaking 
under his father, and worked at the trade 
during his life in Massachusetts. His 
mother died about the year 1799, and the 
youth then went to reside with an elder 
brother, Luther. After some years he 
wished to see the world outside of liis 
native State, and migrated to Canada, 
where, in 1815, he married Sally Mc- 



Dougal, who was born in 1794, in Xova 
Scotia, for whose father young Ashley 
worked ; and while living on Yonge 
street, and near Toronto, in the Province 
of Ontario, the following named children 
were born : Thomas, who died in in- 
fancy ; James, who, in 1824, accompanied 
his mother to Ohio, where he married, be- 
came a Free-will Baptist preacher, and 
thence moved to Michiiran, where he died, 
leaving twelve children ; Stewart B., late 
a resident of Steuben, Ohio, who died Oc- 
tober 30, 1893, and is buried in Greenfield 
cemetery ; Sally, who first married David 
Skeeles, and subsequently Dean Keefer 
(she is now a widow, residing at Colum- 
bus, Kans.); and John, a Free-will Bap- 
tist preacher, of Hillsdale, Mich., who was 
a fellow schoolmate of James A. Garfield. 
After the family joined the father in 
Greenfield township, in 1824, there were 
born Luther, a resident of Bellevue, Mich.; 
William, of Knoxville, Iowa ; Allen T., 
the subject of this sketch; Joseph B., of 
Oberlin, Ohio; Mary, wife of Judge G. 
W. Lewis, of Medina, Ohio; Henry, a 
resident of San Francisco, Cal.; and 
Daniel, who went to California in 1862 
and died there. 

In 1822 Leonard Ashley left Canada 
for Huron county, Ohio, and worked on 
farms and at his trade here for two years. 
In 1824 his wife and children arrived, and 
all found a home with Alden Pierce, a 
brother-in-law, who then occupied what is 
known as the "Sturges Farm" in Green- 
field township. The father was known as 
a good farmer and a good shoemaker, and 
was a very active man until his death, 
which occurred in 1873. At that- time he 
was on a visit to his son John at Rock- 
away, Seneca Co., Ohio, from which place 
his remains were returned to Huron 
county for interment in the Greenfield 
cemetery. His wife, who died March 19, 
1863. was interred in Steul)en cemetery. 
Leonard Ashley was a Whig until the or- 
ganization of the Republicans, when he 
became a stanch supporter of the new 



306 



HUEOX COUNTY, OHIO- 



party. In religious matters lie and his 
wife were members of the Free-will Bap- 
tist Church. 

Allen T. Ashley was born in Green- 
field township, Huron county. He re- 
ceived a primary education in the district 
school, and worked on the home farm until 
1864, wiien he established his home on 
the farm where he now resides. On 
May 1, 18G6, he married Clara T. Warner, 
who was born January 29, 1844, in Medina 
county, Ohio, daughter of M. B. and Sally 
(Dimmick) AVarner. To this marriage 
were born three children, namely: 
Georgia May, Mrs. A. T. Shaffer, of 
Plymouth, Ohio; Dessie C, and Thad W. 
Politically a Republican, Mr. xVshley has 
only taken a citizen's interest in the great 
party battles. The township offices which 
he has tilled are not strictly political of- 
fices, the man, rather than the party, being 
sougiit by the municipal body. He is a 
practical and successful farmer, standing 
high in the community, and he aud his 
family are held in very high esteem. 



d JACOB DEAN, a retired farmer of 
! Mew Haven township, and a pio- 
' neer of Huron county, was born 
at Wittenberg, Saxony, Prussia, 
March 25, 1821. 

His parents, George Michael and Jaco- 
bine Dean, belonged to the class of Ger- 
man peasant farmers whose probity and 
industry were acknowledged. In 1827 
they decided to immigrate to America, 
and proceeding to Havre, France, by high- 
way, they sailed for the United States, and 
after a long voyage landed at New York. 
Coming westward at once, by river to 
Albany, by canal and lake to Sandusky, 
Ohio, and thence by wagon-road to Green- 
field township, Huron county, they rested 
there, and soon began agricultural life. 
The father's characteristic industry en- 
abled him to support his family, and, as 
its members increased, to provide for their 
daily wants until death removed him. 



Jacob Dean had to take a boy's share in 
supporting the family, and thus was com- 
pelled to forego the advantages of an edu- 
cation, becoming a bread-winner at an 
early age. AVhen twelve years old he en- 
tered the employ of Capt. Lawther, of 
Greenfield township, the consideration for 
his labor being very small. With the ob- 
ject of providing a home for his mother 
and brothers he worked diligently, saved 
the little earnintrs lie received, and in time 
purchased a tract of wild land in New 
Haven township. Here a cabin was built, 
and in it the family made their home until 
the mother died. She was buried beside 
her husband in New Haven cemetery. 
For some years after his mother's death 
Jacob Dean kept bachelor's hall in the old 
home, and lived with the tenants to whom 
he rented the farm, in later years with his 
brother, who came to the old homestead 
with his family. Mr. Dean is now the 
owner of 200 acres of fertile land, most 
of which was cleared and cultivated by 
him. Redeeming it from the forest, he 
now enjoys the fruits of long years of 
stern labor among the trees, and can see 
that lie has taken more than one' man's 
part in the development of this section. 

When the Universalist Church existed 
at New Haven, Mr. Dean was a member 
of the denomination, but since that time 
has not been connected with any religious 
society. He votes with the Democratic 
party, but his political activity begins and 
ends at the polls. He has never married. 



FHILIP J. KNOLL, a prominent 
farmer citizen of Ridgefield town- 
ship, is a son of the late John 
P. Knoll and grandson of Jacob 
Knoll, natives of the Province of 
Nassau, Germany, both of whom were 
farmers, the latter dying in his native land. 
John P. Knoll was born May 3, 1826, 
aud in the Fatherland received his ele- 
mentary education in both literary and 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



307 



agricultural pursuits. In 1849 he immi- 
grated to America, and purchased land in 
Ridgefield township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
lie then revisited Germany, and returning 
to America, brought with iiim his fiancee, 
Miss Minnie Cook, whom in 1852 he 
married at Sandusky, Ohio. Slie was the 
daughter of George Cook, and was l)orn 
March 19, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Knoll 
settled on the farm in Huron county now 
occupied by some of the family, and here 
liy constant toil he succeeded in securing 
a comfortable competence. In political 
opinion he was a lifelong Democrat, and 
in religion a member of the Protestant 
Evangelical Church, with which his 
widow is also identified. He died in 
1887, and Mrs. Knoll, surrounded by 
many friends, is yet residing on the 
beautiful home farm, which she owns. 

The children of this estimable couple 
were as follows: Charles, a farmer of 
Norwalk township, Huron county; Will- 
iam, deceased at the age of three years; 
Adolph, deceased in infancy; Lewis, who 
died at the age of twenty-two years; Ed- 
ward, a farmer of Norwalk township, 
Huron county; Louisa, wife of Philip 
Poths, of Fulton county, Ohio; Philip J., 
whose name opens this sketch, and who is 
married and lives on part of the farm, in 
the house last bought by his father (in 
1872); Gustavus, living on the home 
place; and Matilda and Minnie, residing 
with their widowed mother. 




\ALTEPt E. BELL, dealer in coal, 
lime, cement, etc., Norwalk, is 
I] M] a son of James G. Eell, who was 
born in New York State, of Ger- 
man ancestry, and who married Nancy C. 
Bacon, a lady of Scotch descent. Our 
subject was born January 25, 1845, in 
Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and 
coming west with his parents in 1849 
located near Berlin Heights, Erie county, 
Ohio. He farmed there for a time, then 



moved to Norwalk, Huron county, and 
about the year 1882 established his pres- 
ent business. Although beginning life 
with no financial aid, he has prospered, 
and is now recognized as one of the most 
reliable business men of Norwalk. He 
was married January 16, lS(i7, to Fannie 
Henderson, then a teacher in the public 
schools, and three children have blessed 
their union, namely: Henry, Howard 
and Charles. Mr. Bell is a Republican in 
politics, and in religion a Baptist. He 
has one sister, Mrs. Eliza M. Gibson, now 
living in Stryker, Ohio; one brother, 
"Watson J., in Birmingham, Ohio, and 
the younger brother, W. C, in Norwalk. 



THOMAS ALEXANDER McLANE 
was born in Greenfield township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, April 20, 1832, 
the fourth son of Robert and Mar- 
garet McLane, who with three elder 
brothers had emigrated from Ireland two 
years previous. A short time before his 
birth they had built and moved into a log 
cabin which stood near the present home, 
which cabin, at the time of the birth of 
Thomas, was in an unfinished condition, 
there being neither floor nor chimney con 
structed. 

His school days were begun in the old 
log school house where the desks were 
formed of planks resting on pegs driven 
into the second or third log. The reversi- 
ble seats found in the schools of the 
present day were represented by heavy 
slabs resting on rustic legs. In those days 
the wood was not provided, and the boys 
were obliged to go into the woods to pro- 
cure it. Plain as it was, that school may 
be considered the vanguard of civilization, 
and from it went forth men and women 
superior in many respects to those who now 
graduate within more pretentious public 
buildings. When at school young Thomas 
studied hard, and ranked as one of the best 
scholars, the teacher often calling upon him 



308 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



to help others with their lessons. But time 
flies rapidly, and Thomas has reached 
young manhood and his school days are 
over, lie had a sti-ong desire to learn a 
trade, but times were hard and money was 
scarce, so he was obliged to give up his 
desire and go to work on the farm. He 
had a strong constitution, and at the age 
of sixteen could do a man's work. As it 
was in the days before inacliinery came to 
aid the farmer in his work, his services 
were in great denaand, for forty years ago 
the modern machinery of to-day was 
unknown. The grain was cut with 
a sickle or cradle, and tlie grass 
with a scythe; corn was planted with a 
hoe, and the ground was plowed with oxen. 
Instead of the threshing machine thresh- 
ing the grain, the farmer pounded it out 
with flails. The old house was fast decay- 
ing, and often in the winter when the 
wind was blowing he would awake in the 
morning to find his bed covered with snow. 
As all men must in the course of life 
fall in love, he was not an exception, for 
he met and loved Miss Susan Channing, 
and was married to her November 28, 
1867. She was born in Somersetshire, 
England, April 4, 1844, and five years 
later she accompanied her parents across 
the ocean to America, they settling in 
Greenfield township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
where lier father, Joseph Channing, es- 
tablished himsef as a farmer. The Chan- 
nings subsequently moved to Riclimond 
township, then Norwalk township, and 
Anally to Chicago Junction, where her 
father died December 3, 1889; her mother 
is still living. While but a small child, 
Susie (as she was commonly called) was 
always willing to help her parents, and 
since she was thirteen years old she has 
earned her own living besides giving 
money to her parents. At tlie time of his 
marriage Mr. McLane decided to make 
farming his vocation, and he and wife took 
up their residence on the McLane farm, 
where his boyhood days had been spent. 
The only child born to them is Margaret 



C, an accomplished young lad}', who re- 
sides at home. In politics Mr. McLane is 
a Democrat, and in religion a Congrega- 
tionalist. During the last two decades 
many improvements have been made on 
his place; the old house has been torn 
down and the handsome brick residence 
has taken its place, while the commodious 
farm buildings and the beautiful shade 
trees that have been planted speak forcibly 
of Mr. and Mrs.. McLane's taste and indus- 
try; for both liave acted well their ]mrt in 
the development of this tract, and are now 
enjoying the fruits of their labors. 



H[ ENRY LAIS, sole proprietor of the 
Star Brewery, Norwalk, is one of 
_j the many indefatigable, wide-awake 
citizens and native-born business 
men for which Huron county is so 
justly celebrated. He was born, in 1853, 
in Monroeville, a son of Anthony and 
Catherine (Thomas) Lais, natives of Ger- 
many, the former born in Baden in 1826, 
the latter born in 1828. She came to the 
United States when a child, and was reared 
and educated in Huron county, Ohio. 

In 1849 Anthony Lais came to Amer- 
ica, making his new home in Monroeville, 
Huron county, where he married. In the 
same year he came here he was given the 
position of foreman in J. S. & H. M. 
liobey's brewery in Monroeville (estab- 
lished in 1845), which he held with char- 
acteristic fidelity for a period of twenty- 
one years. In 1870 he came to Norwalk, 
and in 1871 purchased the brewery in that 
town, from which time until his deatli in 
1886 he carried it on continuously, with 
more than average success. This industry 
was at first but a small ale brewery, now 
the product of it is nearly six thousand 
barrels of beer annually, the market for 
same lieing chiefly coniined to local trade 
in Huron and Erie counties. Anthony 
and Catherine Lais had a family of eight 
children, as follows: Mary (married to 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



311 



W. O. Meyers), Henry (our subject), Jolm, 
Josepliine, Charles, William, Helen, and 
George, all yet living. The mother is now 
makiiior her home with her son Henry, 
who with true filial affection is carincr for 
her in her declining years. 

Henry Lais, of whom this sketch mainly 
treats, received his education at the Mon- 
roeville public schools, after which he 
worked two years in the brewery owned 
by his fatlier. He then went on the road 
as salesman for the brewery, traveling 
through Ohio and Michigan, and at the 
end of ten years lie went into the office, 
and establisiied the trade on a solid basis. 
For the past eight years the business lias 
been most flourishing, the entire brewing 
finding a ready market, as the brands are 
of the very best quality. John Lais 
brother of Henry, is an able assistant in 
the management of the rapidly growing 
business. In the year 1882 he married 
Miss Mary Helrick. 

Mr. Lais' paternal grandfather never 
left Germany, but his maternal grand- 
father came to America about the year 
1830, and was a farmer in Huron county, 
dying some eight years since. Politically 
Mr. Lais is a Democrat, and he is a mem- 
ber of the C. M. B. A., L O. K. M., also 
Hermann Verein. 



'HARLES L. HAWLEY, a promi- 
nent agriculturist, manufacturer and 
justice of the peace, of Townsend 
township, was born in lio.xbury, 
Delawivre Co., N. Y., June 12, 1824, a 
son of William M. and Malinda (Older) 
Hawley. 

William M. Hawley was born in Massa- 
chusetts, and was of English descent. He 
received a good education in his native 
State, and while a young man moved to 
New York, studied law and was admitted 
to the bar, and located in Hornellsviile, 
Steuben county. Here he met with great 
success, and was soon recoiinized as one of 

17 



the leading attorneys of that section of 
the State. He married Miss Malinda 
Older, a native of Delaware county, N. 
Y., and of Eiicrlisli descent, dauichter of 
Nathaniel and Anna Older, and their mar- 
riage was blessed with a son, Charles L. 
In politics William M. Hawley was a 
Whig, and very popular with his party. 
He represented his District in the State 
Senate two terms, and was Circuit Judge 
for four terms. During a long and active 
professional life he acquired both fame 
and an ample income, and was sincerely 
mourned wlien he died, in 1866. He was 
a Mason, and a consistent Church mem- 
ber. His ancestors wer« pioneers of the 
Bay Colony, and were actively engaged in 
the struggles of the Colonial days; and 
the ancestors of his wife, the Olders, were 
early settlers of the Hartfprd Colony. 

Charles L. Hawley received only a lim- 
ited literary training in his youth, but in 
later years succeeded in acquiring a practi- 
cal business education. He lived with his 
mother and worked on the home farm, 
until twenty j'ears of age, at which time 
he commenced life for himself with no 
capital except health, energy and ambition. 
Upon leaving home he was giv^en an a.\e 
by his stepfather, and that was his only 
earthly possession, but by means of econ- 
omy, strict attention to business and good 
judgment he lias accumulated considerable 
property. Mr. Hawley has always been a 
great reader, not only of current literature, 
but also of history and science. When he 
started out to make a living, he was com- 
pelled to labor by the day or month at any 
honest work, and being both competent 
and faithful his services were always in 
demand. In 1849 he came to Huron 
county, Ohio, where he engaged in the 
manufacture of potash for five or si.v 
years, after which he contracted with the 
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- 
road Company to supply wood along the 
line of that road for about three years. 
In 1866 he moved to Oil City, Penn., 
where for five years he was foreman for 



312 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



the Baltic Oil Company (tlie Company 
operatino; at Petroleum Center and various 
other points on Oil creek), and in 1871 he 
returned to Townsend, Huron county, 
where for three and a half years he acted 
as foreman for tlie Collins Pump Com- 
pany. At tlie end of that time Mr. Haw- 
ley began manufacturing pumps on his 
own account, at East Townsend, and has 
uj) to the present time continued in this 
business with great success. 

About the time that he settled in East 
Townsend he purchased a valuable farm in 
Townsend Center, and has also engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. Being physically 
disabled, Mr. llawley was unable to take 
an active part in the Civil war, but in 
September, 1862, Gov. Tod sent a message 
to INorwalk, requesting that as many men 
as possible be enlisted to defend Cincin- 
nati acrainst a threatened attack of the 
enemy. He was notified of Gov. Tod's 
call, and requested to enlist men and re- 
port with them at one o'clock in the after- 
noon, and. reported with twelve men, be- 
tween seven and eight thousand men 
responding to this call in less than twenty- 
four hours. They w'ere regularly mustered 
into service, organized as the Ohio Squir- 
rel Hunters, and rendered excellent service 
till May 4, 1863, when they were hon- 
orably discharged. Mr. Hawley has held 
mimerous positions of trust: he was clerk 
of the township live years; was treasurer 
for over nine years, and justice of tlie 
peace for more than twelve years, to both 
of which offices he was re-elected in April, 
1892 ; and served for thirteen years as post- 
master, which office he held during the 
Civil war. Socially he is a member of 
East Townsend Lodge No. 322, A. F. & 
A. M., and has filled every position in the 
Lodge except that of S. D. He has pre- 
sided over this Lodge about half the time 
since its organization, and has represented 
it in the Grand Lodge of Ohio at fifteen 
sessions. He is also a member of Town- 
send Post No. 414, G. A. K., and is a 
stanch Republican. 



On May 2, 1847, Mr. Hawley married 
Miss Maria Nichols, who was born in 
Chelsea, Vt., October 10, 1830, a daughter 
of Elijah F. and Elsa (Norton) Niciiols, 
natives of Vermont and of English de- 
scent. Their niarriag« was blessed with 
four children, viz.: C. Frank, who was 
horn February 13, 1849, and is now a 
member of tlie firm of Haserott Bros. &, 
Co., wholesale grocers of Cleveland, Ohio; 
Grover M., born July 29, 1850, and died 
July 20, 1851; Julia A., born April 21, 
1852, and died August 20, 1854, and 
Crosby N., who was born February 12, 
1860, and is now settlement clerk for the 
"ISIipano" Railroad Company, at Cleve- 
land, Ohio. Both the Nichols and Norton 
families were pioneers in Vermont, were 
strong ^A'^higs, and served faithfully in the 
long struggle for American Independence. 
Mrs. Hawley's grandfather, Zera Norton, 
took a distinguished part in the Revolu- 
tionary war, and died in Cattarangus 
county, N. Y. Her grandmother, Eliza- 
beth Norton, died in Huron county, Ohio, 
after a long and happy life, filled with 
kind thoughts and generous deeds. 



L 



EROY S. HELLER, postmaster at 
New Haven, a popular citizen and 
one of the principal business men 
of this section of the county, was 
born June 1, 1831, in Tompkius county. 
New York. 

Solomon Heller, grandfather of subject, 
was a native of Pennsylvania, the son of 
German pioneers of that State. Ephraim 
Heller, the father of Leroy S., was born in 
Northampton county, Penn., and when 
twenty-one years old moved to Tompkins 
county, N. Y., where he married Anna 
Jacobs. and where he was engaged in agricul- 
ture until 1835, At that time lie migrated, 
with his wife and children, to New Haven 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, and purchas- 
ing the land now held by his heirs estab- 
lished his home, residing there until his 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



313 



death, which occurred March 11, 1876, 
when he was in the sixty-ninth year of his 
age. His widow died Septeinijer 9, 1892, 
in her eigiity-second year. Both were 
Free-will Baptists, and charter members 
of the Nortii New Haven Baptist Church. 
Of their six children, Leroy 8. is the eld- 
est; L. 0. resides at New Haven; F. J. 
is a farmer of Mitchell county, Kans.; E. 
C. resides on the homestead; C. A. is the 
wife of W. E. Geer, of Nein.aha county, 
Kans., and Harriet is the wife of J. (t. 
Hanna, of Brown county, Kans. The 
famil}' for generations have been con- 
nected with agriculture, the subject of 
this sketch being- the tirst to embark in 
mercantile business. 

Leroy S. Heller was about four years 
old when he arrived in Ohio. Like con- 
temporary youth, he attended the district 
schools, and worked on the home farm un- 
til his boyhood days were passed, and then 
devoted all his attention to farm work. 
In 1853 he made the journey to Cali- 
fornia, and in that State, and in Oreo-on 
and Washington, he lived- for fourteen 
years, engaged the while in agriculture, 
mining and lumbering. He returned to 
Huron county in September, 1866, and 
during the succeeding decade conducted a 
general mercantile business, and then 
went to Colorado. After remaining two 
years in that State, he returned to Huron 
county and engaged in the drug trade at 
New Hnven. In November, 1885, he 
was commissioned postmaster, and held the 
office under the first Cleveland adminis- 
tration as well as under that of Harrison, 
and is still Postmaster under Cleveland's 
second term. 

Mr. Heller was married, January 31, 
1869, to Ella Harrington, who died in 
1875, leaving two children, namely: O. 
E., who resides in Kansas, and Ida, living 
at home. His marriage with Lydia Har- 
rington took place in the fall of 1876; 
she died in 1879, leaving one child, J. 
Ransom, who resides in Fairfield town- 
ship, Huron county. In 1883 Mr. Heller 



married Miss H. J. Young. He has held 
several township offices, was treasurer for 
a long period, and is now serving as 
township clerk. 



AMLTEL McCAMMON, M. D. (de- 
ceased), who for a quarter of a cen- 
tury practiced medicine in Green- 
field township, was born January 3, 
1821, near Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. 

His parents, Samuel and Ellzalteth Mc- 
Cammon, in 1823 moved from their farm 
near Pittsburgh to the vicinity of MansKeld, 
Ohio, and there the father died in 1825. 
When Samuel was twelve years old he was 
apprenticed to a saddler, learned the trade 
and for a short time worked as a journey- 
man. Asa boy his desire for study was, 
manifest, and now that he was a bread- 
winner, he could indulge in this desire. 
Accordingly he attended school at Mans- 
field and at Fredericktown, making rapid 
y)rogress in study. In December, 1842, 
he turned his attention toward nnedicine, 
and sought instruction in that science 
under Dr. John Tifft, of Norwalk. Subse- 
quently he attended two courses of lectures 
at the Willoughby Medical College, in Lake 
county, and in March, 1845, commenced 
practice at Greenfield, then a busy village 
and the center of a rich agricultural dis- 
trict. His success was assured, and within 
a little while he purchased a building lot 
at Greenfield, subsequently buying the 
farm adjoining that lot. On Sep- 
tember 7, 1848, he was united in mar- 
riao-e with Miss Philena Blackman, who 
was born August 27, 1828, in Greenfield 
township, the eldest of three children born 
to Lebo and Polly (Dubois) Blackman, 
early settlers of Greenfield township. To 
the union of Dr. and Mrs. McCammon 
the following nanied children were born: 
George L., born June 26, 1851, died Oc- 
tober 3, 1856; Frank, born October 5, 
1855; Edward S., born August 16, 1858; 
and Laura, born July 9, 1861. Of these, one 



314 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



son resides with the mother on the home- 
stead; tlie other son and tlie daughter are 
botli married, and pleasantly situated in 
homes of their own not far from the " old 
lioine,'' and the farm and business affairs 
are at the present time managed by Ed- 
ward S. McCammon. 

Dr. McCammon practiced over a very 
wide circuit from March, 1845, to Feb- 
ruary, 1870, when his last professional call 
was made. From the close of February to 
the day of his death, August 2, 1870, a 
chronic ailment, which had threatened him 
for some years, gained the mastery and 
confined him to his home. He was not a 
Church mem her, but entertained a deep 
respect for sincere Christianity and lived 
like such, a correct life, doing good 
wherever it was in his power. lie went to 
Eternity quietly and without fear. 



dlOHN CAROTHERS, an honest, 
straightforward citizen, was born 
^ April 15, 1824, in Beaver county, 
Penn. His grandparents, William 
and Sarah (Kress) Carothers, had a family 
of seven children — three sons and four 
dautrhters — among wiioin was one named 
Mat bias. 

Mathias Carothers, father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Virginia, received an 
education in the common schools, and 
learned the trade of wheelwright; he also 
worked five years at the tanner's trade. 
When a young man he married Nancy 
Sample, who was born in Beaver county, 
Penn., daughter of AVilliaiii Sample. They 
were married in Beaver county, where he 
followed his trade, and while residing 
there children were born to them as fol- 
lows: John, subject of this sketch; Sarah, 
Mrs. John Smith, of North Fairfield, Ohio; 
Margaret, deceased when young; and 
Robert, of Venice township, Seneca 
county. In the spring of 183i the family 
came to Trumbull county, Ohio, where 
they purchased fifty acres at forty dollars 
per acre, part of which was cleared. They 



remained there until about 1838, and then 
removed to Seneca county, same State. 
After coming to Trumbull county they 
had one son born to them, Philip, who is 
now a carpenter in Van Wert, Ohio. The 
family came to Seneca county in an old 
wagon drawn by two oxen and a horse, 
and the journey was necessarily a very 
slow one. In December, 1888, they lo- 
cated in Venice township (Seneca county), 
where the father purchased eighty acres 
of land at two dollars and fifty cents per 
acre, most of which was in the woods, 
thoucrh a clearing large enough for a cabin 
and a garden patch had been made. 
While living here three more children 
were born, viz.: William, a farmer <>f Van 
Wert, Ohio; and two daughters who died 
in infancy, unnamed. Here ^Mathias 
Carothers remained until his death, which 
occurred in 1879; his wife passed away in 
1875, and was buried in Pisgah Church 
cemetery, in Venice township, Seneca 
county. Mr. and ]\Irs. Carothers were 
members of the M. P. Church. In politics 
he affiliated with the Democratic party. 
He made agriculture his principal vocation 
in life, and became a successsful farmer 
and well-to-do citizen. 

John Carothers first atteiided school in 
Poland, Trumbull Co., Ohio, his first 
teacher being a Miss Coe. He was reared 
to farm life, and at an early age was put 
to work, clearing the land which his father 
had bought, attending school only such 
days as his assistance was not required at 
home. He remained under the parental 
roof for some time after I'eaching his 
majority, and on November 2r), 1846, 
was married to Susan Mowery, who was 
born in Harrison county, Ohio, daughter 
of Michael Mowery, who came to Seneca 
county in pioneer days. Children as fol- 
lows were born to this union: Nancy, 
Mrs. Jonathan Crabbs, of North Fairfield, 
Huron county; Mathias, a farmer of Rich- 
mond township; Sarah, Mrs. William 
Runyan, of Venice township, Seneca 
county; Jennie, Mrs. Albert Runyan, of 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



315 



Van Wert county, Ohio; Emma, Mrs. 
Frank Weaver, ot Seneca county, Ohio; 
Ida, Mrs. Benjamin Hawn, of Chicago 
Junction, Ohio; Martha, Mrs. J. J. Link; 
Ella, vvlio married Cyrus Crabbs, and died 
in Seneca county; William and a daughter, 
both of whom died young. After his 
marriage Mr. Carothers liad purchased 
forty acres of partly cleared woodland, 
upon which he erected a house and barn. 
This property he subsequently sold, and 
purchased eighty-nine and one-half acres 
of new land in Ilichmond township, Huron 
county, upon which stood a log house 
18 X 20 feet. He has since added to this 
tract from time to time, until it now com- 
prises 139^ acres, completely equipped 
with new farm buildings. In 1891 he 
moved to Chicago Junction, where he has 
since led a retired life. In politics lie was 
originally a Democrat, but since the for- 
mation of the Republican party lias been 
a member of same. He has served as 
township trustee, for twelve years as 
justice of the peace, and in various local 
offices. In religious connection he and 
his wife are members of the U. B. Church, 
in which he is class-leader. Mr. Carothers' 
success is due to hard work and good busi- 
ness management, which, coupled with 
common sense and sound judgment, have 
brought him the reward he so well merits; 
and he is a man whose opinions are sought 
after and valued by his fellow-citizens. 



EiLIJAH WASHBUEN, one of the 
oldest native-born citizens of Fitch- 
I ville township, is the son of Joseph 

Washburn, a pioneer of this section 
of the State of Ohio. 

Joseph Washburn was born on his 
father's farm in New York State, near the 
Catskill Mountains, was raised in the man- 
ner common to boys of that time and 
place, and while still a young man married 
Sarah Tompkins. To them three children 
were born in New York State, one of 



whom died in infancy, while the second 
lived to an adult age. In 1820 the family 
migrated to Fitchville township, Huron 
Co., Ohio, where Joseph Washburn had 
located a tract of 700 or 800 acres of wild 
land. On their arrival a log cabin was 
built, and while awaiting the erection of 
that cabin the members of the family found 
shelter in the liome of a settler named 
Palmer. In Fitchville township the fol- 
lowincr named children were born to the 
pioneer parents: James, who moved to 
Michitran; Sarah, who married Anson 
Skellenger, and died at New London, Ohio; 
and Elijah and Edmund (twins), the latter 
of whom died when two and one half 
years old. On this land the father resided 
iintil his death, February 7, 1853, and the 
mother until her death, July 10, 1886. 
Joseph AYashburn was a practical farmer 
and a successful one. Politically a Whig, 
he was always faithful to that jjarty. His 
widow lived to be ninety-two years old. 
In her later years she was a member of 
the Concrreo-ational Church, and one of the 
original members of that denomination in 
Fitchville township. The husband and 
wife were buried in Fitchville cemetery. 

Elijah Washburn was born November 
20, 1830, on the home farm, which he now 
occupies. There he was reared, and in the 
school of the district received an elemen- 
tary education, being one of the pupils who 
attended regularly during the winter 
months of each year. The rude school- 
house is not better remembered than the 
slab seats and stern teacher. During the 
spring, summer and fall the boy was kept 
busy on the farm, and thus employed he 
grew to manhood physically strong and 
self-reliant. In 1854 he married Harriet 
Potter, who was born in Ruggles town- 
ship, Ashland Co., Ohio, in 1835, daughter 
of Asahel Potter, a native of Connecticut, 
who was a pioneer of Ashland county. 
The young couple located on the home 
farm, and to them were born children as 
follows: Viola, deceased wife of Peter 
Kichie; Ada, married to George Evans, of 



316 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Fitcliville; Nettie, deceafed; Charles, pro- 
prietor of tlie "Mansion House," at Fitcli- 
ville; Hattie, deceased wife of Dwigbt 
Kniffin; Martin; Joseph; Louisa, deceased; 
Leeland; Lillie M. (deceased); and Loriii, 
of whom, Martin, Joseph, Leeland and 
Lorin are residing at home. 

During his residence here, or for a term 
of over thirty years, Mr. Washlnirn has 
been a house-inover and farmer, and has 
been successful in each business. For- 
merly a Whig, he became a Republican on 
the organization of the new party. Born 
in Fitcliville township, lie has resided on 
the same farm longer than any other citi- 
zen in the township, and in his long life 
here be has become highly esteemed by all. 




I( AEON ROBINSON, one of the 
l\ largest landowners and mostpromi- 
^ nent stock growers of Fitcliville 
township, of which locality he has 
been a resident many years, was 
born November 27, 1827, in Coshocton 
county, Ohio. 

His father. William Pierce, was left an 
orphan in his boyhood, and was adopted 
by a man named John Robinson, hence 
the change in the patronymic. William 
Pierce was born in Delaware in 1780, and 
about the first or second year of this cen- 
tuiy migrated into Pennsylvania, settling 
in Washington county. Here he married 
Letitia Coleman, with whom in 1815 he 
removed to Ohio, locating in Coshocton 
county, where they made their home until 
1829. In the year last named the family 
removed to Crawford county, same State, 
locating where the Cincinnati Turnpike 
now is, at a point six miles south of Bucy- 
rus, and here they resided until 1833, 
when his twelve children were stricken 
with milk fever, a peculiar disease then 
common in Crawford county. The father 
determined to seek a healthier place, and 
mounting his horse set out for Huron 



county. Arriving there he made some e.\- 
plorations, and succeeded in obtaining a 
small tract of land, about fifty acres, in 
Norwich township, in exchange for his 
horse. Without delay he brought his 
whole family to IHiron county, and re- 
sumed the work of pioneers. The land 
was cleared by Mr. Robinson and his sons, 
and a tract of 150 acres added to the 
homestead, much of which was also cleared, 
and all of it improved by them. Mean- 
time the father sold his estate in Crawford 
county to a French family for one thou- 
sand six hundred dollars, and invested the 
proceeds in lands in Wood county, Ohio. 
In 1848 William Robinson removed to 
Fitchville township, where he located on 
the present Aaron Robinson farm, and 
where he resided until his death, Auenst 
10, 1864. His widow died January 25, 
1865, and both lie in the Fitchville ceme- 
tery. They reared a large family — seven 
sons and five daughters — of whom two 
sons 'and two daughters survive, namely: 
Wesley, a farmer of Norwich; Aaron, a 
farmer of Fitchville; Christine, widow of 
John Bowen, of Norwich; and Emma 
Eliza, widow of John M. Foreman, of 
Miami, Lucas Co., Ohio. The father of 
this family was a Democrat down to the 
period of Buchanan's nomination in 1856, 
when he joined the American party. From 
1856 to the date of his death, he was an 
active Republican, while, in religious 
opinion, as was also his wife, he was a 
member of the United Brethren Church. 
Aaron Robinson may be termed a 
pioneer of three counties in Ohio. His 
school days began in the log house in 
Norwich township, where Miss Emily 
Ashley wielded the birch. They were of 
short duration; for the exigencies of the 
times would not permit the farm to be 
neglected, and the boy of the period had, 
certainly, his place in the economy of the 
farm. His marriage with Hannah D. 
Hinkley took place October 1. 1856. She 
was born June 13, 1832, in Hector town- 
ship, Tompkins Co., N. Y., to Horace and 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



317 



Laura (Mclntire) Ilinkley, who settled in 
Ripley townsliip, Iluroti Co., Ohio, in 
1884, and removed to Fitchville townsliip 
in 1836. 

After their raarriacre Aaron and Hannah 
D. Robinson located on a farm in Fitch- 
ville townsliip, which they now own, and 
resided thereon until 1865, when the 
family took possession of the present 
farm. Their children are William IL, an 
attendant of the Lebanon (Ohio) College, 
now a farmer of Fitchville township, and 
Laura L. D.; they reside with their par- 
ents. Mr. Robinson is the owner of 500 
acres of as good land as may be found in 
the Western Reserve. He is one of tiie 
large real-estate owners in the county, 
and one of its extensive stock growers. 
Systematic in the management of his 
estate, he is also a good tinancier, and in 
every respect a progressive agriculturist. 
Politically he is a Democrat, and has been 
elected trustee; has also tilled other public 
positions, but his manifold business inter- 
ests are given his closest personal attention. 



djESSE SXYDER, a well-known 
farmer citizen of New Haven town- 
' ship, is a native of Tompkins coun- 
ty, N. y. His grandfather, John 
Snyder, who was of German descent, fol- 
lowed the milling business in Northampton 
county, Penn., in which he was quite suc- 
cessful. He was a colonel in the State 
militia during, the Whiskey Insurrection, 
and was a man of considerable influence. 
He had twelve children, viz.: Peter, John, 
Samuel. Melchior, Daniel, Simon, Rudolph, 
Sally, Hannah, Louisa, Catiierine and 
Susan, all now deceased. 

Rudolph Snyder, father of subject, was 
born in 1802, in Northampton county, 
Penn., passed his boyhood days on a farm, 
and in early life learned the tanner's trade, 
which, in connection with agriculture, he 
followed for a number of years. In 1822 
he was united in marriage with Miss Mary 



Heller, wlio was horn February 3, 1803, 
daughter of Solomon Heller, a farmer. 
In 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Snyder migrated to 
Ohio, locating in Eloominggrove town- 
ship, Richland county, where they lived 
until 1839, in whicii year they removed to 
New Haven township, Huron county, re- 
maining there until 1857, when they took 
up tl'.eir residence in the village of New 
Haven. They were the j)arents of ten 
children, of whom four died in infancy, 
the others being Reuben, Jesse, Solomon, 
Abner, Mary and Eliza. Mr. Snyder was 
a decidedly successful man. Politically 
he was an active member of the Demo- 
cratic party, and served as justice of the 
peace in his township; in religious belief 
he was a member of the Free-will Baptist 
Church. He died April 2, 1882. 

Jesse Snyder was born March 3, 1826, in 
Tompkins county, N. Y., where he passed 
his early years on a farm. In 1844 he 
came to Plymouth (then Paris), Ohio, and 
learned the carpenter's trade, working at 
same for three years, when he commenced 
farming, in which he continued until 

o ... 

1853. In that year he went to California, 
taking the route through Central America, 
where the Nicaragua Canal is now in 
course of construction. He remained two 
years in the California mining regions, 
visiting all the principal camps — San 
Francisco, Sacramento, etc. — and toward 
the latter part of iiis stay went to San 
Antonio, where he engaged in the shingle 
business. During this time he also con- 
ducted a store and hotel in West Union, 
four miles from Redwood City, Cal. In 
1855 he returned to New Haven, Ohio, 
and purchasing a farm worked same for 
two years, when he engaged in the tanning 
business until 1865, and then agai[i took 
up agriculture, to which he has ever since 
given his attention. Mr. Snyder now owns 
128 acres of good farming land, and by 
hard work and strict economy has attained 
considerable success in his chosen vocation. 
On October 3, 1850, Mr. Snyder was 
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth 



318 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Lovelaiid, daughter of John Loveland, of 
New Haven tmvnship, and to this union 
came three children, viz.: Ralph, now a 
farmer in Xew Haven township; and Will- 
iam W. and Jesse C. (both deceased). The 
mother of these died February 9, 1862, 
and Septemlier 14, 1863, Mr. Snyder was 
married to Mrs. Satira A. (Campbell) 
Easter, daughter of Lorenzo Campbell, of 
Greenfield township, Huron county. She 
died September 26, 1864, and on January 
1, 1866, he was again married, this time 
to Miss Martha Dickinson, a daughter of 
E. Dickinson, of New Haven township. To 
this union has come one child, Alton 
S., a farmer of New Haven township. In 
politics our subject is a stanch member of 
the Democratic party, and has served in 
various township otKces. In 1848 he made 
a visit to Chicago, 111., at which time the 
city contained no railroads, and he made 
the return trip to Ohio on a horse. He 
became a member of the Order of the I. O. 
O. F. in 1857, and has been a member 
ever since; in 1870 was elected as repre- 
sentative of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, 
I.O. O. F. 




)\AEEEN SEVEEANCE, a worthy 
member of the Huron county bar, 
lf(' is a native of Sandusky county, 
Ohio, born October 9^ 1836. 
Elisha Severance, his father, was a native 
of Massachusetts, where he received a fair 
education, and passed his early life. 

When a young man Elisha Severance 
moved to Pennsylvania with his father, 
and naade his home in that State until 
1819, when he settled at Milan, Erie Co., 
Ohio. In 1830 he located at the site of 
the present town of Clyde, Sandusky 
county, and in 1839 came to Peru town- 
ship, Huron county, where he purchased a 
farm. Having learned the trade of cooper 
in Massachusetts, his time in Peru town- 
ship was devoted to that in connection 
with agriculture, working at the trade in 



winter, and giving his attention to the 
farm during the remainder of the year, 
until 1853. In the last mentioned year he 
removed to GreenlTeld township, and there 
remained until 1863, when he came to New 
Haven with his son Warren, with whom 
he passed the remainder of his days. 

On April 28, 1823, Elisha Severance 
was united in marriage with Martha Bangs, 
and to their union were born children as 
follows: Charles F., Lucien (who died 
young), Clarissa, and Samuel (who died in 
1883). This wife died xiugust 12, 1829, 
and on May 7, 1831, Mr. Severance wedded 
Mrs. Phoebe (Tracy) Morgan, of Milan, 
Ohio, by which marriage were also born 
four children: William M., who died in 
1883 in Illinois; Byron, who died in in- 
fancy; Warren, the subject of this memoir; 
and Byron (named after the iirst Byron), 
a carpenter and joiner of Fairfield town- 
ship, who died October 7, 1892. The 
mother of these children passed away in 
January, 1879, aged seventy-seven years; 
she was a daughter of Abel Tracy, of Ver- 
mont, in which State she was born; a 
Presbyterian from the age of sixteen years 
to her death, she was always a consistent 
member of that Church. Elisha Severance 
was a Whig before the war, but in 1856 
or 1860 joined the Democratic party. He 
passed away October 13, 1892, aged ninety- 
eight years. 

The family name was originally Severns, 
of Norman origin. The ancestor of the 
family in America moved from England 
into Scotland, and came from the latter 
country to the LTnited States in early Co- 
lonial days. From the genealogy pul)lished 
by Eev. Mr. Sexerance, of Chicago, we 
quote: "While no member of the family 
has ever arisen to any particular promi- 
nence, none have ever put any stain upon 
the name." The family are the only rep- 
resentatives of the name in this section of 
Ohio, but there is a colony of Severances 
at Severance, Doniphan Co., Kans., while 
a number of the name make their home in 
Chicago, Illinois. 





.e^^i^^ 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



321 



Warren Severance received in his youth 
a practical education, and for nine years 
prior to 1875-76 was an instructor of high 
repute. In 1S63 lie purchased a farm in 
New Haven township, four miles east of 
Chicago Junction and near New Haven 
village, which Tie carried on without tak- 
ing his attention from his profession of 
school teacher. On February 9, 1S60, he 
was married to Philinda Shepard, daughter 
of Israel Shepard, who came from New 
York to Ohio at an early day, and thej 
have had two children : Elmer AV., born in 
1861, who is now in the office of his 
father, and Clara M., wife of C. A. 
Weatherford, of Chicago Junction. In 
1876 Mr. Severance was offered induce- 
ments by Mr. D. H. Young, a member of 
the Ohio bar and for thirteen years an in- 
surance agent, to enter the legal profession, 
which he accepted, entering the office as a 
partner in the entire business, and for two 
years he worked in the insurance and real- 
estate office at Chicago Junction. On 
March 28, 1878, he was admitted to the 
bar, at Bucyrue, Ohio, and on June 3, 
1880, was admitted to practice in the 
United States Courts at Toledo, Ohio. In 
September, 1878, Mr. Young moved to 
Norwalk, Ohio, and Mr. Severance as- 
sumed full charge of the office. In 1891 
he was appointed local counsel for the 
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and 
he has iirmly established, himself in the 
confidence of that great corporation by the 
close attention he gives to their legal af- 
fairs in this division. Apart from this 
work, he commands a large and lucrative 
general practice, and is well and favorably 
known to the people of Huron and ad- 
joining counties. He also conducts an 
important real-estate business. 

Mr. Severance was largely instrumental 
in the organization of the Presbyterian 
Church here in 1890. In 1885 he was 
one of four of the Republican candidates 
for prosecuting attorney, receiving seventy- 
seven of the seventy-eight votes required 
for nomination, and as candidate for the 



judgeship of the Probate court he also re- 
ceived a very flattering support. Almost 
forty-two years old when admitted to the 
bar, his success is marvelous, if not phe- 
nomenal. His knowledge of the people 
and the universal respect and esteem in 
which he was held played an important 
])art in the issue; but this alone, without 
the actual ability which he possesses to an 
unusual degree, would be of little use in a 
battle for precedence among the lawyers 
of this section, and Mr. Severance may 
well be proud of the brilliant record which 
he has made. 



EiLON G. BOUGHTON, abstracter 
and conveyancer, Norwalk, is a na- 
I five of Huron county, born June 

30, 1839, a son of John and Susan 
(Benedict) Boughton. The father was born 
in 1796 at Soutiibury, Conn., was reared 
in Cayuga county, N. Y., and in 1836 
came to Ohio, where he passed from earth 
December 12, 1864. The mother was born 
February 2, 1800, near Norwalk. Conn., 
and died June 9, 1888. They had a family 
of ten childi'en, six of whom are yet living. 
E. G. Boughton was reared to early man- 
hood in the vicinity of his birth, gaining 
the experiences of the average boy of tiie 
period in the schools, and in learning the 
practical lessons of patient labor and 
economy. When only a well-grown youth 
he taught school successfully for three 
terms, but when the tocsin of war rang out 
over our Union, the young man dropped 
his birch baton and enlisted, in September, 
1861, in Company D, Forty-first Regiment 
O. V. I. He went to the front with the 
army of the Cumberland, and was wounded 
November 25, 1863, at the battle of Mis- 
sionary Ridge, after which he was on de- 
tached service to the close of his three 
years term of enlistment. On his return 
home he engaged in farming until 1872, 
when he was elected recorder of Huron 
county, and was subsequently re-elected, 
serving three consecutive terms, or nine 



322 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



years. While in office, almost as apart of 
his duties, he comiiieiiced work in a set of 
abstract books, and immediately on retir- 
ing to private life opened his present ab- 
stract and conveyancer's office, in which 
line be has commanded almost a monopoly 
of tlie business. 

E. G. Bougliton and Melinda A. Davis, 
a native of Huron county, were nnited in 
marriage March 22, 1865, and they iiave 
had four children: Will. H., Fred G.. Lena 
M. and Laura M. The Boughton family 
is one of the eminently respected in Huron 
county. 



fr^ A. EHRMAN, baker and confec- 
I w. tioner, Chicago Junction, is a Ger- 
^^J man by birth, l)orn March 10, 1852, 
J^ in Hessen Darmstadt, a son of Frank 
and Margaretta Ehrmaii,the former 
of whom was a baker by trade. 

Alter leaviug school in his native land, 
our subject commenced learning his 
father's trade, under hitn completing his 
apprenticeship. At the age of si.xteen 
years he embarked at Bremen on board the 
steamship "Rhine," for the New World, 
and after a passage of fourteen days landed 
at New York. F'rom there he proceeded 
westward to Cleveland, where he worked 
at his trade till 1873, in which year he re- 
visited his native country, remaining there 
one and one half years, when he again came 
to America and to Cleveland, resuming 
his trade. In 1877 he a second time 
crossed the Atlantic to the Fatherland, on 
this occasion sojourning there two years, 
and then again coming to Cleveland, once 
more took up the baking business. In 
1881 he moved to Norwalk, Huron county, 
and here worked for J. P. Link in the 
same line, six years, at the end of which 
time (188B) he came to Monroeville, and 
coniinenced business for his own account. 
In 1891 he ga\e up his small business in 
Monroeville, and coming to Chicago 
Junction has here since conducted the 



leading bakery and confectionery establish- 
ment, and grocery and jjfovision business, 
in the town. 

On May 8, 1884, Mr. Ehrman was mar- 
ried to Barbara Ileeb, born January 16, 
1858, in Hessen- Darmstadt, Germany, a 
daughter of Frederick and Catherine Heeb. 
She came to the United States in Jutie, 
1888, and was living in Cleveland, Ohio, 
at the time Mr. Ehrman visited and won 
her, and took her to Norwalk. The chil- 
dren born to this union are as follows: 
Philip F. E., George L., Carl J. and Eddie 
J., all yet living except the last named. 
In his political leanings our subject is in- 
dependent, belonging to no particular 
party, but voting always for the candidate 
he considers best fitted for the position. 
In religious faith he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Church. 



APTAIN F. J. LEYDORF, a 



pio- 



neer of Chicago Junction, was born 
^ November 7, 1841, in Prussia, 
Germany, where his father, Henry 
Wilhelm Leydorf, was a dealer in live 
stock. 

F. J. Leydorf received a practical educa- 
tion in the public and private schools of 
his native place, and at the age of foui-teen 
years was apprenticed to a mechanic, with 
whom he remained three full years. In 
1800 he entered the Prussian army, and 
served until 1866, when the Electorate of 
Hesse fell [It was annexed to Prussia in 
1867J. and he did not wish to serve longer. 
Some short time after the war his father 
died, and the son was requested by his 
mother to return. In 1867 he married 
Anna Maria Baechman, and in 1868 they 
immigrated to the United States, coming 
to Sandusky, Ohio, where friends of the 
family had settled. Shortly afterward they 
moved to Custar, Wood county, where 
Capt. Leydorf established a saloon and 
meat market, but in 1872 he returned to 
Sandusky, where he engaged in the hotel 



iiURoy COUNTY, omo. 



323 



Inisiness, and remained until the fall of 
1S75. In 1873 he organized the Sandusky 
military company, of which he was elected 
captain, a position he held during his i-esi- 
dence in that city. Locating at (Chicago 
Junction in 1875 he erected one of the 
first houses there, on the west side, and 
engaged in the butchering business, which 
he carried on until 1877. In 1882 he 
bought the property of William Oehni, of 
Front street, and in 1889 purchased the 
property he now occupies as a hotel, on 
Spring street. He owns the Fox and 
Oehm property, purchased previously, and 
has been exceptionally successful in his 
business. No man has- been more inti- 
mately identified with the progress of 
Chicago Junction in its various phases, and 
it was through his efforts that the town was 
incorporated. Coming here when the site 
was practically in its primeval condition, 
he labored in the interest of the place, and 
watched its progress with joy. In 1879 
he was elected street commissioner and 
constable, in which position he served for 
two years. As street commissioner he 
laid out a number of what are now the 
principal streets of the town, and shortly 
after he was elected a member of board of 
education for three years. An active, 
earnest Democrat, he was the nominee of 
the party for sheriff of Huron county, and 
at the polls he succeeded in cutting down 
the Republican majority from 1,400 to 
778. In 1888 he was appointed deputy 
United States marshal for the Northern 
District of Ohio, and served until 1892. 
He is now serving his sixth year as justice 
of the peace, and in 1893 was elected 
mayor of the city. 

Of the ten children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Leydorf, eight are yet living, namely: 
Kunnegiinde (wife of J. L. Von Slagle), 
Matilda K., Frederick W., Magdalena, 
Anna Margaret, Maria Theresa, Amelia 
and Amanda. The eldest child, Annie 
Kathrina, died when four years old, and 
Frederick Jacob died in infancy. The 
family are all popular in the community, 



and the Captain himself is known to his 
particular friends as a prince of • good 
fellows. 




k,TLLIAM MONTEITH, one of the 
most progressive citizens of Fly- 
mouth, and cashier of the First 
National Bank of that place, was 
born March 25, 1861, in Iieland, and came 
with his parents to the United States in 
1864. 

He is a son of Andrew and Mary A. 
fSmith) Monteith, natives of Ireland, and 
aescendants of that sturdy Scotch-Irish 
race that predominates in the North. 
Andrew Monteith, who was a farmer and 
ropemaker in the land of his birth, emi- 
grated, in 1864, with his family to the 
United States, and landing at Philadelphia 
proceeded at once to Plymouth, Ohio, 
where two of his brothers-in-law already 
resided. In 1882 he purchased a farm in 
Ne*v Haven township, and later bought 
a second tract two miles south of Plymouth, 
in Richland county, where he now resides. 
Of the seven children born to Andrew 
and Mary A. (Smith) Monteith, William 
is the eldest. 

AVilliam Monteith came to Ohio when 
three years old. He received a practical 
education in the public schools of Ply- 
mouth, and at the age of sixteen years 
accepted the position of bookkeeper in the 
First National Bank of that place. His 
services in this capacity were so well ap- 
preciated, that in January, 1886, he was 
promoted to cashier, vice W. B. Cuyken- 
dall, who had resigned, and he still holds 
the position, giving perfect satisfaction to 
patrons and stockholders. 

Politically a Republican, he takes an 
active interest in pul)lic affaire, always 
giving his party a loyal support, and he 
has served as treasurer both of the town- 
ship and town. He is secretary of the 
Plymouth Savings Building and Loan 
Association, and a stockholder in that 
company; is also a director and treasurer 



324 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



of the Cline Eno-ine and Machine Coin- 
pany, and is interested in every possible 
way in the development of trade and in- 
dustry in Plymouth. This popular young 
man is self-made by intelligence and 
earnestness, for to all enterprises, with 
which he associates himself, he gives his 
best thought and labor, and makes success 
attend it. 



P\IIILIP EKF, a prominent, highly 
respected citizen of Peru township, 
was born January 13. 1881, in 
jMassau, Gerniany, and immigrated 
to the United States in 1852. 
His father, Jacob Erf, was also a native 
of Germany, in which country he married 
Catherine Spangkus, who bore him the 
following children: Philip, Catherine, 
Anthony and Jacob. In 1853 the parents, 
with their three younger children, immi- 
grated to America, settling in Lyme town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio, where their son 
Philip had previously purchased a farm. 
Here thej' passed the remainder of their 
lives, Mrs. Erf dying in 1875, Mr. Erf in 
1889. Politically he was an independent 
Democrat, and in religious faith he and 
his wife were members of the Evangel- 
ical Church. 

Philip Erf received a common-school 
training in his native country, being fairly 
educated for a young man of his time. 
He remained in Germany until 1852, 
when (as above related) he sailed for the 
United States, taking passage for ^ew 
York from London, England, the voyage 
occupying thirty-one days. After land- 
ing he proceeded westward to Ohio, travel- 
ing by canal, railroad and lake to San- 
dusky, and thence went to Monroeville, 
where he obtained work as a farm hand at 
eight dollars per month. A poor German 
lad, honest and energetic, he went to work 
with a will, saved his earnings, and within 
a few years established himself as a land- 
owner. On October 18, 1856, he married 
Dora Heyman, also a native of Nassau, 



Germany, daughter of William Heyman; 
she crossed the ocean on the same vessel 
as Mr. Erf, though at the time of their 
emigration they were entire strangers. 
After his marriage our subject located on 
the farm where he still resides, and which 
at one time he worked in partnership with 
his father-in-laW. Since his location in 
Peru township Mr. Erf has followed 
general farming and stock raising, and 
few if any of the farmers of the town- 
ship have been more successful. He now 
owns over 500 acres of excellent laud, on 
which stands one of the finest brick resi- 
dences in the township. The barn equals 
anything in the district, and the whole 
farm gives evidence of progressiveness 
and thrift. If the title of the most sys- 
tematic farmer can be consistently be- 
stowed on any one farmer in Peru town- 
ship, Philip Erf well deserves it. Aside 
from some property received from his wife 
his wealth is the accumulation of his own 
industry. His land is to-day worth thirty- 
five thousand dollars; the stock which he 
raises always commands the highest prices, 
and in the cultivation of the farm only the 
most improved machinery and farm imple- 
ments are used. As a business man and 
financier his influence is keenly felt, and 
his decisions have great weight in his com- 
munity. Mr. and Mrs. Erf have children 
as follows: William, a farmer of Lyme 
township; Lydia, Mrs. August Horn, of 
Lyme township; and Lewis and Oscar, at 
home. Politically he is Republican, is an 
enthusiastic party man, and has tilled 
several township othees. He and his wife 
are members of the Protestant Church at 
Monroeville. 



W. OSBORN, the leading hard- 
ware merchant of Greenwich, was 
born November 30, 1858, in Ma- 
honing county, Ohio, and received 
a common-school education in the schools 
of Youngstown, same State. He learned 




HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



325 



the tinner's trade, and worked at same for 
teu years before establishing his present 
business. 

On September 20, 1883, Mr. Osborn 
establislied liis present house at Green- 
wich. A practical tradesman himself, he 
started on a small scale, gradually in- 
creasing his stock to meet his growing 
trade, and thus built up on a solid founda- 
tion a prosperous business. lie handles 
hardware, stoves, tin and copper ware and 
queensware. keeping in each department 
a large and varied assortment of goods, 
making a specialty of paints, oils, var- 
nishes, etc., and tin and sheet-iron work. 
His store occupies a building 20 x 70 feet 
in area. On November 12, 1889, he mar- 
ried Annetta Patterson, by whom two chil- 
dren were l)orn: Mabel Estelle, August 12, 
1890. and Mildred Virginia, June 12, 1893. 
Mrs. Osborn's parents, Robert and Mary 
Patterson, are Irish and Scotch respect- 
ively. 

Mr. Osborn is a Republican politically, 
lias served as member of the Greenwich 
council, and is now a member of the school 
board. An active participant in public 
enterpt-ises, he gives a lilieral share of his 
time to questions afftcting the well being 
of the town and tuwnshij) of Greenwich. 
In religious connection he is a member of 
the Congregational Church. His parents, 
Freeman and Susan (^Strauss) Osborn, are 
descended from English and Dutch pio- 
neers of Pennsylvania, who settled in Ohio 
at an early day. 



THOMAS L. MEAD, grandson of 
Calvin Mead, was born in Green- 
wich township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
November 28, 1830. Luther Mead, 
son of Calvin, was born on his 
father's farm at Greenwich, Conn., in 
1790. When a young man he married 
Annis Mead, a native of AVestchester 
county, N. Y., and took her to his home 
in New York City, where he had pre- 
viously established himself in mercantile 



life. Subsequently he moved to Ludlow- 
ville, where he started a dry-goods store, 
and carried on business until 1826, when 
he and family went to Greenwich, Con- 
necticut. 

In 1830 Luther Mead, his wife and 
three children set out on a journey to the 
"Firelands" in Ohio, traveling via Albany 
and Buffalo to Sandusky (at that time 
called Portland), and thence by wagon via 
Norwalk to Greenwich township, where 
his father, Calvin Mead, had purchased 
1,100 acres of wild land. He deeded to 
Luther 500 acres, anil on this tract the 
pioneers erected a cabin. In tlii.s pioneer 
cabin were born two childreu, viz.: Thomas 
L., the subject of this sketch, and Annie 
M., a resident of Greenwich township. 
The father of these children died on the 
original farm January 11, 1876, and the 
mother in March, 1886, both being in- 
terred in the Fitchville cemetery. Luther 
Mead was a Whig until the Republicans 
were organized, and for twenty years was 
a faithful iidherent of the new party. In 
religious connection he and his wife 
were early members of the Congregational 
Church at Fitchville, and among its most 
zealous supj)orters. On one occasion Mr. 
Mead saw a few boys desecrating the Sab- 
bath Day by bathing in a mil! pond, and 
approaching them invited them to his 
home to attend Sabbath-school. The boys, 
now clean, good-natured and vigorous after 
their bath, accepted the invitation and ap- 
peared in due time at the Mead cabin. 
The Sabbath school was thus opened for 
the first time in Greenwich township. 

Thomas L. Mead received an elementary 
education in the public school of his dis- 
trict, and passed a short term in the 
schools of Milan, Ohio. School days over 
he worked on his father's farm until 1855, 
on November 30 of which year he married 
Allathea P. Finch, who was born April 
23, 1834, at Greenwich, Conn., daughter 
of Gilbert P. and Allathea (Peck) Finch. 
She visited a sister who resided in Huron 
count}', and here met Mr. Mead for the 



326 



IIUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



tirst time. To thein tlio following named 
children were born: Luther 11., now over- 
seer of Dr. Parker's elegant country seat 
at New Canaan, Conn.; Joseph A., a car- 
penter, of Cleveland, Ohio; Edward L., a 
fanner; Annis M., now Mrs. E. D. Nick- 
ersoM, of Fiiidlay, Ohio; Gilbert F., of 
Greenwich township; Allathea C. and 
Thonjas L., Jr., residing at home, and 
Anna D. The firstborn was a daughter un- 
named, who died in infancy; another child, 
Marcus L., died in youth. The present 
farm has been the family home since 1855, 
with the exce])tion of two years, when the 
parents resided at Oberlin, Ohio, to super- 
intend the education of their children in 
Oberlin College. Mr. Mead is a man well 
endowed with common sense and good 
judgment, and is considered one of the 
leading citizens of his township. Politically 
a Republican, he gives loyal support to his 
party, and has served as justice of the 
peace for six years. lie is a deacon in the 
Congregational Church at Greenwich, of 
which his wife and several children are 
also members, and for a quarter of a cen- 
tury he has discharged the duties of Sun- 
day-school superintendent. 



^J 



t /I ICEIAEL E. FEWSON, a promi- 
1^1 iient agriculturist and worthy citi- 
I] zen of Green Held township, was 
born March 17, 1841, at Burton, 
Yorkshire, England. 
His father, David Fevvson, was a laborer 
in Yorkshire, and there married Johanna 
Scribner, to whom six children were born 
in England, namely: John R, who died 
in his native land; Elizabeth, Mrs. George 
Billard, of Norwich township; John, a 
sawyer of Richmond township; Robert, of 
Surry county, Va. ; Michael E., of Huron 
county, and Jane, who married Charles 
O'Connell. In 1852 the family emigrated 
from England to the United States. Sailing 
from Liverpool in the clipper-ship " Rap- 
pahannock," Capt. Cushion, they arrived 



at New York after a voyage of seven 
weeks. From that city the family trav- 
eled by railroad to Havana, Huron Co., 
Ohio, via Buffalo and Sandusky. His 
son-in-law, George Billard, had already 
settled in the neighborhood; so that, how- 
ever strange the land appeared, they were 
not altogether among strangers. Mr. 
Fewson rented a log house in Norwich 
township at one dollar per month, and re- 
sided there until his death, which occurred 
in 1884. His wife died in 1879. 

Michael E. Fewson was nine years old 
when the family settled in the United 
States. He received a primary education 
in the district schools of Norwich town- 
ship, was granted his time by the father at 
the age of eighteen years, and entered on 
life for himself. The first money he 
earned was a dime, which was paid him by 
the late Dr. McCammon to the young 
guide who led biin through the thicket to 
the cabin of Clark Eddy, who was suffer- 
ing from fever and ague. Soon after our 
subject found employment in a sawmill as 
engineer, and later he went to work in a 
clearing, being so engaged up to the time 
of his enlistment in August, 1863, for five 
years State duty in Company E, Sixty- 
tiiird O. Y. I., commanded by Capt. A. B. 
Gilson. On May 2, 1864, this organiza- 
tion was called on by the General Govern- 
ment for one hundred days United States 
service, Capt. Gilson being elected major 
of tliat regiment on the same day. They 
were ordered to Camp Taylor, city of 
Cleveland, arriving on the third, and were 
there joined by the Seventy-ninth Battal- 
ion from Medina county. Ohio. They 
were examined on the 6th and 7th and 
mustered in on the 8th; and were then 
known as the One Hundred and Sixty- 
sixth Regiment O. N. G. Vols. In the 
re-organization Mr. Fewson was attached 
to Company H, commanded by Capt. B. 
F. McCormick. His term of service ex- 
pired September 10, 18(34, and he then re- 
turned to Huron county, where he resumed 
work in a sawmill. 



UURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



327 



On November 2, I860, Mr. Feweon 
married Sarah E. Dailey, daughter of 
Thomas Dailey, a native of New York, 
who had settled in Greenfield township, 
where Sarah was born May 2, 1839. The 
children by this inarria<;e are Burton E., 
Nellie M., Minnie M., William G., Dessie 
D. and Harry D., all residing with their 
parents. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Fewson settled on a rented farm in Green- 
field townsiiip; later he purchased ten 
acres iu Norwich township, of which tract 
he gave his parents a life lease; subse- 
quently he moved to Bronson township, 
where he engaged in farming and carried 
on a meat market, selling from a wagon to 
the people. In 1878 he returned to Green- 
field township, and located on his present 
farm of 114 acres. In a decade and a 
half his labors have won him a valuable 
property, and have given him a home of 
whicli many an older man might feel 
proud. His first vote was cast for Gov- 
ernor John Brough, of Ohio, in 1863, and 
for the last thirty years he has been a 
faithful Republican. With the exception 
of various township positions, which he 
has been called upon to till, he has never 
sought otiice, being content with the serv- 
ice he yields the party in the rank and 
file of voters. 



EiDWIN L. DOLE, a well and favor- 
ably known agriculturist of Lyme 
I township, Huron county, was born 

April 21, 1842, in Ashtield, Mass., 
a son of Orrin and Lncinda (Kemp) Dole. 
The Dole family are of French extraction, 
were among the early settlers of Ohio, and 
have always been distinguished forhonesty, 
true worth and irreproachable character. 

Orrin Dole was born November 1, 1806, 
in Massachusetts, where he received a com- 
mon-school education and acquired habits 
of thrift and perseverance that were of 
great benefit to him in after life. He 
also learned the cooper's trade, and fol- 
lowed that until 1843, at wliich time he 



moved west and located in Huron county, 
Ohio, where he numbered among the 
pioneers who were telling trees, building 
log cabins and transforming a wilderness 
into fertile farms. In his new^ home he 
began agricultural pursuits, an occupation 
he continued to follow up to his death, 
which occurred March 16, 1872. He was 
popular with his neighbors, and was sev- 
eral times elected trustee for Lyme town- 
ship. Orrin Dole was married October 
18, 1827, to Miss Lucinda Kemp, born 
January 25, 1808, also of Massachusetts, 
and eight children blessed their union, 
viz.: D. W., Fidelia J. (Mrs. Samuel 
Taylor, deceased), Harriet A. (deceased 
wife of Ely Coolej), George S., Orrin, 
Edwin L., Henry S. (deceased) and 
Julia E. (Mrs. J. B. Stocking). Mrs. 
Dole died November 15, 1884. The 
family were members of the Methodist 
Church, of which they were all liberal 
supporters. 

Edwin L. Dole was only a year old 
when brought by his parents to Ohio, and 
his early life was one of vicissitude and 
hard work. He received such education 
as was afi'orded by the district schools of 
Lyme township, and found leisure time to 
cultivate his mind, and acquired a perfect 
knowledge of agricultural pursuits. In 
1854 he settled on his present farm, about 
two miles from Bellevue, comprising 128 
acres of valuable land, and here he gives 
his attention to farming and the manu- 
facture of vinegar. He has served two 
terms as township treasurer and is highly 
esteemed by all who know him. His 
younger brother, Henry, was in the Civil 
war, and engaged in active service two 
years in Company G, Fifty-fifth Regi- 
ment, O. V. I. Our subject was married 
December 24, 1865, to Miss Susan Ed- 
wards, who died February 7, 1879, leaving 
three children: Louise M., Fidelia ej. 
and Orrin. On December 30, 1880, Mr. 
Dole married Miss Elizabeth Kramb, of 
Erie county, Ohio, who bore him one 
child, Elizabeth (deceased). His second 



328 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



wife passed away M.ay 24, 1885, and on 
June 8, 1886, Mr. Dole was united in 
marriage with Mi-s. Aura Northam, of 
Huron county, born November 12, 1853, 
in Cliestervilie, Morrow Co., Ohio, 
daugliter of Joseph and Deborah Laycox. 
Joseph Layco.x (l)orn October 1, 1825), 
and Deborah DeCainp (born February 27, 
1832) uere l)oth natives of this country, 
but were of French extraction. Joseph 
Laycox was a member of Company F, 
One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment 
O. N. G., and died at Fort Williams, Va., 
August 20, 1864. He was a fine and 
noble young man, and was esteemed and 
respected t)y all who knew him. Deborah 
Laycox, an estimable Christian lady, is 
still living, and makes her home with her 
daughter. Mrs. E. L. Dole. 




T. FRANCLS William Francis, 
great-grandfather of the subject 
of this sketch, was born in Wales, 
was an admiral in the British 
navy under Lord Nelson, and saw the hero 
of Trafalgar ro(;ei\e his death wound. He 
received an honorable discharge from the 
British government in 1808, and the same 
year cauK! to Canada, settling at Gravely 
Bay. When the war of 1812 broke out 
he was made brigadier-general, and served 
until the beginning of the year 1815. 
About that time a man by the name of 
Dixon, a neighbor of his from Gravely 
Bay, formed a small foraging com]>any, 
and joined the United States. This I)ixoa 
owned a little vessel, and with his fol- 
lowers would cross into Canada to plunder; 
but ffreat-grandt'ather Francis caught three 
of the gang and they were shot, Dixon es- 
caping, however, to the United States with 
his plunder. Shortly after that event 
Francis was taken sick at his own home, 
at which time Dixon and his gang, again 
returning to Canada, surrounded the house 
which they set on fire, burning all within, 
and while loading their plunder on his 
vessel, a party of Canadians collected and 



killed five of the gang, among them being 
Dixon himself, who was shot by Abra- 
ham Savitz, a neighbor of Dixon's before 
the war. 

Thomas Francis, grandfather of W. T., 
came to Canada with his father in 1808, 
and enlisting in the war of 1812 was made 
captain, in which rank he served until the 
close of the war, being twice wounded. 
He was married in 1817 to Electa Wag- 
ner, who was born in Pennsylvania in 
1797, and came to Canada with her parents 
in 1816. Her father was colonel in the 
British army. As soon as married the 
young couple settled on a farm at New 
Sayrum, Elgin county, Ontario, where she 
now lives, quite hearty, at the ripe old 
age of almost ninety-eight years. Grand- 
father Francis followed farming until 
1860, in which year he died leaving a 
family of eleven children — five sons and 
six daughters. 

William Francis, father of subject, was 
the eldest in the family, and was born in 
1817 at New Sayrum. In 1842 he was 
married to Matilda Doan, daughter of Jo- 
nathan Doan, who was born in the State of 
Pennsylvania, and wi.tli his family moved 
to Canada before the war of 1812, 
settling on a farm in Elo-jn county, Ontario. 
William Francis also settled on a farm 
in Elgin county, three miles from St. 
Thomas, where he still lives. His wife 
died in February, 1854, leaving three 
children — all sons — named respectively 
John D., William T. and George. In 
1857 the father married Helen Hepburn, 
whose parents came from Scotland, and of 
this union three children were born — two 
daughters and one son — Catherine, Ellen 
and Robert. This wife dying in 1862, Mr. 
Francis, in 1865, married Jessie Davidson, 
a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and six 
children came to them — four sons and two 
daughters — James, Wellington, Charles, 
Nettie, Eva and Arthur, of whom James 
and Charles are in the western States; 
Wellino-ton is at home, having charge of 
the farm; the two daughters and Arthur 





'yV^OVt^€yt^ 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



331 



are also living at home. Robert Francis 
owns and is living on the old homestead at 
New Sayruni, where our t^uhject's fatlier 
was born (lie is married and has three chil- 
dren); Catherine is married to Franlc 
Hathaway, a farmer; Ellen is married to 
William Gnest, an engineer, and is living 
in Bay City, Mich. Jolin D. Francis, the 
eldest son of William Francis, was born 
June 22, 1848; he is a blacksmith l)y 
trade, and carries on a lucrative business 
at Shedden, Ontario; he married Maggie 
Shaw, a farmer's daughter, and they have 
two cliildren living, one having died. 
George Francis was born January 8, 1853, 
is still single, and is on his farm near St. 

o 

Thomas, ()ntario. 

W. T. Francis, the subject proper of 
these lines, was born July 27, 1850. It 
was his father's desire to give him a classi- 
cal education, and he remained at home, 
going to school until the year 1868, when 
the desire to be in business for himself 
overcame his better judgment and the 
wishes of his father. Without money, and 
refusing assistance in any respect, he left 
home in the month of June, and secured a 
situation with a farmer by the name of 
William Down, near London, Ontario. 
From him he received one hundred and fif- 
teen dollars and board for five months' work, 
and this money he changed for two and a 
half and five-dollar gold pieces, and some 
silver half dollars, all United States coin. 

In the fall of 1808 he left Canada, and 
proceeding to Grand Rapids, Mich., there 
sold his gold and silver coin for just 
double their face value to the Yankees for 
pocket pieces, such coin being very rare at 
that time on account of the premium on 
gold and silver, "green-backs" and '-shin 
plasters " being the only money in circula- 
tion. His uncle, Titus Doan, a railroad 
contractor, being at that time employed 
by the Grand River Valley Railroad Com- 
pany in the construction of that road from 
Grand Rapids to Jackson, Mich., through 
him our subject got employment, at first 
in charge of men, then as overseer of his 

18 



contracts, and timber purchasing agent for 
the Railroad (Company. There he remained 
till 1871, when he returned home, but 
again left in the spring of 1873, coming to 
Newark, Ohio,' where May 25, 1873, he 
found employment as freight brakeman on 
the Lake Erie division of the Baltimore & 
Ohio Railroad. On November 9, of that 
year, he was injured at Monroeville, Ohio, 
while coupling curs, in consequence of 
which he was laid up four months. On 
May 1, 1875, he was promoted to fi'eight 
conductor, and until 1878 was con- 
ductor on local fi-eigiit, wrecking, and 
construction trains, also as extra passerjger 
conductor. In 1878 he was made I'egular 
conductor of an accomodation train be- 
tween Newark and Sandusky, Ohio; in 
1881 was put on the through runs from 
Sandusky to Whfeling, W. Va., and in 
1884 was put on the limited trains making 
the run from Wheeling, W. Va., to Chi- 
cago, 111., covering the distance of 468 
miles, and in four different States each 
trip — West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and 
Illinois. In July, 1884, he was placed 
back on the Sandusky and Wheeling runs. 
On December 1, 1885, he was appointed 
general agent and yard master at Chicago 
Junction, Ohio, which position he held 
until December 1, 1S87, at which date he 
gave that up to again take the old position 
as passenger conductor on the Ohio divi- 
sions. Removing to Sandusky, Ohio, he 
there remained until February, ISiJl, and 
then returned to Chicago Junction. As 
passenger conductor Mr. Francis has been 
remarkably fortunate, having, in over six- 
teen years of such service, had only one 
passenger injured (caused by the passenger 
himself being intoxicated), and in all that 
time has never had but two pair of wheels 
off the track. No one appreciates this good 
fortune more than himself. 

Chicago Junction in thespringof 1876, 
with a population of less than 1,000, was 
quite dull, l)ut Mr. Francis assisted in in- 
spiring new life into it by, among other 
improvements, making the Baltimore & 



882 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Ohio Park at that place, and by arousing 
the citizens to get up an old-fashioned 
" Fuurtii of July Celebration." The Balti- 
more & Ohio advertised it extensively, and 
the consequence was that over thiee thou- 
sand people came in to celebrate, and went 
home Well pleased, witii a more kindly 
feeling than before for Chicago Junction. 
From this on the town made a fresh start 
with a growth which as yet has not been 
retarded, as the population of 2,300 of to- 
day amply proves. In May, 1891, Mr. 
Francis purchased that part of the William 
Motson estate on the east side of the rail- 
road, together with the famous Deer Lick 
Mineral Springs; laid out a large addition 
in lots; graded streets and sidewalks; built 
a number of fine i-esidences, which he sold, 
with several of the lots, cheap and on easy 
terms, whereby many procured homes who 
would not have been able to do so under 
other circumstances. He has improved the 
surroundings of Deer Lick Springs, and 
given the citizens the tree nse of the water; 
is now building on the grounds a large 
Sanitarium bath-house on the latest im- 
proved plans, where all the different baths 
will be given as at other water-cures. The 
natural surroundings of these springs are 
beautiful, no less than seven different kinds 
of water flowing out within a space of 300 
feet, among them being one of white 
sulphur and one of iron. With the medici- 
nal qualities of these waters, the surround- 
ings and location, together with the im- 
provements above named, designate Deer 
Lick Mineral Springs to become famous 
the world over. 

On September 1, 1875. Mr. Francis was 
married to Rettie M. Holler, of Newark, 
Ohio, the daughter of Eliasand Mary Jane 
Holler, and four children were born to 
their union, two of whom are living, viz.: 
Myrtle Delia, born September 24^ 1877, 
and AVillard Thomas, born January 12, 
1888. Two sons were taken away in early 
life: Willie Earl, born July 28, 1880, died 
September 1, same year, and Walter Mer- 
ton, a remarkably bright child, born July 



13, 1882, died of diphtheria June 9, 1885. 
Mrs. Francis has always been a kindly 
wife, and true mother to her children, 
never allowing the care of tliem to others, 
and sharing alike with her husband the 
buidens of sickness and misfortune. lie 
says of her with honest pride: "She is 
entitled to her share of credit for any good 
I may have done, worthy of mention." 




LEXANDER LEWIS, who is a 
son of Philip Lewis, one of the pio- 
neers of Huron county, holds a high 
rank among the representative agri- 
culturists of northern Ohio. 
Philip Lewis was born in 1788 in Lewis 
county, N. Y., and was 7'eared on a farm. 
In the spring of 1816 he took a lumber 
raft down the Susquehanna, the timber 
having been '-taken out" during the pre- 
ceding winter, at the headwaters of that 
river. On delivering the raft at its des- 
tination he received his winter's pay, and 
immediately set out for Ohio, with the in- 
tention of making a home here. The 
journey across the Alleghany mountains 
was made on foot, and the youth reached 
the site of Manstield (then a village of a 
few huts and a log cabin) in safety. The 
conditions surrounding the title to the 
land in and around Mansfield were then 
unsatisfactory to buyers, so that Philip 
Lewis had to seek another location. Walk- 
ing north to Plymouth, Huron county, he 
began work for a settler named Barney, 
and earned a little money clearing land. 
Having learned something of the district 
in which he sojourned, he went down to 
Greenfield township, and purchasing a 
tract of 200 acres at three dollars per acre, 
erected a cabin thereon, cleared a small 
area and planted some corn. In the fall 
of 1816 he returned to his native county, 
where, in the spring of 1817, he married 
Louisa Coleman, who was born in 1796, 
in Oneida county, X. Y., and immediately 
afterward the young couple set out for the 
partially made home in Ohio, making the 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



333 



journey along the lake shore, soinetimes 
traveling on the ice, in a wagon drawn by 
one horse. Here the following named 
children were born to them: Maria, born 
September 18, 1818, who was burned to 
death in 1821, while left alone in 
the cabin by her mother; David, born 
July 24, 1820, who graduated from 
Cleveland Medical College, was a physi- 
cian at New Haven, Ohio, and also 
in the Qnincy (HI) Hospital until his 
death at Ashland, 111., December 15, 1880; 
Eli, born Angnst 24, 1822, studied law, 
was admitted to the bar, and practiced at 
Juneau, Dodge Co., Wis., until his death 
there in 1890; Alexander, born October 3, 
1824, is the subject of this sketch; James, 
horn September 28, 1826, taught school in 
several townships of Huron county, and 
afterward moved to Fort Worth, Texas, 
where he died; Philander, born June 28, 
1829, is now a lawyer of Juneau, Wis.; 
Philena (twin sister of Philander), who 
married John Worley, and died in Illinois; 
Lyman, born September 25, 1832, died in 
youth ; Alvira, born May 22, 1835, married 
Augustus Colvin, and died at New Haven, 
Ohio: and Lorenzo, who died in youth. 
The mother of this large family died Sep- 
tember 2, 1848, and the falher August 17, 
1859. Both are buried in the Greenfield 
cemetery. Philip Lewis was a farmer, 
lawyer and politician, a very active man. 
Loaning money without good collateral 
was one of his faults; if he had others 
they were buried with him. In Church 
connection he was a Presbyterian, and in 
politics a Democrat. 

Alexander Lewis was born in CTreenfield 
township, received his prima,ry education 
in the common schools of the district, and 
subsequently worked on the. home farm. 
On October 11, 1849, he was united in 
marriage with Martha M. Gunn, who was 
born November 2, 1829, at Danby, Tomp- 
kins Co., N. Y., and came to Huron county, 
Ohio, in 1834, witii her parents, John and 
Martha M. (Fletcher) Gunn. The Gunns 
located in Greenfield township, and resided 



there until 1849 when they moved to Nor- 
wich township, where John Gunn died in 
1880. and his widow in 1891. Alexander 
and Martha M. Lewis have one son, an 
only child, Augustine W., born February 
11, 1859, in Greenfield township. He re- 
ceived his education in part at the district 
schools of the locality of his home, in part 
at Oberlin, Ohio, and he is now a farmer 
living on the homestead. On January 28, 
1874, he was united in marriage at Juneau, 
Dodge Co., Wis., with Miss Annie M. 
Travis, and two children have come to 
brighten their home, viz.: Clarence A., 
born in Juneau, Wis., October 26, 1875, 
and Ada L., born in Greenfield March 10, 
1879. They represent the fourth genera- 
tion that have occupied the Philip Lewis 
estate. 

Alexander Lewis resided on the old 
Lewis farm, and cared for his father, who 
was an invalid for some time prior to his 
death, after which event he (Alexander) 
assumed charge of the estate, and settled 
with all the heirs. In 1871 his new home 
was completed and occupied. Since the 
memorable Lincoln campaign Mr. Lewis 
has been a Republican. In Church rela- 
tion his wife is a member of the Disciple 
Church, and unquestionably one of the 
most estimable women in Huron county. 
Mr. Lewis has always been a farmer, and 
even now, when approaching his seventieth 
year, he is an active man of the world, en- 
joying labor and taking pride in a well- 
cultivated and improved farm. 



GHAELES A. PAUL, cashier of the 
Norwalk Savings Bank, Norwalk, is 
a native of Huron county, born 
December 12, 1860, a son of J. L. 
and Eliza (Delamater) Paul, the former a 
native of Ohio, the latter of the State of 
New York. They are one of the promi- 
nent families of the county, living on a 
stock farm two miles south of Norwalk, 
where the father and son raise and deal in 



334 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



line stock extensively, and in this line are 
widely and favorably known. About their 
household is an air of comfort and unos- 
tentations refinement, in itself a sufficient 
guarantee that their son was given those 
influences and advantages that are adapted 
to the production of the best citizensliip. 

Our subject was well grounded in the 
fundamentals of au English education in 
the Norwalk schools, and, passing these, 
he spent the next three years at the Ohio 
State University, taking a special course. 
Keturnincr to his home he entered into 
partnership witli his fatlier in their stock 
farm, an interest in which he still retains, 
the tinn being one of the most extensive 
buyers and sellers of line stock in this part 
of Ohio. Their place is known as the 
"Norwalk Stock Farm." 

In 1891 C. A. Paul went to Cleveland, 
and was employed in the Arcade Bank of 
that place, biit severed this connection to 
return to Norwalk and take his present 
position in the Norwalk Savings Bank, of 
which he is also a stockholder and director. 
He was married on June 28, 1893, to Miss 
Clara B. Cannon, only child of Mr. and 
Mrs. Cannon, of Cleveland, Ohio. It is 
saving nothing more than what the records 
bear out, when we publish the fact that no 
young man in the county stands fairer in 
the public estimation than Mr. Paul. 




I( NDREW LOVE, Jr., a prominent 
j\ farmer citizen of Townsend town- 
ship, is a native of tiie same, born 
April 10, 1842. He is the ninth 
child in a family of twelve children 
born to Andrew and Eliza (Kelsey) Love, 
the former of whom was born in Catskill, 
Greene Co., N. Y., the latter in Monmouth 
county, N. J., of English and Irish de- 
scent, respectively. 

Andrew Love, Sr., was born April 1, 
1798, and received but a very limited Eng- 
lish education in youth. At the age of 
ten years lie was bound out to a farmer in 
his native county, with whom he remained 



until he attained his majority, and then 
went to Monmouth county, N. J., where 
he was employed in a brickyard until the 
fall of 1841, at which time he came to 
Townsend township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
Here he was employed for several years at 
anything he could find to do, working by 
the day or job and frequently taking con- 
tracts to chop and clear land. He cleared 
several hundred acres of land, perhaps 
more than any other one man in the town- 
ship, and in about 1848 bought fifty acres 
of wild land in same township and county 
(upon which our subject now resides), 
where he engaged in manufacturing staves, 
which he hauled to Milan, then the nearest 
market, where many thousands were dis- 
posed of. In 1851, after having partially 
improved the place, he sold out and re- 
moved to Wapello county, Iowa, where he 
bought a partially improved farm and en- 
gaged in agriculture, but after two years, 
in 1853, he again sold out, and returned 
to Townsend township, Huron county, 
where two years later, in 1855, he bought 
a place adjoining his first purchase. Here 
he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 
liis death, which occurred July 2U, 1869. 
His father, John Love, was born in Eng- 
land, where he received a meager common- 
school education. At the age of nineteen 
he etnigrated to the United States, landing 
at New York, where he afterward learned 
the ship carpenter's trades which he con- 
tinued to follow for several years, or until 
he was disabled by a log rolling against 
and crushing his left limb. His death 
occurred in 1838, in New Jersey, when he 
was about sixty years old. When he left 
England he brought with him an old Bible, 
published at Oxford in 1725, which is now 
the property of our subject. 

Mrs. Eliza Love, who was born April 
15, 1808, is yet living and resides with her 
son, the subject of our sketch; she is a 
devout member of the M. E. Church. 
Her father, James Kelsey, was born in 
Monmouth county, N. J., where he received 
a good education in English and mathe- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



335 



niatics in early life. At the age of thir- 
teen he shipped on hoard a sailing vessel 
as cahin boy, steadily advancing from one 
position to another, at a very early age at- 
taining the rank of master or captain of a 
vessel, which he continued to hold until 
he was seventy-three years old, having 
followed the high seas continuously for 
sixty years in the waters of every clime 
and quarter of the globe. He was mar- 
ried in his native place and had two sons, 
both of whom followed in their father's 
footsteps and became captains of vessels, 
serving as such till their ships were 
wrecked and they were drowned, both be- 
ing wrecked in the same storm, but on 
different vessels. The Kelsey family were 
among the stanch patriots in New Jersey, 
and took an active part in the fortunes — 
civil and military — of that commonwealth 
in early days. 

Andrew Love, Jr., the subject of this 
sketch, received an ordinary common- 
school education in early life, and remained 
with his parents, sometimes on the home 
place and at other times working out by 
the month, until he attained his majority. 
On February 15, 1864, he enlisted in 
Company C, Fifty-fifth (). V. I., joining 
the regiment at Chattanooga, Tenn., early 
in March, after which he served with his 
command in all its marches and encracre- 
raents up to and including the battle of 
Resaca, Ga., where he was wounded in the 
left hand, sent to the rear and subse- 
quently taken to a hospital at Jefferson- 
ville, Ind., where, after his wound had 
partially healed, he was taken sick and re- 
moved to a hospital at Camp Dennison, 
Ohio. After his recover}' he rejoined his 
regiment at Atlanta, Ga., just before 
starting with Gen. Sherman on his cele- 
brated march to the sea, upon which cam- 
paign he accompanied his regiment, suffer- 
ing very severely the while with rheuma- 
tism, and participated in all the subsequent 
battles and engagements in which his com- 
mand was engaged to the close of the war. 
He was in the Grand Review at Washing- 



ton, D. C, and was finally discharged from 
the service July 20, 18(35, at Cleveland, 
Ohio. After liis return from the army he 
chopped wood and worked by the month 
for a year and a half, and in the spring of 
1867 commenced farming on his own ac- 
count on the old home place in Townsend 
township, Huron county, upon which he 
now resides, and where he has since been 
successfully engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. The farm, consisting of seventy- 
five acres, is in a high state of cultivation, 
and here he has built a good house and 
barn. He has served the township as 
trustee and in various other official posi- 
tions. Mr. Love was married, February 
2, 1867, to Miss Lucy Ann Hoff, a native 
of Monmouth county, N. J., where she was 
born August 22. 1839, a daughter of 
Samuel O. and Elizabeth (Aumack) Hoff, 
both natives of Monmouth county, N. J., 
and of Holland- Dutch descent. One 
daughter has blessed this union, Lizzie A., 
now Mrs. S. J. Hawkins. Samuel O. Hoff 
died in September, 1872, in his sixty-sixth 
year. Mrs. Elizabeth Hoff is yet living, 
and makes her home with her daughter, 
Mrs. Lucy A. Love. The Hoff family 
were among the very earliest of the Dutch 
settlers of New Jersey, and among their 
ancestors was a lady who was the first 
white woman in that State. Both Mr. 
Love and his wife are devout members of 
the M. E. Church at East Townsend. In 
politics he is a stanch and uncompromising 
Prohii)itionist, and he is one of the well- 
known, enterprising and respected citizens 
of the community. 



TjOHN S. HESTER, of Norwich town- 

k. II ship, for many years a well-known 

^^ prosperous citizen of the county, is a 

native of Ohio, born in Columbiana 

county November 8, 1810. 

His father, Martin Hester, was born in 
Greene county, Penn., a son of John 
Hester, of German birth, who came to 



336 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



America when a young man, settling in 
Greene conntv, Peiin., where lie carried on 
a farm of his own, and followed the trade 
of weaver. He married Miss Elizabeth 
Mason, by whom there were three sons — 
Martin, John and Matthias — and live 
daughters — Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, Mar- 
garet and Emily. From Pennsylvania he 
moved with his family to Columbiana 
county, Ohio, settling on a farm of 160 
acres, where he continued agricultural 
pursuits and weaving. He passed from 
eartli about the year 1825, at the age of 
si.\ty-tw-o years. Politically he was a 
strong WliijJ, and he was a member of the 
German Lutheran Church. 

Martin Hester, eldest son of this pioneer, 
was born in 1787 in Greene county, Penn., 
and was reared on his father's farm, at- 
tending: during a few winter months the 
subscription schools of the locality. He 
became a great reader, and what he lacked 
in education he made up amply by home 
study. "When his parents moved to Co- 
lumbiana county, Ohio, he accompanied 
them, and farmed there some four or five 
years after marriage, removing then to 
Orange township, Richland (now Ashland) 
Co., Ohio. At that time this was the ex- 
treme frontier of civilization, and if there 
were any neighbors north of tliem, save 
"Redskins," they never heard of them. 
The Indians were numerous, and wild ani- 
mals, such as bears, wolves and deer, 
roamed the dense forest at will. One day 
Mrs. Hester, being out after the cows, 
found a very young deer, so small that she 
carried it hoiiie in her apron, and kept it 
as a pet for a year or two. In Orange 
township Mr. Hester owned about 160 
acres of land, and there lived till 1824, 
when he came to Bronson township, 
Huron county, settling on land bought of 
Judge Southgate, and here lie spent the 
rest of his busy life, dying iu 1870; his 
wife passed away in 1865. In 1809 he 
had married Miss Mary Stough, a daugh- 
ter of Rev. John Stough, of Fayette county, 
Penn., and to this union were born live 



children, all of whom are living to-day at 
advanced ages, none being under seventy 
years old. Their names are Joim S., Eliza, 
Samuel, Matthias and Martin M., of whom 
John S. is the subject of this sketch; Eliza 
married Elisha Savage, of Berea, Ohio; 
Samuel lives in Paxton, 111.; Matthias is 
in Norwalk, Ohio; Martin M. is in Bron- 
son township, on the old homestead. Tlie 
father was a stanch Whig and Republican, 
and a member of the M. E. Church, in 
which he served as steward. 

John S. Hester, whose name introduces 
this sketch, received but a limited educa- 
tion, as his boyhood was much taken up 
in assisting his father on the farm. Be- 
ino- fond of books, " however, and gifted 
with a retentive memory, lie was not long 
in making up for deficiency in that respect. 
At the age of nineteen he commenced to 
learn carpentry, at which he worked three 
years, receiving one hundred and fifty 
dollars for his time. He then went to 
Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, and continued his 
trade for one year, his wages being one 
dollar per day. After this he moved to 
Huron, same county, and worked on steam- 
boats, assisting among other things in 
building several boats, among which may 
be mentioned the " United States" and the 
"George Washington." Coming to Nor- 
walk in 1834, he here worked at his trade 
one year, at the end of which time, his 
healtli failing and his eyesight becoming 
iujpaired, he gave up work and returned 
to his father's house, where he recuperated. 
Soon thereafter, in 1835, he married Miss 
JanePancost, of Bronson township, Huron 
county, but she died the following year. 
He then bought land in Norwich township, 
paying therefor four dollars and fifty cents 
per acre, which property he subsequently 
traded for the farm in Norwich township, 
wliere he now lives. He received from his 
father's estate four hundred dollars, which 
alone gave him a start in the world, and 
he has now 200 acres of land, although he 
at one time owned 400 acres, having sold 
200 acres of valuable timber land, the pro- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



337 



ceeds of wliich he invested in five-twenty 
Government bunds at par, to aid tlie Gov- 
ern tnent in carrying on the Civil war, 
which investment proved remunerative. 

For his second wife Mr. Hester married, 
in 1841, Miss Lucinda M. Hiidredth, born 
in Tompkins county, New York, a 
daughter of Benjamin llildredth, and five 
children were born to this union, of whom 
tlie foUowincr is a brief record: Charles 
T. died in the Civil war; Eliza is the wife 
of S. R. McConnell, of Burlington, Iowa; 
Susan died in infancy; Julia is the widow 
of William Dougherty, late of Mansfield, 
Ohio, and has one child, Bessie (they re- 
side with our subject); Hattie H. is mar- 
ried to Rev, H. P. Richards, of North 
Fairtield. Politically our subject has been 
respectively a Free-soiler, Abolitionist and 
a Republican. He is a member of the 
Methodist Church, in which he has held 
the offices of class-leader, steward, etc., 
and in 1879 vvas elected a lay delegate 
to the annual Conference of northern 
Ohio, and successively every four years 
up to 1891. 

Mr. Hester relates many interesting 
anecdotes of the early days in the settle- 
ments. His great uncle, Uriah Hester, 
was once attacked by Indians, who scalped 
him and left him for dead; but he re- 
covered, and afterward moved to Indiana, 
becoming the progenitor of the family of 
the name in that State. Martin Mason, 
great-grandfather of subject, when a boy 
was captured by Indians, and taken to 
Canada, where he was sold to some man of 
prominence. When he was twenty-one 
years old he was allowed to return to 
Pennsylvania to visit relatives, with M'hom 
he remained. Jacob F'ast, great-uncle of 
John S. Hester, was also captured by 
Indians, who told him that he would have 
to "run the gauntlet," and his life would 
be spared. Instead of running the 
customary way, however, he treated the 
Redskins to an e.xhibition of side hand- 
springs, known among boys as " making a 
wheel of himself," which must have con- 



siderably astonished his audience, who not 
only spared his life but made him a chief. 



Iff lALMER GRIFFIN, a successful 

I ^H farmer of Fitchville township, and 

I 1 a progressist in all agricultural 

■^ affairs, was born in Greenwich 

township, Huron Co., Ohio, May 

6, 1842, a son of Riley and Philena 

(Washburn) Griffin. 

His youth was passed much in the 
manner of boys of that time and place — • 
attending the district school and working 
on the farm. Miss Clarissa Parker was 
his first teacher, and for many terras he 
was present as a pupil in her school. 
Later he attended an academy at Green- 
wich Center, which was conducted there 
for one year, completed his education and 
returned to the farm. On August 4, 
1864, he married Amanda Knapp, a native 
of Westchester county, N. Y., who came to 
Ohio with her parents, and after marriage 
the young couple moved to Montcalm 
county, Mich., where he purchased a farm. 
One year later they returned to Oliio, and 
renting a place in Fitchville township, 
Huron county, for two years, resumed 
farming here. In 18G9 he located on his 
present farm, two miles south of Fitchville 
villao-e, and has since made the place his 
home. From boyhood Mr. Griffin inclined 
towards carpentry. He has cultivated his 
mechanical talents to a practical e.xtent, 
utilizing them in the construction of new 
buildings on his own farm and in the re- 
pair of old buildings. A systematic agri- 
culturist, and consequently a successful 
one, he finds time to devote to a very im- 
portant branch of farming — poultry rais- 
ing. In this department he employs the 
most modern appliances, and the most ap- 
proved methods; he is a supporter and 
reader of the leading poultry journals, and 
a strict observer of scientific methods in 
the poultry-yard. A few years ago tire 
destroyed the hennery, entailing a heavy 



338 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



loss, but he at once went to work and 
built a larger and more complete one. 

A lifelong Kepubliean, Mr. Griffin has 
always been a loyal mtmlier of the party; 
fur twelve years he held the otHce of town- 
ship trustee, and during that time the 
pnblic affairs of FitchviUe went forward 
with precision and harmony, for he took 
an interest in every puldic and private en- 
terprise which promised benefit to the 
township. His cliildren are as follows: 
Blanche, Mrs. George Black, of Birming- 
ham, Erie Co., Ohio; Loren, a farmer, and 
Lola W., an accomplished young lady, 
both residing with their parents. 



LIEUTENANT GEOEGE BAEGUS, 
I a proniinent agriculturist, and com- 
[ missioner of Huron county, was 

born in Newark, N. J., April 29, 
1839, a son of William and Charlotte 
(Argyle) Bargus, the former a native of 
New Jersey and of German extraction, the 
latter of Scotland. 

Lieut. Bargus was left an orphan in in- 
fancy, and compelled to rely entirely upon 
his own efforts even from the tenderest 
years. He, therefore, received only such 
education in his youth as was afforded by 
the common schools of New Jersey at that 
early day, but in after years succeeded in 
acquiring a good practical knowledge of 
the English language, which, added to his 
judgment and energy, enabled him to win 
success in every undertaking. Llis only 
inheritance consisted chiefly of a stout 
heart, willing hands and great faith in 
humanity. He has always been a constant 
and extensive reader, and possesses a wide 
rantre of general information, beine a sub- 
scril)er for newspapers and magazines, and 
owning a carefully selected library of sev- 
eral hundred volumes. He is particularly 
interested in ancient and modern history 
and the various sciences, and his wealth 
allows him to gratify his literary tastes. 
At the age of thirteen our subject went to 



Eocdiester, N. Y., where he learned the 
baker's and confectioner's trade, serving 
an apprenticeship of four years, after which 
he journeyed west with the intention of 
working at his trade, but found no open- 
ing, and was glad to do whatever offered 
an opportunity to make an honest dollar. 
During the winter and spring of 1859-60 
he traveled through Tennessee, Arkansas 
and Louisiana, but when the Mrst clouds 
of the Civil war gathered in the South he 
returned north. Early in 1861 he enlisted 
in Company E, of Yates' Sharpshooters, 
which in 1864 became the Sixty-fourth 
Eegiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
was mustered in as sergeant. Owing to 
distinguished service and gallantry at the 
battle of Corinth and elsewhere, he was 
rapidly promoted through all the inter- 
mediate ranks to First Lieutenant. For 
more than a year he commanded his com- 
pany, and was with his regiment through 
all its marches and campaigns, participat- 
ing in the battles of New Madrid, Island 
No. 10, the Siege of Corinth, Ecsaca (Ga.), 
Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta 
of July 22, and also on July 28, 1864, 
Ezra's Church, and numerousminorencrat;e- 
ments. He accompanied Gen. Sherman in 
his famous marcii to the sea; was slightly 
wounded several times, and was mustered 
out of service in January, 1865. 

Lieut. Bargus, soon after his return 
from the army, took a commercial course 
in Oberlin College, and then moved west, 
but after one year returned to Huron 
county, Ohio, settled on his farm near 
Collins, and engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits and raising fruit. His farm contains 
400 acres of valuable land, all well 
improved. He also conducted a sawmill and 
lumber business, until the cyclone of April, 
1890, entirely destroyed his large mill. 

On April 12, 1866, Lieut. Bargus mar- 
ried Miss S. Alice Humphrey, who was 
born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, a daugh- 
ter of William and Sarah Ann (Bierce) 
Humphrey, natives of Litchfield county, 
Conn. Their union has been blessed by 



HUEOyr COUNTY, OHIO. 



341 



four cliildren: George (deceased), Alvin 
Dudley, May (deceased) and Edwin Hnin- 
plirey. Lieut. Bargus lias served as town- 
ship trustee several terms, was a member 
of the county board of the Infirmary di- 
rectors, and is now servintr his second term 
on the board of county commissioners. 
He belongs to no church, but is a firm be- 
liever in Christianity of a practical kind. 
He is a member of the G. A. R. Post No. 
4l4r, Townsend, of whi^h he has been 
comtnander since its organization, in April, 
1885. About two years ago Lieut. Bar- 
gus was general commander of the Four- 
teenth District Brigade, and is now assist- 
ant inspector and *aid-de-cainp on the 
Department Staff, Ohio G. A. K. He is 
also the colonel commanding F. H. Boalt 
Command Xo. 17, U. V. U., of Nor walk, 
Ohio, and last year served as deputy com- 
mander of Ohio. He is a member of the 
Masonic Fraternity, and W. M. of East 
Townsend Lodge JSTo. 322, A. F. & A. M., 
to which Lodge he has belonged for over 
a quarter of a century. He is a member 
of Huron Chapter No. 7, R. A. M., of 
Norwalk Comiriandery No. 18, K. T., and 
also of Norwalk t'ouncil No. 403, Royal 
Arcanum. Lieut. Barous is an uncoin- 
promising Republican, and while quite 
young became very much interested in the 
slavery question, being in sympathy with 
the slaves. He is in harmony with his 
party on the tariff question, and though he 
has never been an office seeker, is deeply 
interested in the success of the G. O. P., 
and is an excellent organizer. His first 
vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. 

William Humphrey, father of Mrs. 
Bargus, was born in Goshen, Conn., 
October 13, 1812, the seventh child of 
Dudley and Polly M. (Sherman) Hum- 

fhrey, and of Scotch- English descent, 
n April, 1834, he married Miss Sarah 
Ann Bierce, a native of Cornwall, 
Conn., and of English-German descent, 
by whom he had four children, viz.: 
Emma Louise (Mrs. Joseph Hyde), Sarah 
Alice (Mrs. George Bargus), Delia Lucretia 



(Mrs. W. D. Johnston, deceased) and 
Willie (who died in infancy). Mrs. 
Hnmphrey died November 13, 1854, and 
Mr. Humphrey was niarried, June 28, 
1855, to Miss Sarah M. Hyde, of Wake- 
man, Ohio. Mr. Humphrey's education 
was chiefly acquired by experience and 
observation, his school days having ended 
when he was twelve years of age. While 
young he manifested unusual mechanical 
skill, and during his long and active 
business career invented many improve- 
ments in machinery, such as " Humphrey's 
Direct Action Steam Mill," and the 
"Humphrey Double Action Pump." In 
1835 he moved from Connecticut to 
Parma, Ohio, where he engaged with his 
brother Dudley S. in manufacturing 
clocks, lumber, etc., and in 1849 they came 
to Townsend township, purchased a large 
tract of land, and began an extensive lum- 
ber business. They built mills and plank 
roads, furnished employment for a great 
number of men, and transformed an almost 
unbroken forest into broad acres of pas- 
ture, meadow and orchard land, where two 
thriving villages now stand. Their lum- 
ber was shipped to eastern markets from 
Milan, Ohio, via the lakes. Mr. Hum- 
phrey soon became, and continued until 
fiis death, the largest landowner in Town- 
send township. He was president of the 
Central Plank Road Company, and was the 
leading spirit in completing the work, his 
judgment in business matters being clear 
and decisive. He boldly entered into and 
controlled commercial enterprises that men 
of broader experience hesitated to consider, 
and was cool, self-reliant, and equal to 
every emergency. 

His father's estate having been spent in 
paying security debts for friends, he 
learned in childhood the lessons taught by 
poverty, and endured its struggles, trials 
and tempations. He was reraarably char- 
itable, and always found time to listen to 
the complaints of those who were in dis- 
tress. Himself incapable of a mean or 
dishonorable action, he scorned and despised 



342 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



treachery and deceit in others, and was 
even-tempered, forbearing and forgiving. 
He was prepossessing iu personal appear- 
ance, genial and attractive in manner, 
and a devoted husband and father. Politi- 
cally he was a Democrat, but in sympathy 
with the preservation of the Union, and 
during the Civil war contributed gener- 
ously to the comfort of Union soldiers and 
their families. In 1865 he was nominated 
by his party for State legislator. While 
Mr. Humphrey was engaged in repairing 
the roof of his house, November 23, 1874, 
the scatibkl gave way, and his skull was 
fractured, causing death in a few hours. 
He was never identitied with any Church, 
but believed in and practiced practical 
religion. 

The Humphrey family is numerously 
represented iu Europe and America, and is 
of noble and ancient origin, few families 
even among the British peerage being its 
equal in antiquity. A few years ago Dr. 
Frederick Humphrey, of New York City, 
his sister Mrs. Sarah W. Churchill, and 
others, prepared with great labor and at 
much expense a complete and elaborate 
genealogy of the Humphrey family, trac- 
ing its origin to Sir Humphrey De Bohum, 
of Normandy, born A. D. 996, and also giv- 
ing an account of the coats of arms adopted 
by the different branches of the family. 
The Humphreys were related to William 
the Conqueror, and several of them accom- 
panied him in his conquest of Britain, 
where no less than eight brandies of the 
family are now found, each with a differ- 
ent coat of arms. The Humphreys were 
found in England, Scotland, Wales and 
Ireland, and were barons of Prudhoe and 
earls of Angus. Many of them took part 
in the Crusades and perished in the Holy 
Wars; others were beheaded and some 
burned at the stake. Among them were 
Philip Humphrey (the martyr), Lawrence 
Humphrey (an eminent Puritan divine), 
and Lieut. Gov. John Hum})hrey (one of 
the organizers of the East India Company, 
and one of the original patentees of the 



Colony of Massachusetts Bay). The Hum- 
phreys found in America are divided into 
four distinct branches: First — -Jonas 
Humphrey, who came from England in 
1034 and settled in Dorchester, Mass., 
and whose descendants are included in the 
Dorchester and Weymouth branches. Sec- 
ond — Daniel Humphrey, who came from 
Wales in 1660, and located in Piiiladel- 
phia, Penn., and whose descendants in- 
clude Charles Humphrey (member of the 
first Continental Congress), Joshua Hum- 
phrey (designer and builder of the Ameri- 
can Navy in 1812-14), Maj. Gen. Andrew 
A. Humphrey, and also the Humphreys 
of New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee and 
Mississippi. Third — Hugh Humphrey, 
who settled on the Hudson river in New 
York. Fourth — Michael Humphrey, who 
came from Lyme Regis, England, in 1643, 
and located in Ancient \Vindsor, Conn., 
and whose descendants are his sons Sero-t. 
John and Lieut. Samuel Humphrey, Will- 
iam Humphrey, Mrs. George Bargus, Mrs. 
Joseph Plyde, Mrs. W. D. Johnston (de- 
ceased), and Gen. Humphrey (on Gen. U. 
S. Grant's staff diiring the Civil war). 
Gen. Bierce, the grandfather of Mrs. 
Saraii Ann (Bierce) Humphrey, was a gen- 
eral in the Hessian army. Ke was sent by 
the British ministry to America during 
the Revolutionary war to assist in subdu- 
ing the C/olonies, but soon after reaching 
America Gen. Bierce's sympathy was en- 
listed on the side of the Colonists, and he 
espoused their cause, rendering gallant and 
distinguislied service in the American 
army. He married in Connecticut, and 
continued to reside there up to the time of 
his death. 



d( H. WEBER, one of the leading busi- 
ness men of Bellevue, was born 
_1 January 29, 1842, in Darmstadt, 
Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. Eleven 
years later he accompanied his parents, 
Henry and Elizabeth (Betzendorfer) 
Weber, to the United States, and traveled 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



343 



west with them to Tiffin, Oliio, where the 
family located. The lather died during a 
visit to HessenDamstadt, and the mother, 
now seven t3'-eight years of age, resides at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, witli lier daughters. 

J. H. Weber attended the public schools 
of Darmstadt, and on liis arrival here re- 
sumed his studies in the primitive schools 
of the time. In about 1859 the yonth 
found employment as clerk in a store at 
Bellevue, and when a young man his ster- 
ling qualities recommended liim so strongly 
to his employer tliat he became a part- 
ner in the concern. Later he purchased 
the interests of his partner, and has since 
managed, with marked success, the large 
grocery establishment in the development 
of which he took so important a part. He 
has carried on business so many years in 
Bellevue, and has been so closely connected 
with all the enterprises attending the 
growth of that city, that his name is 
synonymous with it; for "going to 
Weber's " was at once generally nnder- 
stood to be the same as going to Bellevue, 
and it is a fact that very little has been 
planned or projected by the community 
withonf his counsel and aid. In the board 
of education and in the city council he has 
been an invaluable adviser, always favor- 
ing progress, bnt keeping the cost of im- 
provement within reasonable bounds, and 
opposing municipal jobs of every kind. 
As president of the Electric Light and 
Power Company, he has directed its affairs 
in such a public-spirited manner as to 
satisfy both the people and the stock- 
holders. Politically he is a Democrat; in 
social relations he is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and the Koyal Arcanum; in 
philanthropical work an earnest member 
of the German Aid Society, and in Church 
relation a Lutheran. During the summer 
of 1892 he made an extended tour through 
Europe, giving his special attention to the 
modern condition of the German people. 
Mr. Weber is the junior member of the 
lumber firm of Gross & Weber, who have, 
by their energy and fair dealings, built up 



an extensive trade in their line, and their 
success is identified with the growth of 
the village. In 1893 he sold out his 
grocery business to his son-in-law, H. A. 
Schlicht, who, of late years has been his 
manager. Mr. Weber may be said to have 
grown up in, and materially assisted, the 
growth of Bellevue, and ever had its in- 
terests at heart. Strictly a business man, 
his life has been one of continued success 
and commercial progress. 



Q 



ILBERT L. ROSCOE, who is a 

, grandson of Josiah Roscoe, was boi-n 

October 7, 1844, in Greenwich 

township, where he is a pushing, 

progressive farmer, and a citizen of 

high standing. 

Josiah Roscoe lived in Putnam county, 
N. Y., and there married Hannah Bough- 
ton. Shortly after marriage the young 
couple moved into the wilds of Cayuga 
county, N. Y., where the following named 
children were born to them: Jeremiah and 
Benjamin (twins), Mary, Clara and Sally. 
Jeremiah is referred to at length below; 
Benjamin married, reared a large family 
in Greenwich township, and died thei'e; 
Mary married Charles Pierce, and subse- 
quently became the wife of William Farley 
(her death occurred in Greenwich town- 
ship); Clara, who married Daniel Kniffiii, 
died in Greenwich township; Sally married 
Shadrach Reed, and also died In Green- 
wich township. About the year 1819 
Jeremiah and Benjamin Roscoe visited 
Huron county, and secured a large tract of 
land at one dollar and twenty-five cents 
per acre. After this one of them I'evisited 
Cayuga county, and in 1820 brought his 
father, mother and sisters to his new home 
in Greenwich township, where the sons 
had a log cabin ready for them. The trip 
was made in a wagon drawn by oxen and 
horses, and beyoTid its delays and tedious- 
ness was uneventful. Josiah Roscoe was 
a well-to-do citizen in New York, so that 



344 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



on his arrival here farm work was coin- 
inenced and carried out systematically. 
The father died here in 1845, the mother a 
short time afterward, and both were buried 
on the farm. 

Jeremiah Roscoe was born February 6, 
1797, in Cayuga county, N. Y., and came 
to Huron county when twenty-two years 
of age. On April 4, 1826, he married 
Selinda Sheldon, who was born in New 
York State January 26, 1807. To them 
were born tiie following named chil- 
dren: Harriet, Mrs. Charles Dills, of 
Monroe county, Mich.; Hulda, Mrs. 
Robert Griffin, of Fitch ville township; 
Asenath, Mrs. William T. Smith, of 
Greenwich township; Johanna, Mrs. Will- 
iam Sutton, of Nebraska; Mary, who 
died in youth; Sarah, who married 
Charles Bell, and died in Wood county, 
Ohio; Selinda, who died very young; 
Benjamin, a citizen of Nebraska; Gilbert 
L., the subject of this sketcli; Lestina, 
Mrs. Frank Hawkins, of Lyon county, 
Kaiis.; and Alva, who died young. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Roscoe 
settled on the homestead, where he was 
engaged in farming until his death, April 
5, 1872. His widow died in 1877, on the 
farm, near the graves of Josiah and Han- 
nah Roscoe. The sawmill owned by Jere- 
miah Roscoe was the pioneer manufacturing 
industry in Greenwich township, and he 
operated it in connection with the farm 
nntil about 1840 when he sold it. In 1856 
he left the Whig party, and became a Re- 
publican, and he served as clerk of Green- 
wich township for years. In religious 
connection he and his wife were members 
of the Universalist Church. 

Gilbert L. Roscoe was born October 7, 
1844, on the home place. Attending 
school and working on the farm occupied 
his time until 1862, when he joined the 
National Guards. In 1864 his command 
was ordered to Washington, D. C, and he 
was stationed at Fairfax, Va., until the fall 
of that year, when he returned home. On 
March 17, 1869, he married Hattie P. 



Brady, who was born at Mecklenburgh, N. 
Y., September 2, 1848, daughter of David 
J. and Parmelia (Franklin) Brady. To 
this marriage the following named chil- 
dren were born: Franklin B., Mary E., 
Lew W. and Johanna, all residingat home. 
For some time after marriage the young 
people resided on the home place, then 
moved to Lorain, Ohio, where they re- 
mained until 1872, when they returned to 
the homestead, and have since been en-, 
gaged in general farm work and stock 
growing. Mr. Roscoe is a natural me- 
chanic, and has done trade work for 
himself, sucii as repairing machinerj', 
buildings, etc. .In politics he is Republi- 
can; has represented his party in county 
conventions, and served in various town- 
ship offices. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church, in 
which he has held office. 



JjOSEPH WALTER is a native of 
I Germany, to which country so many 
^^ of our most gifted citizens trace their 
origin. The country of the Rhine 
has ever been as famous for the intel- 
lectual strength of its people, as for the 
magnificent grandeur of its scenery, and 
well may every German cherish a loving 
pride for his beautiful Fatlierland. 

Joseph Walter is a son of Francis Wal- 
ter, who was born in 1793, in Baden, Ger- 
many, and there learned the butchering 
business. In early manhood Francis 
Walter was married to Manegarth liein- 
becker, who was also born in 1793, in 
Baden, Germany. The young couple 
settled in a small town in their native 
place, where he followed his trade, and 
also conducted a grocery store. Here the 
following children were born to them: 
Frederick, a resident of Mansfield, Ohio; 
Joseph, whose name opens this sketch; 
John, living in a western State, and Will- 
iam, in Columbia City, Ind. In the 
spring of 1833 the family embarked from 
Havre, France, first landing in New York. 



HUliOX VOUXTY, OHIO. 



345 



From this port they came by river and 
canal to Buffalo, then via Lake Erie to 
Sandusky, Ohio, wlience tliey proceeded 
with horse teams to Peru township, Huron 
Co., Ohio. Mr. Walter there purchased 
si.xty acres of woodland, and found a tem- 
porar}' shelter in a vacant schoolhouse, 
where the family remained until a rude 
cabin was constructed of poles and bark. 
In this home two children were added to 
their circle, namely: Dennis, now living in 
Columbia City, Ind., and Mary, widow of 
E. L. Stranse, living in Bismarck, N. D. 
The parents died in Huron county, the 
mother April 25, 1865, the father in Feb- 
ruary, 1874, and both are buried in the 
Catholic cemetery of the German settle- 
ment, in Peru township. 

Joseph Walter was born January 2, 
1828, on the home place in Jiaden, Ger- 
many, and was but live years of age when 
the family settled in Ohio. He began to 
assist with the farm work at the earliest 
possible age, and little leisure was ever 
allowed, as, so he now says, " It was work, 
work, work all the time." His educa- 
tional opportunities were limited to two 
terms, of twenty-one and twenty-seven 
days each, at the neighboring subscription 
school. A hard life was this for an active, 
fun-loving boy, but the stern lessons and 
tasks of that dull childhood developed a 
eelf-reliant and jiersevering spirit wiiich 
miixht have remained dormant in an atmos- 
phere of luxury and ease. Notwithstand- 
ing the privations of his youth he has ac- 
quired a practical business education, 
which is sufficient for all ordinary pur- 
poses. On January 3, 1853, Joseph Wal- 
ter was united in marriage with Biligelldis 
Snyder, who was born in 1828, in Ger- 
many, a daughter of Joseph Snyder. She 
came with her parents to America in 1847. 
Joseph and Biligelldis Walter remained 
on the home farm several years after their 
marriage, and cared for his aged parents. 
Here he conducted a butcher business 
in addition to his agricultural interests. 
When the Lake Shore & Michigan South- 



ern Railroad was iti process of construc- 
tion he contracted to furnish beef for the 
graders employed there, but lost seven 
hundred dollars on the transaction. This 
sum was a serious loss at that time, but 
undismayed by one failure he presevered 
in the business, and success soon rewarded 
his patient efforts. Year after year his 
prosperity increased, and he now owns 
over 300 acres of excellent farming land, 
and in 1880 erected a handsome frame 
residence, also other good buildings which 
give ample evidence of prosperity. He 
owned and manased a threshino- outfit for 
fourteen years, and made many acquaint- 
ances in this business; but of late years 
failing health has requii-ed him to retire 
from the more arduous tasks and devote his 
time to overseeing the work. He is a sys- 
tematic farmer, wiiose success has been 
achieved in the face of many obstacles. 
In politics he is a leader in the Democratic 
party, and he served as assessor of Peru 
township for ten years, also in various 
other local offices. He and his wife are 
members of the Catholic Church at Mon- 
roeville. Tlieir children have been born 
as follows: Dennis, deceased farmer of 
Peru township, Huron county; Frank, 
living at home; William, a resident of 
Monroeville; Emma, wife of Hard Der- 
ringer, of Tiffin, Ohio; Jeanette, married 
to Henry Zipfel, of Monroeville. and 
Adolph, residing with his parents. Mr. 
Walter has been a very robust man, and 
now weighs over 200 pounds. 



dlOHN T. TOWNSEND, the eldest 
son of one of the pioneers of Huron 
/ county, is iiimself one of the oldest 
~ natives of this section of Ohio. 
William Townsend, grandfather of John 
T. Townsend, left Massachusetts to make 
his home with his sons in Ohio, and died 
in New London township. Huron county, 
in February, 1847. Hosea Townsend, son 



346 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



of William Townsend, was born at Green- 
busli, N. Y., May 25, 1794, and grew to 
manhood tliere, serving in the war of 
1812 when little more than a boy. On 
the day he was twenty-one years old he ar- 
rived in New London township, Huron 
Co., Ohio, made an examination of the 
lands in the county, and returned to his 
home ill Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Mass., 
where his father's family then resided. 
The country impressed him favorably and, 
on February 4, 1816, he and his brother 
Hiram started for Ohio. The journey, 
made in a wagon drawn by oxen, occupied 
fifty two days, or until March 28, 1816, 
when tlie brothers arrived in New London 
township. There they at once erected a 
cabin, beijan the work of clearing' the for- 
est, planted four acres in corn, and com- 
pleted the introduction to pioneer life. 
The product of the four acres confirmed 
the opinion which the brothers had formed 
on the character of the land. It was not 
only sutKcient for feeding the oxen, but 
also for food for the pioneer owners of the 
farm, who ground the grain in a beech 
stump mortar, and tlien formed it into 
cakes, to be baked before the great log 
tire. What corn they could not use was 
sold to the Indiatis at one dollar and six 
cents per bushel, who paid for it in 
English specie. 

Ill 1820-22 Hosea Townsend set out 
the first orchard in New London township, 
and in 1826 he built the first frame barn 
there. His marriage with Sophia Case 
took place March 25, 1821. She was 
born April 26, 1798, in the town of 
Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y., and was 
the first school-teacher in New London 
township. To this marriage came the fol- 
lowing children: Sarah, born October 7, 
1822, married S. W. Gates, and died at 
Oberlin, Ohio; John T., the subject of 
this sketch; Eliza L., born December 22, 
1825, now Mrs. K. C. Johnson, of Fitch- 
ville; Dalinda, born January 12, 1828, 
married George Washburn, and died in 
New London in 1876; Ira S., born June 



14, 1831, residing in Fitchville; Philotha, 
born July IS, 1885, wife of Alfred John- 
son, of New London; Mary F., born Sep- 
tember 16, 1834, deceased (she devoted 
herself to study); and Hiram W., born 
March 5, 1S42, cashier of the New Lon- 
don National Bank. This large family 
grew to maturity in Huron county, bless- 
ings to their parents, who lived to see them 
settled in life. The mother of these chil- 
dren died March 2, 1875, the father in 
1885; an elegant monument in New Lon- 
don cemetery rises above their graves. 
Hosea Townsend was truly a pioneer; for 
when he and his brother located in New 
London township, in 1816, the country 
was a wilderness. When he died the 
ancient forest was a thing of the past, for 
a collection of homes and farms, and flocks 
and herds, crowded out the trees as well as 
tlie savage, and showed the reign of in- 
dustry. What his share was in the devel- 
opment of the township may be described 
by young as well as old. A large land- 
owner and farmer, he yet found time for 
public life. His vote was cast in 1840 for 
James G. Birney and Francis J. LeMoyne, 
candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent, respectively, chosen by the Abolition- 
ists in convention at Warsaw, N. Y ., in 
1839. In 1844 he voted for James G. 
Birney and Thomas Morris, nominees of 
the Liberal party, and exerted all his 
power in opposing slavery. While not at- 
tached to any Church, he was a believer in 
the teachings of Christianity, and an ob- 
server of its tenets. 

John T. Townsend was born in New 
London July 22, 1824. When of proper 
age he was sent to the school presided 
over by Miss Mary Frost, which was a 
very primitive institution, in building and 
surroundings, but it accorded with the 
time and place, and was useful in its way. 
For several years the boy attended this 
school, until sent to Oberlin College, 
where he prepared himself for the profes- 
sion of teacher. Returning home, he soon 
was given the position of teacher in one of 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



347 



the Clarksfield district scliools, and subse- 
quently taught in New London and 
Fitcliville townships. 

On ISeptember 20, 1849, he married 
Elizabeth A. Palmer, who was born in 
Clarksfield township January 15, 1828, 
and by this marriage there is one child, 
Elmer E., of New London township. 
After their marriage the young couple 
took up their residence in a log house, 
which stood on the site of their present 
home. The improvement of this tract, 
and the erection of new buildings, must 
be credited to him, for he has proved him- 
self a practical farmer and stock grower, 
making a success of those two departments 
of agricultural industry. He is now 
interested as stockholder in the New Lon- 
don National Bank. Politically a Re- 
publican, he was formerly a Free-soiler, 
and in 1848 cast his first vote for Van- 
Buren and Adams, nominees of the Free- 
soil convention held at Buffalo, N. Y., in 
August, 1848. Since that time Mr. 
Townsend has taken a deep interest in 
the political issues of the country, and in 
local affairs has always been prominent. 
For twenty-three consecutive years he was 
justice of the peace, and might have held 
the office indefinitely had he not declined 
to serve another term ; for several years he 
was trustee and assessor of the township. 
In 1880 he was elected a member of the 
board of county commissioners for a term 
of three years, at the end of which time he 
was re-elected for another term, and since 
the close of the second terra he has filled 
the office by special appointment. With- 
out regard to ttie influence of the Town- 
send family in general, John T. Townsend 
is honored for his own personal worth. 



\lLLIxVM F. HEYMANN ranks 

high among the prominent agri- 

llj Il[ cultiirists of Lyme township, and 

is esteemed by all who know 

him. lie was born February 18, 1839, 

in Germany, a son of John G. and Mary 




Heymann, and came with his parents to 
America in 1848. 

Immediately after their arrival in this 
countrj they journeyed west, and located 
in Huron county, Ohio, numbering among 
the early settlers who suffered the trials 
and hardships incident to transformino- 
the forest into fertile farms. In this 
country our subject received such educa- 
tion as was afforded by the district schools, 
where the teachers were but poorly pre- 
pared to impart information. He re- 
mained with his parents until eighteen 
years of age, laboring on the home farm, 
after which he worked five years on the 
farm of his brother Henry. At the end 
of that time he had accumulated a suffi- 
cient amount of money to purchase two 
horses, a wagon and a complete outfit for 
farming, and in 1861 he bought ninety- 
one acres of land and engaged in general 
agriculture. In 1872 he bought ninety- 
six acres, and still later 170 acres, making 
a tract of 357 acres of valuable land. II ; 
is popular in political circles, and has 
served as school director of Lyme town- 
ship. 

Mr. Heymann was married, December 
3, 1863, to Miss Verena Ballmer, of 
Henry county, Ohio, a daughter of John 
Jacob and Verena Ballmer, and thirteen 
children blessed their union, viz.: Mary 
(deceased), Samuel, Julius August, Oliver 
William, Verena, Charlotte, Walter Will- 
iam, Arnold Cyrus, William Frederick, 
Eoscoe Winfield, Arthur Oswald, Paul 
Benjamin and Calvin Karl. In politics 
our subject was originally a Democrat, 
but is now associated with the Republican 
party. In religious matters he is a mem- 
ber of the German Reformed Church, in 
which he has been an elder twelve or 
fourteen years. He furnished quite a 
large sum of money for the Civil war, but 
was unable to serve; he was worth about 
two thousand dollars. 

John G. Heymann, fatlier of our sub- 
ject, married a Miss Oppermann, and by 
this union had ten children: Jeanette 



348 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



(deceased), Anna (deceased), Pliilip, Will- 
iam (deceased), (Teorge, Henry, John P., 
Catherine, William F., and Margaret (de- 
ceased). Jolin G. Heymann and his wife 
passed tiie later years of their lives at the 
home of our subject, wliere Mrs. Hey- 
mann died in 1872, and her husband in 
1881. They were members of the Ger- 
man Reformed Church. 




V.ESLEY ROBINSON. The sub- 
ject of this sketch is the tenth son 
in tlie family of eleven cliildren 
of William and Lutica (Coleman) 
liobinson, who removed from Washington 
county, Penn., to Ohio soon after the latter 
became a State, first locating in Linton 
township, Coshocton county, where the 
subject of this sketch was born in October, 
1822, or 1823. 

In 1828 the father of our subject, with 
his family, removed to Marion county, 
Ohii>, where they remained until April, 
18;52, when they came to Huron county, 
arriving in Norwich township May 5 of 
tliat year. Young Wesley was brought up 
ill the wild woods, as there were only 
about fifteen acres cleared off the farm his 
father had settled on, the country being 
almost a i>erfect wilderness, a very heavy 
growth of timber covering the surround- 
ing country. All kinds of wild animals,, 
such as deer and turkeys, were numerous. 
Mr. Robinson's privileges of going to 
school were much limited, and the schools 
were supported by the parents who sent 
children, so much being paid for each 
scholar. Young Wesley went to school 
chiefly in the winter time, as liis father 
had other business for him to do in the 
warm weather. After several years of hard 
work and exposure he was stricken with 
rheumatism, and was a cripple for about 
five years, it having settled in his left 
knee. After a time he attended common 
school for a few terms, and his father sent 
him to the seminary school at Norwalk 



one quarter, which finished his limited 
education. He then taught winter school 
two terms, at the end of which time he 
felt satisfied that it i-equired more patience 
than he could command. He then turned 
his attention e.xclusively to farming, re- 
maining on the old homestead. The first real 
estate he ever purchased was on March 8, 
1851, from which time he bought and sold 
land, and finally became the owner of the 
homestead farm of 200 acres. Subsequently 
he bought land adjoining the homestead, 
until he owned, in the aggregate, 437 
acres. On the liomestead farm he erected 
new buildings, ami since the time of the 
war he has sold a part of his real estate, 
and now owns but 290 acres. Believing in 
the old adage, that "'a rolling stone gathers 
no moss," he antl his wife have remained 
on the old homestead farm, from May 5, 
1832, up to the present time. 

On April 5, 1846, Mr. Robinson was 
married to Miss Mary, daughter of Isaac 
H. and Sally (Cassady) Bennett, of Reed 
township, Seneca Co., Ohio. After mar- 
riage the young couple continued to live 
■under his father's roof until the spring of 
1848, when his parents moved to Fitch- 
ville, Huron county, and our subject and 
wife were left alone on the old homestead, 
which at that time contained 200 acres of 
land. Here they remained, working the 
farm, and rearing their family of children, 
consisting of the followincr: William, born 
March 30, 1847, married Susan Benning- 
ton, and now lives near Jackson, Mich.; 
Isaac H., born February 8, 1849, married 
Isadore Bramble, and is now living with 
his parents on the farm; George A., born 
November 26, 1852, married Francos E. 
Eddy, and is now living at Bellaire, An- 
trim Co., Mich. ; and Daniel B G., who 
married Mary Amend, and is now living 
in Norwich township, Huron county. 

In his political afiiliations Mr. Robinson 
is a sound Democrat, very conservative, 
believing that every man has a right to his 
own honest convictions. The first town- 
ship oflice he ever held was that of con- 




4y^^-Au' y^O J-'- 




HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



35J 



stable, having been elected in the spring 
of 1846, and ever since he has held ottice 
of one kind or another. He has been town- 
ship assessor several times; real-estate as- 
sessor three times; was first elected justice 
of the peace in the spring of 1857, holding 
tiie otHce until 1863; was re-elected in the 
fall of 1874, and has held the office ever 
since. Some twenty-five years ago he 
united with the United Brethren Church, 
and has been a member ever since. Socially, 
he is a member of the F. & A. M., having 
joined Richland Lodge No. 201, in the 
fall of 1858, which Lodge holds its regular 
session at Plymouth, Ohio. Al)out the 
same time he became a member of the 
I. O. (). F., Ceutreton Lodge No. 607, and 
continues a member of both Fraternities. 
Some years since he advocated that the 
time had come when it was necessary for 
the agricultural class to organize for their 
better protection, as they were being 
robbed, from day to day, of the benefits 
and fruits of their honest work, by trusts 
and other combinations, by the moneyed 
kings of our country, who to-day stand in 
our midst, to use his own words, "as monu- 
ments of evil and a disgrace to free Ameri- 
can people." Thus he became one of the 
charter meinliers of what is known as Lis'e 
Oak Grange, No. 747, Norwich township; 
he was elected master on its organization, 
March 23, 1874, and has occupied that 
position most of the time since; has also 
served as n)aster of Pomona Grange, of 
the county, several times. Some twenty 
years ago he purchased seven head of the 
American Merino sheep, of L. C. Olark, 
of Vermotit, at seventy-five dollj^rs per 
head, and later made several other pur- 
chases, for all of which he paid what was 
considered extravagant prices. He was 
one of seven that paid twenty-one hundred 
dollars for one buck, and held an interest 
in several bucks thatcost from one hundred 
to seven hundred dollars per head; he has 
devoted considerable time and attention to 
the breeding of this fine Merino sheep, 
keeping upward of two hundred on his 

19 



farm year by year, and has found it a profit- 
able investment. 

Mr. Robinson, with all his wealth, has 
been a victim of losing several thousand 
dollars by signing notes for others; and 
his only reason for having this mentioned 
in the sketch is that it may be a warning 
to others never to sign an accommodation 
paper. 



'JT^ A. SEVER.\NCE, M. D., late of 
Ir^ Bellevue, descended from an old 
I ^ ^^^ li'S^^'y respected New England 
^ family. His father, Tillihu Sever- 

ance, was the eighth son of Jona- 
than Severance, who, coming from England 
in 1755 (an officer in the Commissary 
Department of Gen. Bradcjock's army), 
became a pioneer settler of Greenfield, 
Mass., and afterward a soldier in the Revo 
Intion. In 1801 Elihu Severance married 
Martha Hitchcock, a woman of cultured 
intellect, from a family eminent in tlie 
educational and scientific circles of Massa- 
chusetts. 

Ralph Abercrombie, the elder of their 
two sons, was born in Greenfield on Janu- 
ary 15, 1803. He inherited the sturdy 
virtues of his pioneer ancestry on the fa- 
ther's side, and the scholarly tastes of his 
mother. He early decided to follow one 
of the learned professions; and after an 
unusually thorough preparation, he gradu- 
ated from the medical department of 
B.owdoin College in 1831. Soon after, he 
began the practice of medicine at Saxton's 
River, Vt., where he remained twenty- one 
years, in constantly increasing esteem and 
honor among his fellow townsmen, being 
the most eininent physician in the region. 
In 1854 Dr. Severance left Saxton's River, 
greatly to the regret of the whole commu- 
nity, and removed to Bellevue, Ohio. 
Here again he won wide confidence in his 
skill as a physician, high admiration as a 
public-spirited citizen, and warm esteem 
for his sterling qualities as a man. 



352 



jirnox COUNTY, oiiio. 



For sixty years he was an active and 
influential member of the Congregational 
Church, to which he contrilmted with a 
liberality out of proportion to his means, 
as he did also to many educational and 
philanthropic enterprises. He helped to 
establish an academy in Vermont, and was 
one of the founders of a college in Michi- 
i^an. He was a consistent Mason, holding 
liicrh ofKce in the Order, until failing 
strength prevented his attendance upon its 
meetings. Bv birth and tastes he was in- 
clined to the "best things;" yet, in his 
social relations and manner of life, he was 
most democratic. In politics he was 
always the friend of the oppressed. An 
anti-slavery man by instinct, his house for 
many years was a station on the "Under- 
ground Railroad." Though possessing for 
fifty years an extensive practice in his pro- 
fession, his constant generosity prevented 
the accumulation of a large estate. 

On June 11, 1845, Dr. Severance mar- 
ried Joanna Bailey, of Westmoreland, N. 
Y., with whom he spent a most happy 
wedded life of nearly forty-eight years. To 
them were born three children, a son and 
two daughters. Dr. Severance died April 
23, 1893, at the great age of ninety years, 
three months and eight days. 



ri( G. ROE, one of the most widely 
Hj^ known agriculturists of Peru town- 
fr\^ ship, was born April 21, 1849, on 
•^J the place where he now resides. 

He is the son of Joseph and grand- 
son of Thomas Roe, natives of Northamp- 
tonshire, England, who etnigrated to the 
United States in the " twenties," and 
settled in Huron county, Ohio. 

Thomas Roe was married in England to 
Mary Ann Barnett, where several children 
were born to them, namely: Charles, 
Annie, Barnett, Mary Ann., William and 
Joseph B. In 1821 the family immi- 
grated to America, and after landing in 



New York pushed westward to Auburn, 
N. Y., where they remained ten years, 
and where three more children were born, 
namely: Mark, Reuben and Thomas. 
About 1831 two sons visited Huron 
county, Ohio, purchased a tract of land in 
Peru township, and jirepared a home there 
for the rest of the family, who came in 
the spring of 1832. The parents resided 
here for the remainder of their lives. The 
following is a brief record of their chil- 
dren: Charles, a well known farmer of 
Pern township, died in the fall of 1891; 
Annie married Samuel Wicks; Barnett, 
who was a farmer and miller of Greenfield 
township, died in the county; William 
was the tirst member of the family to pass 
away here; Mark resides at Granville, 
Licking Co., Ohio; Reuben is a machinist 
in Toledo, Ohio; Thomas went to Cali- 
fornia in 1852, and now resides in Ore- 
gon; Joseph B. was a farmer of Peru 
township. 

Joseph B. Roe was born December 15, 
1818, in England, and was brought to the 
United States by his parents in 1821. 
He received a primary education in the 
schools of Auburn, N. Y., and after the 
removal of the family to this county at- 
tended school in Peru township and worked 
on the farm. He was united in marriage 
with Amanda Gale, of Chautauqua county, 
N. Y., and to this marriage was l)orn one 
child, A. G. Roe, of whom mention will 
presently be made. Immediately after 
marriage Mr. Roe located on the farm 
where his son now resides, being a part 
of the original tract occupied by the 
family. Mrs. Amanda Roe died in June, 
1849, during the cholera epidemic, and Mr. 
Roe was afterward married to Harriet Hil- 
dreth, sister of a well-known preacher of 
Norwalk. Mr. Roe was a Jacksonian 
Democrat up to 1856, when he became 
a Republican. At an early age he united 
with the Methodist Church, and was al- 
ways one of its most liberal supporters; 
he was a member of the building com- 
mittee during the construction of the 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



353 



present house of worship. His death oc- 
eiirreii Janiiary 19, 18S3, the result of an 
attack of paralysis. 

A. G. Roe received his rudimentary 
■ education in the district school, and after- 
ward completed a cotniuercial course in 
Oberlin Commercial Colleo-e. He worked 
on the iiome farm until 1873, in which 
year lie visited the Pacific coast, went 
from San Francisco, Cat., to Portland, 
Oregon, and remained in the latter State 
for some time. Returning he worked on 
his father's farm until 1877, when he 
married Estlier P., daughter of George M. 
Ryerson, of Peru township, and to this 
union were born two children: E. Anna 
and J. Clarence, both of whom are living 
at home. Since the spring of 1878 he 
has liad charge of the home farm. In 
188-4 Mr. Roe was sliot in the right leg, 
an accident which checked his rapid prog- 
ress as a farmer, and handicapped him in 
the race for precedence. Notwithstanding 
liis physical disability he is fairly endowed 
with wealth, and what is superior to 
wealth, taste and intelligence. He is an 
oninivorons reader, a good speaker and a 
close student of events. He was a Re- 
publican up to a few years ago, when he 
joined the Independeift party. He and 
wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, which Society he has served 
in various offices. 




NGUS McDonald. The ances- 
try of the family, of whom this 
^ gentleman is a prominent member, 
is traced to one Roger McDonald, 
a native of the island of Skye, one 
of tiie Inner Hebrides, Scotland. He 
removed to Campbelltown, Argyleshire, in 
early maidiood, and was there married to 
Mai-y McAllister, and nine children — 
four sons and five daughters — were born to 
them, of whom one son, Roger, came to 
America and made a settlement here. 



The father was a shepherd, and his eldest 
son, named Donald, perished in a snow- 
storm while tending sheep on his native 
hills, leaving one daughter Mary who 
came to America and married an oflicer, 
by name Donald McDonald, a resident of 
Ontario county, Ontario (Canada), where 
they are yet living, and have a family of 
four sons and one daughter. Another 
grandchild of Roger and Mary McDonald 
is Mrs. Flora Simpson, a widow lady, at 
present living in Norwalk, Huron Co., 
Ohio, with her two daughters. Flora (a 
teacher in high school at Norwalk), and 
Maggie (living at home). 

Roger McDonald, son of Roger and 
Mary (McAllister) McDonald, was born 
in Campbelltown, Scotland, March 20, 
1820, and in 1840 he emigrated to Ainer- 
ica, making his way from the port of 
landing to Huron, Erie Co., Ohio. Here 
he was married in 1844 to Charlotte Par- 
ratt, a native of Somersetshire, England, 
and in the following year they moved to 
Noble county, Ind., where he followed 
farming until 1849, in which year, being 
seized with the '-gold fever" which had 
become so epidemic, he set oiit to the then 
new " El Dorado " — California— his family 
returning to Huron county, Ohio. In 
1851 he returned to Huron coilnty, and 
here he purchased 102 acres of farm land 
in Lot 10, Section 4, in Bronson town- 
ship. In 1885 they removed to North 
Fairfield village, still retaining the farm 
property, however. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- 
Donald have had six children, two of 
whom died when quite young, and four 
children are living, viz.: Angus, the snb- 
ject of these lines; Bruce, a prominent horse 
dealer of North Fairfield, Ohio; Emma E., 
married to H. II. Hovt, a drv-goods mer- 
chant, and has three children; and Will- 
iam H., a bookkeeper, all residents |of 
Huron county, William H. and the Hoyts 
living in Xorwalk. In politics linger 
McDonald votes with the Prohibition 
party; in religion both he and his wife are 
members of the Baptist Church. 



354 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Angus McDonald, the eldest son of 
IkOger and Charlotte (Pai-ratt) McDonald, 
was born April 22, 1846, in Noble county, 
Ind.,and alter I'eceiving a liberal conimon- 
scliool training he entered the Toledo Com- 
inercial (JoUege, where he graduated in the 
spring of 1866. In 1868 he purchased 
the farm and began farming on the place 
where he is now iivfng, being Lot 7. Sec- 
tion 4, Bronson township (101 acres). In 
1869 Angus McDonald was married to 
Libbie PI. Adriance, a native of Greene 
county, N. Y., born of parents of Dutch 
and French descent, and they have two 
children: Hugh A. and Elnora Y., both 
living in the parental home. Mr. McDon- 
ald is a thorough business man, and has 
given his chief attention to general farm- 
ing and stock raising. F'rom 1886 to 1891 
lie was secretary of the Huron County 
Fariners' Mutual Fire Association; has 
been prominently connected with the vari- 
ous farmerb' and labor organizations in 
Huron county for many years. Politically 
he is a Prohibitionist, and was a candidate 
for the office of county recorder in 1890, 
his opponent being elected by only a 
small majority. In religion himself and 
family are members of the Bronson Bap- 
tist Church. 






B. TUDOR, a leading merchant of 
Chicago Junction, is the sou of Sa- 
lathiel and Mary J. (Wilson) Tudor. 
His great-great-grandfather Tudor 
was born in Wales; the uiateinal great- 
grandfather of subject was born in Ire- 
land, anil the maternal great-grandmother 
was a native of Germany. 

Salathiel and Mary J.Tudor were natives 
of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. 
Salathiel Tudor was a tailor, but later 
learned carpentry, and applied himself to 
that trade for some time. About 1827 he 
came with his parents to Richmond town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio, but some time 
aftei'ward removed with his father to Mus- 



kingum county. He was married in Mus- 
kingum county, where he resided for a 
short time, until the glowing accounts of 
the prairie lands of Illinois urged him to 
move farther west. For thirteen years he 
lived in that State, but in 1859 returned 
to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he 
made his home until his removal to Chica- 
go Junction in 1883. Ilis wife died in 
Illinois in 1855. They had three sons and 
three daughters, lour of whom grew to 
maturity, namely: AYilliam, who enlisted 
in the One Hundred and Twenty-second 
O. Y. I., when seventeen years old. and 
was killed at Locust Grove, Ya., in 1863; 
J. W., a farmer in Clarke county. 111.; 
Lyman, residing in Guernsey county, Ohio; 
and C. B., a resident of Chicago Junction. 
The father entered the army in 1862, 
served through the Civil war, and is now 
a veteran of the G. A. R. 

C. B. Tudor was born March 18, 1851, 
in Edgar county, 111., received a somewhat 
limited education in the district schools 
there, and came to Ohio in 1859. He was 
engaged in farm work until the age of 
nineteen years, when he was employed for 
the bridge and carpenter department on 
the B. & O. R. R., where he remained 
from 1873 till 1880. In that year he and 
George Dillon established a hardware store 
at Chicago Junction, but at the close of 
a year's business Mr. Tudor purchased 
his partner's interest, and for the two suc- 
ceeding years conducted it alone. His 
brother-in-law, D. A. Bishop, then en- 
tei-ed into partnership with him, and the 
firm carried on trade until the spring of 
1892, when Mr. Tudor again became sole 
proprietor. He began business on a capi- 
tal of twelve hundred dollars, and now 
carries a stock ranging in value from seven 
thousand to ten thousand dollars. His 
interests are not altogether mercantile. In 
1889, in partnership with Otis Sykes, he 
bought fitty-six lots in Matson's west side 
sub-division, and of these only twenty re- 
main unsold. Seven years before, in 1882, 
he atid Mr. Sykes built the brick block in 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



355 



which our subject's large hardware store 
is located. 

On October 8, 1878, Mr. Tudor was 
united in marriage with Miss Delia Se- 
vault, who was born in Huron county, of 
which her father, Jacob Sevault, is an old 
settler. Of their two children, Ebert died 
in infancy, and Glenn, a bright boy of 
eleven years, resides with his parents. In 
political life Mr. Tudor votes with the Re- 
publican party in State and National elec- 
tions, but is not a politician, as his busi- 
ness interests are too numerous to warrant 
liim in giving his attention to public mat- 
ters, though he has served four years on 
the school board. Socially he is a mem- 
ber of Lodge No. 7i8, 1. O. O. F.; in re- 
ligion he is a member of the United 
Brethren Church. 



1^ 



H! OSEA M. HOOD, one of the most 
popular and widely-known citizens 
of Hartland township, where he 
enjoys a very large circle of friends, 
was born August 19, 1824, at 
Sweden, Monroe county, New York. 

His father, Thomas Hood, was born 
January 1, 1791, in Canaan, Conn., and 
about 1812 was married, at Steventown, 
N. Y., to Dorothy L. Hill, who was born 
there February 20, 1794. They soon after- 
ward moved to Sweden, N. 1., then a 
frontier settlement, the trip being made 
with an o.\-team. In Monroe county he 
found work as a wood-chopper, supplying 
fuel for the salt works, near which he 
lived. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Hood were: Henry L., born June 29, 
1813, now a resident of Medina, Orleans 
Co., N. Y.; Horace E., born October 13, 
1815, an auctioneer, who died at Spring- 
Held, 111., while traveling with Van Am- 
berg's circus; Hiram B., born December 
30, 1817, was accidently killed in 1850, 
while working in a stone quarry at Swe- 
den, N. Y.; Lydia L., born May 2, 1820, 
married first to William Seely, of Me- 
dina county, Ohio, and subsequently to a 



Mr. Coates, of Michigan; Dorothy L., 
born March 17, 1823, died in infancy; 
Hosea M., the subject of this sketch; Bet- 
sey M., born January 20, 1827, married 
Freeman Russell, and died at Ilolley, Or- 
leans Co., N. Y.; Alvin J., born August 
31, 1831, a farmer of Noi'walk township, 
Huron Co., Ohio; Edwin T., born April 
24, 1834, who served during the Civil war 
in the Fifty-fifth O. V. I., was wounded in 
1864 at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., received 
an honorable discharge, and is now a resi- 
dent of Nashville, Tenn.; Mary L., born 
November 25, 1836, now Mrs. Randall, a 
widow, of Rochester, N. Y. Some time 
after the birth of the last child tlie family 
removed to Orleans county, N. Y., where 
the mother died May 15, 1841; the father 
returned to Monroe county, where he died 
April 19, 1865. Both were buried at 
Sweden, where all their children wei-eborn 
and which all called home. Thomas Hood 
was a Whig prior to 1856, when he joined 
the Republican party. In religious con- 
nection he was a member of the Baptist 
Church at Holley, N. Y., his wife also 
being a member of the same church. 

Hosea M. Hood received an elementary 
education in the " Stone Bridge School," 
at Sweden, N. Y., and subsequently 
worked on the farm, near the salt-works, 
assisting his father until 1845. In that 
year he set out on the journey to Ohio, 
his capital being ten dollars in currency, 
good health and plenty of pluck. The 
journey was made from Sweden to Buffalo 
by way of the canal; from Buffalo to 
Huron by lake, and thence to Hartland 
Ridge by wagon. The trip from Buftalo 
to Huron was so extremely rqugh that the 
boat returned to port rather than venture 
to weather the gale. Arriving at Hart- 
land Ridge with eight dollars of his capi- 
tal gone, he found his brother, Horace E., 
who had previously located there, and who 
offered him work. The succeeding winter 
he attended school, and the following 
spring accompanied his brother, selling 
notions along the route of June & Tur- 



356 



HUBON COUNTY, OHIO. 



ner's circus, going through Ohio, Michi- 
gan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. In 
the fall they returned to Hartland town- 
ship, where Ilosea M. taught the "Bills" 
school for thirteen dollars per month. For 
nine seasons he continued to follow the 
routes of the great circus companies, sell- 
ing notions and jewelry. Van Amberg's, 
Spalding & Rogers', Welch's, Franconi's 
and Bainum's men knew him almost as 
one of themselves. While thus employed, 
he acquired a knowledge of the duties of 
of an auctioneer, and this profession he 
adopted. 

On June 4, 1850, he married Hulda M. 
Holiday, who was born December 4, 1831, 
in Kuggles township (^then in Huron 
county), daughter of Lorton and Matilda 
(Gates) Holiday. To Mr. and Mrs. Hood 
were born the foUowino; named children: 
Elvira I., born October 10, 1851 (deceased 
in infancy); Alice C, born August 15, 
1853, a graduate of Lebanon (Ohio) Nor- 
mal School, who was seven years a teacher 
in the Milan Normal School (she is now 
Mrs. J. W. Ferguson, of Hartland town- 
siiip); Hosea M., Jr., born September 25, 
1855, is city salesman for a Denver (Colo.) 
wholesale grocery house; Evaline F., born- 
November 26, 1856, died in infancy; 
Herbert E., born November 10, 1858, an 
employe as telegraph operator and station 
agent for the C. C. & S. R. K. at Beach 
City, Ohio; Dora B., born December 16, 
1861, wife of S. F. Angus, a leading in- 
surance man of Detroit, Mich.; and Edith 
M., born February 21, 1868, residing 
at home. 

After his marriage Mr. Hood located in 
Hartland township, on a rented farm, but 
continued to sell notions and jewelry as of 
old. In 1854 he located on his present 
home, which then comprised seventy acres, 
but is now a well-improved tract of 175 
acres. Since 1858 he has given close at- 
tention to his farming interests. As a 
"sale crier" he is well known, and his 

Frofessional calls extend over a wide area, 
ndeed it is said that some of the best 



" sale criers " in this section of Ohio have 
graduated under him. In early years, in 
fact for fifteen winters after coming to 
Ohio, he taught school in Hartland town- 
ship. A Kepublican in politics, he has 
served in various township offices; for 
twelve years he was justice of the peace, 
and he also served as clerk and trustee. 
He is a deacon in the Baptist Church, and 
for some years was superintendent of the 
Sunday-school. Mrs. Hood is also a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church, and both are 
popular in the township. Mr. Hood is a 
progressive, leading citizen, and his prop- 
erty is entirely the accumulation of his 
own earnest toil. 



p^ IMEON O. RIGGS. This gentle- 
man is a prominent representative 
of an old Scotch family, the first 
pioneer of the name having located 
in New Jersey in the earliest Colonial 
days. For generations the eldest son of 
this family has borne the name of Simeon, 
and many years ago one Simeon Riggs 
left his New Jersey home owing to some 
misunderstanding with his relatives. He 
was a fuller by trade, and settling in 
Guernsey county, Ohio, there purchased 
and operated a woolen mill. He was mar- 
ried to a Miss Cheney, who bore him 
four children — two sons and two dautrh- 
ters — the eldest son being named E. C, a 
departure from the old family custom. 

E. C. Riggs was born in Guernsey 
county, Ohio,^and when but twelve years 
of age suffered the loss of one hand. A 
few years before this accident his father 
was burned out, uninsured, and this son 
(although crippled) engaged in the most 
menial labors, in order to assist in sup- 
porting the family and securing his own 
education. He worked for some time as 
errand boy in a general store, studying 
every hour of leisure time, and when but 
sixteen years old he commenced teaching 
a writing-school. At the age of eighteen 
years he began teaching public school in 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



357 



Noble county, Ohio, continuing the same 
until 1864. In 1854 he was married to 
Margaret Brokaw, a native of Ohio. 
When the war broke out he wanted to 
enlist, and although refused on the around 
of physical disability, he assisted in the 
pursuit of Morgan. In 1863 he was 
elected clerk of courts of Guernsey county 
on the Republican ticket. In the spring 
of 1864 he removed from Senecaville to 
Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Ohio, continu- 
ing to hold the office of clerk for three 
successive terms. He then conducted a 
grocery and manufacturing business for 
some time, and during Gov. Foster's first 
term was appointed to fill the unfinished 
term of Judge Buchanan as probate judge 
of Guernsey county. After occupying 
this office he served two years as acting 
judge under Judge Kennan; then took a 
position as bookkeeper with the Cam- 
bridge Coal Mining Company, which was 
eventually merged into the Guernsey Coal 
Mining Company, when he assumed the 
duties of general manager and secretary. 
This position he resigned August 1, 1892, 
and he is now retired from active business. 
The following children have been born to 
the union of E. C. and Margaret (Brokaw) 
Ritige: Mrs. J. F. Salmon, living in Cam- 
bridge; Simeon O., whose name opens 
this sketch; C. N., who owns the finest 
drug business in Buffalo; Howard, a busi- 
ness man of Chicago, 111.; William L., a 
resident of Cambridge; H. P., a telegraph 
operator in Geneseo, Henry Co., 111.; and 
Jessie, Delbert and Ruby, all three living 
at home. 

Simeon O. Riggs was born May 9, 1856, 
in Guernsey county, Ohio. He received 
his early education in the schools at Cam- 
bridge, and at the age of sixteen was ap- 
prenticed to learn the printer's trade. 
After working two years, he accepted a 
position in a dry-goods store where he 
worked three years; then traveled for a 
cigar factory in which his father was 
interested. In the fall of 1877 he selected 
a life companion in the person of Alice, 



daughter of S. H. Culbertson, of Cam- 
bridge. After his marriage Mr. Riggs 
began business with his father-in-law in 
general merchandise, but dissolved partner- 
ship one year later, and then conducted a 
restaurant for one year. Afterward he 
clerked for his father-in-law for some 
time, and during the summer of 1880 
worked for the Ohio Valley Hedge Com- 
pany, of Columbus, Ohio. He assisted 
his father-in-law the succeeding winter; 
then took charge of a job and news room 
in Cambridge, continuing in that business 
until 1883. At the end of that time he 
came to Chicago Junction and took charge 
of the Times newspaper, which had just 
been started by Lusk & Krause. Six 
months later he bought the office, and has 
since been editor and proprietor of this 
very successful paper, which is now estab- 
lished on a firm basis. It is Independent 
in politics, and enjoys a large advertising 
patronage, as well as a wide circulation 
for a local paper. Editor Riggs contem- 
plates putting in steam presses, which will 
doubtless greatly facilitate his business. 
He is a Republican in politics, taking an 
active interest in the welfare of his party. 
In religion he is one of the founders of 
the M. E. Church in Chicago, Ohio, and 
is a zealous member of that denomination. 
Mr. and Mrs. Riggs have three sons and 

Tr-r 

one daughter, namely: Walter A., Carlos 
O., Simeon Otis, and Mable E. [Since 
the above was written, Mr. Riggs, in the 
fall of 1892, disposed of the Times, and is 
now editor and publisher of the Times, 
a straight Republican paper, at Indianola, 
Warren Co., Iowa. 



LOUIS FIESINGER is a native of 
, New York State, born in Utica, 
[ Oneida Co., N. Y., February 8, 

1844, a son of Francis Josepli and 
Theresa Ebrhardt Fiesinger, natives of 
Alsace (then in France, now in Germany), 
the father receiving his education in 
Paris. 



358 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



At the age of thirty-five years the 
father of our subject came to America, 
locating at first in Utica, N. Y., where he 
foUowed his trade of cabinet maker, which 
he had learned in Paris. In 1854 he came 
to Norwalk, Ohio, where he also worked 
at his trade, and was for a time in the 
employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern Railroad Company at that 
place. In the old country he had 
married Theresa Ehrhardt, and ten chil- 
dren were born to them, Louis being the 
third youngest, and of that large family, 
only he and a sister, Mrs. Doran, in 
Cleveland, are now living. The father 
died in 1872, at the age of abont sixty- 
three years, the mother in 1887, aged 
seventy-nine years; they were members 
of the Roman Catholic Church, and in 
politics he was a Democrat. 

Louis Fiesinger was educated in Nor- 
walk, at the high school of which place he 
graduated, and after completing his stud- 
ies he for some years taught school in the 
southern part of Ohio. Coming to Cin- 
cinnati in 1861, he was here employed as 
recording clerk in the office of the clerk of 
the courts, from 1861 to 1867, at the end 
of which time he returnea to Norwalk 
and embarked in the grocery and provision 
business. But this he soon afterward 
sold out, and opening a restaurant carried 
that on till 1871, in which year he accepted 
a position as traveling salesman for 
Stephen Buhrer, of Cleveland, Ohio, 
wholesale dealer in liquors and wines. 
This line of business he followed till 1873, 
and then received an appointment as bill 
clerk on the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern Railroad at Monroeville, in the 
same county; but in 1875 he moved to 
Chicago Junction, also in Huron county, 
and there once more commenced in the 
restaurant line, having in connection a 
ball alley. Thence in 1878 he went to 
Columbus, where he ran a saloon and bil- 
liard room one year; then returned to 
Chicago Junction, thence again moving to 
Norwalk where he has since successfully 



carried on his present business. In Nor- 
walk he has opened a brick and tile fac- 
tory which promises to become one of the 
best of the kind in the country, the cost of 
the plant being not less than twelve 
thousand dollars. It is run by steam, 
and has a capacity of 20,000 feet of tile 
and 40,000 brick per day. The tiring of 
the tile and brick is done with oil fuel, 
part of the plant being a large tank ca- 
pable of holding 300 barrels of oil, and 
the work can be carried on in any weather — 
summer or winter, hot or cold, dry or wet. 
There is also a disintegrator for crushing 
clay; in fact, the concern is most thor- 
oughly equipped in every essential. 

In 1876 Mr. Fiesinger was married to 
Elizabeth Fox, of Sandusky, Ohio, and 
three children have lieen born to them, 
viz.: AVilliam Louis, May and Leon. In 
politics our subject is a Republican; in 
religion he and his wife belong to no par- 
ticular Church. 



D J. C. ARNOLD, tnanufacturer 
of brick and tile makers' supplies, 
' and metal wheels. New London, is 

a native of Massachusetts, born 
October 27, 1854, in the town of Adams, 
where he received his education. 

In 1876 Mr. Arnold came west to Ohio, 
and locating in New Loudon, Huron 
county, commenced in the lumber business. 
In 1878 he established his present indus- 
try, the factory being, perhaps, the largest 
one in the United States devoted to the 
special manufacturing of brick and tile- 
yard supplies. The buildings have a total 
area of between 22,000 and 23,000 feet of 
floor space, and being located on the main 
line of the "Big Four" Railroad system, 
which extends over a large portion of the 
most populous section of the United States, 
the shipping facilities are unsurpassed. 
Shipments are made directly to all parts of 
the country, with but very few changes. 
The Pittsburgh, Akron & Western Rail- 
road also runs here, and the Baltimore & 




ar4:yU/ 




HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



361 



Ohio through line is very near. The 
industry does an extensive trade even as 
far as the Pacific coast, including all inter- 
mediate points, and enjoys an unprece- 
dented local patronage. Among the cata- 
logued articles manufactured by Mr. 
Arnold may be mentioned the following: 
llepresses, dump carts, brick, mud, tile, sand 
and otlier barrows, patent pallet trucks, 
spring trucks, dry press trucks, patent 
sewer pipe trucks, and sewer pipe and other 
barrows; pug mill shafts; wrought iron 
tempering wheels; machine and hand molds 
of all kinds; brick edgers, etc., as well as 
everything pertaining to the proper out- 
fitting and furnishing of brick and tile 
kilns. Special mention may here, also be 
made of the metal wiieels for trucks and 
barrows turned out by the Arnold Metal 
Wheel Company, for which a patent was 
secured in 1890. These wheels are light, 
strong, durable and handsome, and have 
been in use long enoueh to demonstrate 
that tliey are all that is claimed for thera, 
and that they never fail to give satisfac- 
tion. The superiority of good metal 
wheels over wood, or a combination of 
wood and iron, has been proven to the 
satisfaction of all who have used them, and 
who now use no other. 

Mr. Arnold is looked upon as the ne 
plus ultra business man of New London, 
ills energy and enterprise being proverbial; 
and in the affairs of both town and county 
he wields a potent influence in the line of 
progressiveness and reform. In his politi- 
cal sympathies he is a straight Republican. 



\^T|ATHAN BEERS is descended from 
VJ one of the early families of Con- 
1 iiecticut, of whicli State his father, 
Nathan Beers, was a native. Grand- 
father Beers was paymaster nnder 
Washington during the Revolution- 
ary war, and was subsequently a steward 
of Yale College. 

His son, Nathan Beers, was born Octo- 
ber 15, 1806, in New Haven, Conn., 



Gen. 



where he received his education. He 
completed the freshman year in Yale, and 
then set out on a journey to Oliio, travel- 
ing by canal and lake to Cleveland, and 
thence, on horseback, to Trumbull county, 
where relatives resided. After a brief 
visit he pursued his journey, coming to 
Huron county, where an uncle and a 
brother had previously purchased land. 
On July 3, 1828, he married Louisa Ash- 
ley, who was born December 6, 1806, in 
Deertield, Mass., whence in 1817 she ac- 
companied iier parents, Luther and Eunice 
(Smith) Ashley, to Greenfield township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, the journey, which oc- 
cupied six weeks, being made in a wagon. 
The children born to Nathan and Louisa 
Beers were as follows: Mary, widow of 
Lucius Gibbs, who resides in California; 
Augusta, widow of Isaac Darling, of 
Greenfield townsliip, and Nathan. The 
parents of these began married life on the 
same farm where he died March 6, 1891. 
His remains were interred in the Steuben 
cemetery. His widow now resides with 
her son Nathan on the homestead. Politi- 
cally this pioneer diffei-ed from the ma- 
jority of the men of Huron count}-, who 
voted for Fremont in 1856. He simply 
changed from being a Wliig into a Re- 
publican, while the others who changed 
political ideas at the time were generally 
Democrats. He filled many township 
offices in early years, such as clerk, trustee 
and treasurer. He was a member of the 
Congregational Church, and was much es- 
teemed by his neighbors. He was tenderly 
beloved by his children and grandchildren, 
and at all times he dealt justly, loved 
mercy, and reverenced God. 

Nathan Beers, son of the pioneer, was 
born October 8, 1840, was educated in the 
district school, and reared to the life of a 
farmer. He worked on the homestead 
until 1861, when he mai'ried Ellen Conk- 
lin, who was born March 14, 1844, at 
Plymouth. Ohio; her parents, Charles and 
Rachel (Bevier) Conklin, came from 
Owasco, Cayuga Co., N. Y., where Mr. 



362 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Conklin was born July 14, 1807, and his 
wife November 24, 1807. Mr. Conklin 
was a tailor Ijy trade, but devoted much of 
his time to agriculture. To the marriage 
of Nathan and Pollen Beers were bora 
three children, namelj: Fred P., a boot 
and shoe dealer of Plymouth, Ohio; 
Louise, Mrs. Deino P. Ryersou, of Peru 
township, and Mary, at home. All were 
born on the home farm, where the parents 
settled after inarriage. Mrs. Beers is a 
member of the Congregational Church, 
and Mr. Beers of the Congregational 
Society. Politically he is a Eepnblican, 
and he is one of the advisers of the party 
in his district. In August, 1862, he en- 
listed, at Steuben, Ohio, in Company C, 
One Hundred and Twenty-third O. V. I., 
which was attached to the Eighth Corps 
and army of the James, and served with 
that command until the close of the war. 
He received an honorable discharge, and 
was mustered out in June, 1865, at Colum- 
bus, Ohio. With the exception of that 
radical departure from home life, Mr. 
Beers has called the farm, which was lo- 
cated by his father, his home. He is a 
systematic agriculturist and an experienced 
stock grower, and is in every respect a use- 
ful, industrious citizen. 




VILLIAM A. DANGELEISEN, 
proprietor of "The Imperial," 
Ifj' Bellevue, is of German descent, 
and ranks high in commercial 
circles. His father, Joseph Dangeleisen, 
was born in 1817, in Breunlingen, Baden, 
Germany, and passed his youth in that 
country. He learned the trade of tanner 
and currier, and followed same for twenty 
years in various places in Germany, after- 
ward working in France, Italy. Austria, 
Denmark, and tive years in Switzerland. 
During this time he learned several lan- 
guages and gained much valuable infor- 
mation. At one time he was foreman in 
a shop at Germany, where he received 
for his services only one dollar per week. 



Joseph Dangeleisen emigrated from 
Germany in 1853, three years after the 
revolution in that country, in which lie 
was a leader. He was at that time presi- 
dent of a German club, and also tilled the 
ofiice of councilman. After reaching 
America he located in what was then 
known as Newburg (now Cleveland), Ohio, 
and worked at his trade. In 1857 he 
moved to Talford, same State, but soon re- 
turned to Cleveland, and from there went 
to Akron, Ohio, where he had charge of a 
tannery until 1859, at which time he 
moved to Bellevue, and worked for Adam 
Zehner four years. In 1863 he began 
business for himself, opening the billiard 
parlors and saiuple room now known as 
'•The Imperial," and continued in active 
charge until four years ago, when his son 
became proprietor. In 1846 Mr. Dange- 
leisen married Miss Caroline Ilio-orer, and 
their union was blessed with live children, 
viz.: Joseph (I.) (who died in infancy); 
WilUiam A. (subject of this sketch); Emil 
V. (who married Miss Matilda Schuler, a 
native of Huron county, Ohio); Josephine 
(twin of Joseph (II.), who married Otto 
Mai-Jioeser, of Cleveland, Ohio, and has 
one daughter, Elsie). His wife died in 
1866, and in 1868 Mr. Dangeleisen mar- 
ried Miss Susan Gimmey, to which mar- 
riage no children have been born. Mr. 
Dangeleisen has acquired considerable 
property, is highly I'espected, and is gen- 
erally regarded as one of Bellevue's best 
citizens. 

William A. Dangeleisen was born in 
1856, in Newburg, Ohio. He passed his 
school days in Bellevue, and was with his 
father until fourteen years of age, at which 
time he went to Cleveland and learned the 
machinist trade. He worked in Cleveland 
four years, and attended the Commercial 
College about eighteen months. In 1875 
he moved to Adrian, Mich., where he 
clerked in the " Mineral Spring Hotel," 
and was given full charge of same. After 
six months he went to Toledo, Imt twelve 
months later returned home, where he had 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



363 



a severe lllnegs. He next entered the em- 
ploy of Iligbee & Company, tlie largest 
grain dealers of northern (_)iiio, and for 
three years \va>; assistant bookkeeper and 
bookkeeper tor four years. He remained 
witli the successors of this firm, Ward & 
Collins, four years, and then became a 
partner in the firm of McLaughlin & Com- 
pany, successors to Ward & Collins. 
After five months he withdrew from the 
business and moved to Sioux City, Iowa, 
where he secured a position as bookkeej)er, 
but before he accepted it his father re- 
quested him to return home and assume 
charge of "The Imperial" in Bellevne. 
He has successfully managed this hand- 
some billiard parlor and sample room up 
to the present time, and is very popular in 
business circles. 

In 1882 Mr. Dangeleiseu married Miss 
Julia Korner, and their union has been 
blessed with two children: Virginia and 
William AVarren. He and his family are 
members of tlie Catholic Church. He was 
nominated township clerk, but declined 
the nouiination, and the same year refused 
to run for city clerk, preferring to devote 
liis time and attention to his business 
affairs. He is a member of the K. O. T. M., 
and has filled the othce of secretary for 
Lodge No. T), Guardian Tent; is also a 
member of the Koyal Arcanum, Lodge 
No. 363, Bellevue Council, and Uniform 
Rank of K. P. His political views are 
Republican. 




•JjILLlAM A. HEYMAN. Among 
\l] tlie agriculturists, who by their 
Ij exemplary lives have won the es- 
teem of their neiglibors and per- 
formed an important part in the political, 
mercantile and social affairs of Lyme town- 
ship, none are more prominent than WiU- 
iam A. Hey man, who was born July 21, 
1830, in Nassau, Germany. 

William C. Heyman, father of sub- 
ject, was a native of Germany, and re- 
mained in that country until the prime of 



life, when he was induced by the flattering 
reports of his son's success in America to 
make for himself and family a new home. 
He was a farmer by occupation, and after 
locating in Huron county, Ohio, engaged 
in agricultural pursuits, renting land until 
1852, at which time he purchased a valu- 
able farm of 155 acres in Sherman town- 
ship. He married Miss Maria Opperman, 
and to their union were born ten children, 
eight sons and two daughters. Mr. Hey- 
man is now living in Huron county, and 
though eighty-four years of age still enjoys 
good health, and" retains the energy and 
executive ability that enabled him to ac- 
cumulate a handsome estate, and manage 
his business affairs successfully. His wife 
died in ISS-t, after a Christian life filled 
with kind impulses and generous deeds. 

William A. Heyman received an excel- 
lent education in Germany, and learned 
habits of thrift and industry that served 
him well during the years when he was 
struggling for wealth and fame. When 
nineteen years of age he determined to 
seek broader fields of labor than were open 
to young men in the Fatherland, and emi- 
grated from his native shore in IS-IO. 
Immediately after 7-eaching the United 
States he journeyed west and settled in 
Lyme township, Hui'on Co., Ohio, where 
he worked as a farm laborer for Squire 
Prentiss a short time. By practicing 
strict economy he was soon able to engage 
in farming for himself, and he now owns 
three valuable farms in Huron county, 
comprising 425 acres, and devotes his at- 
tention to general agriculture and stock 
raising. He is very popular in political 
circles, and served as justice of the peace 
four terms. 

Mr. Heyman was married, Deceu)ber 
15, 1854, to Miss Jennette Moore, who 
was born in Germany, a daughter of Con- 
rad and Clara Moore, and fifteen children 
— ten sons and five daughters — blessed 
their union, viz.: Mary, Emma, Charles, 
David, Adam, Benjamin, William, Henry, 
Isaac, Jacob, Clara, Louisa and Sarah, and 



364 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



two whose names are not given, of whom 
eight sons and three daughters are yet liv- 
ing. The mother of tiiese died iu 1875, 
and in 1877 our subject was married, in 
Lorain, to Miss Ida Schroeder, who was 
born in Germany, a daughter of Dr. 
Schroeder, formerly of Lorain county, 
Ohio; he and his wife were both born in 
1799, and the former died in January, 
1885, the latter in January, 1893. Two 
children blessed this last marriage of Mr. 
lieyman, named Otto and Hugo. Mr. 
and Mrs. Heyman are members of the 
German Reformed Cliuroh, of which they 
are liberal supporters, and are actively in- 
terested in all public matters that have as 
an object the improvement of the townsliip 
in which they reside. 



MARTIN GROSS, senior member 
of the firm of Gross & Weber, 
J proprietors of the lumber and 
^) planing mills at I'ellevue, was born 

in 1843 in the Province of Nassau, 
Germany, a son of William and Catherine 
(Fritz) Gross. 

In 1860 he immigrated to America, and 
having learned the cabinet maker's trade, 
followed that business for about one year 
in Rochester, N. Y., where he first learned 
to speak English. In 1861 he began 
working on a farm near Bellevue, Huron 
Co., Ohio, and soon afterward enlisted in 
the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, 
O. V. L, in which he served three years 
with the army of the Potomac. He took 
part in the battles of ChancellorsviUe and 
Gettysburg, and during the former en- 
gagement was wounded in the leg and 
taken prisoner, but twelve days after his 
capture he wase.xchanged. At the close of 
the war he was discharged, and has since 
drawn a pension. On May 1, 1866, he 
selected a life companion in the person of 
a Miss Angel, who died a few years after- 
ward. Her children were as follows: 
Louise, Lizzie, one deceased in infancy, 
and Minnie. After the death of the 



mother of these children, the father was 
united in marriage May 26, 1874, with 
Phillipena Schwenk, who has borne him 
live children, namely: Katie, Emma. 
Willie, Martin and Charlie. 

In 1867 Martin Gross opened a furni- 
ture business in Bellevue, in which he con- 
tinued fourteen years; then sold out, and 
bought a half interest with J. H. Weber in 
the lumber and planing mill at Bellevue. 
In 1888 Mr. Weber sold his interest to 
Charles D. Stouer, who died January 16, 
1893, when M. Gross and J. H. Weber 
bought the interest of Mr. Stoner. The 
well-known tirm of M. Gross & J. H. 
Weber carry on an extensive business in 
lumber, shingles, etc., their yard and plan- 
ing mills being located on tlie east side of, 
and in close proximity to, the Nickel Plate 
Railroad. Mr. Gross is a successful, 
enterprising business man, active in all 
matters tending to public improvement, 
and is a stanch supporter of the Demo- 
cratic party. 




B. SMITH, the courteous and efK- 
cient postmaster at Bellevue. was 
born March 25. 1840, in Cleveland, 
Ohio. His grandfather and father 
were both natives of New York, the 
formei- born of Holland-Dutch ancestry. 

W^illiam T. Smitli, father of subject, 
was married to Frances L. Smith, a native 
of Connecticut, and they had children as 
follows: Oliver, Henry, A. B., Geo. E., 
F. W., Frances M. and'Chas. A. In 1835 
William T. Smith established a shoe busi- 
ness in Cleveland, wiiere he became a very 
prominent citizen. Politically he was a 
member of the Know-Nothing party, and 
one time, while he was absent from home, 
he was elected, by his Cleveland friends, a 
councilman as such, although always a 
Republican. He died July 2, 1890; his 
widow still lives in Cleveland. 

A. B. Smith received his education in 
the public schools of Cleveland, and when 
the Civil war opened he enlisted, in April, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



365 



1861, in the First Ohio Regiment of Liglit 
Artillery. He was in tlie tirst battery that 
left the State after the fall of Fort Sumter, 
and he took part in the battle of Philippi, 
W. Va., June 20, 1861. After the time 
had expired for which lie lind enlisted, he 
reentered the service in 1864, then went 
to Washington and remained in fortifica- 
tions until the close of the war, being 
mustered out as sergeant. Soon after the 
war he made a permanent settlement in 
Bellevne, and engaged in the mercantile 
business for about ten years. During Gar- 
field's administration he was appointed 
postmaster at that place, and served four 
years ; was re-appointed by Harrison in 
April, 1891, having proved himself a faith- 
ful official and an enterprising citizen. Mr. 
Smith was maiTied October 7, 1862, to 
Miss E. A. Lewis, who has borne him 
four children, viz.: William F., Albert, 
Frank G. and Mary L. 



djOHN P. MEYER is the grandson of 
George Meyer, a farmer of Baden, 
^ Germany, who in 1846 sailed for 
America with his family, consisting 
of wife and five children — four sons and 
one daughter — one child having died in 
infancy. 

After landing at New York they pro- 
ceeded westward by way of the Iliidson 
river and Erie Canal to Buffalo, N. Y., 
wiiich at that time was the most popular 
route. From Buffalo, via Lake Erie, they 
went to Sandusky, Ohio, thence to Ridge- 
field township, Huron county, where 
George Meyer purchased land near Mon- 
roeville. He had accumulated consider- 
able property in Germany, which was 
disposed of there, and he came to America 
to avoid having his boys drafted into the 
German army. In this country he was a 
Democrat in politics. Soon after locating 
in Ohio, his wife died, and in 1865 he was 
laid by her side, having been a sufferer 
from asthma several years. They were 
buried in Monroeville cemetery. 



John George Meyer, the eldest child of 
George Meyer, was born March 27, 1831, 
in Baden, Germany. He was reared on 
the home farm and attended the common 
schools of his native country. At the age 
of fifteen years he came to America with 
his parents, and followed farm work with 
his father, with whom his youth was 
passed. In April, 1855, he was married 
to Lena Kohler, who was born May 1, 
1833, in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, 
a daughter of Jacob Kohler. In 1854 she 
came to America with relatives, sailing 
from Havre, France, on tiie vessel "Gil- 
christ." After twenty-six days on the 
ocean, she landed at New York, remaining 
there three months with a sister, afterward 
coming to Huron county, Ohio, where she 
met her future husband. After his mar- 
riage Mr. Meyer engaged in farming near 
Pontiac, Peru township, Huron county, 
where he resided till 1858, and then pur- 
chased the farm in Ridgefield township, 
on which he was living at the time of his 
death, which occurred December 27, 1885. 
Mr. Meyer was a successful agriculturist, 
and his excellent farm of nearly 142 acres 
stands as evidence of his prosperity, much 
of which was secured by the aid of his 
good wife's economy and energy. In 
politics he was a Democrat, and was 
elected by his party to numerous township 
offices, which he filled with credit to liim- 
self. He was a consistent member of and 
liberal contributor to the Evangelischer 
Church at Monroeville, with which his 
widow is also identified. Since the death 
of her husband Mrs. Meyer has been living 
on the home place, surrounded by hosts of 
friends, and enjoying the respect and 
esteem of them all. She has had one son, 
John P. Meyer. 

John P. Meyer was born December 12, 
1855, in Ridgefield township, Huron 
county, Ohio, and received a common- 
school education, his first knowledge of 
acrricnlture being obtained on the same 
farm where he is now residing, h rom 
early youth he evinced a natural mechan- 



366 



HUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



ical gift, and thongh never learning any 
trade, is now capable of executing work 
requiring no small amount of skill, in sev- 
eral trades. On March 25, 1879, he mar- 
ried Wilhelinina, a daughter of Piiilip 
Boehler. of Monroeville, and she has borne 
him four children: Otto J., born March 
23, 1881; Albert H., born January 30, 
1884; Oscar P., born May 13, 1890; and 
Clarence G., born August 28, 1892, all of 
whom are living. After his marriage 
Mr. Meyer located on a part of his father's 
farm where he has since lived, following 
general farming and stock raising. He is 
one of the leading and intelligent young 
farmers of tlie township, and methodical in 
his labors. Politically lie votes the Demo- 
cratic ticket, and has iield othces in his 
township, taking considerable interest in 
the success of his party. Both be and his 
wife are members of the Evaugelischer 
Church at Monroeville. 




\ILLIAM GAMBLE is undoubt- 
edly one of the self-made men of 
Huron county. By his labor he 
■ - developed a vahialile farm, and in 

the faco of ditticulties and disappointments 
established himself among the well-to-do 
agriculturists of Greenfield township. 

Thomas Gamble, a native of Lincoln- 
shire, England, was there married to Mary 
Rick, and to them three children were 
born, namely: Joseph, William, and Mary 
Ann, who married George Wallace and is 
now residing at Cascade, Iowa. In 1843 
the entire family emigrated to the United 
States, the voyage from Liverpool to New 
York being accomplished in ninety days. 
The journey from Manhattan Island to 
their destination in Huron county, Ohio, 
was also long and disagreeable. Here 
Thomas Gamble purchased a small parcel 
of land and built a cabin, the first home 
of the family in America. Mrs. Gamble 
died in 1849, and was buried at Olena, in 
Bronson township. This was a severe 
stroke of misfortune, resulting as it did 



in scattering the children and leaving the 
father in a condition of depression, which 
incapacitated him for an active life. He 
now lives in a comfortable home furnished 
by his son William. 

William Gamble was born October 15, 
1842, in Lincolnshire, England. On the 
death of his mother he went to live with 
an aunt, in Fairfield township; but owing 
to a disagreement with her transferred 
himself to his uncle's home in the same 
township. Ultimately he went to the home 
of his grandfather, Edward Rick (who 
came hither from England in 1842), and 
resided with him until 1853. From that 
period until young Gamble was twenty-one 
years old he resided at the house of James 
Youngs, Sr., and worked for him, receiv- 
ing at the close of the decade the sum of 
one hundred dollars for his services. So 
far in his career little opportunity for edu- 
cating himself was offered, beyond what 
could be gleaned in the school of experi- 
ence. In February, 18G4, he married 
Elizabeth Bennett, who was born October 
8, 1847, in New Haven township, and to 
this marriage five children were born, 
namely: Mary, wlio died young; Lillian, 
Mrs. Charles Earl, of Oleua, Huron county; 
Helen, Mrs. Fred Sparks, of New Haven 
township; William T. and Jay, both resid- 
ing at home. Mi-s. Elizabeth (Bennett) 
Gamble is a daughter of Allen and Harriet 
(Youngs) Bennett, and granddaughter of 
James Youngs, Sr. From 1855, when her 
mother died, to the date of her marriage, 
she resided with her grandfather. 

The farm on which Mr. Gamble now 
lives was first occupied by him in 18G4, 
when he pttrchased sixty- six acres of it on 
credit. How he worked by the day and 
year to pay for this tract is a creditable 
item in the history of the man. By 1866 
he had saved sufficient money to warrant 
him in beginning work on tiiis farm. He 
split 500 rails for liis first five bushels of 
seed potatoes, and by closely observing the 
principles of economy and industry was 
enabled to pay for the sixty-six acres 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



3(5^ 



within a few years. He then purchased a 
second tract, and extended the area to 183 
acres; in 1872 he erected a new dwelling 
honse, since whicli year all the farm build- 
ings have been constructed. This prog- 
ress has not been accomplished under 
the most favorable circumstances. His 
leg has been broken twice, and sickness 
has invaded the household at intervals, so 
that at times his pathway was rough and 
uninviting. But like a trained man he 
conquered adversity, rose above it, and 
came out from each trial feeling the better 
for having fought and won. Mr. Gamble, 
while engaged in agiiculture proper, gives 
some attention to the growing of Poland- 
China hogs, line sheep and other stock. He 
votes with the Democratic party, but is 
not an active partisan or politician, his 
policy being to attend closely to his own 
business, pay his taxes and let others look 
after the affairs of State. 



qEORGE LINDER was born Feb- 
, ruary 25, 1822, in Bavaria, Ger- 
many, where his father, John Law- 
, > rence Linder, was a vine grower and 
wine producer. 
George Linder's youth was passed in 
the manner common to boys of the Bava- 
rian agricultural class. He received a prac- 
tical education in the schools of his birth- 
place, and also attended Sunday-school 
four years. When his boyhood days were 
over, he began work on the farm and vine- 
yard, and so continued until the emigra- 
tion of the family to America. In 1845 
the parents, with George and his sister, 
Catherine, set out from their native land 
for Havre, France, en route to the United 
States. At Havre they embarked on the 
" x\rgo," one of the giant ships of that 
period, and after a tempestuous voyage of 
thirty-five days and a half, landed at New 
York. At one time during this dreary 
journey, when the great ship was caught 
in an ice-floe, grave fears were entertained 
for her safety; but Providence was with 



the emigrants, and the good ship " Argo " 
came safely into port. The travelers pro- 
ceeded to Philadelphia, thence across the 
Alleghany mountains to Pittsburgii, and 
through mistake were sent to Portsmouth, 
Ohio, thence to Cleveland. It was cer- 
tainly a circuitous, expensive and trouble- 
some journey; but the brave Bavarians 
endured it with but little complaint. 
From Cleveland the party pushed into the 
wilds of Huron county, and there the 
father purchased land in Peru township, 
where the mother died in 1869, aged 
seventy- three years, the father at the age 
of eighty-seven years. The tire of 1846 
destroyed the little home they had built 
and the property they had accumulated ; 
but like a majority of his countrymen Mr. 
Linder rose above this misfortune, and 
looked upon it as a lesson. He was a 
hard worker, industrious and frugal, and 
succeeded in accumulating a good prop- 
erty. He was a member of the Lutheran 
Church, and he and his wife are buried in 
the Lutheran cemetery at Pontiac. Cath- 
erine, their daughtei-, who married Will- 
iam Brinker, of Cleveland, is also num- 
bered with the dead. 

George Linder was married January 6, 
1849, to Elizabeth Schwan, who was born 
February 6, 1831, in Germany, and was 
brought to the United States by her par- 
ents in 1834; she grew to womanhood in 
Pern township, where the family settled 
that year. George Schwan, her father, 
moved to Seneca county, Ohio, iu 1848. 
To George and Elizabeth Linder were 
born children as follows: George, a farmer 
of Peru township; Lena, deceased ; Cath- 
erine, deceased; Lawrence J., a farmer in 
Peru township; and Minnie, Mrs. Henry 
Linder, of Weaver's Corners. After mar- 
riage Mr. Linder established liis home in 
Peru township, where he resided until 
April 1, 1870, when lie moved to his pres- 
ent farm. The family is an industrial one 
in every particular; father, mother and 
each of the children work on the farm, in 
the vineyard and in the home, with a 



368 



IIUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



eingle eje to the advancement of all. 
Each one has his or her place to till, and 
does the work of that place cheerfully. 
Mr. Linder is a Democrat, and a man of 
influence in local politics. In religions 
connection Mr. and Mrs. Linder are lead- 
ing members of the Lutheran Church, in 
which he has held various positions. As 
a farniLT, grape-grower and stock-raiser he 
lias won his title to success, and is to-day 
one of the most highly-respected old set- 
tlers of Huron county. 




A. KNAPP, a well-known and 
highly respected farmer and 
banker, of Fitch ville township, 
was born in Fairfield county. 
Conn., January 10, 1841. the eldest child 
of William A. and Harriet (Marshall) 
Knapp, of New York State. 

William A. Knapp, father of subject, 
was liorn at Lewisboro, Westchester Co., 
N. Y., February 14, 1817. His father, 
Sylvanus, was a sailor for years; but liav- 
incr learned the raasoti's and shoemaker's 
trades, he worked at same in Connecti- 
cut. William A., Sr.. received an ele- 
mentary education in the schools of his 
native place, and March 1, 1840, married 
Harriet Marshall, a native of Westchester 
county. That he was economical as a 
youth is demonstrated by the fact that, 
from a total revenue of fifty cents per 
diem, he saved two hundred dollars, which 
sum he loaned to a friend, but lost the 
loan. Continuing at the shoemaker's 
trade, which he had learned of his father, 
he soon replenished his purse, and then, 
from Judge T. Rosevelt, rented a farm in 
Connecticut, near New York City, which 
he operated until 1845, when he set out 
for Ohio with his wife and two cliildren — 
William A., the subject of this sketch, and 
Amanda, now Mrs. Hialmar Griffin, of 
Fitchville township. The family traveled 
by river, canal and lake to Ohio, arriving 
at Huron October 2, 1845. 



The journey from Huron to Fitchville 
township was made by wagon, and there, 
on February 27, 1846, one child was horn 
to them, Euphronia, who married H. D. 
Palmer, and died at New London, Ohio, 
March 27, 1884. It appears from the 
records of the family that Sylvanus Knapp, 
father of W. A. Knapp, Sr., became, by 
purchase or State grant, owner of 235 
acres in the "Firelands" of Ohio. In 1838 
or 1839 AVilliam A., the son of the owner. 
visited Ohio, and selecting lands in Fitch- 
ville township brought the family hither in 
1845, to occupy the tract. Becoming dis- 
satisfied with his purchase, however, he 
exchanged it for lands in the southwest 
part of the township, allowitig three dol- 
lars per acre for the new tract of wild 
land. In the Indian summer of 1845 two 
acres were cleared and a frame house 18 x 
24 feet erected, wherein the family passed 
their first winter in Ohio. From distant 
neighbors they purchased supplies for a 
long term. In the spring of 1846 Mr. 
Knapp planted two acres of corn, the sys- 
tem followed being to make a hole in the 
ground with an axe, and place therein a 
few grains of corn. The first crop, so 
rudely put in, was large,' giving the new 
settlers an idea of what Ohio soil could do. 
For eleven years the family resided there, 
and in 1856 or 1857 moved nearer the 
center of the township, where farming was 
carried on until 1881, in which year the 
family moved to Greenwich. There he 
served as president of the Greenwich 
Banking Co. until his death in 1888. His 
widow died at Fitchville in 1889, and was 
buried beside her husliand in the Fitch- 
ville cemetery. Both were members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politi- 
cally, he was a Whig down to 1856, and a 
Republican from that period until his 
death. For a number of years he served 
his township as trustee, and in all matters 
relating to the public welfare his advice 
was sought and generally followed. He 
was a most successful farmer and business 
man. Dealing extensively in live stock. 





V 




DAUGHTEf\OFW.A.KNAPP. 




HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



371 



whicli lie sliipped to eastern markets, his 
consii^iiinents were received without ques- 
tion, for liis eastern correspondents knew, 
as well as Ills iiei";hbors, that ho was a 
judge of stock in the fullest sense of the 
word, and that he would neither stoop to 
defraud, nor permit any one to defraud 
liini. In financial affairs he was conserva- 
tive, prompt in thinking and acting, and 
always a snccess. 

W. A. Knapp received a liberal educa- 
tion in the schools of Htchville, and a 
practical education on the farm. In 1864 
he enlisted in one of the one-hundred day 
regiments, served the term, and after re- 
ceiving honorable discharjfe, visited his 
home. Returnintj to the field, he worked 
as a laborer in the Telegraphic Depart- 
ment of the army; was promoted to fore- 
man, and subsequently served for two 
years, at seventy-five dollars per month 
and expenses. Later he was employed by 
the Western Union Telegraph Company, 
by whom his talent and energy were recog- 
nized. Returning to the farm in 1869, he 
became interested in his father's acricnlt- 
ural and live-stock business, which he has 
conducted since that time. On the death 
of his father he inherited valuable t)rop- 
erty, a fraction of what he now owns, and 
today he is the most extensive farmer in 
Fitchville township, a heavy stock man, 
president of the Greenwich Banking Com- 
pany, a director in the N"ew London Na- 
tional Bank, and a stockholder in other 
projects. 

On March 27, 1879, Mr. Knapp married 
Philena Kirkpatrick, a native of Troy 
township, Ashland Co., Ohio, and daugh- 
ter of William Kirkpatrick, of that county. 
By this union there were four children: 
Pearl Knapp, born June 26. 1881; J. D. 
Knapp, born March 5, 1883; Harley B. 
Knapp, born November 23, 1886; W. A. 
Knapp, born December 6, 1889, died June 
21, 1892. The motlier of this family was 
called from earth July 29. 1892. Mr. 
Knapp is a Republican, taking more than 
ordinary interest in the party of progress, 
so 



but is not a politician, his agrietdtural and 
banking interests detnanding and receiving 
his close personal attention. Though 
liberally endowed by his father, he may, 
in a measure, l)e called the architect of his 
own fortune; for, since he abandoned the 
telegraph service, he has given his lands 
atid other interests his undivided time, 
labor and study. 



FJRANK HACIIENBERG,contractor 
and Ijuildei', Bellevue, was born 
_^ April 27, 1847, in Snyder county, 
Penn., a son of Samuel atid Ellen 
(Bilcher) IIrtclien])erg, also natives of 
Pennsylvania. He is one of a family of 
eleven children — five sons and six daugh- 
ters — ten of whom are yet living, the only 
death being that of the second eldest who 
passed away at the age of fifty- six years; 
and only twice has a physician been called 
upon to render aid to this large family. 
The parents now reside in Elkhart county, 
Indiana. 

Frank Hachenberg came to Ohio with 
liis parents about I860, and one year later 
moved to Michigan, where he remained 
five years, thence proceeding to Indiana, 
where he learned the cai'penter's trade. 
At the age of twenty-three years be set- 
tled at Bellevue, Huron county, and 
worked at his trade by the day for five 
years. Since 1876 he has given his at- 
tention to contractintr and building-, and 
to him must be credited some of the finest 
residence buildings in Bellevue. In the 
fall and winter of 1892 he erected four 
houses here, one of which is the finest in 
the city. In all this work Mr. Hachen- 
berg has given direct employment to a 
number of skilled workmen, and he has 
satisfied the owners in observing specifica- 
tions. 

Mr. Hachenberg was marrietl July 4, 
1872, to Miss Lydia Kreisher, and to this 
marriage have come six children, namely: 
William, Carrie, Gertrude, Edith, Bertha 
and Edwin. Politically he is an ardent 



372 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Republican, and a member of the Patriotic 
Order Sons of America, a Society which 
rendered much aid to the Republican party 
in 1892. He is also a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and of the K. of P., and in re- 
licrions faith he is a member the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in all of which he is an 
active worker. As a carpenter and builder 
he is well known, not only in Bellevue, 
but throughout the neighboring country. 



yjICKERY BROS., well-known law- 
yers of Bellevue, command an ex- 
tensive practice not only on account 
of their abilities and personal claims, 
but also on account of their location, which, 
at the corners of four counties, Huron, 
Seneca, Erie and Sandusky, is in the midst 
of one of the most prosperous agricultural 
districts in the country. 

"Willis and Jesse Vickery are the song 
of William and Sarah (Perkins) Vickery, 
who came to Bellevue from England in 
1857. Willis Vickery, senior member of 
the firm, was born in 1857, at Bellevue, 
received a primary education in the coun- 
try schools near there, and subsequently 
studied in the Clyde High School, gradu- 
ating with first honors in 1880. He then 
entered Boston University, and later was 
enrolled a student in the law school of 
that institution, graduating in the latter 
course in 1884, receiving the degree of 
L L. B. In 1885, in partnership with his 
brother Jesse, he established a law office 
at Bellevue, where he has since continued 
in the active practice of his profession. 
Willis Vickery was married September 23, 
1884, in Clyde, to Miss Anna L. Snyder, 
and to this union three children have been 
born: Lucile, Melville and Howard L. 
Mr. Vickery is a charter member of Alta 
Lodge No. 206, Knights of Pythias, Belle- 
vue; representative in the Grand Lodge of 
Ohio; a member of the committee on law 
and supervision pf the Ordef. A Repub- 
licati in politics, he is a member of the 



Executive Committee of Sandusky county, 
and is valued highly in the councils of his 
party. 

Jesse Vickery was born in 1859, in 
Groton township, Erie county, Ohio. Like 
his brother, he received his early educa- 
tion in the local schools, later studied in 
the Western Reserve Academy, and then 
entered the University of Michigan, gradu- 
ating with the law class of '84. Returning 
to Bellevue, he was admitted to the bar of 
Ohio, and, in partnership with his brother 
Willis, established the law firm of Vick- 
ery Bros, in 1885. On August 7, 1890, 
he was married to Miss Bettie Haas, and 
to this marriage has come one child, 
Gordon H. Politically Mr. Vickery is a 
Republican, and is a representative of that 
party on the board of Deputy Election 
Supervisors of Sandusky county, he having 
served as Chief Deputy of the board, 
which position he still occupies. 

Both these brothers are popular in law 
as well as in social circles, and have built 
up a lucrative business, their clientage in 
Huron, Sandusky, Erie and Seneca coun- 
ties being large and influential. Willis 
Vickery is attorney for Bellevue city. The 
young lawyers are men of fine legal at- 
tainments, physically and mentally strong, 
and are working steadily onward to take 
a first place among the legal lights of the 
State of Ohio. Both are close students, 
and keep well abreast with the current 
events and literature of the day. Both 
have excellent private libraries, being large 
and well selected. 



THEODORE C. LAYLIN, ranking 
among the most prominent and in- 
fluential citizens of Norwalk town- 
ship, is one of the only two surviv- 
ing sons of John Laylin (a pioneer 
of the " Eirelands "), the other being Hon. 
Lewis C. Laylin. 

Our subject was born in 1841 on the 
farm in Norwalk township, Huron county, 
where Mr. A. D. Clapp now resides. He 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



373 



was here reared to luanliood, attending tlie 
union scliools of Norwalk, at the same 
time heinor trained to both the theoretical 
and practical phases of agriculture. At 
tlie age of twenty-two he was united in 
marriage with Miss Martha E. Ailing, of 
Norwalk, a daughter of Prudeii Ailing, a 
farmer of the same township, and three 
children have been born to them, to wit: 
John, city engineer of Norwalk, Ohio, 
and who, considering his age, has already 
won for himself quite a reputation; Eliza- 
beth G., married to Dudley T. French and 
living in Brownhelm, Ohio; and David T., 
assisting iiis father on the farm. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Laylin came to liis 
present farm, covering one hundred acres 
of land, the greater part of which is the 
result of his own industry and enterprise; 
lie also owns a feed mill wliich is situated 
on his farm. In addition to his regular 
vocation as an ao-riculturist he taugrht 
school in the neio-jiborhood for eight win- 
ters. Politically he has always been a 
straight Republican, and tilled the olhce of 
assessor two years, and township trustee 
three years. He is the owner of a very 
tine piece of property, on which there is an 
artificial lake constructed by his son John 
as a trial of his engineering skill. 




EV. FEEDERICK RUPERT, 

present pastor of the Immaculate 
Conception congregation of Belle- 
vue, was born November 21, 1849, 
at Massillon, Ohio. He received 
his elementary education in the parochial 
and public schools of his native town. 
In Autumn, 1868, he entered St. Louis 
College, Louisville, Ohio, wiiere he devoted 
about live years to the study of Greek and 
Latin classics, and higher mathematics. In 
September, 1873, he was appointed to a 
professorship in Assumption College, On- 
tario, Canada. This he resigned in Septem- 
ber, 1876, when he entered St. Mary's 
Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Ohio, and 



on July 5, 1879, received ordination at the 
• hands of lit. Rev. Bishop Gilmonr. Since 
then he has rendered pastoral service in 
the Cleveland Diocese. His first appoint- 
ment was Antwerp and mission, which he 
held till April 1, 1881, when he was trans- 
ferred to Siielby and mission. In July, 
1882, he was appointed 'pastor of St. 
Joseph's congregation, Maumee, Ohio, and 
in April, 1885, was transferred toBellevue, 
Ohio, as pastor of Immaculate Conception 
congregation. 

Tlie history of the congregation may be 
said to date back to 1833, when Father 
Francis Xavier Tschenhens, C. P. P. S., 
visited the Catholic families in the terri- 
tory of which Bellevue is now the center. 
Afterward Fatiiers Allig and Mahlebouf, 
and other raissioners, came among the 
people, prior to 1844, when the Very Rev. 
Sales Brunner laid the humble foundations 
of the great church in Thompson town- 
ship, Seneca county. From 1844 to 1859 
the people of Bellevue were compelled to 
attend some neighboring church. In 1859 
Rev. J. Ponchell, who was then stationed 
at Holy Angels Church, Sandusky, was in- 
structed by the bishop to hold services at 
Bellevue at stated times. On May 11 of 
that year, a piint-warehouse and the 
ground on which it stood were purchased 
from J. B. Higbee forfive hundred dollars. 
The house was fitted up for church pur- 
poses, and answered therefor until 1884, 
when the new church building was coin- 

o 

pleted. 

In December, 1860, Rev. J. Quinncame 
to administer the new parish, but remained 
only two months, and in April, 1861. Rev. 
James Monahan was appointed the first 
resident pastor. He purchased, on July 18, 
1863, forone thousand ami one hundred dol- 
lars, ahouseand three lots, which he liadiin- 
proved at once for the purpqseof a pastoral 
residence. In July, 1866, he was trans- 
ferred, and in September of that j'ear Rev. 
T. M. Mahony was appointed pastor. In 
1867 the school was established, and the 



pa 



rish was in a flourishing condition in 



374 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



August, 1871, when Tiev. E. Mears as- 
sumed charge. On January 20, 1873, 
Father Mears purchased two lots near the 
business center for one thousand and eight 
hundred dollars, and entertained the idea 
of erecting a new church. His transfer to 
Crestline, Oiiio. in April, 187-4, delayed 
the pi-oject, aifd for the ensuing two years 
Bellevue parish was in charge of Rev. J. 
D. Bowles, who also attended Clyde, from 
which he had been transferred. In July, 
1876, Rev. J. MoUoy was appointed pastor 
and remained until the arrival of Rev. W. 
J. Gibbons, who administered the parish 
until 1880, when, owing to feeble health, 
he retired and traveled in Europe. Rev. J. 
T. Cahill taking his place. In November 
of that year the secretary of the diocese, 
Rev. George T. Houck, visited the parish 
occasionally, but Father Cahill continued 
pastor, and in October, 1881, work on the 
foundations of the present building was 
begun under his supervision. 

On his return from Europe Father Gib- 
bons resumed his pastorate at Bellevue, 
and on July 9, 1882, the corner stone of 
the new building was placed. In the fall 
of 1882 he purchased a lot, west of and ad- 
joining the lots on which the new structure 
stands, for six hundred dollars, and thither 
the pastoral residence was moved. At this 
time the lots pui-chased by Rev. Mr. Mon- 
ahan were sold for two thousand dollars, 
the sum going far to complete the new 
church. The blessing; of the new church 
was carried out August 3, 1884, by the 
Bishop of Cleveland, many priests from 
this section of Ohio, and a great number 
of people, being present. The priest, to 
whose earnest labors the congregation owe 
this elegant building, died April 1, 1885, 
and on April 6 his remains were interred 
at Cleveland. 

Father Rupert assumed charge of the 
parish April 16, 1885. The school was 
placed by him in charge of ti)e Sisters of 
St. Francis, who came from Tiftin, Ohio, 
and began teaching here September 1, 
1885. In November of the same year a 



house and lot, opposite the church, were 
purchased at a cost of eleven hundred 
dollars, and fitted up as a residence for the 
sisters. On February 2, 1887, the con- 
gregation purchased the public-school 
property, in the rear of the new church, 
for one thousand, three hundred and 
tweiity-tive dollars. A further sum of nine 
hundred dollars was e.xpended in repairing 
the old school building, and it was ready 
to receive pupils September 1, 1887. 
There are three rooms here devoted to 
classes, and one to music. Within, it 
shows the neatness which exemplifies the 
life of the community of teachers; without, 
the grounds are well ordered. The church 
and school buildings tell of care and taste, 
within and without, and the tout ensemble 
is one of the prettiest in the pretty town 
of Bellevue. The stone steps, leading from 
the ground level to portico level, and ex- 
tending along the whole front of the 
church, were constructed in October and 
November, 1887, at a cost of three hun- 
dred and seventy dollars. This improve- 
ment, with the lavatory and sacrarium, 
practically completes the building. The 
debt of five hundred dollars which was due 
on all this projierty in 1887 was a nominal 
one, and is now paid. Even the library of 
the Reading Society is paid for, the mein- 
Iters, titty-two in number, taking special 
care to avoid debt. 

A decade's work was finished in 1890, 
and on August 27 of that year. Father 
Rupert retired temporarily, to renew aca- 
demic days, this time entering the great 
University at Washington, D. C. During 
his absence leathers P. W. Schirack, C. P. 
P. S., and W. J. Smith, of the Order of 
Fathers of Mercy, attended to parish 
affairs. On January 20, 1891, Father Ru- 
pert returned and resumed the duties of 
pastor. The number of the congregation 
varies slightly. Dull times at Bellevue, 
which fortunately are rare, reduce the num- 
ber, but taking the decade just passed, the 
increase has been marked indeed. Finan- 
cially the congregation holds an enviable 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



375 



position. Possessors of a most valuable 
property, clear of indebtedness, a cash bal- 
ance of two thousand eight hundred and 
twenty dollars and seventy-eight cents 
stood to their credit in the fall of 1892. 
How much credit for this progress, this 
pleasant condition of the parish, is due to 
the respected pastor of the congregation of 
the Chnrcli of the Immaculate Conception, 
can be told by the people of Bellevue, and 
particularly by the members of the con- 
gregation. 



D 



ANIEL WHEATON. Among the 

leading business men of Norwalk 

none holds higher rank than this 

well-known gentleman, who is a 

son of Robert and Catherine (White) 

Wheaton. 

Robert Wheaton, who was one of four 
brothers — Philip, William, John and Rob- 
ert — was born in 1784, in Huntingdon- 
shire, England, near Cambridge, and was 
a successful butcher and farmer, keeping 
four teams constantly at work. He died 
in 1848, the mother passing away at the 
age of eighty years. 

Daniel AVheaton was born the second 
Monday of January, 1814, in Huntingdon, 
England, the second youngest of his 
father's fatnily, and is the only one now 
living. He grew to manhood in his na- 
tive land, there following the butcher busi- 
ness as well as agricultural pursuits. He 
was united in marriage, March 25, 1835, 
with Miss Ann Mehew, who was born in 
1816, also in Huntingdon, England. In 
November, 1851, they came to America, 
first locating in Monroeville, Ohio, and 
three months later moving to Norwalk, 
where they resided for three years. He 
followed his trade for some time after 
settling here, tiien purchased a farm, but 
continued the butcher business until about 
the year 18G3, when his sons took entire 
charge. Since then the father has man- 
aged the farm; formerly he owned ninety- 
two acres, but now has eighty-eight acres. 



He erected the Wheaton block in the 
business portion of the city, and owns the 
Webber block, the Chronicle block (part 
of which he built) and seven houses in the 
place, beside.= three brick buildings in the 
village of Huron. He has taken two 
thousand and one hundred dollars worth 
of stock in the Wheeling & Lake Erie 
Railroad, and was also an original stock- 
holder in the Norwalk Metal Spinning and 
Stamping Company; he was the first man 
to put in plate glass in Norwalk. Mr. 
, Wheaton is a Democrat in politics, and in 
religion isatnemberof the Baptist Church, 
with which his wife was also identified. 
Mrs. Wheaton died March 16, 1878, and 
since then the home has been cared for by 
relatives. The chiklren born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Wheaton have been as follows: David, 
born in April, 183G, in Erith, England, 
died in 1844; Emma A. (Mrs. Watkins), 
born in May, 1837; Dennis E., born June 
17, 1838 (a "butcher in Cleveland); Charles 
H., born February 5, 1840 (also a butcher 
in Cleveland); Susan A. (wife of Eli 
Hoyt), born July 17, 1841, died September 
6, 1889; Hannah L., wife of John Perrin, 
born January 2, 1844; Robert A., born 
March 16, 1847, died November 25, 1868; 
Catherine, wife of W. H. Price, born No- 
vember 30, 1849; Ada E., born March 5, 
1853 (died October 14, 1853); and Leon- 
ard, born January 30, 1856. 



EiDWARI 
ous, in 
I New H 



ARD R. SKINNER, a prosper- 
telligent agriculturist of 
Haven township, is a native 
of the same, born July 14, 1844, 
son of John and Maria (Rubens) Skinner. 
He was reared to fanning pursuits, and 
received his education in the common 
schools of the neighborhood of his place 
of birth, his first teacher being William 
Gibbons. He resided at home until his 
marriage, November 10, 1871, to Ellen J. 
Woodworth, who was born August 14, 
1847, in New Haven township, daughter 



376 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



of Jonatlian Woodwortli. After their 
marriage lliey resided for about one year 
on the home farm, and on April 1, 1873, 
took up their residence on tlieir present 
place, where i\\ey have ever since resided. 
The tract then contained 120^ acres of 
arahle land, for which Mr. Skinner paid 
$10,000, going into debt for $9,000, and 
here he has since given his attention ex- 
•clusively to farming. He has two chil- 
dren, Lillian and William J., both of 
whom are leaders among the young people 
of the section. In political faith our sub- 
ject is a lifelong Republican, and has held 
various townsiiip offices, at present serv- 
ing as township treasurer. In 1890 he 
erected one of the finest rural residences 
in the township, at a cost of $3,000. He 
is a progressive, well-to-do fanner in every 
respect, and now owns over 200 acres of 
excellent land, his farm being one of the 
best, if not the best, in the township. 

It is to tlie presence of such citizens as 
our subject that New Haven township and 
village can attribute their prosperity and 
peaceful character. Mr. Skinner's prog- 
ress has been gradual, but decided, and 
with the help of iiis excellent wife, who 
has watched incessantly over the house- 
hold affairs, he has accumulated a com- 
fortable competence. No family statids 
higher in the community, and there is not 
a citizen who is more respected, or a farmer 
•who more tiioroughly understands his 
business, than Mr. Skinner. lie has a 
practical business education, keeps himself 
well informed, and in all matters exercises 
good judgment and common sense. 



HELDON J. HAWKINS, a suc- 
cessful merchant of Townsend town- 
ship, was born May 18, 1861, in 
Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and is the 
eldest of four children born to John W. 
and Lavanche (Hill man) Hawkins. 

John W. Hawkins was born in 1840, the 
youngest of thirteen children, and was left 
an orphan at the age of six years, his 



father having been killed in the Mexican 
war. Thus early thrown upon liis own 
resources, the half-orphan lad had no lit- 
erary advantages, and never attended a 
term of school. But diligent application 
overcame these obstacles, and, after the 
day's work was ended, night after night 
did he devote to study, thus securing a 
good education. From early boyhood he 
was employed in the sawmill and lumber 
business, which he followed until attaining 
his majority, since when he has given his 
time to agricultural pursuits. He served 
with distinction in one of the Ohio rem- 
ments during the Rebellion, and fought at 
Harper's Ferry, also in many other en- 
gagements. In 1860 he was united in 
mari'iage with Lavanche, daughter of 
Samuel and Jane (Johnson) Hillman, the 
latter of whom is now living with her 
grandson, Sheldon J. Hawkins. 

Mrs. Hillman is descended from the 
earliest colonists of Connecticut, and her 
ancestors took an active part in tlie strug- 
gle for Independence, many of them serv- 
ing with distinctioti in the Continental 
army. Her father, Sheldon Johnson, was 
a sailor in early life, and, rising rapidly 
from a lowly position, eventually became 
captain of his vessel. During the war of 
1812 he transported supplies from foreign 
countries to the American army, and, in 
1814, being captured by one of the British 
cruisers, vessel and cargo were confiscated. 
Immediately after the war he and his 
family removed to northern Ohio, first 
settling in Erie county, where thej^ en- 
dured the hardships and dangers insepa- 
rable from pioneer life. He erected a log 
hoi:se, and began the task of clearing the 
farm which was surrounded by Indians, 
their white neighbors beina few and far 
between. They had numerous adventnres 
with bears, panthers and wolves, which 
roamed through the vast forest, often car- 
rying oif the stock. Wolves were espe- 
cially troublesome, and night after night 
would howl about the pioneer cabins, kill- 
ing the dogs or driving them into the 



HUROI^ COUNTY, OHIO. 



377 



house. A few years later the Johnson 
family removed to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, 
and again settled in the woods, where the 
father followed agriculture and droving 
until his death, which occurred in his 
eighty-fourth year, in 1866. His younger 
brother, David, died in 1890, in Erie 
county, Ohio, at the age of one hundred 
years. Sheldon, when a young man, was 
married to Martha Mason, a native of 
Massachusetts, whose ancestors were En- 
glish Puritans, and among the first settlers 
of the old Bay Colony, having taken an 
active part in the Revolutionary war. 
Jane, daughter of Sheldon Johnson, was 
born December 19, 1820, in the old cedar 
house in Put-In-Bay, Ohio, and came with 
her parents to Erie county, then to Cuya- 
hoga. She was married August 3, 1840, 
to Samuel Hillman, and she had one child, 
Lavanche (Mrs. John AV. Hawkins). Mrs. 
Hillman is a firm adherent of Puritan 
principles, and in early life was a Presby- 
terian, but recently united with the M. E. 
Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins resided on the 
farm in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, until the 
mother's death, which occurred in 1871. 
She had four children, namely: Sheldon 
J. (whose name opens this sketch), Agnes, 
Mildred, and a son who died when four 
days old. 

Sheldon J. Hawkins attended the sub- 
scription schools until ten years of age, 
remaining on the home farm in Cuyahoga 
county until he was eighteen years old. 
He then left home with but sixty-three 
cents in his pocket, and commenced the 
battle of life for himself. For the first 
three years he worked by the month dur- 
ing the summer season, attending school 
in winter, then became baggage master for 
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 
Railroad Company, at Collins, Huron Co., 
Ohio. During this time he had mastered 
telegraphy, and was first employed as night 
operator, then as station agent and oper- 
ator. In 1884 he became a partner in the 
grain business of Frank Pinney & Co., 



and the following year left the railroad 
service, engaging in general merchandise 
in Collins. He is one of the leading 
merchants of Townsend township, carrying 
a large, well-selected stock of merchandise, 
amounting to seven or eight thousand 
dollars. He also deals very extensively in 
grain, hay and coal at Collins, besides in 
six or seven neighboring towns, and ex- 
tending into three or four counties in 
northeastern Ohio. On August 27, 1885, 
Mr. Hawkins was united in marriage with 
Lizzie A. Love, a native of Huron county, 
Ohio, and daughter of Andrew and Lucy 
A. (Hoff) Love, natives of Ohio, of En- 
glish-German descent. Four children 
blessed the union of Sheldon J. and Lizzie 
A. Hawkins, as follows: Cyril, Lucy L., 
Agnes, and one deceased. 

In 1888 Mr. Hawkins was elected town- 
ship clerk on the Citizens' ticket, his op- 
ponent being one of the most popular men 
in Townsend township. He served two 
and a half years, and in the spring of 1892 
was again elected to the same office. Mr. 
Hawkins is one of the most energetic busi- 
ness men of the township, and in 1890 
was candidate for county sheriff on the 
Prohibition ticket. He is a prominent 
member of the K. O. T. M., and Mrs. 
Hawkins is identified with the M. E. de- 
nomination. 



EiDGAR BARNHART is a son of 
Steven Barnhart, who was born on 
I a farm in New York State, and there 

attended the schools of the home 
neighborhood. In early manhood he was 
married to Nancy Palmer, and they after- 
ward located near Toronto, Canada. 

In 1829 he removed to Ohio, and land- 
ing at Sandusky invested his limited capi- 
tal in a small wood-covered tract of land on 
the east branch of the Huron river, in what 
is now Ridgetield township, Huron county. 
According to the kindly custom of early 
pioneers, the neighbors gathered and 
erected a log cabin for the new arrival. 



378 



iiUEoy- COUNTY, onio. 



Here, siirroiiiided liy the beasts of the 
forest, with neighbors few and far between, 
the rude little hotiie was erected, and in 
due time gave place to a inore pretentions 
structure. He affiliated with the Old-line 
Whig and Ilepublican parties in politics, 
and from the time of his first vote never 
missed an election, except when confined 
to his bed. In religion he and his wife 
were members of the Old Free-Will 
Baptist Church. Their children were as 
follows: John E., born in Canada, was a 
member of the Third Michigan Cavalry, 
and died in Keota, Iowa; Melvin H., 
born in Ohio, was a member of the One 
Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, O. 
V. I., and died at Winchester, Va. ; Mer- 
cilla, a native of Ohio, was married to 
Judson Phelps, and died near Decatur, 
Mich., and Edgar, whose name opens this 
sketch. The fatiier died on the Ohio farm 
April 7, 1886, having been preceded to 
the grave by his wife in September, 1870. 
Edgar Bariihart was born June 27, 1837, 
on the home farm in Ridgefield townsliip, 
Huron Co., Ohio, wliere he is yet living. 
He attended the winter schools three 
months each winter until he was sixteen 
years of age, and then began active labor 
on the farm. His youth was passed in 
assisting in the clearing of the farm, in 
addition to usual agricultural duties. In 
1861 he was united in marriage with Mary 
Ann Gary, who was born in 1835, in the 
State of New York, and came to Ohio at 
the age of twenty-two years. To this 
union three children have been born, viz.: 
Roily, a farmer of Norwalk township; 
Mertie, wife of Lewis Hamilton, of Deca- 
tur, Mich., and Albert, residing in Toledo, 
Ohio. In 1863 Mr. Earnhart enlisted at 
Norwalk, Ohio, in Company B, One Hun- 
dred and Sixty-sixth Regiment, and served 
as guard in the vicinity of Washington. 
Being discharged four months later, he 
returned to the home farm, and has since 
given his attention to cultivating the sixty 
acres of fei-tile land contained in the home 
farm. In political opinion he votes with 



the Republican party, and in religious 
faith lie is a member of the Baptist Church 
of Norwalk, his wife being identified with 
the Methodist denomination. 



AMUEL MILLER, a prominent 
representative citizen of Richmond 
township, first saw the light May 17, 
1839, near Goshen, in Columbiana 
county, Ohio. 

His father, also named Samuel, was 
born October 26, 1806, in the State of 
Pennsylvania, where he was married in 
Lancaster county, about 1830, to Miss 
Elizabeth Kirkwood, who was a native of 
same, born September 5, 1802. In about 
1835 Samuel Miller came to Ohio, locating 
in Columbiana county, where he remained 
until 1849; then removed to Richland 
county, wliere he resided but a short time, 
and in 1850 located in the northern part 
of Richmond township, Huron cgunty. 
He had always followed farming, and on 
coming to Richmond township purchased 
100 acres of land, but four of which were 
cleared, where he lived in a loo; house. 
He was obliged to go into debt for one- 
half of the thousand dollars this land cost 
him, but he set bravely to work and soon 
cleared the property. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel 
Miller had children as follows: Joshua, 
born January 12, 1831, in Lancaster 
county, Penn., died October 4, 1843, and 
was buried in Goshen cemetery, Colum- 
biana county, Ohio; Hannali, born May 
5, 1832, in Lancaster county, Penn., now 
the widow of Seymour N. Sage, lives 
in Richmond township, Huron county; 
Thomas, born February 15, 1834, in Lan- 
caster county, Penn., died in March, 1866. 
The rest were born in Columbiana county, 
Ohio, as follows: C'atherine, born May 9, 
1836, now Mrs. J. W. Sage, of Richmond 
township; Mary, born January 25, 1838, 
now Mrs. Daniel Polliiiger, of Richmond 
township; Elizabeth and Samuel (twins), 
born May 17, 1839, the former of whom is 



UUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



379 



the wife of Otis Sykes, of (Chicago Junc- 
tion (her first husband was Andrew J. 
Sykes, a brother of Otis, who was killed in 
the army); Samuel is the subject of this 
biographical sketcli; Susannah, born June 
10, 1841, died September 20, 1811; John, 
born July 18, 1842, now a farmer of Rich- 
mond township; and Jacob, born Decem- 
ber 10, 1845, also a farmer of Tviclimond 
townsliip. The father of this family was 
a Republican, but took no interest what- 
ever in politics. He passed from earth in 
July, 1875, his wife in January, 1880, 
and they are buried side by side in the 
Union Bethel cemetery, in Richmond 
township. As a citizen lie commanded 
the respect and esteem of the entire com- 
munity. During the early days he en- 
dured many iiardships; of his farm in 
Richmond township, only a few acres were 
cleared at the time he purchased it, and 
before his death he had transformed all of 
the remainder from the heavy forest to 
prcductive fields. His family all reside in 
Richmond township, but a short distance 
from the old homestead. 

Samuel Miller was reared to farming 
pursuits; he passed the first ten years of 
his life in Columbiana county, then came 
with his parents to Richland county, and 
one year later to Huron county. He was 
put to work at an early age, and remained 
under the parental roof until reacliing his 
majority, doing chopping and other work 
in the woods. On December 23, 1863, 
be enlisted at Plymouth, Ohio, in Com- 
pany C, One Hundred and Twenty-third 
Regiment O. V. I., and remained with the 
command at Martinsburg, W. Va., during 
the winter of 1803-64. They then took 
part in the engagements of Xew Market, 
Winchester, Piedmont, Lynchburg and 
Berry vi lie, Va., where on September 3, 
1864, our subject was wounded by a ball; 
he was first sent to the hospital at Sandy 
Hook, thence to Frederick, Md., and 
thence to Gallipolis, Ohio, where he re- 
mained until the close of the war, when he 

home he 



was discharcred 



Returning 



worked around in various capacities, and. 
traveled over the West throngh lovva and 
Missouri, but not liking the country lie 
came home. 

On February 23, 1871, Mr. Miller was 
united in maeriage with Miss Aurilla 
Sykes, who was born November 1, 1844, 
in Richmond townsliip, daughter of Daniel 
Sykes. To this union have come four 
children: Walter, Belle, William and 
Bertha. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Miller settled on their present farm, and 
here, with the exception of one year, tliey 
have ever since resided. In his political 
afhliations Mr. Miller is a Republican, and 
is actively interested in the welfare of his 
party. Mrs. Miller is a most kind-hearted, 
generous lady, and is highly esteemed in 
tlie community in which she resides. 



JfOHN H. CRAWFORD is a native 
of Cass township, Richland Co., 
I Ohio, born January 8, 1840, fourtii 
child of David and Margaret (Millei) 
Crawford. 

John Crawford, father of David, was 
born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and when 
eight years of age came with his parents 
to a pioneer farm in Franklin county, Penn. 
On arriving at maturity John Crawford 
was married to Mary Eckels, and in 1830 
they came to a farm in Richland county, 
Ohio. He, voted with the Democratic 
party, and in religion was an earnest mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. He died 
in 1800, at the age of eighty-nine years, 
followed by his wife in 1870. 

David Crawford was born December 4, 
1805, on the home place in Franklin 
county, Penn., where he was educated, 
learning and following the slioemaker's 
trade, and in 1830 came to Richland 
county, Ohio. In the same year he selected 
a life companion in the person of Mar- 
garet Miller, a native of Maryland, and in 
1848 they settled in Ripley townsliip, 
Huron Co., Ohio, where he conducted a 



380 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



grist and saw mill. In 1863 he settled in 
Pern township, Huron county, and devoted 
his later years to carpentering. Politically, 
he athliated with the Democratic party, and 
he was a llniversalist in religious belief. 
He died in 1884, followed by his wife in 
1885, when in her seventy-fourth year. 
They were the parents of ten children — 
four sons and six daughters — of whom the 
sons and two daughters are yet living. 

John H. Crawford received a common - 
school education, and learned the shoe- 
maker's trade. On July 28, 1862, he en- 
listed in Company D, One Hundred and 
First Regiment, O. V. I., which was as- 
signed to the army of the Cumberland. 
He went with them through Kentucky, 
Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, and took 
part in the engagements at Perryville, 
Stone River, Chickamauga, besides several 
minor engagements. At the battle of 
Chickamauga (September 20, 1863), he was 
wounded and captured, being first taken 
to Belle Isle, then to Danville, and from 
there to Andersotiville, where he was con- 
fined six months and ten davs, enduring 
untold hardships. From there he was 
taken to Charleston, then to Florence, 
thence to Goldsboro, and finally to Wil- 
mington. He was tiiere paroled, and going 
to Annapolis, Md., was finally exchanged 
at Columbus, Ohio, February 26, 1865, 
after having been a prisoner for eighteen 
months. He was discharged at Columbus, 
Ohio, June 9, 1865, and returning to Peru 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, resumed his 
trade. On July 3, 1867, he was united in 
marriage with Frances M. Nye, and they 
had six children, namely: Cora L., Anice 
M., Alice M. (deceased in infancy), Arthur 
A., Verna (deceased in infancy), and Clair 
M. In 1880 Mr. Crawford took charge 
of his father-in-law's farm (consisting of 
sixty acres in Bronson township) which he 
now owns and occupies. Politically he 
has always voted with the Republican 
party, and he served seven years as con- 
stable of Pern township. He has also held 
a similar position in Bronson township for 



five years, and has served eight years as 
township assessor. He is a member of the 
Llniversalist Church; a member of Huron 
Lodge No. 37, I. O. O. F., and a Past 
Grand, and at the present time is Sen. 
Vice Commander of James Mann Post G. 
A. R., Department of Ohio; also Secretary 
of Peru Grange, P. of H. 



/^ 



HOMER C. CLARY. Prominently 
identified witii the leading agricul- 
turists of Ridgefield township is 
this well-known gentleman. His 
early ancestors were natives of New 
York ^nd New England. 

In the winter of 1817 Isaac and Preox- 
cintha Clary began the perilous journey 
from New York to Huron county, Ohio. 
Ice covered the lakes over which they 
passed, and finally they landed in the 
midst of an unbroken forest, where Huron, 
Erie county, now stands. Our travelers, 
however, pushed farther south, making a 
permanent location on a part of the large 
tract now owned by their descendants. The 
ring of the pioneer axe was soon heard in 
the wilderness, and one by one the mighty 
monarchs of the forest, which had for 
centuries withstood the fury of the ele- 
ments, yielded to their conquerors. In 
1818 Preoxci-ntha Clary was laid to rest in 
the Monroeville cemetery, having been the 
first of many whose remains are there in- 
terred. In 1822 Isaac Clary was buried 
beside his wife, leaving the following chil- 
dren to perpetuate his memory: Aurelius, 
two daughters (Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. 
Ward), and Daniel, whose sketch follows. 

Daniel Clary was born in 1799, near 
Watertown, N. Y., and there received a 
subscription-school education. He then 
learned the gunsmith business, soon after- 
ward accompanying his parents to Huron 
county, Ohio. He was a very energetic, 
industrious young man, and after the death 
of his father (who left no property) made 
a bargain for 100 acres of land owned by 
Maj. David Underhill, who was then the 



HURON^ COUNTY, OHIO. 



381 



agent for the " Firelands." This tract was 
to be paid for in work, and during the fol- 
lowing three years he lost but three days 
time, thus securing the property and 
obtaining a start in life. On February 28, 
1825, he was married to Miss Mary Wilcox, 
who was born in August, 1809, in New 
York, and at the age of fifteen came with 
her parents to Ohio, where she afterward 
taugiit school in Crawford county. After 
his marriage, Mr. Clary continued to fol- 
low agriculture, adding to his possession 
year by year, and tinally becoming one of 
the most prosperous citizens of the com- 
munity. In politics he was an Old-line 
Whig, afterward uniting with the Repub- 
lican party. He died April 29, 1863, fol- 
lowed by his widow in 1882. She was a 
member of the Baptist Church. They were 
the parents of two sons, viz.: Homer C, 
whose name opens this sketch, and George 
W., who married Sarah Patterson, and 
died at the age of forty-seven years. 

Homer C. Clary was born December 25, 
1825, on the home farm in Ridaelield 
township, Huron county, where he is yet 
living. He attended school in District 
No. 1, Ridgefield township, and assisted 
his father with the duties of the farm. 
On October 17, 1850, he married Laura 
Humphreys, who was born in 1830 in 
Connecticut. When a girl she came to 
Huron county, Ohio, with her parents, 
Decins and Laura (Adams) Humjihreys, 
who were relatives of Col. Humphreys, 
Gen. Washington's private secretary. The 
representatives of this family have borne 
national reputations as expert homeo- 
pathic physicians and surgeons of New 
York City. Mr. and Mrs. Clary have 
always resided on the farm which they 
now occupy, and where children were born 
to them as follows: George (deceased at 
the age of twelve years), Ellen (Mrs. Fish- 
er), Atherton (in Buffalo, N. Y.), David 
geceased at the age of twenty-seven), 
aniel (a farmer of Ridgefield township), 
Edward D. (secretary and superintendent 
of the Burlington (Iowa) Gas Compatiy) 



and Frank (a lawyer of Toledo, Ohio). 
Mr. Clary has inherited the progressive 
traits of character so prominent in the life 
of his father, and now owns over 300 acres 
of the tinest, most productive land to be 
found in Huron county, every acre of the 
property being tillable. A handsome brick 
residence, surrounded by numerous shade 
trees, stands amid the fertile fields, thus 
completing one of the most pleasant home 
scenes of Ridgefield township. In poli- 
tics Mr. Clary has been a Republican 
since the organization of that party, and 
has filled various township offices with 
credit to himself and the satisfaction of 
his constituents. In addition to his agri- 
cultural interests, he is a director of .the 
Monroeville National Bank, and was one 
of the prime movers in establishing the 
Monroeville Woolen Mills, which, how- 
ever, were in operation but a few years. 



EiDAVARD GEYER, a well-known 
prominent farmer citizen and 
I wealthy landowner of Sherman 

township, was ijorn in Saxony, 
Germany (on the Austrian frontier), in 
1884. 

He is a son of Christian and Eva Geycr, 
who, in 1840, came to America, brincjins 
the family, and settled in Sherman town- 
ship, Huron county. Christian was by 
trade a tanner, and operated a tannery in 
Sherman township many years, in his lat(;r 
days following farming as well. He died 
in 1872 at the age of seventy-six years, a 
healthy, strong man up to within a short 
time of his death. His wife died in 1869, 
aged sixty-six years. They were the par- 
ents of ten children, Edward being tiftli in 
the order of birth. 

The subject of these lines was, as wiU 
be seen, seven years old when brought to 
this country. He received but a meager 
English school education, as in early boy- 
hood he was put to work in his father's 
tan-yard, where he remained till he was 



382 



IlUJiOX COUXTY, OHIO. 



fourteen years old, at which time he went 
on the farm. After his marriage he com- 
nieiiced agricultural pursuits for his own 
account, in a small way, from which lim- 
ited commencement he has, by good busi- 
ness sajjacity and indomitable perseverance, 
amassed a fortune. He is now the owner 
of 500 acres of land, and one of the finest 
residences in Huron county, if not the 
finest, being quite palatial in its design 
and equipment. The house is of modern 
style of architecture, built of pressed brick, 
and fitted up to be heated with steam and 
lighted with gas. The outbuildings — barns, 
etc. — are in keeping, being comf(jrtable and 
commodious. He has devoted his attention 
to all kinds of farming, including cereals, 
root crops and stock. 

In 1859 Mr. Geyer married Miss Eliza 
Sowerine, by whom he has an interesting 
family of ten robust cliildren, namely: 
Theodore, Louis, Edward, Louisa (married 
to a Mr. Miller, and has one child, Levi), 
Jennie, Emma, Cora, Alice, Lawrence and 
Rosa. It may be here stated that so 
healthy is the entire family that Mr. Geyer 
has never had to pay a doctor's bill for 
either himself, wife or children. Our sub- 
ject is a public-spirited Republican, and, 
though not a member of Church, con- 
tributes liberally of his means to both 
churches and schools, as well as to all 
charitable institutions. During the war of 
the Rebellion his duties to his parents, 
who needed his filial care and help, pre- 
vented him joiniug the Union army, and 
thus he was couipelled to pay heavy 
amounts for substitutes, although under 
other circumstances he would rather have 
shouldered his rifle and gone to the front. 



I OHN McLANE, son of Robert and 
k. I Margaret (Arthur) McLane, was born 
^J) in Ireland, before the emigration of 
his parents to America. 

Robert McLane was born in 1799 in 
County Tyrone, Ireland, and, like boys of 
that time and place, passed his youth al- 



ternately at school and in farm work. His 
father was a farmer of that section, and 
the McLanes were known there for gen- 
erations. About the year 1824 he married 
Margaret Arthur, also a native of County 
Tyrone, where she was born in 1799. In 
1831 they set out on the journey to Amer- 
ica with tiiree children, James, John and 
William. The father worked in New York 
State for some time, and they then set out 
for Ohio, landing at Sandusky after a 
long, tedious and dangerous journey, and 
immediately proceeding south to Green- 
field township, Huron county, arrived at 
the home of John Arthur. Robert McLane 
selected a tract of land in the wilderness 
west of Steuben, which he purchased at 
ten shillings per acre, and there built his 
cabin, where he dwelt until his death in 
1890. His wife died in 1S65, and both 
are buried in the Steuben cemetery. The 
only child born to them in Greenfield 
township was Thomas, a farmer of that 
township, who now resides on the home 
place. The father was a lifelong farmer, 
who succeeded in accumulating quite an 
amount of property by the unceasing 
labor of his brain and hands. Democratic 
in politics and Congregational in religion, 
he gave to each complete and loyal sup- 
port. 

John McLane was educated in the pio- 
neer schools of Greenfield township, giv- 
ing the three winter months to study and 
the balance of the year to farm work. In 
1856 he married Sarah A. Easter, daugh- 
ter of Archibald Easter, who came from 
Ireland and settled in Greenfield town- 
ship, where Sarah A. was born. To this 
union were born two children: Stanley E., 
a farmer in Greenfield township, and 
Irwin, who died December 31, 1880, at 
the age of sixteen years. Immediately af- 
ter marriage Mr. and Mrs. McLane lo- 
cated on the farm where they resided un- 
til 1887, and which Mr. McLane still 
owns. In the last mentioned year the 
family moved to Steuben village, and he 
retired from active agricultural life; his 



HURON COUNTY, OUIO. 



383 



beautiful farm of 200 acres is, however, 
still managed by him and his son. Since 
the formation of the Kepnhlicaii party Mr. 
McLaiie has voted for its candidates, prior 
to which time he was a Free-soil Democrat, 
and, before the agrarian question was 
raised, a Democrat of the old school. For 
several years he served his township as 
trustee, and has been treasurer for eight 
years. Mr. and Mrs. McLane are ranked 
among the most popular and respected 
citizens of the county. 



born 
ton. 



W. BOISE, a descendant of the 
DuBoies of France who, after the 
conspiracy of Amboise in 1560, had 
to fly from their native land, was 
December 13, 1831, at Worthing- 
Massachusetts. 
The member or members of the family 
■who belonged to the Eidgenossen or Hu- 
guenots fled, it is thought, before the edict 
of January, 1562, was proclaimed, leaving 
behind the Reformes,and taking with them 
the name "Huguenots." Finding shelter 
in Scotland, and afterward in Ireland, 
many thousand of the refugees settled in 
the latter country, and descendants of them 
may be found in that island to-day. Al- 
most a century and a half after the Am- 
boise affair the children of the refugee Du- 
Boies emigrated from Ireland and found a 
New World home at Blandford, Mass. 
In a border country, as Blandford then was, 
there was little veneration or respect for 
patronymics, and the prefix of the name 
fell into disuse. In tiniethe name proper 
was changed from Boies to Boise, the 
father of our subject being tiie first to 
spell it thus. 

The American ancestor of the family 
was David Boies, who died at Blandford, 
Mass., December 15, 1752. He was ruling 
elder in the church there for some years 
prior to his death, perhaps from 1738 to 
1752. Amontr the documents now in 
possession of S. W. Boise, is one dated 
April 18, 1738, which is nothing less than 



a declaration of principles, a covenant made 
between himself and (rod. A copy of the 
old document is given as follows: 

Eternal Jehova, I desire to come unto Thee, a 
poor, wretched sinner, a miserable creature, who 
am full of sin and iniquity. Defiled in all powers 
and faculties of both soul and body by reason of 
original sin and actual transgressions, and am 
justly liable unto Thy wrath and displeasure, not 
only in this world but in the world which is to come. 
And that I can by no powers of mine own, no 
created being, either angels or men, can help me 
out of this misTable condition in which I am, and 
seeing Thou hast made known to me in Thy 
Blessed Word, that there is a way jirovided for the 
relief and recovery of poor sinners in and through 
Jesus Christ, and hath been pleased to condescend 
so low as lo make known to me the way how to ob- 
tain pardon of ray sins and be again restored unto 
God's favor; and the way is, if ever I expect to ob- 
tain pardon, in and through the Blessed Redeemer, 
Jesus Christ. I must be denied to myself and all 
mine own richeousness and to Accept of Thine as 
He is freely offered in the Gospel and to be for 
Thee and never for another, and to follow Tliee 
through good report and bad report and lo Continue 
faithful unto my life's end. And now, O Lord, the 
Eternal God, the Wonderful, Condescending and 
Merciful God the heart-searching and "re in- 
trieng" God, who has been pleased of Thy boi>nd- 
less and infinite mercy to provide such way of 
relief through Jesus Christ, the nnly Savior and 
Redeemer of poor lost and undone sinners, and hast 
made proclamation of theGosple, that whomsoever 
Cometh to Thee, in and through Him, thou wilt in 
no ways cast out, and hast invited the weary and 
heavy laden sinner to come unto Thee and they 
shall find, out with their souls and seeing, O Lord 
God, thou hast been pleased to invite such a poor 
wretched sinner as I am, to come and enter into 
covenant with Thee, who deserveth rather to be 
cast into hell for my sins. Thou to have such a kind 
ofTer made unto me; yet O Lord God, seeing Thou 
art pleased of Thy Infinite mercy to condescend so 
low as to invite me to come and enter into Coven- 
ant with Thee, which would have indeed been un- 
pardonable presumption in me to have attempted 
to do, were it not that Thou hast invited me to 
come, 1 do heartily embrace the offer. Lord God, 
let it be a bargain. Lord. I believe, help my un- 
belief. Lord I give myself to Tliee to be for Thee, 
and to serve Thee for ever. Lord let Thy grace 
be sufficient for me; and now, O Lord, my request 
and my petition is to Thee for grace to help me per- 
form this Covenant aright, and, O Lord God, let 
not ray failing raake this void this covenant. Now, 
O Lord, what I have now done on earth, let it be 
ratified in heaven. Amen, and Amen. 

The son of Elder David Boies was born 
at Blandford. Mass.; at an early day he 
moved to the Western Reserve, and died 
in Lorain county, Ohio, at an advanced 
age. He spelled his name Boies. 



384 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Otis Boise, a son of this old settler of 
Lorain county, was born in 1804 at Bland- 
ford, Mass., and died at Cleveland, Ohio, 
in 1874. When a young man lie graduated 
in medicine at Pittsfield, Mass., and in 
1825 entered on the practice of his profes- 
sion there. Shortly afterward he was 
united in marriage with Elvira Clark, and 
in the spring of 1833 the family moved to 
Twinsburgh, Summit Co., Ohio, where, and 
also at Hudson, same county. Dr. Boise 
conducted a mercantile b\isiness from the 
time of his arrival until 1842. In the 
latter year he moved to Bellevue, Huron 
Co., Ohio, where he commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession, proving himself a 
skillful physician and surgeon, and he be- 
came wealthy and influential. The Clark 
family, into which he married, are of Eng- 
lish ancestry. 

S. W. Boise came with his parents to 
Ohio in the spring of 1833, and received a 
common-school education at Twinsburgh, 
Summit county, subsequently removing 
with the family to Bellevue, Huron county. 
On October 8, 1856, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Celestia E. Gould, who 
was educated at Oberlin College, and be- 
came the assistant principal of the first 
graded school in Bellevue, a position she 
held up to the time of her marriage. This 
union has been blessed with three children, 
a brief record of whom is as follows: (1) 
Watson E., who graduated from Oberlin 
College, is now a farmer of Bdlevyria, N. 
D.; he has four children: David, Charles, 
Howard and Otis. (2) Ciiarles G. is also 
a farmer in North Dakota; he is married 
and has one child, Kate. (3) Jnlia E. is 
married to Dr. H. M. Hoyt, and resides in 
Bellevue, Ohio. Mrs. Celestia E. Boise, 
though a grandmother, does not appear to 
be past middle age. Her home tells of 
care and refinement, and she herself is 
like the home, contented, happy and well 
preserved. 

Mr. Boise followed farming in Lyme 
township for many years with marked suc- 
cess. He was recognized as a systematic 



agriculturist and a most fortunate man of 
business. Since his retirement, ten years 
ago, from the active life of a farmer, he has 
built a beautiful home in one of the finest 
residence locations in Bellevue, and devotes 
his time to the sale of his extensive prop- 
erty and the investment of his capital. 
Having taken a full part in the develop- 
ment of this section of Huron county, he 
now takes an important place in the finan- 
cial circles of Bellevue. A man of iron 
constitution, his appearance does not de- 
note his age; for one who did not know 
the fact would never suspect that he had 
passed his threescore years. A Republi- 
can in politics, and a Congregationalist in 
religion, he takes a share in aiding all 
measures which promise to benefit the 
community. 



JACOB JETTEPt, retired farmer and 
tanner, residing in Weaver's Corners, 
was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 
1818. In his native land he was a 
tanner by trade, which he followed for 
many years in this country, whither he 
had come in 1848. 

Landing in Philadelphia, he M'orked 
there seven years, then one year in the 
country, after which he came to Ohio, 
settling in Sherman township, Huron 
county. Here he bought a tannery, which 
he enlarged and otherwise improved, 
operating the same some thirty-one years, 
at the end of which time he turned it over 
to his son. He also bought land in Seneca 
county, which he has owned nineteen 
years, and twelve years ago he bought the 
farm in Sherman township, Huron county. 
Mr. Jetter did an extensive business in his 
tannery industry, finding a ready market 
for his product — consisting inaitdy of calf, 
kip and harness leather — in Cleveland, 
Sandusky, etc., besides local trade. 

In 1851 Mr. Jetter married, in Phila- 
delphia, Penn., Miss Anna Bauman, a na- 
tive of Switzerland, who came to the 
United States in 1848, and children were 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



385 



born to them, of whom the following is a 
brief record: Katie is the wife of Phil 
Heyman, and has seven children — four 
sons and three daugliters — namely: Phillip, 
Edward, Arthur, Walter, Stella, Neta and 
Annie; Annie is married to II. C Jacobi, 
and has five children: William, Henry, 
Charles, Albert and Clara; Lena was mar- 
ried, and died at the age of twenty-two 
years; Lizzie is married toThonias Heyman, 
and has one child, Howard ; Charley is now 
owner of the tannery; Emma is the wife of 
Adolph Lieber, and has one child, Clarence; 
Emma died in the fall of 1893, aged twenty- 
six years. Mr. Jetter in his political sym- 
pathies was first a Democrat, then a Re- 
publican, voting twice for Lincoln, and 
since the Civil war again a Democrat. He 
is a member of the Lutheran Church. He 
has four brothers and two sisters, of whom 
three brothers reside in Philadelphia and 
one in Germany; the two sisters reside 
in Germany. 




NDREW WILHELM, one of the 
prominent farmers of Peru town- 
ship, is a son of Christopher Wil- 
helm, a native of Bavaria, who was 
born in that Kingdom in 1814. 
When a young man he came to the United 
States, and worked at the shoemaker's 
trade in Bnffalo, N. Y., for some time, 
but subsequently settled in Peru town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio. 

On coming to America he learned the 
value of a trade. Being a complete 
stranger in a new and strange land, his 
own hands and mind were his only friends. 
At Butfalo he had to labor late and early 
for very small pay, and even then his task- 
masters did not seem satisfied with the 
volume of work produced by the young 
Bavarian. Out of his small earnings, 
however, he saved enongh to venture far- 
ther west, and fortutie led him to Peru 
township, Huron county, where he resided 
until his deatii. Here he worked at his 
trade for some years, until he had saved 



enough money to purchase a farm. Then 
buying a part of the " Redenberg Tract," 
of the" Firelands," he began its improve- 
ment, and resided thereon until Centen- 
nial Year (187G), when he retired and took 
up his residence at Monroeville, where he 
died October 6, 1881. Mr. Wilhelm was 
thrice married: first time to Arazula 
Kraback, liy which union there were tiiree 
children: One son — Frank, who died in 
1864 during the Civil war in which he 
served as post-quartermaster; — and two 
daughters — Margaret and M;iry Ann, the 
former of whom died in 1876. The sec- 
ond wife was Catherine Hiss, a native of 
Baden, Germany, who bore him three 
children: John, who died when aged 
twenty-nine years; Caroline, widow of 
Andrew Duffnerr, of Monroeville, and 
Andrew, our subject. The mother of 
these died in 1852, and was buried in Peru 
cemetery; she was a member of the Cath- 
olic Church. For his third wife Mr. Wil- 
helm married Agatha Dufl'ner, and twu 
children were born to them, \dz.: Eliza- 
beth, who died in 1878, and Fred. Chris- 
topher Wilhelm was a natural scholar. He 
was educated at the schools of Bavaria, and 
after settling here was an omnivorous reader 
of history, current literature and news- 
papers. A Democrat in politics and a 
leader in his district, he never tried to 
condone the local or national errors of his 
jjarty, and thus he became known as a man 
who estimated fair play above price. He 
was trusted and respected, being several 
times elected to township offices. He was 
a consistent Catholic, a man wlio, if he 
could not accomplish good, would not 
descend to do harm. 

Andrew Wilheltn was born September 
14, 1860, on the homestead farm. He 
received a rudimentary education in the 
school of his district in Peru townsliip, 
and completed a commei'cial course in the 
Dayton Business College. On October 6, 
1876, he married Rosa Bower, a native of 
Bronson township, and a daughter of Peter 
Bower. To this marriage seven ciiildren 



386 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



were born: Alfred P., Charles A. (de- 
ceased), Frederick A., Mary Frances A., 
Edward C, Conny C, and Florentine J. 
The same year in which Andrew was mar- 
ried, the father removed to Monroeville, 
and Andrew took charse of the farm. Po- 
litically he is a Democrat, and one of the 
advisers of the party in this district. He 
held various township offices, and is con- 
sidered a man of sound judgment, honor 
and principle. Religiously, he is a Catho- 
lic; as a business man he devotes all his 
attention to agriculture and stock growing, 
and takes a place among the practical, 
successful farmers of northern Ohio. 



L 



EWIS CONGER, one of the leading 
agriculturists of Greentield town- 
ship, is an example of what in- 
telligence and industry may ac- 
complish. 

Elijah Conger, father of Lewis Conger, 
was born October 16, 1786, at Newark, N. 
J., and when a youth learned the carpen- 
ter's trade in New York City. Subse- 
(juently he moved to Tompkins county, 
N. Y., and in partnership with his father- 
in-law, Thomas Ludlow, built a mill at 
Ludlow vi lie, where he also established a 
store. On October 24, 1809, he was mar- 
ried to Hannah Ludlow, daughter of the 
founder of Ludlowville, where she was born 
September 19, 1791. The children born to 
this marriage in New York State were as 
follows: Lorenzo, born July 29, 1810, died 
in Greenfield township; Maria, born July 
6, 1812, married Samuel Boalt in New 
York, came to Ohio, and died in Peru 
township, Huron county; Delia, born 
January 25, 1815, married Harry Chase, 
and also died in Peru township; Clarissa, 
born June 5, 1817, now the widow of 
Samuel Atherton; Charles, born Jaijuary 
6, 1820, died in Milan, Ohio; Cornelia, 
born Ji;ne 10, 1822, deceased; Lewis (the 
subject of this sketch), born September S, 
1824; Elijah, Jr., born September 23, 



1827, died at Milan, Ohio; Julia, born 
March 31, 1880, deceased, and Henrietta, 
born March 7, 1832, also deceased. The 
father of this family carried on a farm, a 
mill and a store in Tompkins county, N. 
Y., up to 1833, when he determined to 
seek a home in Ohio. He traveled by the 
Erie Canal and Lake to Huron, Ohio, 
and thence proceeded to Milan, where 
he engaged in mercantile business. 
Later he started a branch store at 
Macksville, in Peru township, and in 
about 1836 sold his interests at Milan 
and tof)k up his residence at Macksville. 
In 1840 he erected a mill in Greenfield 
township, sold the Macksville store, and 
for ten years devoted his attention to the 
milling industry. In 1850 he sold the 
mill and lands iti Greenfield township, and 
returned to Milan, where he led a retired 
life until his death, April 18, 1851. His 
widow died October 18, 1884, at the age 
of ninety-three years, and was interred at 
Milan by the side of her husband. The 
life of Elijah Conger, both in New York 
and Ohio, was one of enterprise and 
activity, and his name is associated with 
the development of trade and industry in 
Tompkins county, N. Y., and in Erie and 
Huron counties, Ohio. 

Lewis Conger was born September 8, 
1824, at Ludlowville, N. Y., received the 
rudiments of an education there, and in 
1833 accompanied his parents to Milan, 
Ohio. From boyhood until 1850 he as- 
sisted his father in mill and store, and to 
him must be credited some of the success 
which waited on their enterprise; for to 
young Lewis was often left the direction 
of the store and mill. In fact, for a long 
time prior to 1850 the management of the 
business devolved upon him. On February 
10, 1853, he married Isabel Lowther, who 
was born in Greenfield township, June 25, 
1831, a daughter of E. H. Lowtbei', and to 
this union came the following tiamed chil- 
dren: Edward L., born June 20, 1854, a 
farmer of Greenfield township; Halsey, 
born April 18, 1856, died September 27, 



:& 






c^ci-UM-cJ ^o 




^-^ 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



389 



1856; Julia L., born January 8,1858, now 
Mrs. Charles Palmer, of Canton, Ohio, and 
Lewis L., born March 28, 1S69, a teaclier in 
the Deaf and Diunb Asylnin at Columbus, 
Oliio. In the year of his marriage Mr. 
Conger purchased a farm in Greeniield 
township, where he resided until 1868, 
when he ijurchased his present farm. In 
1870 he bought another tract, now con- 
ducting two farms, and by careful man- 
agement lie has succeeded in building up 
a very valuable property in real estate and 
live stock. In politics he was a Democrat 
until the Prohibition party was organized. 
In religion he and his wife are members 
of the Concrrecrational Church at Fairfield. 
As a citizen he encourages all enterprises 
which promise social, commercial or in- 
dustrial benetits to the county. 



Daniel 



MRS. MARY ANN BISHOP was 
born January 11, 1818, in Lor- 
ain county, Cihio, and is the only 
living representative of her father's 
family. She is a daughter of 
and Laura (Williams) Cadwell, 
natives of Pittsfield, Mass., who became 
pioneer settlers of Lorain county, Ohio. 
On November 30, 1837, Mary Ann Cad- 
well gave her band in marriage to William 
A. Bishop, a son of Joseph and Mary 
(WykofF) Bishop, the latter of whom was 
descended from Holland ancestry, Joseph 
Bishop was a representative of an old 
English family, and died when his son was 
a small child, his widow surviving him 
tifty-eight years. 

William A. Bishop was born March 3, 
1806, in New Jersey, where his parents 
were then living. He attended the district 
schools, and in 1832 began teaching in 
Northampton county, Penn., coming to 
Huron county, Ohio, in 183-t. On April 
4, that year, he married Miss Magdalene 
Elinger, who bore him two sons: Jo.seph, 
born January 26, 1835, deceased in infancy, 
and William H., born June 19, 1836, now 

SI 



residing in Norwalk. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop 
came to Ohio in the year of their marriage, 
journeying in the old-fashioned emigrant 
style, cooking their meals by the roadside 
and camping out at nightfall. Tliej first 
located on the West Branch of the Huron 
River, in Ridguheld township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, on what was known as the "Page 
farm." Mrs. Bishop died on this place 
April 5, 1837. Mr. Bishop was afterward 
married to Mary Ann Cadwell, who bore 
him the'following named children: Laura 
Ann (deceased), born January 18, 1839: 
Eliza, born August 25, 1842, deceased at 
the age of three years; Charles D., born 
January 4, 1846, now living in Norwalk, 
Ohio; Lina, born April 15, 1849, wife of 
Charles Drake, of Ridgefield township; 
Mary E., born January 2, 1854, deceased 
at the age of three years, and Martha E., 
born June 1, 1857, living with her widowed 
mother. In 1849 they moved to the 
"Palmer farm," situated on the east bank 
of the Huron river. The home farm con- 
tains nearly 170 acres of most productive 
land, equipped with a comfortable dwelling 
and commodious outbuildings. This was 
the home of Mr. Bishop for over thirty- 
two years, and during the latter part of 
that time he lived retired from active busi- 
ness. In politics he voted first with the 
Whig party, afterward \vitli the Repub- 
lican, and served in various local offices. 
Though not a church member, lie gave 
liberally to the support of the good work. 
He died January 20, 1881, and his widow 
has continued to reside on the home place, 
surrounded by many friends. 



W. HEDRICK, M. D., one of the 
ablest and most popular young phy- 
sicians of Huron county, is a native 
of Licking county, Ohio, born Sep- 
tember 23, 1853, a son of George and 
Julia (Speer) Iledrick, natives of New 
Jersey, the former born in 1826, the latter 
in 1828. 



390 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



At the age of twenty George Heflrick 
came west to Xewark, Licking Co., Ohio, 
wliere he has since almost continuously 
resided, and here he met Miss JiiiiaSpeer, 
to whom he was afterward married. They 
are the parents of six children, namely: 
William F. and Dennis E., both living in 
Columbus, Ohio; C. W., the subject of 
this sketch; Fred, a resident of Newark, 
Ohio; Winona, the wife of Areh Day, of 
Newark; and Inez G., who died in 1874. 
The father of this family learned shoe- 
making at an early age, and followed the 
trade the greater part of his life. He and 
his wife are both living. On the paternal 
side the Hedrick family are of German 
origin; on tiie maternal side they are of 
Scutch-Irish descent, the first ancestor of 
the family in America having come from 
the North of Ireland, where the grand- 
father and great-crrandraother of our sub- 
]ect were burn; the great-grandfather was 
born across the channel, in Scotland. 

Dr. C. W. Hedrick received his edu- 
cation in the public schools of Newark, 
Licking Co., Ohio, and after graduation 
entered the employ of the Baltimore & 
Oliio Railroad Co., as agent at Somerset, 
Ohio, where he remained two years. 
He then accepted the situation of book- 
keeper for the XX Coal Mine, at Shawnee, 
Ohio, a position he filled acceptably for 
one year. In 1874 he visited Illinois, 
fully intending to locate there, bnt the 
same year he returned to Ohio and became 
a painter apprentice, learned the trade and 
with the money thus earned finally paid 
his way through medical college. He 
commenced the study of medicine nnder 
his uncle. Dr. A. T. Speer, in 1879, and 
during the four years he remained with 
him he obtained all the benefits to be de- 
rived from study under a practical man. 
During the winter of 1880-81 he attended 
Columbus Medical College; then studied 
for another year under his uncle, and in 
the winter of 1882-83 again attended lec- 
tures at Columbus Medical College, from 
which institution he graduated in 1883. 



Locating in Newark, he practiced there 
until Maich 14, 1885, when he received 
the appointment of medical examiner for 
the Baltimore & Ohio Kailroad Co., 
with office at Garrett, Ind., where he was 
stationed until his removal to Wheeling, 
W. Va., in February, 1886. On June 1, 
1886, he was transferred to Chicago Junc- 
tion, his present home, where he owns a 
pleasant residence. 

Dr. Hedrick's marriage with Miss Saidie 
A., daughter of David S. Nevins, took 
place June 30, 1886, and to this union 
have been born two children — a son and 
a daughter — Raymond Speer, wiio died 
November 24, 1892, aged four months, 
and Hazel Wood. Dr. Hedrick is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, of 
the K. O. T. M., Royal Arcanum and of 
the Masonic Fraternity. He is a citizen 
of sterlinif worth. 



GHARLES A. SAWYER, who ranks 
among the prominent agriculturists 
^ and stock raisers of Lyme township, 
is a member of an old and highly 
respected family. 

His father, John Sawyer, was born in 
the county of Kent, England, and came to 
America as early as 1819. He located first 
in Connecticut, and from there moved to 
the banks of the Ohio river, numbering 
among the pioneers of that region, where 
he took a contract from Gen. Harrison to 
clear some land thickly covered with woods. 
At a later date he moved to Humn county, 
Ohio, where he euifaged with his father in 
trading stock. Being the eldest of a family 
of twenty children, he had many duties to 
perform, and at the time of his death, 
which occurred in 1852, owned 215 acres 
of land. He married a Mrs. Edinger, of 
New Jersey, and by her had six children — 
two sons and four daughters — three of 
whom are now living. 

Charles A. Sawyer was born February 
12, 1845, in Lyme township, Huron coun- 
ty, and passed his youth in Oberlin, where 



nUBOX COUXTY, OHIO. 



391 



he attended the primitive schools of those 
days and worked on liis lather's farm, 
learning at an early age the duties and 
customs of agricultural pursuits. After 
reaching manhood he moved to Norwalk, 
Ohio, and since the death of his father has 
had entire charge of the old homestead 
farm, wliere he devotes some attention to 
stock raising, but is chiefly engaged in 
farming. On April 14, 1887, Mr. Sawyer 
was united in marriage with Miss Clara 
Daley, also a resident of Huron county, hut 
born in Michigan. No children have been 
l)orn to them. They are both members of 
the Episcopal Church. He has served as 
trustee of Lyme township for sixteen years. 
He is a charter member of Raby Lodge, F. 
& A. M., Blue Lodge, Monroeville, and 
was senior warden and master of Lodge; 
also member of Bellevue Chapter Royal 
Arch Masons; is a member of the I. O. O. 
F. of Bellevue, and has taken all but the 
last degree. He served in the Civil war 
from 1862 until 1864, in Company (J, 
Eighty-eighth Regiment, O. V. L; re- 
enlisted in 1864, in Company I, One Hun- 
dred and Eighty-ninth O. V. L Mr. Saw- 
yer is a member of Hillier Post, G. A. R., 
Monroeville. 




SA G. FELTOlSr, a successful and 
prosperous agriculturist, of Nor- 
wich township, is a native of the 
same, born in 1847. 

Ephraim Felton, father of our 
subject, was born, in 1815, in Oneida 
County, N. Y., a son of James Felton, who 
was a native of Massachusetts, a farmer 
by occupation. He, James, married Eu- 
nice Wheeler, of same place, and by her 
had eight children, viz.: James, Lyman, 
Hiram, Warren, Walter, Ephraim, Maria, 
and one whose name is not given. The 
father of these came to Huron county i?i 
IH'iiS with Ills son Ephraim, settling in 
Norwich, where he died about 1850. 
E])hraim Felton was reared on a fai-m, and 
attended durinir the winter months the 



subscription schools of the period. At the 
age of eighteen he came to Ohio, and 
worked at the trade of carpenter near Nor- 
walk, Huron county, till after his mar- 
riage, when he moved into Norwich town- 
ship, locating on the farm of one hundred 
acres where William Stockmaster is now 
living. From there in 1849 he came to 
his farm in the same township, compris- 
ing tifty acres of good, fertile land. In 
1841 he married Miss Melissa Gilson, 
daughter of Asa Gilson, a farmer of Nor- 
wich township. The children of this mar- 
riage were Celia (married to George Kee- 
ler, a tinner), Rhoda, Asa G. and Mary 
Melissa. The mother of these died in 
1851, and Ephraim Felton subsequently 
married Mrs. Mary Ann Chandler, a 
daughter of Burwell Fitch, an early settler 
of Sherman township, Huron county. To, 
this marriage were born Ada V., Lillian 
and Emma, of whom Ada V. is married 
to Lewis Woodruff, and they live in Fair- 
field township; Lillian lives in Chillicothe, 
Mo., married to John Schnits, an attor- 
ney; Emma married I. H. Wilson, and 
lives in Nebraska. Ephraim Felton made 
a success of life, and owned at his death, 
which occurred in 1864, about 300 acres 
of land. He was a breeder of graded 
stock, making a specialty of fine-wool 
sheep. In politics he was a strong Aboli- 
tionist, and took an active part in the free- 
ing of the negroes; in religious faith he 
was a Methodist. 

Asa G. Felton, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received a liberal education at 
the common schools of the vicinity of his 
birth, and was reared a practical farmer 
bov. He was seventeen years old when 
his father died, and four years later he 
commenced business life as a clerk in a 
store, where be remained some seven years. 
Turning his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits, he then came to Norwich township, 
Huron county, and settled on his present 
farm of 150 acres in that township. 

In 1872 Mr. Felton was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Catherine Kramer, of 



392 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Plymouth, Ohio, daughter of Matthias 
Kramer, a farmer of Auburn township, 
Crawford county. Politically, our subject 
has always been a solid Republican, a 
counfelor in the party; in matters of re- 
ligion he and his wife are members of the 
Uiiiversalist Church of Havana. 



dOHN STRIMPLE, one of the prom- 
inent agriculturists of Greenwich 
I township, was born February 19, 
182i), in Hunterdon county, New 
Jersey. 

Aaron Striinple, his father, was born in 
New Jersey in 1803. Some years later 
his father died, and Aaron was left to 
battle with the world alone. About the 
year 1828 he married Keziah Stout, who 
was born in New Jersey in 1804, and to 
tlieir union came the following named 
children: John (the subject of this sketch), 
Judith Ann (Mrs.G.W.Van Scoy), Andrew 
(who died at the age of twenty-seven 
years), and George (a farmer of Green- 
wich township), all natives of New Jersey; 
Sarah (Mrs. Daniel Sizer, of Greenwich), 
Samuel (who died at an advanced age), 
Elizalieth (widow of Egbert N. Burgess), 
and AVilliam (who resides in Richland 
county), all natives of Ohio. In 1839 the 
family removed to New Haven township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, in company with three 
other families, the whole party comprising 
twenty-eight persons. The journey was 
made \>j wagon, over the Alleghany 
Mountains, and occupied twenty-nine days. 
On arriving here Aaron Strimple rented a 
liouse in New Haven township, but the 
following year removed to a point four 
miles east of Mansfield, in Mifflin town- 
ship, Richland county, where he leased a 
farm for ten years. About 1850 he lo- 
cated near the northern line of Richland 
county, and bouijht a tract of land, part of 
which lay in Huron county. Later he 
purchased eighty acres in Greenwich town- 
ship, where he and his wife resided, the 



latter until her death in 1886, and the 
former until 1890, when he passed away. 
He was a practical farmer, and an expert 
stock dealer and grower, being successful 
in each line. In politics he voted witb the 
Democrats until 1856, when the new 
Whigs or Republicans won him to their 
cause, though at times he voted with the 
Democrats, when the nominees of his own 
Darty appeared to him to be undeserving 
of public otiice. In religious connection 
he and his wife belonged to tiie Metiiodist 
Episcopal Church. 

John Strimple accompanied his parents 
to Ohio when ten years old, and during 
his youth helped with the work on the 
farm and attended school. He was quick 
to learn, and while still a youth taught a 
scliool for fourteen dollars per month, his 
salary being gradually increased until he 
was in receipt of thirty dollars per month. 
During vacation periods he worked on 
the farm, and lost no opportunity of earn- 
ing money. In 1851 he married Elizabeth 
Mary Viers, who was born in Rich- 
land county, Ohio, where her father, L. D. 
Viers, resided. The children of this union 
are named as follows: Alice P., Mrs. G. 
W. King; Silas W., a grain dealer; 
Thomas, an attorney, all three residing at 
Greenwich; Theodore L., assistant prose- 
cuting attorney of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, 
and Keziah J., who died in youth. The 
mother of these children died in 1864, and 
Mr. Strimple married Loraine Viers, a 
sister of his deceased wife. To this mar- 
riage were born Aden L. and Aaron B., 
the former an agriculturist and the latter 
a school teacher. After his first marriage 
Mr. Strimple rented a farm in Richland 
county, and later joined his father in the 
purchase of land. This tract was quit- 
claimed by the father, who sold a portion 
to the son. In 1860 John Strimple pur- 
chased ninety-five and a quarter acres in 
Ripley township, and established his home 
thereon. In 1S64 he purchased 110 acres 
in Greenwich township, known as " The 
Old Barrett Farm," and here he has since 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



393 



resided, the tract now comprising 235 
acres, all thorouglily improved. His house 
and barn are tine buildings, and are con- 
sidered among the best in the county. 
Mr. Striniple has been liberal in the ex- 
penditure of money on the education of 
his family. In political life he votes with 
the Republicans, though he is not a 
partisan, and he has tilled various town- 
ship offices. He is a prominent member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which he is steward and trustee, class- 
leader, and has been superintendent of the 
Sunday-school — in fact he has taught 
everj' class in the school. His reputation 
is without reproach, and he may undoubt- 
edly be classed with the best citizens of 
Huron count-v. 



f[ffARVEY PIEECE, a worthy de- 
r!?n scendant of an early pioneer family 
I 1[ of Huron county, was born January 
^J 20. 1822, in Peru township. About 

1814 his grandfather, Alden Pierce, 
bought a part of what was then known as 
the "Redenberg tract," in the "Firelands" 
of Huron county. Late in 1815 he and 
his son Wiliard, with a number of other 
emigrants, came hither from their eastern 
home, the journey occupying forty-four 
days. Upon their arrival they erected a 
rude shelter of logs and bark, where they 
passed the remainder of the winter, and in 
the spring the Pierces erected a more sub- 
stantial log cabin, and cleared the first 
garden spot in Greenfield township. 

Wiliard Pierce, father of subject, was 
born April 29, 1800, in North Leverett, 
Franklin Co., Mass., at the common 
schools of which place he received his edu- 
cation. In 1815 (as above related) he 
migrated with his father to Ohio, where, 
during the ensuing four years, he carved 
out a home for himself in the forest. In 
1820 he set out for his native State, walk- 
ing the entire distance from Huron county, 
Ohio, to Franklin county, Mass., and 
while in the East married Nancy Curtis, 



who was born in June, 1801, daughter of 
Ebenezer Curtis, of Franklin county, Mass., 
who died in 1811. Under the laws of 
Massachusetts the marriage bans had to be 
publicly announced for three Sabbaths be- 
fore the ceremony could be performed, and 
to avoid this delay Mr. Pierce took Miss 
Curtis to Vermont, where Old Colony 
formalities were not strictly observed, and 
there they were married. They remained 
in Massachusetts just long enough to con- 
vert the property of the young wife into 
currency, and then set out for their future 
home in Ohio, the journey being made in 
a wagon drawn by a " Yankee team " of 
oxen, with a horse for a leader. To their 
union were born the following children: 
Harvey; Jason (an invalid), of Oceana 
county, Mich.; Jefferson, Maria (Mrs. Ben- 
jamin Hull) and Allen, all three residents 
of Kalamazoo county, Mich.; Nancy, Mrs. 
Lovell; and Susan, Mrs. Harrison. The 
father of this family died here June 22, 
1847; his widow died April 21, 1857, in 
the Baptist faith, and both are buried in 
the Hester cemetery in Bronson township. 
He was a successful farmer, who, notwith- 
standing the extraordinary expense caused 
by repeated sicknesses, left a valuable 
property to his children. In politics he 
was a Jacksonian Democrat, and in man- 
ner unassuming and sedate. 

Harvey Pierce was reared in much the 
same manner as all pioneer boys of bis 
day, attending school and working on the 
farm alternately. In the spring of 1843 
he migrated to Wisconsin, passing through 
Chicago village on his way thither. Of 
course there were no railroads then, and 
travel by wagon meant walking half the 
distance. For nine months young Pierce 
worked in the lead mines of Iowa county, 
Wis., and early in 1844 returned to Ohio 
and worked on the farm of Robert Baker 
in Peru township at ten dollars per month. 
Subsequently, when his father's health be- 
gan to fail, Harvey took charge of the 
home farm, and on the death of the pio- 
neer continued therein, caring for his 



394 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



invalid mother, and ultimately paying off 
the share of the other heirs in the estate. 
On June 16, 1859, he was married to 
Sephronia Woodworth, who was born in 
October. 1836, in New Haven township, 
daughter of Jonathan Woodworth, who 
came to this section from Tompkins 
county, N. Y., in 1832. To Harvey and 
Sephronia Pierce tlie following named 
children were born, viz.: (1) Jenett L.,of 
New Haven townsiiip, born April 25, 
1860, and was married March 18, 1884, to 
W. L. Smith, by wiiom she has two chil- 
dren, Harvey and Stanford; (2) Jonathan 
W., a farmer i-esiding on the homestead, 
born January 31, 1868, and was married 
February 5, 1889, to Em ma P. Kellogg, of 
Greenfield. Mr. Pierce is a man of extra- 
ordinary vitality, and is so well preserved 
that he looks twenty years younger than 
he really is. His memory is faultless, 
and he can speak of events connected veith 
his youth and early manhood with remark- 
able accuracy. He vras a Whig prior to 
the organization of the Republicans, when 
he joined the new party. He and his wife 
are members of the Baptist Ciiurch, in 
which Society he is an official. Mr. Pierce 
is a great reader, and consequently well 
posted on men and events. No one is 
more respected than he, and all in all lie 
well merits the social and agricultural suc- 
cess wiiich he has won. 



L 



AWRENCE OTT was born Febru- 
ary 14, 1831, in Baden, Germany, 
where his ancestors were known for 
generations. His father, Michael F. 
Ott, a native of Baden, died in 1888, 
leaving an encumbered property to his 
widow. 

Lawrence, though then a child, realized 
the condition of affairs, and with the spirit 
of; a youth aided his mother materially. 
On May 14, 1838, he left home and for 
eight years worked as a farm laborer, re- 
ceiving from ten to fifty dollars per year. 
His mother died iu the meantime, and in 



1853 he received some moneys from lier 
estate, enough to pay the expenses of a 
trip to the United States. Knowing the 
scant opportunities for winning a compe- 
tence in his native country, he set out for 
London, England, where he took passage 
for New York in the "Yawton" (his name 
for the ship), arriving after a voyage of 
thirty-live days, with a cash capital of six- 
teen dollars. He did not halt there long, 
but pushed farther westward to the Ger- 
man settlements in Huron county, Oiiio, 
via the Hudson river, the Erie Canal and 
the lake to Sandusky, Ohio, and tiience to 
Monroeville. From that point lie walked 
to Macksville, and the day after his arrival 
began work on the farm of Martin Hes- 
ter, of Bronson township. He continued 
with Mr. Hester for eighteen months, and 
then entered the employ of Alvin l^ritii- 
man, for whom he worked six years. On 
February 5, 1861, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Mary Dehe, who was born 
March 3, 1839, in Norwalk, Ohio, daugh- 
ter of Jacob Dehe, of Norwalk, and to 
this marriage were born nine children, 
namely: Rosa, Mrs. Leo Hohler, of Peru 
township; John P., a farmer of the same 
township; Frank, a carpenter, residing at 
home; Charles, a resident of Cleveland, 
Ohio; Fred, Lawrence, Louisa and Jerome, 
residing at home, and Theodore, who died 
when three months old. After his mar- 
riage Mr. Ott purchased seventy-two acres 
of land, paying part of the purchase money 
out of his savings, and securing the bal- 
ance by an ordinary real-estate mortgage. 
Strong heart and hands aided him, year 
after year he prospered, and after a strug- 
gle he could call this tract, with the im- 
provements thereon, his absolute property. 
In 1878 he sold the first farm in the 
southern section of Peru township, and 
purchased 118 acres from Joseph Remele, 
where he has since resided. Aside from 
iinproving his new purchase, he remodeled 
the residence, barns and other buildings, 
and literally made this part of the old wil- 
derness to "blossom as the rose." It is 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



395 



all the work of a liealthy mind in a healthy 
body, and of a citizen who would win by 
honest labor over every obstacle. 

Mr. Ott, his wife and children are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Conujregation. In 
political affairs he votes with the Demo- 
cratic party, but beyond this takes little 
interest in politics. He earns the taxes, 
votes for those whom he considers would 
make good servants of the public, and 
leaves fhe rest to men who have leisure 
liours for it. The family are held in the 
hitrhest esteem in the community in which 
they reside. 



JOHN W. SAGE, a successful and 
most highly respected agriculturist of 
Richmond township, was born March 
30, 1829, in Oswego county, N. Y., 
a son of Roswell Sage, who was born May 
18, 1786, in Connecticut. His father was 
a native of Wales, and in early days im- 
migrated to America. 

Roswell Sage was married January 26, 
1814, to Nancy Jewett, born October 5, 
1792. Their children, who were all born 
in New York State, were as follows: Ly- 
man, born September 27, 1815, died May 
11, 1816; Caroline, born March 27, 1817, 
married William Harman, and died in 
Boone county, Iowa; Rhoda, born May 
16, 1819, who was married to Alfred 
Knapp, and died in Fairfield township, 
Huron Co., Ohio; Sarah Marilla, born 
May 27, 1822, married Newell Curtiss, 
and now resides in Newark, N. J.; Sey- 
mour N., born May 17, 1824, was a farmer 
and machinist, and was a leading citizen 
and for twelve years justice of the peace 
in Richmond township, Huron county, 
where he died; Amanda E., born August 
8, 1826, now the widow of Rev. Leander 
Curtiss, a Congregational minister, who 
had preached for forty years; John Wes- 
ley, subject proper of this sketcli; and 
Harriet E., born May 8, 1832, now Mrs. 
W. G. Rathborne, of Clyde, Ohio. While 
residing in New York State Roswell Sage 



followed farming, and became quite well- 
to-do, but lost considerable by indorsement 
for a friend, so that when he caine to Ohio 
in 1835 he was a comparatively poor man. 
The trip frojn Oswego county, N. Y., was 
made by way of Lake Ontario, then through 
the Welland Canal, and thence across Lake 
Erie to Cleveland, where they landed. On 
Lake Erie they encountered a very rouo-h 
sea, and the women and children were all 
ordered below, the captain declaring it to 
be ''the roughest .sea for nineteen years." 
The family traveled by wagon from'Cleve- 
land to Pittsfield township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where the fatlier purchased one hun- 
dred acres of land, on which they resided 
for six years, and then moved to Auburn 
township, Crawford county, remaining there 
five years, when they took up their residence 
in Ripley township, Huron county, being 
driven out of Crawford county by the 
"milk sickness" so common in that sec- 
tion. They made their home in Ripley 
township till about 1845, and then moved 
to Wood county, Ohio, where the father 
died April 9, 1848, at Bowling Green, and 
was there buried. His wife, who had 
passed away December 26, 1843. in Rip- 
ley township, was buried in the "Old M. 
E. cemetery," north of Edwards Corners. 
Mr. Sage had met with many reverses, but 
was a very sympathetic man, and always 
did his best to help those who needed his 
assistance. In religion he was a member 
of the Methodist Church; in politics a 
Whig. 

John W. Sage accompanied the family 
to Ohio in 1835, and, though then but six 
years of age, he remembers the journey 
very distinctly, and the cries of the women 
and children who were shnt down in the 
hold of tlie vessel to prevent their being 
washed overboard. He attended the com- 
mon schools, but his educational oppor- 
tunities were in the main somewiiat cir- 
cumscribed. He remained at home until 
thirteen years of age, when he engaged in 
various kinds of labor, and served an ap- 
prenticeship at boot and shoe making in 



396 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



his father's shop at Bowling Green; but 
not liking the tiwde, left it. Later, in com- 
pany with Joli!! Lamb, he bnilt a wooden 
scow which they ran on the Manniee river, 
and he was subsequently employed as a 
deck hand on the propeller " Globe," on 
Lake Erie, making, however, but two trips 
on that boat, which plied between Maumee 
City (Ohio) and Buffalo (N. Y.). When 
nineteen years of age he commenced to 
learn the carpenter's trade in Ripley town- 
ship, Huron county, and served an ap- 
prenticeship of three years under three 
different men. He continued to follow the 
business twenty-five years, and some of the 
finest residences in his section of the 
county were either his own individual 
work or erected under his supervision. 

On March 15, 1855, Mr. Sage married 
Miss Catherine Miller, who was born May 
9, 1836, in Columbiana county, Ohio, 
daughter of Samuel Miller, who came to 
Richmond township, Huron county, in 
1847. To this union have been born chil- 
dren as follows: Julia A., now Mrs. A. W. 
Harman, of Richmond township; William 
S.,aU.B. minister of Sandusky Conference, 
who was educated at Dayton, Ohio, after 
which he spent about four years in Sierra 
Leone, West Africa, in the missionary 
field; Charles W., a farmer of Richmond 
township; and Mary A., now Mrs. John 
F. Dellinger, of Richmond township. After 
his marriage Mr. Sage located in Richmond 
township, on thirty acres of land which he 
had purchased at twelve dollars per acre, 
and to which he soon added another thirty 
acres, gi-adually increasing the size of his 
farm to 111 acres. \\\ the summer of 1863 
he joined Company H, One Hundred and 
Sixty-si.xth O. V. L, National Guards, on 
May 2, 1864, was called into service, and 
was detailed on guard duty the greater 
part of his term of enlistment, which ex- 
pired September 9, 1864. Later, frotn 
February, 1865, to May, 1865, he was in 
the United States Engineers service, at Ar- 
lington Heights, Va., erecting forts and 
fortifications. Early in the summer of 



1865 he returned to his home in Huron 
county, and in tlie fall of the satne year 
purchased his present farm, which then 
consisted of 171 acres, for which he paid 
twenty-six dollars per acre. The land was 
then in a comparatively rude condition, 
containing no improvements but a log 
house and ijarn, and here he has since 
made his home, excepting for three years 
he was engaged at his trade. Through 
his never-ceasing industry and care the soil 
is now as rich as any in the county, and all 
the buildings on the property are the work 
of his own hands. He is a Republican, 
and takes an interest in the welfare of his 
party, but is not particularly active in 
politics. In religious faith he and his wife 
are proniinent members of the U. B. 
Church, in which he has held the offices of 
steward, class-leader, trustee, etc., being 
obliged to resign, however, on account of 
poor health. For some years he has been 
a teacher in the Sunday-school, in which 
he has also been superintendent. Mr. 
Sage is a great reader, and by observation 
has acquired an excellent practical educa- 
tion ; he is a writer of no mean ability, and 
as a poet deserves more tiian local promi- 
nence. He acts as correspondent to nearly 
all the newspapers in his section, and to 
all of those published at the county seat. 
He is a successful farmer and a good 
neighbor, and Mrs. Sage, who is a most 
estimable, kind-hearted lady, shares fully 
the esteem whicli is felt for the entire 
family. The following are the titles of 
some of his poetical productions: The 
Storm King; God's Wisdom, Love and 
Power; Jack Frost; Little Karl; Some 
Sweet Day; A Poet's Imagination; The 
(^Id Year; Naming The Baby; October; 
Spring; May; December; After Harvest 
Thoughts; Decoration Day; Eighteen 
Hundred and Eighty-Three; Have Faith 
in Jesus' Name; The Cabin; Twenty 
Years Ago; The New Year; Oh ye 
Winds: Ye Wintry Winds; The Editorial 
Sanctum; Thoughts on the Death 
of Douglas Snydei-; In the Far West, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



397 



on a Claim; Tlie Old AVomaii Who 
Lived ill Her Shoe; The Plymouth Ad- 
vertiser; If Yes; If; Cheerfulness; The 
Plymouth Fair October 1887; The Farmer; 
Stray Thoughts; How Oft we Murmur at 
God's Providences; How Like Some Little 
Fickle Maid; Memory; Summer Time; 
The Pest Farm Crop; Thanksgiving Day; 
Life; Py The Sea Shore; Spring; The 
World; This Land of Ours; The Year 
Eighty-Nine; The World's Fair; Thoughts 
on the Past, Present and Future; Sunshine 
and Flowers; Praise and Adoration; The 
Old and the New Year; The Distant Shore; 
Septeniljer; Tlie Equinoxial; Seasonable 
and Unseasonable; The Soldier's Pension; 
Huckleberries; At School; Groundhog 
Day; He Calleth Unto Thee; Our Jour- 
ney; Ode to a Reporter; The Fast Age; 
Daily Blessings; The Kitchen Hearth; 
The Glorious Fourtli. Of these we give 
the following: 

THE STORM KING. 



Terrific! rolls the thunder, 
Cloud cleaving cloud asunder; 
The forked tongues of lightning flash, 
The giant oals, with heavy crash, 
Late monarch towering in his pride. 
Lies prostrate now with shattered side. 
Peal on peal the thunders crashing, 
And the forked lightnings flashing, 
Like tiery chariots coming o'er us. 
Joining the discordant chorus. 
Heavens artillery all a-boom, 
Blackness, and darkness, and gloom, 
Hover about 

With terrific shout. 
Most terrible, solemn and grand. 
Like the wail of demoniac band. 
On, on they come with angry motion. 
Shaking old earth as well as ocean. • 

Iron-bound ships riven asunder. 
While onward rolls the distant thunder. 
Rolls low, rolls high, rolls loud, and rolls, 
Till earth is shaken from center to poles. 
Again and again the thunders roll. 
Waking the timid, slumbering soul; 
While loud and long the storm king shouts 
Like maddened chieftain to his scouts. — 
His sword unsheathed in up-lifled hand. 
He musters again his chosen band. 

Heaven's artillery all ablaze. 

The world in silence all agaze, — 
While forked li'..'htnings rend the sky. 
And deaf'ning thunders roll on high. 
There he comes! the storm king comes, 
With neighing horses and heaven's drums; 



Hurling thunder-bolts left and right, 
Scattering javelins, piercing the night; 

On, on advancing 

Like fiery steeds dancing. 
Now hovers low, now rises liigh. 
Like frightened eagle cleaving the sky. 
While deathlike darkness over all. 
Enshrouds the earth like a tuneral pall. 

With terrible shout. 

The storm king's route. 
Lies across the trackless ocean; 

And woe to the ship. 

On its homewai'd trip. 
When caught by this wild commotion. 
Fire, hailstones, and Jupiter's coals. 
Whirling, seething, and trying men's souls. 
Jove's black war horse onward prances. 
With liquid fire from eye that glances 
From cloud to cloud as the storm runs high 
And the eagles shriek as they pierce the sky. 
Jove's charger, as with iron hoof, 

Stops, paws the clouds of heaven, 
While trembles the blue vaulted roof, 

Like slivered timbers riven. 
Darting from nostril distended. 

Forked lightnings leap. 
Darkness and light seem blended. 

Deep calling unto deep. 
Heavens host led on, led on by Jove, 
Find rendezvous in Neptune's grave, 
While a grand parade of corps after corps, 
Is marshaled for battle on Ilinlan's shore. 

The long roll reverberating 

Ballalions concentrating, 
While the order reaches through the world at large. 

Tlie standard bearer advances, 

The troops with naked lances, 
Make the final victorious charge. 

Then galloping over the plain. 

With long, disheveled mane. 
Come the warriors, with battle cry 
Reaching through the sky. 
The storm king's mooted power, 
Transferred in a single hour, 
While heaven's victorious fleet 
Wheel into line for the homewai'd retreat. 
The thunder rolls in the distance. 
Offering little or no resistance. 
Blackness and darkness give way. 
The clouds roll back, and we say 
The storm king, with his mighty host. 
Has returned to his native coast, • 

And now, with united cry 
We join in praise to the Most High. 



EORGE E. HASKELL is a son 
of George Haskell, wiiose father 
was a physician in England. George 
Ai Haskell was born in 1813, in Wilt- 
shire, England, and was there bound 
out to learn the siioemaker's trade, which 
he followed for some time. On January 



398 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



12, 1837, he married Mary Ann Barber, 
who was born March 19, 1815, in Wilt- 
shire, England, a daughter of William 
Barber, a cabinet maker. George and 
Mary Ann fBarber) Hasi^ell first located 
in Brixon Deveril, England, where four 
children were born, namely: Ilattie J., 
William Henry, Jolin_ T. and Catherine. 

In 1850 tile parents, accompanied by 
the above-named children, sailed from Liv- 
erpool, and after a voyage of ten weeks 
landed at New York. From there they 
proceeded, via the Hudson River, Erie 
Canal, and Lake Erie to Sandusky, Ohio. 
On arriving at Milan, Erie county, George 
Haskell had only four dollars left, but was 
soon earning fair wages at his trade. Some 
time later lie moved to Norwalk, and re- 
sided on Milan street, where he conducted 
a gardening business. He then purchased 
and moved upon a small tract of land in 
Ridgefield township, Huron county, mean- 
while following his trade at Monroeville. 
In 1866 he bought tlie home farm where 
he died February 22, 1885, being followed 
to the grave by his wife August 5, 1889, 
and both were buried at Norwalk. He 
was an energetic, industrious man, having 
accumulated a good property by unremit- 
ting effort. Politically, he affiliated with 
the Republican party, and in religion lie was 
a member of the Episcopal Church. The 
children born to George and Mary Ann 
Haskell were as follows: Hattie J., de- 
ceased wife of R. M. Willey; William H., 
an orange grower in Florida; John T., of 
Liberal, Kans.; Catharine M., unmarried, 
living in Ridgefield township; George E.; 
p]l!en S., wife of John E. Wheaton, of 
Seward county, Kans.; and Annie O., wife 
of John V. Brady, of Belleville, Kans. 
Of these the latter three were born in the 
United States. 

George E. Haskell was born September 
9, 1851, in Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, 
and attended the common schools. When 
his l)rothers had all left lionie, this son re- 
mained on the old place, and assisted in 
paying his father's debts. On December 



28, 1887, he was united in marriage with 
Adelphia Saunders, who was born in 1868 
in Oxford township, Erie Co., Ohio, the 
youngest of seven children of Leroy W. 
and Eliza (Skinner) Saunders. Mr. and 
Mrs. Haskell began wedded life on the 
home farm in Ridgefield township, Huron 
county. He well deserves the prosperity 
which has rewarded his years of toil, and 
his hospitable cheery manner, combined 
with sterling worth, has won him scores 
of warm friends. In politics he is a Re- 
publican; in religion he is a member of 
the Disciple Church, his wife being iden- 
tified with the Presbyterian denomination. 
They have two sons and one daughter: 
Le Roy George, Clyde Vernon, and Mil- 
dred Pauline. 



L 



EROY BURTON, city marshal of 
Norwalk, is a native of Huron 
county, born November 25, 1843, 
son of E. S. and Laura B. Burton. 
The father was born in 1816, in Warren 
county, N. Y"., near Lake George, and 
came west to Ohio when a young man. He 
selected a site for his future home, then 
returned East, married, and brought hither 
his young wife. At the time of his death, 
which occurred in 1883, he owned a fine 
farm, mainly the result of his own unceas- 
ing industry. He reared a family of seven 
children — four daughters and three sons — • 
all still living. Mrs. Burton died in 1864. 
David Burton, the paternal grandfather of 
subject, was a native of New Y^ork, and 
lived to the advanced age of ninety-one 
years, the grandmother reaching the patri- 
archal age of ninety-four years. 

Leroy Burton was educated in the public 
and select schools of Norwalk, and wlien 
but a mere boy entered the army, but on 
account of a severe accidental injury was 
discharged, after which he engaged in 
farming. On April 3, 1865, he was mar- 
ried to Jane Pettis, a native of Berea, 
Ohio, and continued on the farm four 
years afterward, at the end of which time 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



399 



he removed to Norwalk, and worked at the 
carpenter's trade witli his father-in-law the 
next five years. Abandoning this, he 
opened a gun repair shop, and conducted 
same some seven years, or until 1885, 
when he was elected niHrshal of Norwalk, 
to which position he has since been con- 
tinuously re-elected; and he has had the 
liigh compliment from his fellow citizens 
of being elected by 375 majority. He is 
now serving his fifth term, which will be 
ten years. Mr. Burton is the unquestioned 
head of the police force of Norwalk, the 
welfare of the city during the day being 
in his keeping, while at night there are 
three guards who are also under him. As 
an illustration of his popularity, it maybe 
here stated that in the 1889 elections he 
was the only Hepublican elected, every- 
thing else going to the Democrats. 



^/ 



t^JIfATHIAS BEAMER, one of the 
ly^ best known and most liighly re- 
l\ spected citizens of Richmond 
township, was born September 25, 
1820, in Carroll county, Ohio. 
His parents, Adam and Elizabeth (Al- 
baughj Beamer, were both natives of 
Maryland, born in the vicinity of Freder- 
icktown, the former in 1773. The grand- 
father of our subject came from Germany. 
Adam Beamer was reared to agricultural 
pursuits. He was married in Maryland, 
where three children were born to him, 
viz.: Rebecca (who married Henry Da- 
huff, and died in Carroll county, Ohio), 
and Elias and Henry, both of whom died 
in Van Wert county, Ohio. In about 
1810 the family came to Ohio, locating 
near the Ohio river in Harrison county, 
and while living here Mr. Beamer entered 
the war of 1812, in which he received 
ninety-six dollars for six months service. 
He assisted in the erection of Fort Meigs 
(now Maumee City) on the Maumee river, 
and after his service came to near Mcln- 
tyre, Jefferson county, where his family 



then resided. Here all the money he had 
received for his services in the war was 
paid out for bail for a merchant, named 
Satskiver, who afterward failed. Subse- 
quently the family migrated farther west 
to Carroll county, locating along Connot- 
ton creek, in Rose township, where our 
subject first saw the light. Adam Beamer 
was a comparatively poor man, and having 
no property of his own, he leased land, 
which he would cultivate; but as he was 
just about getting the land in condition to 
work it to advantage, he would be obliged 
to leave it and begin on another tract. 
Aside from providing for his family he 
accumulated very little. He died in 1840, 
and was buried in the llite cemetery, in 
Rose township, Carroll county. Mrs. 
Beamer survived her husband many years, 
and passed from earth in 1865 in Van- 
Wert county, Ohio, where she was buried, 
in Sugar Ridge cemetery, TuUy township; 
Mr. Beamer was a Democrat in politics, 
but voted for Gen. Harrison. 

Mathias Beamer was reared to the ardu- 
ous duties of pioneer farm life, and dur- 
ing his youth received scarcely any school 
training, as his father was too poor to 
afford the subscription by which the 
schools were supported. As early as 
possible he was put to work clearing the 
land, which was then entirely in the woods, 
in which labor he assisted at the youthful 
aire of seven. When the father died the 
mother was left poor, and our subject set 
to work to pay off some remaining debts. 
On February 24, 1846, he was married to 
IMargaret Thompson, who was born No- 
vember 15, 1824, in Monroe township, 
Carroll county, daughter of Frederick 
Thompson, who came from Maryland. Af- 
ter his marriage Mr. Beamer located near 
New Cumberland, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, 
where he stayed three years. He had 
saved a sum of money, and about 1849 re- 
moved to Van Wert county, Ohio, then a 
wihl and swampy country, where he owned 
some land. Here he made his home for 
eight years, during which time he did 



400 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



much liard labor, clearing and chopping, 
and tlien coming to Huron county on a 
visit to his father-in-law, he purchased his 
present farm, at that time consisting of 
ninety-six acres, which he has since in- 
creased to over 230 acres, all excellent 
farming land. He has always followed 
agricnltural pursuits, and has met with 
encouraging success in liis chosen vocation. 
Mr. Beamer has always been a healthy, 
robust man, and in his prime could split 
200 rails a day, from the stump, then a 
wonderful task, which he accoraplished day 
after day. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Beamer have been born 
children as follows: Elizabeth, wlio mar- 
ried John Fink, and died in Seneca county, 
Ohio; Hannah, now Mrs. George Cole, of 
Richmond township; John, a farmer of 
Richmond township; Ann, Mrs. Jacob 
Rapp, of Richmond township; Lucinda, 
Mrs. Lewis Rapp, of Crawford county, 
Ohio; Rebecca, deceased in infancy; Ella, 
wife of Charles Clark, a farmer of Rich- 
luond township; Allen, a farmer of Rich- 
mond township; Martha, Mrs. Jacob Fink; 
and Emma, Mrs. Samuel Garber, of Rich- 
mond township. Mr. Beamer was origin- 
ally a Democrat, but is now a member of 
the Republican party, though in township 
and county elections he votes for the best 
man, regardless of politics. In religious 
belief he is a meml)er of the "Church of 
God." Mr. Beamer has five great-grand- 
children. 



EPHRAIM W. FAST, than whom 
there is no better known or more 
^ highly respected citizen in Rich- 
mond township, is a native of 
Orange township, Ashland Co., Ohio, born 
March 28, 1830. 

Christian Fast, grandfather of Ephraim 
W., was a soldier in the war of 1812, dur- 
ing which struggle, along with fonr others, 
he was taken prisoner by the Wyandot In- 
dians; this Christian Fast was naturally 
very dark, and though decidedly of Ger- 



man extraction resembled an Indian very 
much. The live prisoners were doomed to 
death, but the preliminary tortures to 
which they were subjected gave Christian 
a chance to display his activity, and this 
saved his life; the gauntlet was formed, 
and being the last prisoner to run it, he 
accomplished the painful journey by turn- 
ing handsprings the entire distance, wiiich 
so amused as well as astonished the sav- 
ages that they permitted him to pass 
through unharmed. Then, after putting 
his four comrades to death before his eyes, 
ti)ey retained him as a conjurer, and he 
soon became a favorite with the M'hole 
tribe, being adopted by the head chief. 
During his captivity he witnessed the 
huruing of Crawford at the stake by the 
tribe he was with. As Mr. Fast remained 
with the Indians, their confidence in hini 
continued to grow, and gradually the 
watches over him lessened. One night, 
npon asking his bedfellow and guard to 
bring him a drink of water, he was or- 
dered to go himself, and while the guard 
slept, all unconscious of his captive's acts, 
the latter tilled a small kettle with hominy 
corn and made his escape. He started 
east, and before long reached the Manmee 
river, across which he had to swim; but 
in the meantime his escape had been dis- 
covered, and pursuit begun, for bullets 
whizzed past him while he was in the 
watei-. However, he reached the opposite 
shore in safety, and set out for the white 
settlements, then so few in eastern Ohio, 
traveling by night and sleeping in the day- 
time. He reached the settlement in time 
to inform the inhabitants of the approach 
of the Indians (whom he could hear be- 
hind him), and none too soon, for they had 
barely time to flee to the blockhouse be- 
fore the savages arrived. He afterward 
proceeded on his joui-ney. and finally got 
back to his home in Pennsylvania. Chris- 
tian Fast had married, in Pennsylvania, 
Barbara Mason, who bore him ten chil- 
dren, and he subsequently came with his 
family to Ohio, settling in Ashland county, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



401 



wLere he passed from earth ahont the year 
1840; he and his wife, who survived him 
four or live years, were buried side by side 
in Ashland county. 

Jacob Fast, father of suliject, was born 
in eastern Pennsylvania, and was married 
in his native State to Miss Catherine Rex. 
He was a wheelwright by trade, and, as 
previously stated, came to Ohio with his 
father. The entire journey was made by 
wagon, and they endured many hardships 
on their trip to the western frontier, which 
at that time offered cheap homes. They 
located in Ashland county, where he pur- 
chased a tract of land, to the task of clear- 
ing which he at once set himself in order 
to make a home tor his growing family. 
He followed his trade to some extent after 
coming to Ohio, but soon finding it un- 
profitable, he gave his entire attention to 
farming. His family were as follows: 
Martin, who died in Ashland county; 
Polly, who became the wife of John 
Fast, and died in Ashland county; 
Eli, deceased in Ashland county; Jacob, 
now a resident of Troy township, Ashland 
county; Malinda, who married Alonzo 
Parker, and died in Ashland county; Ma- 
tilda, who married Campbell Murray, and 
died in Ashland county; Itebecca, widow 
of David Gurton, of Wood county, Ohio; 
Jesse, deceased when young; Ephraim 
W., subject of sketch, and Elzina (Mrs. 
Wesley Cheney), of Ashland county. The 
father of this family passed away in 1877, 
preceded to the grave by his wife by a few 
years; they lie buried in Orange township 
cemetery, Ashland county. Mr. Fast was 
a hard-working, highly esteemed man, 
and accumulateda comfortable competence. 
He was a Democrat in politics, and in re- 
litrion a inembfr of the Lutheran Church. 

Ephraim W. Fast was reared on the 
home farm, and received a somewhat 
limited education in the common schools 
of the neighborhood. He resided at home 
until his marriacre, October 14, 1850, with 
Haimah Roberts, who was born in ISJiO 
in Ashland county, and they located on his 



father's farm, which he worked on shares. 
At about the same time he purciiased a 
tract of fifty-four acres, for which he was 
oldiged to go into debt. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fast resided in Ashland county until 1867, 
during which time he prospered and man- 
aged to save a sum of money. Selling out 
his property in the year above named, he 
came to Richmond township, Huron 
county, and purchased 100 acres of land at 
forty dollars per acre, where they have ever 
since made their home, and to which he 
has since added numerous improvements, 
having erected a pleasant residence and 
good farm buildings. They have liad six 
children, as follows: Jennie, now the wife 
of Jacob Walker, of Seneca county, Ohio; 
Mary, wife of Scott Seawalt, of Char- 
lotte, Mich.; Madison and Elmer, both 
farmers of Richmond township; Leroy, 
who died in 1881 at the age of nineteen 
years, and Ida (Mrs. AVin field P. Skid- 
more), of Chicago, Ohio. Mr. Fast is a 
systematic agriculturist, and has met with 
well-deserved success; lie is a self-made 
man in every respect, and has acquired all 
his possessions by his own indu-stry, busi- 
ness economy and good management. He 
has given all his sons a start in life, and 
still has a comfortable income from his 
lands. A quiet, peaceable and kind-hearted 
neighbor, always ready to assist the needy, 
he is everywhere respected and loved. In 
his political afhliations he is a Democrat. 
Mrs. Fast is a member of the Union Bethel 
U. B. Church. 



dl GEORGE EGGERT. Classed among 
the leading business men of Mouroe- 
' ville, where he has been in business 
for nearly twenty years, is the subject 
of this sketch. 

He is by birth a German, having been 
V)orn April 9, 1852, in Baden, a son of 
Lawrence and Theresia(Schwiible) Eggert, 
farmers by occupation, who had a family 
of eight children, six of whom are yet liv- 
ing. The parents came to this country in 



402 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



1887, taking up tlieir residence in Cleve- 
land, Ohio. Our subject was reared to 
farming in his native land, and when old 
enon^Ii found employment at various kinds 
of work, cliiefly on farms. In the summer 
of 1873 he left the Fatherland tor the 
United States, and September 15, same 
year, found iiim in Monroeville, Huron 
county, where he had relatives. For three 
years thereafter lie was employed in farm 
work, and being hard-working, industrious 
and frugal, he made and saved some money. 
In 1870 he embarked in the grocery busi- 
ness in Monroeville, his first store being 
an old building wliere now stands his 
present fine one, which he erected in 1889, 
and which he owns. Here he lias built up 
a leading business and safe trade. 

On January 27, 1880, Mr. Eggert was 
united in marriage with Miss Maggie 
Rupp, who was born in Ridgetield town- 
ship, Huron county, a daughter of 
Nicholas Rupp, a native of Wurtemberg, 
Germany, whose wife, Barbara (Feit), is a 
Prussian. They immigrated to America, 
and Mr. Rupp is now a farmer in Ridge- 
field township. To Mr. and Mrs. Eggert 
were born four children, namely: Mary, 
William, Robert and Martin, all living 
except the last named. Politically our 
subject is a stanch Democrat, and he has 
served as treasurer of Monroeville, the ap- 
pointment to him being an unexpected 
honor, as bis name was used entirely with- 
out his consent. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Church. 



D 



AVID S. BELL, who is a grandson 

of Robert Bell, was born near St. 

Clairsville, Belmont Co.. Ohio, April 

25, 1816, at four o'clock in the 

afternoon. ' 

In 1798 Robert Bell, accompanied by 
his wife and children, migrated from New 
Jersey to Washington county, Penn., and 
in 1800 came farther west, settling in Bel- 
mont county, Ohio. He was a farmer and 



distiller in Belmont county until 1814, 
when he purchased lands in Richland 
county, same State, and «)oved thither 
with his family. Bellville, in that county, 
was named in honor of him, and there the 
remains of his wife and himself were in- 
terred. The children of Robert Bell are 
named as follows: John, referred to below; 
Zephaniah, a pioneer Methodist preacher, 
who died in Whitley county, Ind.; Robert, 
Jr., who died at Bellville, Richland county 
(he had sufl^ered from fever in youth, and 
was left a cripple by the disease); Betsey, 
who married George Yaring, and died in 
Illinois; one daughter who married a Bap- 
tist preacher named Dorsey Phillips, of 
western Pennsylvania; Catherine, who mar- 
rieil Thomas Piatt, and died in Richland 
county. 

John Bell, eldest son of Robert Bell, 
was born in November, 1781, in New Jer- 
sey. In 1803 he married Hannah Finch, 
wiio was born in Rhoile Island in 1785, 
and came to Belmont county with her par- 
ents. To her marriage with Mr. Bell seven 
children were born in Belmont county, 
namely: Robert, who moved to Steuben 
county, Ind., whei'e he died; Jesse, who 
moved to Missouri, and died near Hamil- 
ton; Anna, who married John Knott, and 
died at Angola, Steuben county, Ind.; 
John who died in Richland county, but 
lived in Ripley, Huron county, where he 
was a tanner; Hannah, widow of Thomas 
Knott, of Tipton, Iowa; Enoch, who 
died in Morrow county, Ohio, where he 
was a preacher of tlie United Breth- 
ren Church, and later a farmer; and David 
S., the subject of this sketch. In the fall 
of 1817 John Bell and family moved to 
Bellville, Richland Co., Ohio. In the 
spring of the following year he purchased 
260 acres of land at two dollars and fifty 
cents per acre, in Bloominggrove town- 
ship, and on that tract established his 
home. He was a great hunter, and during 
his lifetime killed over 400 dear, and a 
large number of bears and wolves, thus 
providing himself with field sports, and his 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



403 



]aro;e family and pioneer neighbors with 
tiutiicient animal food. In Blooming- 
grove township three children were added 
to the iainiiy, namely: Nathaniel, a Metho- 
dist preacher and farmer of Ripley town- 
ship, Huron county, deceased; Steplien, 
who died in the same township when 
twenty-ti ve years old ; and Joseph, deceased 
in infancy. In 1839 the family moved 
into Ripley township, Huron county, where 
Mrs. Bell died in 1856. The father died 
May 2, 1867, in Greenwich township, at 
tlie house of his son, David S., where he 
had resided the previous six years. Roth 
were buried in the old Salem cemetery in 
Richland county. 

David S. Bell received a primary edu- 
cation in the early schools of Richland 
count}', going many miles througli the 
woods for even the little which was taught, 
and when seventeen years old Ijegan to 
learn the tanner's trade at P^itchville, under 
his brother John. Two years later he 
moved to New Haven, and worked there 
and in otlier settlements until the fall of 
1835, when he moved to Steuljen county, 
Ind., where he erected a sawmill. Early 
in 1836 he returned to Ohio, and on Sep- 
tember 8, that year, married Emeline Slo- 
cum, who was born November 26, 1817, 
in Onondaga county, N. Y. To this mar- 
riage four children were born, of whom 
Charles F. is a wagon maker of Wood 
county, Ohio; Stephen, a farmer, and mini- 
ster of the Christian Church in Logan 
county. Ohio; Melvin, who enlisted in 
Company C, Sixty-Fifth O. V. I., and died 
in 1862, at Lebanon, Ky., of disease al- 
leged to have been caused by poisoned 
maple sugar served to the troops, and John 
A., who died wlien five years old. The 
mother of this 1'amily died in 1860. After 
his marriage Mr. Bell moved to Steuben, 
Ind., establisiiiug a tannery there, whicii 
he carried on until the spring of 1838, 
when he returned to Huron county and 
followed farming until the spring of 1863, 
at wiiicli time he located on the farm in 
Greenwich township, wiiere he yet resides. 



In 1860 he married, for liis second wife, 
Clarissa Stewart, who was born in Scott 
township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, February 
28, 1830, daughter of Galbraith and Anna 
(Russell) Stewart. To this marriage two 
children were born: Cora E., who was first 
married to John Luxon, and is now Mrs. 
C. B. Benedict, of Ripley township, and 
Edwin S., a farmer of Greenwich township. 
Mr. Bell retired from active farm work 
in 1871, in order to give more attention to 
the manufacture of cheese, in which he is 
now heavily interested. For thirty years 
no promissory note of his arrived at ma 
turity before payment was tendered, and 
all other obligations have been met with 
equal promptness. The product of his 
cheese factory commands the very highest 
prices, for its quality is recognized as the 
best, and it holds the local market. In re- 
ligious connection Mr. and Mrs. Bell are 
members of the Society of P>iends, and 
both are eiders therein. Mr. Bell cast his 
first vote on the Democratic ticket, but he 
subsequently voted with the Whigs until 
the formation of the Republican party, 
sincewhen he has remained with that party. 



CHARLES S. SMITH, a grandson of 
Joseph Smith, who settled in Huron 
county in 1832, was born April 23, 
1844, in Peru township. His father, 
Frank Smith, son of Joseph, was one of 
two brothers who came to the United States 
from Baden, Gei-many, before his parents 
and the other members of the family. 

Charles S. Smith was educated at the 
"Center Scliool," in Peru township. Like 
the majority of pioneer boys, his youth 
was passed between school, work a'ld play, 
all merging into one another so completely 
that now it is difficult to remember where 
any one of these three parts in the youth's 
life began or ended. When school days 
were passed forever, the realities of farm 
life were presented to him, and he worked 
on the homestead earnestly and faithfully 



4(t4 



HUROyr COUNTY, OHIO- 



for his fatlier until 1869. On April 13, 
1869, he was married to Miss Mary Ann 
Hipp, daughter of Andrew Hipp, and a 
native of Peru township. The children 
born to this marriage are named as follows: 
Edward P., Clara R. and Anna M. 

The members of tliis family are Catho- 
lics of the German School, and their at- 
tachment to their Church has ever been 
noticeable. Politically Mr. Smith is a 
Democrat, and is prominent in local party 
circles. He has tilled several township 
offices with absolute profit to the people 
and honor to himself and the township, 
lending to the people in political affairs 
the same earnestness, honesty of purpose, 
and intelligence, on which is founded his 
personal success. As an agriculturist, he 
shares, with his brothers, the general esteem 
in which they are held, and vies with them 
in his efforts to elevate agriL-ultural life to 
the high plane which it should occupy. 
His farm of 180 acres is a model farm in 
fact. Not only is the land fertile in itself, 
but the methods of cultivation, the system 
of rotation of crops, and the general care 
bestowed upon the tract have made it one 
of the most productive and valuable farms 
of its size in northern Ohio. Mr. Smith 
also devotes attention to stock growing, 
and is the owner of many tine-bred cattle, 
sheep, hogs and horses. 



JOSEPH REMELE, a highly respected 
citizen of Peru township, is a son of 
Lawrence Remele, who was a native 
of Ba<len, Germany, where he fol- 
lowed the glazier's trade. He was niarried 
to Josephine Ritter, and they became the 
parents of ten children, of whom six — one 
son and five daughters — grew to maturity. 
In 1847 the family sailed from Havre, 
France, and after a voyage of forty days 
landed in New York, whence they pro- 
ceeded, by river, canal and lake, to Huron, 
Ohio. They pushed southward into Peru 
township, Huron county, where the fatlier 



bought fifty acres of land, for which he 
paid nine hundred dollars, which he had 
saved in Germany, and afterward, with no 
help but that of his son, cleared nearly 
twenty acres of same. On this tract stood 
a log house, 18 x 20 feet, in which the 
family lived. They prospered, for they 
belonged to that class of Germans whose 
industry will always bring prosperity in a 
fair field. Here the parents passed the re- 
mainder of their lives, the father dying in 
1870, the mother about 1877; they were 
interred in the Catholic cemetery. 

Joseph Remele was born January 5, 
1831, in Baden, Germany, and at the age 
of sixteen came to America with his par- 
ents. He took charge of the home farm 
some time prior to his father's death, paj'- 
ing off all claims, and making many sub- 
stantial improvements; afterward bought 
forty-nine acres from Peter Hipp, for 
which he paid two thousand seven hun- 
dred dollars. In 1861 he was united in 
marriage with Miss Theresa Gies, who was 
born in 1838, in Bronson township, Huron 
county, daughter of Joseph Gies, who was 
born in Alsace (then a part of France), 
and came to America about 1819, locating 
in Bronson township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Remele were born two 
children: Charles, who was married to 
Amelia, daughter of 6. Killhover, but 
died one year after their marriage, leaving 
one daughter, Amelia; and Alphonse, who 
was married May 2, 1893, to Rosella, 
daughter of Philip Barman, of Peru town- 
ship. In religious faith, Alphonse, as was 
also his brother, is a Catholic, and in poli- 
tics he is identified with the Democratic 
party. They have always assisted their 
father faithfully in the work of the farm. 

After marriage Mr. Remele located on 
the forty-nine acres he had purchased, and 
in 1872 removed to his present well im- 
proved farm, where he has since resided, 
engaged in general farming and stock 
raising. His success is but the direct re- 
sult of his own toil and constant industry. 
Starting in life with but little, he has 




Jf^if^-f^!^ ^f 




^(^,^y2A^ly^izy^7-L^4^ 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



407 



acciinnilated a good property, being now the 
owner of 380 acres of good land, witli 
substantial buildings thereon. The resi- 
dence has been remodeled and tiie barns 
improved, and evidences of the good taste 
and systematic management of the owner 
are everywhere present. In politics Mr. 
Remele is a Democrat, but not an office- 
eeeker. His whole life has been an exam- 
ple of what principle, square dealing and 
industry can accomplish, and he and his 
wife are held in the liighest esteem in the 
community in which they reside. In re- 
ligious belief they are members of the 
Catholic CLurch. 



N 



ORMAN SNOOK, small-fruit 
grower, well-known in Norwalk 
township for his industrious and 
^) frugal habits, is a native of Colum- 

bia county, N. Y., born January 21, 
1821, (in the old homestead settled by his 
grandfather. 

Peter Snook, father of subject, was also 
a native of New York State, born in 1796; 
and his father, born near Hudson, same 
State, where he followed farming, had five 
children — Peter, Martin, John, Tunis and 
George — all now deceased. Peter served 
in the war of 1812 a short time, and his 
life vocation was farming, in that respect 
following in the footsteps of his father. 
He married Miss Cornelia VanDuseri, of 
the same place, and the young couple then 
moved to Yates county, same State, mak- 
ing their new iiome in Benton Center for 
six years. Thence they went to Allegany 
county, also in New York State, and for 
five years lived in the town of Grove, after 
which they came to Pennsylvania, and for 
one year had their residence in Girard 
township, Erie county. Their next and 
final move was to Norwalk township, Hu- 
rou Co., Ohio, where Mr. Snook com- 
menced farming and the growing of stnall 
fruits. lie died in 1864, the father of 
seven ciiildren, to wit: Laura, Stephen, 



Josephus, Martin, Norman, Marvin and 
Abby, of wlu)m Stephen, Josephus, and 
Marvin are deceased. 

Norman Snook, the subject of sketch, 
was brought up to practical farm life, 
which he followed for some years. In 1847 
he was married to Miss Sally Cunning- 
ham, of Norwalk, Ohio, a daughter of John 
Cunningham, and three children were 
born to them, namely: Laura (deceased), 
Lura (wife of A. T. Ewell) and Alliert (in 
ChicMgo), who served one year in the Civil 
war in Company C, Twenty-fifth O. V. I., 
and was confined to hospital four or five 
weeks. The mother died in 1862. After 
marriage our subject continued farming 
until 1874, and then opened a grocery in 
East Norwalk, conducting same eiirht 
years, at the end of whicli time he came to 
his present place of twenty acres, wiiere he 
cultivates small fruit with considerable 
profit. When he first arrived in Huron 
county the land was almost entirely 
covered with woods, and he has seen many 
hundreds of deer and turkeys enjoying the 
freedom of the dense forest. The Snook 
family have always been stanch Democrats, 
not caring, however, for political prefer, 
ment. 



AENER STIMSON, one of the most 
successful agriculturists of Ridge- 
field townshij), is a native of that 
"tight little island," England, born 
in Cambridgeshire, January 2, 1836, 
a son of Joseph Stimson, and grandson of 
Thomas Stimson, who was a blacksmith by 
trade, and died in England. 

Joseph Stimson was born in 1806, in 
Sutton, Cambridgeshire, England, and re- 
ceived but a limited education, as he was 
a small boy when his father died leaving 
the widowed motlier with but little prop- 
erty. In 1832 he was married to Mary 
Ann Barnes, who was born in 1810, in 
Huntingdonshire, England. Mr. and Mrs. 
Stimson began wedded life on a farm in 
Cambridgeshire, where they remained 



408 



JU'RON ror^XTY, OHIO. 



until 1851, when in July of that year they 
Failed from Liverpool on the vessel " Van- 
dalia." After landing in New York they 
went west via the Hudson river and canal 
to Buffalo, thence coming up Lake Erie to 
Sandusky, Ohio, and then, moving south- 
ward, located on a farm near Monroeville, 
Huron county. Mr. Stimson continued to 
follow farming the rest of liis life, and had 
a hard struggle to support his family. In 
politics he was a lifelong member of the 
Kepublican party. He died in 1886, hav- 
ing been preceded by his wife November 
19, 1851. They were the parents of tlie 
following children: Jane, wife of J. L. 
Smith, of Norwalk township, Huron 
county; Garner; Elizabeth, deceased wife 
of George Setchel ; Joseph, living in Michi- 
gan; Charles, who was a soldier in the war 
of the Rebellion, and is now living in 
Monroeville, Ohio; John, living in Mon- 
roeville, Huron county ; Frank, a resident of 
Iowa; Ruth, married to Charles Kitchen, 
ancf Arthur C, in Nebraska. 

Garner Stimson came with his parents 
to America at the age of fifteen years. 
After attending the common schools, he 
entered college at Granville, Ohio, then 
worked on the home farm. On September 4, 
1861, he enlisted at Milan, Ohio, in the 
Third Ohio Cavalry, and was wounded at 
Shelliyville, Tenn. After a furlough of 
four months he rejoined his i-egiment, and 
some time later he sustained the loss of 
his I'ight eye, which was pierced by a 
thorn. He took part in most of the im- 
portant engagements participated in by 
the army of the Cumberland, and returned 
to Huron county at the close of the war, 
with the rank of captain. 

On April 4, 1866, he was united in 
marriage with Susanna Surles, who was 
born in 1840, in Ohio, a daughter of Zibe 
Surles. The children of this couple have 
been as follows: Jessie L. (wife of Fred 
Rosecrans, of Idaho), Effie C, "William G., 
Elver Z., Gertie (deceased in infancy), Su- 
sie A. and Ambrose H. Since the war 
Mr. Stimson has devoted his attention to 



agriculture, in which business he has been 
very successful. In politics he is a Re- 
publican with Prohibition sympathies, but 
casts his ballot for the most capable can- 
didate, regardless of party. He and his 
wile are leading members of the Monroe- 
ville Baptist Church, of which he has been 
a deacon for twelve years, and clerk of the 
church for twenty-six years. 



jILLIAM GALE MEADE. Among 
viivr/ *^® prominent and snccessful citi- 
Mj Vf zens of Brouson township none 
have won a higher place in the 
esteem of the community than this gentle- 
man, the eldest son of Alfred Meade. 

Grandfather Meade was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, and tor his military 
services received 600 acres of land in 
Cayuga county, N. Y. His son Alfred 
was born about 1786, in Cayuga county, 
N. Y., and grew to manhood on the home 
place, receiving a limited education, and 
learning the trade of cooper. In 1807 he 
was married to Betsey, daughter of Paul 
Barger, a prosperous farmer of Cayuga 
county, who lived to be almost one hun- 
dred years of age. The Barger family 
were remarkable for longevity, over four 
generations of the family name having 
been centenarians. Alfred Meade was a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812, serving three years. 
At the battle of Lundy's Lane he received 
a gun-shot wound; his left thigh being 
shattered, and from the effects of this in- 
jury he died fourteen years later. In 1834 
Mrs. Meade came to Ohio, where she died 
at the home of her son in 1883, at the age 
of ninety-four years, leaving four children, 
namely: William Gale; Paul, of Kent, 
Ohio; Mrs. Mary Smith, of Bronson town- 
ship, and Mrs. Mary Close, who died in 
1887. The mother was a member of the 
Methodist Church during her later years. 

William Gale Meade was born September 
3, 1808, in Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and 
there learned the carpenter trade. In 1827 
he was united in marriage with Hannah 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



409 



Smith, also a native of Cayuga coniity, and 
on June 4, 1833, the young couple moved 
to Ohio. Thej' proceeded to Buffalo via 
the Erie Canal, then by boat on Lake Erie 
to the mouth of Huron river, traveling 
thence to tlieir destination by private con- 
veyance. He bought 125 acres of land lo- 
cated between the farm of George Law- 
rence and the present home of our subject. 
On arriving in Huron county Mr. and Mrs. 
Meade lived with Benjamin Lyons (_on the 
farm now owned by Josiah Lawrence) un- 
til their own log cabin was erected. He 
hired help to clear the farm, which was 
heavily timbered, and continued to follow 
the carpenter trade for twenty-one years, 
and many of the oldest and most substan- 
tial buildings of Huron county are yet 
standing as unimpeachable evidence of his 
skill. The first house which he erected in 
the county is the one now occupied by 
John Gardiner. Game was plentiful in 
those days, and many were the hapless vic- 
tims to his unerring rifle, for Mr. Meade 
has been a famous hunter, supplying him- 
self and neighbors with all the game they 
required. Among the many interesting 
events of this period, he remembers hav- 
ing made a two-hours' hunt on nine sue- 
cessive occusions, each time returning with 
a deer. When a young man lie possessed 
a fine physique, being capable or doing a 
great amount of work, and since abandon- 
ing his trade has given his attention to the 
farm. He has been a most methodical 
and successful agriculturist, as none can 
doubt who have had the pleasure of visit- 
ing his pleasant home. A short time be- 
fore the Civil war the county com,mission- 
ers appointed a committee of three practi- 
cal farmers to examine the farms and 
award a prize to the one found in the best 
condition. Upon an examination of eight of 
the best farms, that belonging to Mr. Meade 
was unanimously conceded to be in the 
best condition, and he accordingly received 
the prize. He served twenty-one years as 
justice of the peace, during which time he 
performed more marriage ceremonies than 



any one who ever held that office in Huron 
county. He always discharged the oner- 
ous duties of his position with the utmost 
faithfulness, and is known by every person 
in the county as an upright genial citizen. 
Politically, he is a Prohibitionist, and in 
religious faith has been a zealous member 
of the Methodist Church for fifty years, 
and has served as a class- leader. 

Mr. and Mrs. Meade have had two chil- 
dren: Betsey A., who died in her twenty- 
first year, and Alfred N., who was born in 
18-11, on the home place in Broiison town- 
ship, Huron county. He attended Ober- 
lin College two years, afterward graduat- 
ing from Delaware College. Just before 
the time appointed for their graduation, 
Alfred N. Meade and nearlyevery meml)er 
of his class left the halls of the college for 
the battle field. He served three years, 
two of which were employed in attending 
the prisoners on Johnson's Island, and 
while in active service he was unanimously 
chosen captain of his company. On Oc- 
tober 1, 1862, he was married to Martha, 
Morse, who has borne him three children 
— two sons and one daughter. Alfred N. 
Meade is now a member of the firm of Bell, 
Cartwright & Meade, luniber merchants, of 



Cleveland, Ohio. 



Since the above was 



written William G. Meade was called from 
earth, the date of his death being January 
"" 1893. 



99 



THEODORE M. REYNOLDS, well- 
known as one of the most success- 
ful agriculturists of Hartland town- 
ship, was born July 3, 1826, ia 
Fairfield county, Connecticut. 
Warren Reynolds, his father, was bora 
February 18, 1800, in the same county, 
and married Sarah Scofield, also a native 
of Fairfield county. To them were born, 
in Connecticut, the following named chil- 
dren: William, who died in infancy; 
Rachel, born June 5, 1824, died in Fitch- 
ville township, Huron Co., Ohio, May 7, 
1838; Theodore M., the subject of this 



410 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



sketch; and Phtebe, who married Saninel 
Wibert (she died in Michigan). After 
the removal of the family to Fitchville 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, one son, 
James P., was born, Novemljer 5, 1832, 
served in the Civil war in the celebrated 
Fourth Michigan Cavalry, and was one of 
the six men of that i-egiment who captured 
the President of the Confederacy, the late 
Jefferson Davis. He died in Barry county, 
Mich., Uecember 1, 1867. The mother 
of this fatiiily, born December 5, 1804, 
died March 21, 1837, in Ohio, and was 
buried in Fitchville township. Warren 
Reynolds afterward married Ruth Barnes, 
a native of Vermont, whose parents were 
early settlers of Fitchville township, and 
the children born to this marriage were 
Rufus, a citizen of Nebraska; Lorinda, 
Mrs. George Thatcher, of Michigan; Bet- 
sey, deceased; Henry, a citizen of Michi- 
gan; Sarah, who married John Lee, and 
died in Ripley township; Eliza, who mar- 
ried Fred West, and died in Fitchville 
township; John, who died in Fitchville 
township, and Lucinda, Mrs. Edwin 
Palmer, of Fitchville township. 

The early settlers had many adventures 
with wild animals, and the Reynolds 
family were no e.xception. One night, 
while our subject's mother and sister were 
on their way to a neighbor's house, a wolf 
came out of the woods to attack them, get- 
ting in front of them, snapping his teeth 
and growling. Thrice they succeeded in 
driving the brute back, and there is little 
doubt that had either been alone the wolf 
would have made short work of his victim. 

In Connecticut Warren Reynolds fol- 
lowed the cooper's trade. In June, 1831, 
the idea of settling in Ohio took shape, 
the fertile lands, to be had at a nominal 
price, having won him to this decision. Set- 
ting out from their home in Connecticut, 
the family traveled, via New York City 
(where a week was passed with relatives), 
by Hudson river and canal to Buffalo, and 
thence by lake boat to Sandusky, Ohio. 
The trip from Sandusky to Fitchville town- 



ship was made in a wagon, and here he 
found himself in the midst of the forest, 
with a cash capital of forty dollars, which 
sum he at once invested in forty acres of 
land in the northeast section of the town- 
ship. He undertook to support the family 
by working at his trade, but owing to the 
small demand tor the product of cooper's 
labor the task proved impossible, and the 
pioneer directed his labor toward clearing 
his own small tract, the while earning 
small sums in clearing land for his neigh- 
bors. He died November 1, 1873, in 
Fitchville township, leaving a valuable 
property to his widow and children. He 
was one of the three citizens of Fitchville 
township who voted for James G. Birney, 
candidate for President, up to which cam- 
paign he had been a true Democrat, but he 
ever after voted the Republican ticket. In 
religious matters he was a member of the 
Congregational Church for some years 
prior to his death. In home affairs he was 
a thorough lover of his family, and he was 
recognized as a thoroughly honest and up- 
right business man. 

Theodore M. Reynolds passed the five 
first years of his life in Connecticut, came 
with the family to Ohio in 1831, and has 
since been a citizen of this State. His 
educational opportunities were so limited 
that, at the age of sixteen years, he could 
not read figures. This was partly due to 
the new and unsettled condition of the 
country, and partly to the fact that a good 
deal of the farm work devolved upon the 
eldest son. After reachincr the acre of 
twenty-one years he realized the value of 
education, and as he, in boyhood, obeyed 
Miss Catherine Towerr, his first teacher, 
so now, in manhood, he was ready to 
obey any teacher who would instill into his 
mind a knowledge of reading, writing and 
aritiimetic. At the age of twenty-one 
years he left home, aiul contracted to clear 
four acres of land at four dollars per acre. 
This contract completed, he worked by the 
month as a farm hand until twenty-three 
years and two montlis of age. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



411 



On September 2, 1849, lie was united 
in marriage witli Melissa Slioles, who was 
born May B, 1823, in Madison county, N. 
Y., daughter of Parley and Mary (Hidden) 
Sholes. When thirteen years old she came 
to Fitchville, on a visit to her sister, Mrs. 
Samuel Ward, and here she met Mr. 
Reynolds for the first time. To their mar- 
riage were born the following named chil- 
dren: Dayton W., a farmer of Rice county, 
Kans. ; Orrin P., a merchant of Hartland 
Center; and Bion S., a farmer in the Black 
Hills country in Nebi-aska. After his mar- 
riage Mr. Reynolds' capital consisted of 
sixty dollars in currency and a yoke of 
oxen. Too limited to utilize with effect, 
he continued to work as a farm hand ui}til 
1850, when he purchased fifty acres of land 
in Hartland township, at six dollars per 
acre. To make this deal he had to en- 
cumber the land with a debt of one hun- 
dred dollars, an. amount which was due 
him from an estate that failed to pay out. 
In December, 1862, he purchased eighty 
acres, upon which he built his home, and 
where he has since resided. The area of 
his farm has been gradually increased, un- 
til to-day he owns 175 acres, well improved 
throughout with an elegant residence and 
spacious farm buildings. The burning of 
his large barn in July, 1892, entailing a 
loss of three thousand dollars, and the en- 
dorsing paper for friends, have checkmated 
him a little; but he rose above these mis- 
fortunes rapidly. His industry is supple- 
mented by executive ability and system, so 
that he makes tiie farm a paying invest- 
ment where less careful men fall behind. 
In addition to his general farming, he is a 
breeder of thoroughbred Short- horn cattle. 
In the credit for his success Mrs. Rey- 
nolds must share, for she has well and 
faithfully done her part. Liberal with- 
out being ostentatious, and economical 
without being parsimonious, she has in- 
deed aided in making the happy home 
which the family enjoy. Politically Mr. 
Reynolds has always been a Republican, 
and has served his party in many town- 



ship offices. He does not attach himself 
to the religious sects, but is a believer in 
the teachings of tiie Christian Church, an 
observer of the " Golden Rule ," and 
philanthropic to the limit of his means. 

During the war of the Rebellion, Mr. 
Reynolds was one of the one hundred days 
men, and went to camp in Cleveland, re- 
maining there eleven days. He then hired 
a substitute, paying him one hundred and 
twenty-tive dollars, got his discharge, and 
returned home to be with his wife and 
children, measles having broken out in the 
faniily. He had not been long redomesti- 
cated, however, before a draft was ordered 
by the Government, and he paid seventy- 
five dollars to clear the township, after 
which there was another draft ordered, on 
which occasion he paid fifty dollars more 
to again clear the township. 




[( NTHONY RUFFING ranks among 
l\ the prosperous dry-goods mer- 
^ chants of Bellevue, and is a mem- 
ber of an old and highly respected 
family. 

His father, Joseph Ruffing, was born in 
Bavaria, Germany, and in 1836 came to 
America, locating in Huron county, Ohio. 
He married Catherine Schwartz, and by 
her had seven children, namely: Anthony, 
Peter, Joseph, Frank, John, Michael and 
Elizabeth ; Frank, John and Elizabeth be- 
ing deceased, and Petei', Joseph and Mi- 
chael wealthy farmers in America. 

Anthony Ruffing was born April 8, 
1840, in Sherman township, Huron Co., 
Ohio. His childhood was passed on his 
father's farm, where he remained until 
sixteen years of age, at which time he 
moved to Bellevue, and entered the em- 
ploy of J. H. Eisenbeis, dry-goods mer- 
chant, as clerk. This position he filled two 
years, and then for five years worked for 
Setzler, in the grocery business. In May, 
1865, Mr. Ruffing entered into partner- 
ship with J. H. Eisenbeis, the style of the 
firm becoming J. H. Eisenbeis & Co., and 



412 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



wlien his partner dietl, in 1869, he bought 
out the entire business, and has since been 
sole proprietor of one of the finest dry- 
goods houses in Huron county, carrying a 
very large and ccmiplete stock of dry- 
goods, carpets, wall paper, etc. 

On November 28, 1865, Mr. EnfHng 
married Miss Elizabeth Eisenbeis, who 
was born in Germany, a sister of J. 11. 
Eisenljeis, and dauorhter of Jacob and Eliza 
Eisenbeis. This marriage has been blessed 
with four children, viz.: Kose M. (^Mrs. I). 
B. Callaghan), Charles E., Albert A. and 
Lucy M., the latter three living at home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ruffing are members of the 
Catholic Church, of which they are liberal 
supporters. They are enjoying the many 
comforts that surround them, and in the 
summer of 1892 made an extensive trip 
through Europe. Mr. Ruffing commenced 
his business career with nothing except 
energy, ability and a determination to 
succeed, and has by close application and 
by means of his excellent judgment ac- 
cumulated a fortune. 




ILLIAM C. VAN LIEW, promi- 
nent among the well-to-do agri- 
culturists of Norwich township, 
is a son of Frederick Van Liew, 
of New Jersey birth, who was a son of 
Peter Van Liew. The last named was a 
native of Holland, coming to the United 
States when young, and settling in New 
Jersey. Llere he married, and children as 
follows were born to hiu): Peter, Fred- 
erick, Cornelius, John, Wicoff and Dinah, 
all now desceased. 

Frederick Van Liew, father of subject, 
was born in New Jersey March 13, 1792, 
and passed his boyhood days on a farm, at 
the same time learning the trade of tanner 
and currier, at which he worked up to 
middle life. While a young man he moved 
from New Jersey to Cayuga county, N. 
Y., and there married, in 1814, Miss Mar- 
garet Post, born in Somerset county, N. 
J., January 10, 1797. After marriage the 



young couple moved into Genesee county, 
N. Y., where they lived many years, he in 
tlie meantime becoming a farmer, in which 
vocation he met with considerable success, 
although at the time of his death he was 
comparatively a poor man. In 1837 he 
removed to Allegany county, N. Y., and 
there farmed some ten years, at the end of 
which time he came to Summit county, 
Ohio, thence, after a residence there of 
two or three years, to Huron county, set- 
tling in Norwich township, where he 
passed the rest of his days. He died 
March 8, 1865, while on a visit to one of 
his daughters in New York State. In 
politics he was originally a Whig, later, 
from the time of the organization of the 
party, a stanch Republican. He was the 
father of nine children, viz.: Maria, Jacob, 
Margaret, Jane, AVillard, William C, 
Adeline, Frederick and Martin, all called 
to their long homes save Jacob, living in 
Wyoming county, N. Y., William C, sub- 
ject, and Martin, in Potter county, Penn- 
sylvania. 

The subject proper of these lines was 
born May 10, 1828, in Genesee county, N. 
Y., received his education at the common 
schools of the locality, and at the age of 
twenty years set out for tiie gold fields of 
California. He spent his twenty-first 
•birthday on the Istlimus of Panama, and 
was in the gold regions nearly four years, 
doing fairly well. In 1854 he returned to 
Huron county, and bought his present 
property of one hundred acres, where he 
has since lived, having cleared it of timber 
and underbrush, and converted it into a 
luxuriant farm. In 1864 he entered the 
ranks of the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth 
O. V. I., N. G., under Col. Blake, in 
which regiment he served three months, 
and at the end of that time he renewed 
agricultural pursuits! 

On March 11, 1856, Mr. Van Liew was 
married to Miss Charlotte Burdge, a 
daughter of Jacob Burdge, of Centerton, 
Huron county, and six children were born 
to them, to wit: Allen, deceased; Alberta, 



IIUEOy^ COUNTY, OHIO. 



413 



of Moienci, Mich.; Mary; Oscar, in Chi- 
cago, Huron county; Fred, also of Chi- 
cago, Huron county, and Ada, of New 
Haven. Politically our subject has been 
a stanch Republican, and has served as 
township trustee, treasurer, and in other 
oiSces of trust. He and his wife are promi- 
nent members of the M. E. Church at 
Centerton, and the children are all asso- 
ciated with the same church. 



f| Ji L. MOORE. One of the best 
r;^ known agriculturists of Hartland 
I 1 township is the gentleman here 
J) named. David Moore, his grand- 

father, who was a native of New 
Jersey, married a Miss Robinson, and 
afterward moved to New York State, 
wiiere he followed farming and the trade 
of shoemaker. He died, in 1826, in Tomp- 
kins county, N. Y., the father of three 
sons — Jonah, David and Joseph — and three 
daughters — Polly, Sally and Susan. 

Joseph Moore, father of H. L., was born 
November 19, 1787, and died October 5, 
1876. He received but a meager educa- 
tion, and learned the trade of weaver, 
which he followed, also for some years 
conducting a small distillery. In June, 
1833, he came to Ohio, locating in Nor- 
walk township, Huron county, where he 
bought a farm of Judge Timothy Baker; 
in 1855 he moved to Hartland township. 
He married Miss Susanna Silcox, of New 
Jersey, daughter of Henry Silcox, who 
was born and reared in that State, and was 
a soldier in the Revolution; married a 
Miss Luce, by whom he had a family of 
six children, all now deceased. Children 
as follows were born in New York State 
to Joseph Moore and wife: Sallie, Maria 
(married to Jonathan White in 1842, now 
living in Kansas), H.L. and David R. (twins 
— David being deceased), a daughter de- 
ceased in infancy, and Lewis (in Hartland 
township, Huron county, an invalid). The 
father died in Hartland township, at the 



home of his son Lewis, who inherited his 
property; the mother was called from 
earth in April, 1854. They were mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church, and in his 
political predilections Mr. Moore was a 
stanch Whig and Republican. 

H. L. Moore, the subject of this sketch, 
was born February 2, 1821, in Genoa, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y.; thence in 1833 his 
parents removed with him to Tompkins 
county, same State, whejice after a ten- 
years' residence they came to Ohio. In 
1 his boyhood H. L. attended the subscrip- 
tion schools, afterward taking a two-years' 
course at the academy in Norwalk, Huron 
county. When eighteen years old he 
commenced work, and for two years was 
employed on farms, at the end of which 
time he commenced to learn carpentry at 
Monroeville, serving an apprenticeship of 
two years, but finding his health impaired 
he returned to the farm. In 1848 he was 
elected constable of Norwalk township, 
and appointed deputy sheriff , in which in- 
cumijency he served six years; was then 
elected sheriff on the last Whig ticket, his 
majority being 231. In 1855 he was re- 
elected sheriff, this time on the Repub- 
lican ticket, with a majority of 1,200, and 
at tiie expiration of his term, in 1857, re- 
moved to his farm which he had bought 
out of his hard-earned stipends, never hav- 
ing received assistance from anyone. He 
has experienced many ups and downs dur- 
incr his lifetime, but has never lost his 
native energy and perseverance, though 
his health, now, is not what it used to be. 
In the Civil war he served in Company 
H, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth O. V. I., 
N. G., one hundred days, during which 
time he contracted disease from which he 
never recovered. 

On September 10, 1848, Mr. Moore was 
married to Miss Sarah F. White, a daugh- 
ter of Cephas White, a native of Vermont, 
who in 1844 came to Ohio and to Huron 
county, settling in Norwalk township, 
where he was a successful farmer. lie 
served in the war of 1812, participating 



414 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



in the battles of Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, 
etc. He died the fatlier of f even children, 
of whom are living Mrs. Mary K. Rodgers, 
in Paulding county, Ohio; Mrs. Sarah F. 
Moore; Luther, an ex-soldier; and Mrs. 
Rhode R. Benn, a widow, in Norwalk; 
tliose deceased are Ceplias, Jonathan and 
Henry. To Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Moore 
were born seven children, of wliom the 
following is a brief record: Frank A. 
and Finetta are both deceased ; Lewis A. 
and Lucy A. (twins), of whom Lucy A. is 
the wife of George Brown, of Bronson 
township, Huron county, and Lewis A. 
lives on tlie home farm; Edwin Jo Ceph, 
a railroad man, resides in Cleveland; Jen- 
nie lives at home; Henry L., Jr., a young 
man of great promise, is an instructor in 
a business college of Cleveland, where he 
resides. He was married May 4, 1893, 
to Miss Lillie Cannada, of Randolph 
county, Ind. Our subject is the owner of 
one hundred acres of prime land, which is 
conducted by his son Lewis A., and in 
addition to general farming they pay some 
attention to the rearing of stock. Mr. 
Moore is a member of tlie Methodist 
Church, and in politics he is a Republican. 



/George w. atherton is des- 

I w, cended from an old New England 
^^J family, and is a grandson of Jona- 

\|i than Atherton, who was born De- 
cember 4, 1738, in New England. 
On December 6, 1770, Jonathan married 
Amey Sabin, and to their union were born 
nine children, live of whom grew to ma- 
turity, of whom the youngest was named 
Samuel. 

Samuel Atherton, father of subject, was 
born June 29, 1790, on the home farm at 
Richmond, N. H. He worked on the 
homestead until his twenty-first year, when 
he moved to Attleborough, Mass., where, 
on January 19, 1812, he was married to 
Patience Tyler, who was born July 17, 
1795, in New Hampshire. By this mar- 



riage there were two sons: Simon, born 
January 25, 1814, died December 31, 
1840, in Massachusetts, and Jonathan, born 
April 3, 1816, died in Greenfield town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio, July 24. 1886. 
The mother passed away November 6, 
1819, and was buried at Attleborougii, 
Mass. For his second wife Samuel Ather- 
ton married Content Atherton, who was 
born May 31, 1787, in Massachusetts, and 
by her also had two children: Rufus S., 
born September 13, 1821, died March 10, 
1861, in Iowa, and Nancy, born March 
4, 1826, died September 2, 1826. Mrs. 
Content Atherton died June 10, 1835, 
and was buried in Attleborough, Mass. 
On April 18, 1836, Mr. Atherton was 
again married, on this, the third occasion, 
to Sarah Robinson, who was born June 1, 
1800, at Rehoboth, Mass., where her father, 
Noah Robinson, was a well-known citizen. 

In October, 1838, Mr. Atherton came 
westward to Huron county, Ohio, with his 
son Rufus, journeying by river to Albany, 
N. Y.; thence by way of Erie Canal to 
Buffalo, N. Y. ; from there by lake to 
Huron, Ohio, and finally by wagon to 
Greenfield township, Huron county. Here 
he purchased land and prepared a home 
for his wife, who had i-emained in the East, 
whence, in the spring of 1839 (six months 
after her husband) she came to Huron 
county, accompained by one of her step- 
sons. To Samuel and Sarah Atherton was 
here born one son, George W. In poli- 
tics Mr. Atherton was a Democrat up to 
1856, when he joined the Republican 
party; in religion he was a Presbyterian. 
He died August 18, 1871, and his remains 
were interred in Bronson township. His 
widow, though now in her ninety-second 
year, is active and intelligent, and for the 
last fifteen years has resided with her son. 
She has been a member of the Presbyter- 
ian Church for over thirty years. 

George W. Atherton was born May 17, 
1840, in Greenfield township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, and passed his youth in the manner 
common to boys of that period, attending 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



415 



school in tlie winter and woriiinfi' on the 
farm during the rest of the year. On De- 
cember 18, 1862, he married Selina Roe, 
who was born in 1837 in Peru township, 
the only child of Charles and Corinna 
(Carver) Rue, of Cayuga county, N. Y. 
The father was born in Northamptonshire, 
England, son of Thomas Roe, the mother 
December 5, 1809, in Cayuga county, 
N. Y. After his marriage Mr. George W. 
Atherton located on a farm of sixty-eight 
acres in Greenfield township, and con- 
tinued to reside there until 1871, wlien lie 
located on the Roe homestead. The chil- 
dren born to his marriage with IMiss Roe 
were Blanche, who died April 3, 1885, 
aged twenty-one years, and Cecil G., who 
was born October 17, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. 
Atherton are members of the Baptist 
Church. Politically be was a Republican 
from the formation of the party until the 
organization of the Prohibitionists, with 
whom he has since been identified. As an 
agriculturist he ranks high, and is an an- 
thority on modern systems of farming. 
As a stock grower he is well-known, not 
only for the study he has given this im- 
portant department of farm work, but 
also for the success he has won in it. 



II RA S. TOWNSEND (deceased), who 
was a son of Hosea and Sophia (Case) 
J Townsend, was born in New London 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, June 14, 
1831, the first child born in a frame house 
in the township. 

When a mere boy our subject attended 
the school taugbt by Miss Adeline Treat, 
in New London township, and later com- 
pleted a course at Oberlin College, after 
which, until 1855, he lived at home, shar- 
ing, of course, in the farm work. On 
September 27, 1855, he married Mary M. 
Ward, born February 4, 1836, in Cbardon, 
Geauga Co., Ohio, daughter of Samuel 
Ward, who now resides at Milan, Ohio. 
Mrs. Mary M. Townsend died October 14, 



1881, and was buried in N^ew London 
cemetery. Some time after her death he 
married Ellen Ward, his deceased wife's 
sister, who was born January 24, 1841, 
also in Cbardon, Geauga Co., Ohio. She 
is a member of the Congregational Church, 
and active in the affairs of the Society. 
After marriage Mr. Townsend located on 
his late farm, a part of the 1,000 acres 
which his father, llosea Townsend, owned. 
The tract was without buildings when Ira 
S. Townsend first entered on its improve- 
ment, and it was all through his labor that 
the elegant residcmce and farm buildings 
were erected, and a beautiful farm devel- 
oped. He gave a large share of his atten- 
tion to stock growing, and he was also an 
extensive dealer in stock. He was one of 
the directors of the First National Bank 
of New London from the time of its in- 
corporation, in 1872, until it was reincor- 
porated twenty years later. He was chosen 
vice-president the third year, and continued 
to serve in that capacity until 1886, when he 
was elected president, serving as such six 
years, at the end of which time (1892) it 
was reorganized under the name of New 
London Bank, when lie was again elected 
president, and continued to serve in that 
incumbency until hisdeath. In the bank- 
ing world, as well as in the agricultural 
world, he proved his ability to command 
success. System was his guiding princi- 
ple. It was part and parcel of his nature, 
but while following it he did not permit 
red-tapeism to cramp his business, as he 
thought and acted quickly. In the midst 
of his business he never neglected his du- 
ties as a citizen, for he was an active mem- 
ber of the Republican party, and a student 
of the public affairs of Huron county. 
Mr. Townsend died September 12, 1893, 
and the following extract from one of the 
county papers in a measure illustrates the 
feeling of the community on learning of 
his unexpected taking away, and the higli 
esteem in which he was held: "The sud- 
den death of Mr. Ira S. Townsend came so 
unexpectedly to the people of New Lon- 



416 



HUEO.V COUNTY, OHIO. 



don, tliat rarely has the community been 
80 surprised and benumbed by the death 
of one of its members. Mr. Townsend 
made frequent visits to this village [New 
London], he being president of both the 
bank and the Fair Association. His whole 
business interests, aside from his farm, 
were in New London, where he was re- 
garded and valued as one of its citizens, 
and on Tuesday lie was in town in appar- 
ent good health, driving home about four 
o'clock. After supper, and while sitting 
with his family, chatting and joking in 
his usual good Iniinor, he suddenly placed 
his hand to his side with an exclamation 
of pain, and expired without a word." 



V ALPH C. JOHNSON, prominent 
[( in agricultural circles in Fitchville 



I] \v township, was born August 31, 
^ "" 1822, in Middlesex county, N. J., 
son of William Johnson. 
William Johnson, son of Ralph John- 
son, was born in Middlesex county, N. J., 
September 18, 1793. About the age of 
fifteen years he was apprenticed to a taimer 
and currier and a shoemaker, and worked at 
these trades for five years, five months and 
eighteen days. In 1821 he married Lydia 
(a daughter of Ralph Cortleyon), a native 
of the same county, born April 22, 1800, 
and their children are as follows: Ralph 
C, born August 31, 1822; Gertrude A., 
born December 28, 1823, married J. C. 
Ransom, and died March 9, 1892; Mary, 
born July 5, 1825, married William Pros- 
ser, and died May 14, 1882; Eliza Jane, 
born April 8, 1827, widow of S. K. Barnes, 
residing in Fitchville, Ohio; Alfred S., 
born March 29, 1829, a resident of New 
London, Ohio; Catherine, born December 

7, 1830. who married J. M. Foots, and 
subsequently Ira Foote, and died February 

8, 1877; and William C, born February 
7, 1833, died November 13, 1833. The 
mother of this family died April 3, 1834, 
and the same year Mr. Johnson married 



Melinda Blodsett. 



riage came the following: 



To this second mar- 
Lewis, born 
September 18, 1835, now a resident of 
Clarksfield township; Philena, born No- 
vember 16, 1837, who married George 
Foote, and subsequently John Bigelow; 
Oliver, born June 14, 1841, died August 
16, 1849; and Lydia, born September 14, 
1846, died August 10, 1849. Mrs. Ma- 
linda Johnson died September 14, 1849, 
and on January 30, 1850, Mr. Johnson 
married Mrs. Hepzibah (Blodgett) Eaton 
(widow of Jonathan Eaton), who died Sep- 
tember 20, 1861, without issue. The father 
died February 24, 1867. 

William Johnson followed his trade in 
New Jersey until his removal to Ontario 
county, N. Y., in 1825. In 1835 he mi- 
grated to Ohio, where, in Hartland town- 
ship, Pluron county, he had purchased 
some land. On November 17 of that year 
the family started on the journey to that 
township, arriving at their destination 
December 2, 1835. The method of trans- 
portation was a lumber wagon, and the 
route via Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland 
and Elyria. His purchase of 220 acres for 
two thousand dollars was half paid for in 
the fall of 1835, and within a few years 
tlie second one thousand dollars was paid 
up. On this farm Mr. Johnson led an 
active life until within a short time prior 
to his death, when he retired to the liome 
of a daughter at New London, where he 
passed away, and was buried with Baptist 
ritual, in Hartland Ridge Cemetery. 

Ralph C. Johnson received an element- 
ary education in the rude schools which 
were in vogue in his youth. He was reared 
on the farm, and worked thereon till Feb- 
ruary 5, 1849, on which day he married 
Eliza L. Townsend, born in Huron county 
December 22, 1825, a daughter of Hosea 
Townsend, who was a pioneer. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johnson located 
on a tract of wild land in Hartland town- 
ship, and remained there for sixteen years, 
until the land was all cleared. In 1865 
they located on the Hickock farm, one 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



417 



mile soutli of Fitchville Center, wliere 
tliey have resided to the present day. One 
child has been born to Ralph C. and Eliza 
L. Johnson: Eliza J., w.ife of Richard L. 
Merrick. She graduated from Oherlin 
College, and is now a practicing pliysician 
at Cleveland, Ohio, of tlie Ilomeopatliic 
School. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the 
Baptist Church at Fitchville. R. C. John- 
son vras originally a Whig, became a Re- 
publican in 1850, and has since been a 
most stanch supporter of that party. He 
has held offices in each township where he 
has resiiled, and has always been an effi- 
cient and courteous otKcial. Mr. Johnson 
is a successful farmer and stock grower. 
His estate of over 378 acres, in this rich 
section of Ohio, has been won, principally, 
by his stern, hard labor in the forest and 
field. The improvements have been mainly 
made by iiim, and the herds and flocks 
which browse upon his beautiful farm have 
been gathered by hiu). All in all he is 
the sole architect of his own fortune, and 
a man who deserves the place he holds in 
the estimation of his neighbors and of the 
people of Fitchville township. 



,1 "JULLIAM GRAHAM, son of John 
yjl and Thomason Graliam, was born 
M[ January 21, 1835, in the County 
of Durham, England. John Gra- 
ham was a tailor by trade, and generally 
resided in the County of Durham, but 
oftentimes traveled as a journevman. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Graham were the 
parents of eight children, of whom Will- 
iam is the seventh in order of birth. He 
received a primary education and, in 1845, 
was apprenticed to a tailor for two years, 
receiving board in lieu of pay. Not prov- 
ing partial to his father's trade, he was 
apprenticed to a carpenter for five years 
(his board being still the consideration for 
his labor), but becomincr discontented he 
concluded to leave his native land and seek 
a home in America. With his mother's 



assistance he secured the amount necessary 
to pay the expense of the ocean trip, and 
sailed on the "Andrew Foster," Captain 
Swift, from Liverpool to New York, the 
voyage occupying seven weeks. From 
New York he proceeded by river to Al- 
bany, by canal to Buffalo, by lake to San- 
dusky and thence to Greenfield township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, where his brother Joseph 
had hitherto located; and from the period 
of his arrival until 1875 he worked at his 
trade in the township. 

On November 20, 1859, Mr. Graham 
was united in marriage with Sarah Low- 
tber, who was born February 27, 1830, in 
Greenfield township, daughter of E. H. 
Lowther, a resident of that township. The 
young couple settled on a tract of 108 
acres, which Mr. Graham improved, at the 
same time working at his trade. There 
one son and two daughters were born to 
them, the older daughter dying in infancy, 
and there he made his houie until 1881, 
when he purchased the Terry farm, on 
which he made many improvements, and 
there took up his residence. For over a 
decade he has given particular attention 
to general farming and stock growing, 
and has proved that a tradesman may be 
a success as an agriculturist. Politically 
he is a Democrat. In cliurch relation he 
and his wife are members of the Univer- 
ealist Church of Peru. It may be truly 
said that in business and politics, as well 
as in religion, his wife and himself are co- 
workers, each industrious and each work- 
ing for the other. Few men stand higher 
in the community than Mr. Graham, who 
is recognized as a methodical, business- 
like farmer. 



rj|ENRY RUGGLES. The pioneer 

pH of the Riiggles family in Ohio was 

I 11 Joseph Ruggles, who was a resident 

■fj of Belchertown, Mass., where he was 

known as a farmer and teamster. 

In pre-railroad days, when the e.xpress 

service between Boston and New York 



I 

418 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



was founded, Joseph Rnggles established 
himself as a teamster ou the route between 
Belchertown and Boston, hauling mer- 
chandise from Boston to points on the 
route, and farm products from sucii points 
to Bobton. lie was married at Belcher- 
town to Miss Hannah Tillson, and four 
children were there born to them: Leon- 
ard, Sumner and Benjamin (both deceased), 
and Henry. In 1818 the whole family set 
out for the West, and traveled in safety to 
Peru township, Huron Co., Ohio, where 
they located. As the father possessed but 
little means, he was unable to purchase a 
farm on coming liere. Building a log 
cabin to shelter his family, he devoted 
himself to labor, and with his earnings 
purchased some land in Peru township, 
which he cleared and on which he resided 
until his death in June, 1846. His widow 
died three years later. The children born 
to these pioneers after their location in 
Huron county, Ohio, were: George (now 
deceased), who was a farmer in Peru town- 
ship; Mary, who tnarried Levi Rnggles 
(deceased); Nancy, widow of Jeff. Brown 
(now residing in Kansas City); Levi, who 
died in Arizona, while in the United States 
civil service, and Lyman, also deceased. 
Of all the children born to this pioneer 
couple, Henry, the subject of this sketch, 
and Nancy, of Kansas City, Mo., are the 
only survivors. 

Henry Buggies was born January 6, 
1816, at Belchertown, Mass., came to Ohio 
with his parents in 1818, and grew to 
manhood in Peru township, Huron county. 
His youth was like that of the other boys 
of the settlement, and when a young man 
he learned the carpenter's trade. On Janu- 
ary y, 1844, he was married in Peru town- 
ship to Florinda Tillson, a native of New 
York, and of the children born to this 
union Lyman died at Sacramento, Cal.; 
Lewis resides in Seneca county, Ohio; Ida 
married George Minard, of Milan; Inez is 
deceased; Anna resides at St. Louis, Mo.; 
Harvey resides at home, and Newton is 
deceased. After their marriage Henry and 



Florinda Ruggles located in Norwich town- 
ship, but two years afterward settled on 
their present farm in Peru township. They 
are members of the Universalist Church. 
In politics Mr. Ruggles was a Whig up to 
1856, when he united with the new Re- 
publican party, of which he has ever since 
been a consistent member. He has held 
various township offices, and has filled them 
all with great satisfaction to the people. 
As a farmer and stock grower he is well 
known, for to these two departments of 
farm work he gives the closest personal 
attention. 




AVID HENRY REED, M. D., the 

leading physician of North Fair- 
field, is a descendant of David Reed, 
who was a farmer of Connecticut 
in Colonial times. 

David Reed, great-grandfather of Dr. 
Reed, carried on a farm near Danbury, 
Conn., where he was a large property 
owner. Harry Reed, his son, was reared 
on the home farm near Danbury, Conn., 
and when but a young man engaged in 
Tnercantile life. He was there married to 
Miss Mary Hoyt, who died leaving three 
children, namely: Shadrach H., Charles 
and Jane. After the death of his first wife 
Mr. Reed was again married, and to this 
union were born two children, Henry E. 
and Mary. Of ajl the children, Mary, the 
youngest (now Mrs. Darius Stevens, of 
Danbury, Conn.), is the only survivor. 

Shadrach H. Reed, son of Harry Reed, 
was born in September, 1809, in CJonnec- 
ticut, where, and in the State of New York, 
he passed his boyhood years. When six- 
teen years old he accompanied a Mr. Mead 
to the latter's purchase in the southeast 
part of Greenwich township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, and worked for him on this tract 
until he was twenty-one years old, when 
his employer deeded to him eighty acres 
of wild land in consideration of five years' 
service. But soon afterward Mr. Reed 
traded the eighty acres for another tract 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



419 



of 150 acres, which is still in the posses- 
sion of the Reed family. In 1881 he ii)ar- 
ried Sally, daughter of Josiah Roscoe, who 
came from Caynga county, N. Y., and 
settled in Greenwich township, and to this 
marriaije five children were born, namely: 
David II.. a physician of Huron county; 
Clara J., a resident of Bellefontaine, Logan 
Co., Ohio; Charles E., deceased; A. S., 
deceased ; and H. E., who resides on part 
of the old farm. Mr. Reed gradually in- 
creased the area of his lands, and upon his 
death, which occurred in 1885, he left to 
his heirs a tine farm of 200 acres, all of 
which was cleared and improved by him- 
self. Shadrach H. Reed was a Democrat 
up to 1856. when his son, the present Dr. 
Reed, prevailed upon him to join the Re- 
publican party. He was an outspoken 
friend, and a man whose word was as good 
as his bond. He held numerous township 
offices, and was justice of the peace. 

Dr. David H. Reed was born in 1832 in 
Greenwich township, Huron county, passed 
his youth on the farm, and received his 
primary education in the schools of the 
district. He taught school for a short 
period, and then began the study of medi- 
cine, in which he continued for two years, 
later attending the Homeopathic Medical 
School, Cleveland, for three years. He 
graduated from that institution in 1854, 
the same year establishing his office in 
Fairfield, where lie has practiced ever since. 
Dr. Reed was married, in 1855, to Miss 
Caroline Long, of Greenwich townshij), 
who was born in Cayuga county, N. \ ., 
and to this union the following named 
children were born: Alto P., who died 
when twenty-four years old; Charles E., 
who died in infancy; Aliraham L.; Charles 
S., a lawyer in Wilson county, Kans.; 
Fanny C; Mary E. ; and two that died in 
infancy. The Doctor owns 200 acres in 
Greenwich township, besides his western 
lands. It is now almost forty years since 
he began the practice of medicine here. 
A Republican by choice and education, he 
was an active worker for Fremont in 1856, 



and ever since that time his voice has been 
raised for the interests of his party. In 
religious faith he is a member of the 
Christian Church, in which he is an elder. 
The Doctor was appointed in 1863, by 
Gov. David Tod, to organize the militia of 
the Southern District of Huron county, 
and was commissioned captain. After the 
organization he was elected colonel of the 
Third Regiment, and continued in com- 
mand until the organization was aban- 
doned. He also served as member of the 
school board of the Union School of North 
Fairfield for fifteen years. In 1893 he 
was nominated and elected representative 
to the Seventy-first General Assembly of 
the State of Ohio, and at this date (Fei)- 
ruary 14, 1894) is serving the State in 
that capacity, holding the position of 
chairman of the coinn)ittee on Medical 
Colleges and Medical Societies, also a mem- 
bership on the Fish Culture and Game, 
Common Schools, and Food and Dairy 
committees. 



EiDMUND FRANKLIX, a worthy 
memi)er of an early pioneer family 
) of Huron county, and who is one of 

the oldest and most hio-hly re- 
spected citizens of Richmond township, 
was born May 8, 1827, in Herkimer 
county, New York. 

He is the fourth child and second son 
of Reuben and Rhoda (Nobles) Franklin, 
of Herkimer county, N. Y., the former of 
whom was a farmer. In 1836 the family, 
then consisting of father, mother and six 
children, migrated westward to Ohio, 
coming by way of canal and lake-boat to 
Sandusky, an<l thence in a smaller boat to 
Fremont, Ohio. Reuben Franklin resided 
a short time in Norwich township, Huron 
county, and then came to Richmond town- 
ship, where he bought sixty-one acres at 
three dollars and fitly cents an acre, and 
built thereon a cabin, the fifth in the 
township. One child was born after the 
family settled in Richmond township, and 



420 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



on this farm, which Edmund Franklin 
now owns and makes his home upon, these 
wortliy people passed the remainder of 
their buej lives. They were pioneers in 
the true sense of the word, for at the time 
of their arrival Richmond township was 
covered with a dense forest, excepting tlie 
southern part, which was then a vast 
swamp, where no human being could pos- 
sibly make a living. With the exception 
of a few sticks cut by hunters in search of 
the game wliicli abounded in this section, 
there was "not a stick amiss" on the farm 
in the northern part of Richmond township 
where Reuben Franklin took up his abode. 
He was a deserving pioneer farmer. 

Edmund Franklin was reared in the 
manner of pioneer farmer children, and 
during his youth received but limited lit- 
erary advantages, as there were no schools in 
Richmond township for live or six years after 
tlie family arrived. His mother died when 
he was but ten years old, his father two 
years later, and thus he was left at an early 
age to begin life on iiis own account. He 
worked by the month for twelve years at 
various places, and for low wages. In 1849 
he was united in marriage with Miss 
Henrietta Thomas, a native of New York 
State, born in 1829; her father, Henry 
Thomas, was drowned near Buffalo when 
she was but a little girl, and she came to 
Ohio in early womanhood. During his 
twelve years of hard labor Mr. Franklin 
had accumulated eni>ugh money to buy 
the home farm, most of which he had to 
redeem from the forest, and here he has 
since resided, making many valuable im- 
provements. 

On September 15, 1861, our subject en- 
listed at Norwalk, Ohio, in Company I, 
Fifty-fifth O. V. I., which command was 
sent to West Virginia, the first battle Mr. 
Franklin took part in being at Moorefield, 
that State, and he afterward participated 
in the following engairements: Foot of 
Cheat Mountain, Cross Keys, Second Bull 
Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mis- 
sionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, 



Buzzard's Roost, Big and Little Kenesaw 
Mountain, Big Shanty, Resaca, Ga. (where 
he belonged to the storming division), 
Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Ben- 
tonville and Averysboro. He was also 
with Sherman on his march to the sea. 
At Resaca (where he found four bullet- 
holes in his coat) he received a wound, and 
he was knocked down at Peach Tree Creek 
by the concussion of the wind of a ball. 
He participated in the Grand Review on 
June 24, 1865, at Washington, D. C, and 
was discharged in that city in July, com- 
ing home at once to Huron county, where 
he has ever since followed farming. He 
has a most comfortable home. Mr. and 
Mrs. Franklin have children as follows: 
Walter, a car carpenter of Norwalk, Ohio; 
Rufus, a railroad engineer of Chicago 
Junction; Ella, wife of Scott Jump, of 
Chicago Junction; Emma, Mrs. Alonzo 
Bowen, of Chicago, Ohio; AVilbur, who 
was killed on the railroad when thirty- 
four yearsold; Clarence, of Fostoria, Ohio; 
Edmund, a railroad employe; and Carrie, 
Kitty and George, who still reside at 
home. In politics Mr. Franklin is a Re- 
publican. He is a highly-esteemed citi- 
zen, and the comfortable home and prop- 
erty which he now enjoys are the 
accumulation of many years of hard, un- 
remitting toil; the entire family stand 
high in the regard of the community in 
which they reside. Mrs. Franklin is a 
member of the U. B. Church. 



-fj 



tJJ ATHIAS CAROTHERS, one of 
\f/\ the pushing, go-ahead young farm- 
1 ers of Richmond township, was 
born October 13, 1849, in Nor- 
wich township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
eldest son and second child in the family 
of John and Susan (Mowery) Carothers. 

Our subject was reared to active agri- 
cultural life, received such an education as 
the common schools of his boyhood af- 
forded, and remained under the parental 



HUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



421 



roof until his marriage. On July 4, 1872, 
he wedded Miss Mary Bigham, who was 
born in Venice township, Seneca Co., Ohio, 
daiiijliter of John Bigham, a pioneer of 
that county. After marriageMr. and Mrs. 
Carothers resided for a short time on his 
father's farm, and in about 1873 took up 
their residence on their present place, 
where they have since had their home. 
While Mr. Carothers lias not resided in 
Kiehmond township as long as some of its 
farmers, he has seen his acres gradually 
converted from heavy forests to fertile 
fields, and this is practically the work of 
his own hands, as, when he took posses- 
sion of the land, but a small portion of it 
was cleared. The elegant residence, large 
and commodious barn and other necessary 
farm buildinirs which enhance the value of 
his place, are all the work of his own hands. 
So far he has made farming his life work, 
and has met with considerable success. 
Mr. Carothers is active, full of energy and 
progressive, and stands very high in his 
community. He is a leader of the Re- 
publican party in his township, and is now 
serving as justice of the peace. Mr. and 
Mrs. Carothers are meml)er8 of the U. B. 
Church, in which he is class-leader and 
superintendent of Sunday-school. They 
have had three children, viz.: Daisy D., 
Jennie May, successful teachers in the 
public schools, and Chalmer J., an ener- 
getic lad of eight summers. 



JfOSEPH EITFFING. Among the 
k, I brave old pioneers of Shei-man town- 
%J) ship stands prominent this worthy 
farmer citizen, a native of South 
Germanv, born in Baiern (Ravaria) April 
10, 1830. 

He is a son of Joseph and Catharine 
(Schwartz) Eutfing, wealthy farming people 
in the Fatherland, who were the parents of 
seven children, five of whom were born in 
Baiern, as follows: Elizabeth, who died in 
Sherman township, when nineteen years 
old; Peter, a farmer in Sherman township, 



a carpenter l)y trade, and one of the 
pioneers in that business in the townsliip; 
Joseph, subject; John, a farmer of Sher- 
man township, who died in 1892; and 
Frank, also a tanner of Sherman township, 
who died in 1887. In the spring of 1836 
the family set sail in a merchant ship from 
Havre, France, for the New World, and 
after a rough passage of forty-four days, 
during which a severe storm drove them 
considerably out of their course, north- 
ward, they landed at New York. From 
there they proceeded via Hudson River 
and Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence by lake 
to Cleveland, and from that, then,' villacre 
by wagon to Elyria, Lorain county, where 
they tarried a short time. Here, enquir- 
ing the most direct route to Sherman town- 
ship, they were misdirected, and by night- 
time found themselves in the village of 
Norwalk, where the only place they could 
find to sleep in was a welcome barn. On 
the following morning the family pro- 
ceeded on their journey, and on the twenty- 
fifth day of August, 1836, found them- 
selves at their forest home, in that part of 
Sherman township lying smith of the 
center. Here they had settled but a short 
time when the dense forest, and other un- 
pleasant features connected with the new 
home, caused the head of the family to re- 
gret that he had not bouslit land in the 
very heart of Cleveland, which had been 
offered him lor eighteen dollars per acre; 
and he was of a mind to buy even yet, but 
was dissuaded from doing so by an old 
lady whom the family had met in Elyria. 
In Sherman township the father had 
bought land (represented at the time of 
purchase as cleared, which turne<l out not 
to be the case) at twelve dollars per acre 
(about five times its value), and erected 
thereon a log house. He then, with the 
assistance of his sons, set to work to clear 
the land, and pref)are the soil for crops; in 
the course of time Fortune smiled more 
favorably on him, and by dint of hard 
work and unceasing industry he prospered, 
80 that he was able to make additions from 



422 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



time to time to his original purchase, and 
at his death was the owner of a fine, well- 
stocked and fertile farin, equipped with 
comfortable buildings. T.vo children were 
born to Joseph and Catharine Kuffing in 
their pioneer home, namely, Anthony, a 
uierciiant of Believue, Huron county, and 
Michael, a farmer of Sherman township. 
The father passed from earth in 1882, at 
the age of eighty-two years, the mother in 
June, 1865, and they lie side by side in 
Sherman cemetery. They were members 
of the Catholic Church, and contributors 
tovards the first church buildino- of that 
denomination erected in Sherman town- 
ship. 

Joseph Ruffing, the second son born to 
these honored old pioneers, received but a 
limited education, the greater part of it, 
in fact, at his home, his father being his 
instructor; and under the tuition of his 
brother Peter, who was a mechanic of 
considerable ability, he learned the trade 
of carpenter. At the age of thirteen he 
was "liired" to a neighbor (Burrett Fitch) 
to work out the price of a colt his father 
had bought, and this occupied liim six 
■weeks. At twenty years of age he com- 
menced journeyman work at his trade in 
the neigh l)orhood of his home, and he and 
his brother Peter put up the first frame 
house in Slierman townsiiip. 

On Octol)er 21, 1856, Mr. Ruffing mar- 
ried Miss Mary J. Geiger, who was born 
February 16, 1836, in Buffalo, N. Y., a 
daughter of Lawrence Geiger, who came 
to Sherman townsiiip when she was a child. 
To this union were born children as fol- 
lows: Elizabeth, now Mrs. P. Krnpp, of 
Seneca county, Ohio; Frank J., a farmer 
of Sherman township; Michael J., a farmer 
of Norwich township; Coraline, Mrs. John 
Glassner, of Seneca county; Josephine, 
Mrs. Lewis Kalt, of Norwalk; Annie, Mrs. 
John Witter, of Biicyrus, Ohio; and Vic- 
toria, at home. On July 13, 1877, the 
mother of these was injured in a runaway, 
and she lingered between life and death 
until July 20, 1877, when death put an 



end to her sufferings; she was buried in 
Slierman cemetery. In 1877 Mr. Riitfing 
married Mrs. Mary Quisuo, widow of 
Joseph Quisuo, and a native of Belgium. 
After his first marriage our subject settled 
with his bride on a portion of his present 
farm, and has here since devoted himself 
exclusively to general agriculture. He 
and his brother had bought, jointly, one 
hundred acres, of which at his marriage 
each took fifty acres, and to his share 
Joseph has since added as circumstances 
offered until now he is the owner of 122 
acres of as fine land as can be found in his 
section. He is a menaber of the Catholic 
Church; politically he is a Democrat, and 
has held township and other offices of trust 
with credit to himself and satisfaction of 
his constituents. 



THOMAS HAGAMAN is a repre- 
sentative of an old pioneer family 
that originated in Holland. His 
grandfather, Thomas Hagaman, na- 
tive of Gettysburg, Penn., married 
Nellie Burnett, of New York, whose an- 
cestors were also natives of Holland. 

The ancestors of this couple immigrated 
to America many years ago, first locating 
in New Jersey, and afterward crossing into 
Pennsylvania, where the grandfather con- 
tinued to follow agricultural pursuits and 
weaving. Politically he was a Whig and 
Abolitionist; in religion he first united 
with the Presbyterian Church, afterward 
becoming a Congreu-ntionalist. He died 
in August, 1852, at about the age of eighty 
years, his wife some years later. They 
were the parents of three sons, John, 
James and George B., who came to Ohio 
with their parents in 1818. 

John Hagaman was born July 1, 1801, 
in Cayuga county, N. Y., and in 1818 
came with his parents to Huron county, 
Ohio, as above stated, where he married 
Tina Ammerman. He bought a farm of 
new heavily-timbered land in Bronson 
township, upon which he erected a log 




JOHN HAGAMAN 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO, 



425 



house, and devoted the remainder of his 
life to cleariii<j: and cnltivatint; tlie same. 
In politics he voted first witli the Wiiius, 
later with the Republican party, and was 
the first Abolitiouist in the township; in 
reliffious faith he and his wife were active 
members of the Conjireijatioual Church, 
in which he served as a deacon. He died 
in 1870, his wife December 29, 1879, 
having passed her seventy-second year. 
Tliey viere the parents of four ciiildren, as 
follows: Maria B. (deceased in 1840, at the 
age of nineteen], Lucy A. (deceased in 
1890, at the age of sixty years), Thomas 
(whose name opens this sketch), and Isa- 
bel (wife of J. W. Snook, of Bronson 
township). 

Tiiomas Hagaman was born August 20, 
1834, on the farm where he is now living, 
in Bronson township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
He received a good common-school educa- 
tion, and also attended the Norwalk High 
Sciiool. On October 14, 1868, he married 
Mary Ellen Woodruff, a native of New 
Berlin, Chenango Co., N. Y., a dauijhter 
of Edwin and Lydia A. (Gilmore) Wood- 
ruff. Two children were born to them: 
Jessie W. and John E. The mother was 
called from earth January 2, 1879. Since 
the death of his father Thomas Hagaman 
has had charge of the old homestead, and, 
having bought out the other heirs, now 
owns 137 acres, where he carries on gen- 
eral farming. In politics he is a Republi- 
can, and cast his first ballot for John C. 
Fremont for President in 1856; in re- 
ligious faith he is a member of the Con- 
gregational Church. 




\ILLIAM BROWN. This well- 
known wide-awake and affluent 
agriculturist of Norwi' h town- 
ship coupes of sturdy Protestant- 
Irish stock, noted for their longevity. 

Thomas Brown, his grandfather, came 
to AuTerica in 1803, and settling in New 
York State there followed weaving and 
as 



farming. He was twice married, and iiad 
in all eighteen children, the eldest of whom, 
l)y name Thomas IL, learned the trade of 
weaver in liis native land of Erin, where 
he was born in 1787, and was eighteen 
yeai-s old when he came to America. He 
made his tirst home in the New World in 
Maryland, near Baltimore, where he fol- 
lowed the weaving trade six years. He 
there married Miss Susan Sowers, of that 
locality, and they then proceeded to New 
York State, locating in (!ayuga county on 
a farm, on which they resided till 1825, 
when they catne to Ohio, where, in Ash- 
land county, near the town of Ashland, 
Mr. Brown bought 160 acres of totally 
wild land which he cleared, and where he 
and his wife lived up to her death in 1866. 
He then moved to Hancock county, same 
State, and made his final home with his 
youngest son, James, dying there in 1884 
at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. 
He was a very successful farmer, owning 
at the time of his death about 400 acres 
of land, which he divided among his five 
sons. He was a stanch Republican, and a 
member of the Lutheran Church. His 
family of children numbered ten, named as 
follows: Hugh, Eve, Margaret, Martha, 
William, Sarah, Thomas, Franklin, James 
and Susanna, all now deceased except 
Thomas, William (subject), Franklin, 
James and Sarah. 

William Brown, of whom this sketch 
more particularly relates, was born, in 
1823, in Cayuga county, N. Y., and passed 
his boyhood on a farm in Ashland county, 
Ohio, whither the family had come in 
1825, as above related. When he was 
twenty-three years old his father gave him 
eighty acres of land, entirely covered with 
timber, but he went to work with an axe 
and a will, clearing it and transforming it 
into a fertile farm. To this from time to 
time he added until he had 166 acres, and 
he then sold and bought 200 acres in Nor- 
wich township, Huron county, where he 
ives. lie has owned as much as 480 



now 



acres, and his success has been due entirely 



426 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



to untiring industry, judicious economy 
and a life of rectitude. After giving each 
of his sons fifty acres, he has 180 left. 
During the Civil war he served from May 
to Septeml)er, 18f3-t, in Company H, One 
Hundred and Sixty-sixth Regiment O. V. 
I., N. G., under Col. H. G. Blake, and was 
always '-ready" at the call to duty. 

In 1846 Mr. Brown was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Elizabeth Greer, of Ash- 
land county, Ohio, daughter of James 
Greer, and five children, as follows, were 
born to them: Thomas, James, Franklin 
H., William L., and one that died in in- 
fancy. Our subject in his political pref- 
erences is a stanch Republican, and has 
held numerous township oflices, notable 
among which was that of township treas- 
urer, which he filled eight years. In re- 
ligions faith he and his wife are members 
of the United Brethren Church, of which 
he is a trustee. 



L 



YMAN ASHLEY is a descendant, 
in the eighth generation, of a well- 
known pioneer family whose ances- 
try may be traced to Robert Ashley, 
who emigrated from England about 1630 
and located in Massachusetts. 

James Ashley, the great-grandfather of 
Lyinan, was born in 1740, in Massachu- 
setts. His son, Luther Ashley, was born 
April 1, 1775, was a surveyor by profes- 
sion, and later a sawmill owner. On Sep- 
tember 1, 1800, he married Eunice Smith, 
who was born October 10, 1781, and was 
living at Shrewsbury, Mass. To this mar- 
riage the following named children were 
born: Gilbert, born December 27. 1801, 
removed to Seneca county, Ohio, where he 
died, leaving a family; Nancy, born 
January 17, 1803, widow of Hiram Spen- 
cer, lives at Sandusky, Ohio; Dexter, born 
October 13, 1804, deceased in Greenfield 
township at an advanced age; Louisa, born 
December 5, 1806, widow of Nathan 
Beeri--, residing with her son, Nathan, in 
Greenfield township; Dennis, father of 



Lyman, referred to below; Harriet, born 
March 13, 1813, widow of Martin Smith, 
living at Valparaiso, Ind.; Emily, born 
January 6, 1816, widow of Erastus Smith, 
living in Greenfield township; and 
Smith, born December 22, 1822, residing 
at Vacaville, Cal. The last named is the 
only one who was born in Huron county. 
In 1815 the father migrated to Canada to 
look up work, but becoming dissatisfied 
he returned to Massachusetts, and in 1817, 
accompanied by his son Gilbert, he came 
to Huron county, Ohio, and purchased 
some land. His brother-in-law, Alden 
Pierce, who had already made a settlement 
here, visited Massachusetts that year, and 
at the request of Luther Ashley, he 
guided Mrs. Ashley and her children to 
their future home in northern Ohio. In 
the fall of 1817 the family left Deerfield, 
Mass. A wagon drawn by three horses 
conveyed the household goods, the mother, 
and younger members of the family, 
while the adnlts walked the greater part 
of the distance. From Buffalo, N. Y., 
westward, the roads were reported to be 
bad, and to provide against delay or acci- 
dent, some of the goods were unloaded 
and shipped by boat to the lake port near- 
est to Greenfield township. The party 
then resumed the journey, traveling via 
Cleveland and Norwalk, and arrived safely 
in Greenfield township. The father moved 
in later years to a point near Albion, Ind., 
where he resided for some years. At last, 
attacked by a malady common at that time 
and place, he set out for the home in Hu- 
ron county, but died while en route, at 
Fremont, Ohio, November 3, 1838, and 
was buried at Steuben. His widow died 
March 30, 1856, and was buried in the 
same grave at Steuben. Luther Ashley 
was a Federalist, and a stanch supporter of 
that party. He and his wife were Con- 
gregationalists. 

Dennis Ashley, father of Lyman, was 
born January 30, 1810, at Deerfield, Mass. 
He accompanied his mother to Ohio, at- 
tended the pioneer schools of Greenfield 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



427 



township, and worked oti his fatlier's farm. 
In August, 1830, he married Lurany Bliss, 
who was born at Rows, Mass., March 17, 
1812, to Jacob and Bethiah (Brown) Bliss, 
who settled in Greenfield township in 
1822. The children born to Dennis and 
Lurany Ashley are named as follows: Ly- 
man, the subject of this sketch; Luther, a 
resident of Yuba count)', Cal.; Noah, who 
died in youtli; Lucy, who died in her eigh- 
teenth year; Erastus, residingin Chico, Cal. ; 
Dexter, who died in youth; Mary, who 
married Charles McMaster, died in Green- 
field township; Ward, deceased in Green- 
field township, and Charlotte, Mrs. J. A. 
Wheeler, of Greenfield township. From 
1830 to 1854 Dennis Ashley was engaged 
in farming here; the ensuing two years he 
passed in Iowa, and from 1856 to his 
death, which occurred September 27, 1892, 
he was a farmer of Greenfield township. 
From 1889 to 1892 he was an invalid. 
Plis wife died August 8, 1891, and both 
lie in the cemetery at Steuben. A Whicr 
prior to 1856, he was a stanch Republican 
during the remainder of his active life, 
and held various township ofhces. For 
fifty years he was a member, and for some 
years a deacon, of the Baptist Church, to 
which denomination his wife also belonged. 
He did not accumulate much property, 
but always had a competence, and few men 
were better known or more respected than 
Deacon Ashley. 

Lyman Ashley was born February 20, 
1832, in Greenfield township, and there 
secured a primary education in district 
school No. 6. After school days he en- 
tered a dry-goods store at Plymouth, and 
worked there a short time at four dollars 
per month, when he engaged as brakeman 
on the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark 
Railroail. Subsequently he worked in 
Jonas Chijd's gristmill at Steuben, and 
followed the miller's trade from Ohio to 
Iowa until 1863. On March 29, 1863, he 
married Mary L. Youngs, wiio was born 
December 3, 1846, daughter of James and 
Sarah (Frost) Youngs, of Greenfield town- 



ship. To this union came the following 
named children: CoraB., Joseph B., and 
Lewis C. (now a machinist at Galion, 
Ohio). Cora B. was married December 7, 
1892, to J. C. Baker, and they reside at 
Steuben; one son, Glendower E., was born 
to them September 14, 1893. Immedi- 
ately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ashley 
located on their present farm, where the 
husband did his first farm work when 
thirty-one years old. In politics he is a 
lifelong Republican, and has filled several 
township offices with credit to himself and 
profit to ti)e people. He has increased the 
area of his farm, has put out all the shade 
trees and erected all the buildino-s thereon, 
and IS a practical, substantial farmer in 
every respect, one who has made his way 
to success unaided. 




P. NOBLE, a prominent stock- 
man of Huron county, is a grand- 
■( Mf son of James Noble, the ancestor 
of the family in America, who 
was born in Ireland, and reared to man- 
hood in County Tyrone. 

In 1790 he left his native land, and after 
a voyage of fourteen weeks set foot on the 
shores of the young Republic, and pro- 
ceeding at once to Washington, Penn., 
located near Taylorstown. His marriage 
with Mary Harvey, also a native of Ireland, 
took place in Washington county, and to 
their union five children were born, 
namely: John, Will, Harvey, Mary and 
Nancy, all now deceased, and their de- 
scendants scattered. 

Harvey Noble, the father of subject, 
was born in 1806 near Taylorstown, Wash- 
ington Co., Penn., and was reared on his 
father's farm. He received a fair educa- 
tion in the subscription school of his na- 
tive place, but his school days were alloyed 
with a pioneer boy's work round the liome 
and on the farm. In 1827 he married 
Margaret Little, a daughter of George 
Little, who resided near Taylorstown, and 
immediately after marriage the young 



428 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



couple eet out for Ricliland county, Ohio, 
with the intention of making a home there, 
and located near the village of Shiloli. 
The country was even then in a most 
primitive condition; the forest teemed with 
animals of the chase; bear, deer and 
wolves were abundant, and even the 
panther came to visit the district at inter- 
vals. On one occasion Mr. Noble was 
compelled to go as far as Plymouth, Ohio, 
fur a doctor; the wolves appeared to be un- 
usually disturbed, and howled the whole 
night, but he went on his journey unmind- 
ful of the brutes, and that night was the 
last one for the wolves in the country. 
About 1S27 lie located on a farm of eighty 
acres in Richland county, which at the 
time of his death was increased to 500 
acres. There were born to him eight 
cliildren, namely: Mary, John, James, 
JN'ancy, Elizabeth, Margaret, W. P. and 
Minerva. Of these, Nancy and Elizabeth 
are now deceased; James resides in Green- 
field township, Huron county; John is a 
resident of Richland county; Mary is the 
wife of Jerrie Davidson, of Richland 
county; Minerva resides in Huron county. 
The mother of these children died July 2, 
1865, the father July 11, 1885. He was 
the owner ot the tirst threshing machine 
used in Richland county, and was in every 
respect a progressive farmer. 

W. P. Noble was born in 1839 in Rich- 
land county, Ohio, and was reared to 
manhood on the old homestead in that 
county. He received a practical education 
in tlie school of his district, and was in- 
ducted into the mysteries of agriculture 
under the direction of his father. In 1864 
he married Eliza Jane Starkey, daughter 
of James Starkey, then of Ripley town- 
ship, but now a citizen of Illinois, and to 
this marriage were born ten children, as 
follows: Mina A., Sherman, Elmer, Theo- 
dore (deceased], Allen, Warren, Winnie, 
Nellie, and two that died in infancy. 
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Noble settled 
on their present farm in Ripley township, 
part of which v\as cleared and all of it im- 



proved by Mr. Noble. Politically he is a 
Republican, and one of the "wheel horses" 
of the party in Huron county. For many 
years he has lepresented his section of the 
county in local and Congressional con- 
ventions, and in every way is a trusted 
councilor. 

Prior to 1870 Mr. Noble made the 
foundations of his Shorthorn herds. To- 
day he has two prize herds, every head of 
which may properly be classed as fine 
stock, and to this business he has given 
close attention, making it a most pi-ofitable 
one. He also deals in fast horses, owning, 
among other animals, a half-brother to 
Maude S., Noble Harold, No. 4722. His 
land now comprises 310 acres, all of which 
he has accumulated since 1864. 



J(^HN R. ELLIS was born September 
, 1, 1845, in Gi-eenwich township. His 
father, John Ellis, was born August 
8, 1816, in Onondaga county, N. Y., 
attended school there when a small boy, 
and at the age of twelve years hired out 
as alarm hand at three dollars per month. 
For the seven succeeding years he labored 
on the farm, and at the age of nineteen 
years began to learn the carpenter's trade, 
which he followed until 183U, when he 
and his brother George migrated to Huron 
county. Ohio, and purchased, in partner- 
ship, a tract of fifty acres in Gieenwich 
township. This land was bought from 
their uncle, Ellis, at five dollais per acre, 
and is now owned by John R. and Martin 
Ellis. 

In 1841 John Ellis was united in mar- 
riage with Rachel Rickard, a native of 
Trumbull county, Ohio, and to tiieni were 
born the following named children: Sidney 
H., for forty years was a farmer of Green- 
wich township, and who died in 1888; 
Theresa, who married Charles Horr; John 
R., a farmer of Fifchville township; 
Martin, a farmer of Greeuwich township; 
Leona, wife of Jacob Weaver, of Ripley 



UUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



429 



township; Paulina, Mrs. Benton Davis, of 
Ripley townsliip; Plirain, deceased in 
youth; and Sarah, Mrs. Allen Ziegler, of 
Eichland county, Ohio. The parents of 
this faniily resided on the original farm 
until they died, the mother in April, 1887, 
and the father March 4. 1890. In 1850 
Mr. Ellis began to lose his health, and from 
1855 to the date of his death he was un- 
able to accomplish a day's work. Under 
the care and labor of his sons, however, 
his possessions grew, and from a half in- 
terest in fifty acres he became the owner 
of 550 acres of fertile land. A one-thou- 
sand-dollar monument marks the grave in 
Ripley cemetery where John and Rachel 
Ellis lie. In early days they joined the 
church; but owing to want of harmony in 
the religious body to which they belonged, 
they ceased attending services, though con- 
tinuing to worship God within their home. 
Politically a Democrat, Mr. Ellis was 
loyal to tlie party, but never was an active 
politician; ho was often elected to town- 
ship office, and each trust confided to him 
he observed with fidelity. 

John R. Ellis was reared in the manner 
common to his contemporaries in Green- 
wich township, attended the district school, 
and at an early age entered on practical 
farm work, taking a man's place on the 
farm. On June 6, 1866, he was married 
to Jane Viers, who was born in Butler 
township, Richland Co., Ohio, a daughter 
of L. D. and Jane (Parker) Viers. To 
this marriage were born the following 
named children: Hiram, Nora, and 
Charles, all of whom reside at home. 
After their union Mr. and Mrs. Ellis set- 
tled in Ripley township, and there remained 
three years, when they purchased a one- 
half interest in 218 acres in Greenwich 
township, Martin Ellis holding the second 
half interest. For nine vears they resided 
there, and then in 1880 came to Fitchville 
township, where Mr. Ellis purchased the 
old Palmer farm of eighty acres. To this 
he has added forty-two acres adjoining, re- 
modelled the dwelling-house, improved 



the farm buildings, and converted the 
whole tract into a fertile garden. For the 
last six years Mr. Ellis has suffered from 
rheumatism, and does but little active 
work; he gives, however, close personal at- 
tention to the farm. Politically he is a 
Democrat, and one of the trusted advisers 
and councillors of the party in Huron 
county, well posted on political issues. 



HERMAN GULP, a well-known at- 
torney of Plymouth, Ohio, is a na- 
tive of same, born November 1, 
1854:. Christian Gulp, the grand- 
father of subject, was born in the seven- 
teenth century, in New York, where the 
pioneers of the family in America settled 
after coming from Germany. 

When a young man Christian Gulp 
migrated to Ohio, in which State he mar- 
ried Nellie Burton, a descendant of Scotch 
pioneers. Shortly after his marriage he 
purchased 700 acres of land (embracing 
almost the whole site of Plymouth) in 
New Haven township, Huron county, and 
moving hither in 1835, established a grist- 
mill and carding-mill, both of which he 
carried on in conjunction with his farm. 
At the time of this settlement Plymouth 
consisted of two or three log cabins. Here 
five sons and two daughters were born to 
Christian and Nellie Gulp, only two of 
whom are yet living: Jacob, now of Mans- 
field, Ohio, and Mrs. Polly Sherman, of 
Plymouth. 

Henry Gulp, the father of the subject of 
this sketch, was the second child in order 
of birth. At the age of twenty-five he 
married Hannah Baker, a daughter of pio- 
neer settlers of Ripley township, and to 
their union were born four sons and three 
daughters. The father died February 13, 
1889, at the age of sixty-two years, and 
his widow now resides on the home of her 
childhood in Ripley township. 

Sherman Gulp, the subject proper of 
this memoir, was born, reared and edu- 
cated at Plymouth, and is now the owner 



430 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO, 



of the home founded by his grandfather, 
Cliristiaii Ciilp. At the age of twenty- 
four years he entered tlie law ofhce of J ohn 
W. Bell, at Plymouth, read law under his 
direction, and in 1886 was admitted to the 
bar at Columbus, Ohio. During this 
term of study the young lawyer was 
elected mayor of the town, and has tilled 
the offices of notary public and justice of 
the peace. In 1888 he was the nominee 
of the Democratic party for prosecuting 
attorney of Huron county, and went within 
327 votes of being elected. He has served 
in the council of Plymouth, and takes an 
active part in all public affairs. He is 
also popular in social circles, and is a mem- 
ber of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F. 

His marriage with Louise Strong, daugh- 
ter of E. D. Strong, took place at Ply- 
mouth September 13, 1882. To them 
thiee children wei'e born, namely: Ross 
S., Henry S. and Frank R., but the death 
of the latter occurred September 4, 1893. 
Mr. Gulp's law practice is not confined by 
any means to Huron, but extends through- 
out the four or five adjoining counties. 
The business of the office is almost ex- 
clusively in civil law, of which Mr. Gulp 
is au able e.xponent, and in the practice of 
which he is very prominent. 



CHESTER S. HOWE, a well-known 
resident of Peru township, was born 
September 9, 1818, in Fleming, 
Cayuo;a county, New York. 
His father, Titus Howe, was also a na- 
tive jof that place, born November 14, 
1793, and in early life learned the trade of 
carpenter and joiner. On May 26, 1814, 
he was united in marriage with Almira 
Hicks, and they became the parents of the 
following children: Nelson A., horn Aug- 
ust 18, 1816; Ghester S., subjectof sketch; 
Marion P., born February 25, 1821; 
Edwin R., born October 5, 1823; Helen 
M., born February 1, 1830; Almira M., 
born November 14, 1833; Julia E., born 



May 5, 1837; Amelia V., born October 22, 
1839; and Oscar S., born April 28, 1843. 
Titus Howe had visited the Far "West 
prior to 1834, in which year he came west- 
ward with his wife and family (then con- 
sisting of six children), making a location 
where the beautiful town of Batavia, Kane 
Go., 111., now stands. The journey was 
made in a wagon, the route being through 
northern Ohio, southern Michigan, north- 
ern Indiana and Cook county. 111., to the 
banks of Fox river. In 1836 the family 
moved twenty miles southward to what is 
now Kendall county. On leaving Cayuga 
county, N. Y., Mr. Howe took with him a 
set of sawmill tools, which he used in a 
mill he erected on Fox river. Later he 
erected a saw and grist mill at Yorkville, 
Kendall county, and was the pioneer in 
the use of water-power there. He took an 
important part in the development of this 
rich little county of Illinois, and at his 
death, which occurred August 25, 1867, in 
Yorkville, the community mourned the 
decease of an honest citizen. In politics 
he was originally a Democrat, but after 
the commencement of the Rebellion he 
became a Republican. Mrs. Howe passed 
away March 5, 1873. 

Chester S. Howe accompanied his father 
to Illinois in 1834, worked with him in 
the sawmill on Fox river, and later m the 
saw and grist mill at Yorkville. In Feb- 
ruary, 1838, he decided to go east, and 
acting on this determination came to Peru 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, that month. 
He resided one year with his maternal 
grandfather, Daniel B. Hicks, and at- 
tended the school at Milan, Ohio. In the 
spring of 1839 he revisited Illinois, where 
he remained a year, then returning to 
Ohio he Avorked at the carpenter's trade, 
and during the winter of 1840-41 taught 
school in Norwich township, Huron county, 
having previously taught a school in 
Greenfield township. In 1841 he entered 
the employ of Alonzo Fox, as clerk in his 
general store. In September of that year 
he started on a southern journey with two 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



431 



friends, but at Cincinnati he and one of 
the friends left the other, visited Lexing- 
ton and Louisville (Ky.), and thence pro- 
ceeded by river, via Cairo, St. Louis and 
La Salle, to his father's western iioine at 
Yorkville. In the spring of 1842 he re- 
turned to Ohio, and entered the employ of 
Boalt & Gibbs, merchants. In 1846 he 
became Mr. Boalt's partner, and subse- 
quently became sole owner of the stock. 
In 1859 he purchased a farm in Peru 
township, and followed agricultural life 
until 1878, when he moved to Macksville, 
where he has since made his home. 

On June 7, 1846, Mr. Howe was united 
in marriatre with Miss Harriet Barker, 
who was born April 11, 1822, in Cayuga 
county, N. Y. In 1828 she was brought 
by her parents to Bronson township, Huron 
Co., Ohio, where she received her educa- 
tion, and passed the remainder of her life. 
Two children were born to this marriage, 
namely: Albert B.. born March 16, 1847, 
and who died December 17, 1850; and 
Frank, born December 5, 1851, and was 
married February 20. 1873, to Eva, daugh- 
ter of William and Einilene Akers (their 
children are Lela M., born January 12, 
1877, and Sarah E., born February 3, 
1879). Mrs. Harriet Howe died Septem- 
ber 27, 1892. Mr. Howe, in politics, is a 
member of the Democratic party. 




grandson of (xer- 
born April 29, 
)wn of Hunter, 
^ (jrreene county, New York. 

Gersham Griffin was a farmer 
of Westchester county, N. Y ., at the be- 
ginning of the Revolutionary war, and 
suffered repeatedly from marauding par- 
ties of the British soldiery. On one occa- 
sion he was plowing in a cornfield, whei 
some British cavalry galloped forward and 
seized upon the only horse he possessed. 
On sundry occasions they visited the farm, 
destroying fences and burning what they 



could not carry away. It is not known 
why he did not enter the Continental line, 
but his young wife and family probably 
restrained him, or mayhap some political 
notions may have militated against his 
service witii the patriots. Whatever the 
cause, he did not serve in the army, but 
removed with his wife and children to 
Greene county, N. Y., where he hoped the 
wilderness would not only shelter them 
from the wrath of war, but would also 
enable him to make a new property as 
good as that which he abandoned. Ten 
days before his death, in 1831, as a patient, 
he made his first acquaintance with a phy- 
sician, but medical aid was useless, for his 
race was run, and he passed away at the 
age of eighty-eight years, one month and 
two days. 

Abijah Griffin, son of this old pioneer, 
was born in Westchester county, N. Y"., 
August 28, 1773, and when eighteen years 
old was brought by his parents into Greene 
county. There he grew to manhood, and 
in 1795 married Abigail Bloomer, who 
was born in Westchester county, N. Y"., 
June 5, 1770, and when twenty-one years 
old came to Greene county with her par- 
ents, who, like the Griffins, were pioneers 
of that section of New Y^ork. To this 
marriaiie came the following named cliil- 
dren: Esther, born July 8, 1796, married 
Joseph H. Miller, and died in New Y'^ork 
State in 1843; Ezekiel. born October 21, 
1799. settled in Ohio in 1836, and died in 
Greenwich township, Huron county, in 
1872; Phoebe, born June 4, 1803, married 
James Williamson, of Fitrhville township, 
Huron county, and died in 1881 (she was 
the mother of J. A. Williamson, a leading 
attorney of the Huron county bar); Tamer, 
born April 15, 1806, married Jeremiah 
Kingsbury, in Greenwich township, and 
died there in 1855; Robert B., born June 
11, 1809, a farmer and carpenter, died in 
Greenwich township, August 9, 1891, and 
Riley, the subject of this sketch. 

Ill May, 1833, the father of this family 
visited Ohio, to examine the lands of 



432 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



Huron county. Selecting a tract of one 
hundred acres in Greenwich townsliip, he 
purchased it for four hundred dollars, re- 
turned to Greene county, and in Septem- 
ber followinir hrought his wife and chil- 
dren (excepting Esther and Ezekiel) to take 
possession of their Ohio home. The 
journey was made via canal and lake to 
the village of Huron, and thence by wagon 
to Greenwich township. The weatlier be- 
ing stormy, the boat on which they traveled 
from Buffalo to Huron was driven to tlie 
Canadian shores, where it lay for two days, 
rather than risk a trip across the lake. The 
land wliich Mr. Griffin purchased was 
slightly improved, a small log cabin in a 
small clearing indicating that some pioneer 
had been there before. Some short time 
after settling here another tract of one 
hundred acres, op|iosite the first tract, was 
purchased for ten dollars per acre, and to 
the new land the family removed their 
residence. A new house was erected 
tliereon by his sons, and tliere the father 
died in May, 1856. His remains were in- 
terred in Fitchville cemetery, in or near 
the grave where his wife was buried, she 
having died November 20, 1840. Both 
were Methodists, and in politics Abijah 
Griffin voted with the Whigs. 

Riley Griffin was born April 29, 1812, 
and passed his boyhood on the farm and 
in attending winter school. When a youth 
he learned the carpenter's trade, bnt still 
continued to give his attention to books. 
He taught school for ten dollars per month 
in New York State, and after settling in 
Greenwich township taught one term there 
and two terms in Fitchville, the highest 
salary paid being fifteen dollars per month 
anil "boarding round." On January 21, 
1839, he was united in marriage with 
Pliilena Washburn, who was born June 
8, 1817, in Ulster county, N. Y., and was 
brought by her parents, Henry and Mary 
Washburn, to Greenwich township in 
1819. To this marriage came the follow- 
ing: Mary, born February 10, 1840, died 
December 5, 1882; Hialmer, born May 6, 



1842, a farmer of Fitchville township, 
Huron county; Ermina, born July 18, 

1843, Mrs. T. W. Fancher, of Lorain 
county; Corwin, born June 7, 1845, a 
physician of Clyde, Ohio, and Stanley, 
born May 20, 1848, proprietor of the 
"Hotel Griffin," Lorain, Ohio. The 
motlier of this family died February 20, 
1863, and was interred in the family burial 
ground, in the northeast corner of Green- 
wich cemetery. On January 21, 1864, he 
married, forbis second wife, Mrs. Mary Jane 
(Carl) Baker, who was born November 22, 
1813, at Salem, N. Y., whence in 1815 she 
was taken by her parents, AVilliam and 
Martha (Weed) Carl, to Greenwich, Conn. 
In 1830 the family moved to Greenwich 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, where the 
father purchased one hundred acres at one 
dollar per acre, and here ]\Iary J. Carl 
married Marshall Baker, and after his death 
united with Mr. Griffin. They knew each 
other in their youthful days. 

In 1834 Riley Griffin located on the 
second tract of one hundred acres purchased 
by his father, while Robert B., a brother 
who also married about that time, located 
on the first tract. The highway alone 
separated the bi'others' farms, and for 
twenty-two years they worked as one man. 
The earnings of the two farms were equally 
divided annually, and this division closed 
the year's business. Riley Griffin resided 
on the second tract until 1876, when he 
moved to the town of Greenwich, where he 
has since lived a semi-retired life. The 
trade of carpenter, which he learned in 
his youth, enabled him to build his own 
houses, fences, etc. This ti-ade, with his 
natural aptitude for agriculture and pro- 
verbial industry, brought him wealth, so 
that now he can enjoy the reward of his 
early labor. In politics formerly a Whig, 
he became a Republican on the formation 
of the party, and was one of the first four- 
teen men in Greenwich township who 
voted tile new ticket. He is a great 
reader of newspapers, and is well versed 
in the political history of the United 



iiuitoyr COUNTY, ouio. 



438 



States. His memory of dates and events 
is phenomenal, and for a man of liis age 
there are few who can be compared with 
hiiti in physical and mental strength. He 
has held several township oftices, but he 
had no political aspirations. In religious 
connection Mr. and Mrs. Griffin attend 
the Metliodist Episcopal Church, and they 
are in every way worthy of the esteem in 
which they are held. 



CALVERT A. MEAD is descended 
from one of three Welsh brothers 
who were early settlers of Huron 
county. His father, Edmund Mead, 
was born in 1788, in Putnam county, N. 
Y., and reared on a farm. He received a 
good education, and was private secretary 
to a captain during the war of 1812. He 
was married in his native State to Rachel 
Knapp, who was born in Delaware county, 
N. Y., and came to Ohio in an early day. 
After moving to Ohio Edmund Mead 
bought 125 acres of land, situated one and 
one half miles southeast of Norwalk. 
About the year 1832 he bought a tract of 
150 acres in Section 2, Bronson township, 
a log house and a few tillable acres being 
the only improvement then made. To 
this family were born nine children — four 
sons and five daughters — of whom five are 
yet living, viz.: Mrs. Elizabeth A. Mit- 
chell and Mrs. Almira A. Merwin, both of 
whom reside in California; Alfred G., a 
farmer, surveyor and miller, of Michigan 
(^has a family of five sons and two daugh- 
ters); Charles E., living in Oklahoma (has 
one son and four daughters), and Calvert 
A. The father was an active worker in the 
Whig and Republican parties. He died 
in 1876 at the age of eighty-eight years, 
and in 1878 the mother was laid beside 
him, having passed her eighty-eighth year. 
Calvert A. Mead was born June 9, 1834, 
on the home farm in Bronsun township. 
He attended the common schools, and 
from early youth has been associated with 



agricultural pursuits, having had charge 
of the home place since his twenty-fourth 
year. On March 24, 1857, he was united 
in marriage with Ellen M., daughter of Eri 
Mesnard, and she has borne him the fol- 
lowing children: Ijyron L., Albert S., Ger- 
trude L., Clayton B., Henry B. and Frank 
L. ; they also have an adopted son, Charles 
W. Of these children one is in Toledo, 
Ohio, two are living in Illinois, one in 
Buffalo, and Frank L., the youngest, died 
September 29, 1893. 

In 1876 Mr. Mead erected a commodious 
residence, situated on one of the most 
beautiful and picturesque spots in Huron 
county. He has been a very successful 
farmer, and has made many substantial 
improvements on the place. In politics he 
has been a Republican since the organiza- 
tion of that party, having cast his first 
ballot for John C. Fremont. 




RESTON PALMER, a descendant 
of one of the most deserving pio- 
neer families of Huron county, was 
born January 6, 1834, in Fiteh- 
ville township. 
The first of the family in America lo- 
cated in New England at the close of tiie 
seventeenth century, and his descendants 
were still residing there when the fertile 
lands of Ohio were first opened to settle- 
ment. Samuel Palmer, grandfather of 
subject, was born in 1758 in Fairfield 
county, Connecticut. 

Samuel Palmer, son of Samuel, was born 
September 12, 1799, in Connecticut, re- 
ceived an elementary education in the 
school of his native place, and grew to 
manhood there. One of his brothers, 
Alvah, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and 
received 200 acres of tiieConnecticut "Fire- 
lands " in Ohio. Another brother, Randall, 
visited Ohio in 1817 or 1818, making his 
home there, and in the spring of 1819 
Samuel, accompanied by Randall Palmer's 
wife and her four children with his sister 



434 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Hannah, set out for Ohio. They traveled 
in a wagon drawn by an ox and a cow with 
a gray mare as leader of the team. Owing 
to wet weather, the greatest care had to be 
taken in fording the rivers and streams en 
route, and the greatest patience exercised 
in ci'ossing marshy spots on the road. The 
party arrived safely in Huron county after 
being seventy-five days on the road. Often 
friendly Indians helped them out of the 
swamps during their journey, and ever 
after tlie travelers were kind to the Red- 
man. Along the route young Samuel 
killed sufficient game to keep up the supply 
of fresh meat, while from the pioneers they 
bought corn or ''johnny-cake." Samuel 
Palmer became the first school teacher in 
Fitchville township. 

In October, 1832, he married Eliza O. 
Ourtiss, who was born on Long Island, N. 
Y., October 7, 1815. Her father, William 
P. Curtiss, was a minister of the Protest- 
ant Episcopal Church until his death from 
cholera in 1828, and his two daughters 
were brought to Ohio by their uncle, 
Chester Manville, who settled in Wake- 
man township, Huron county. To this 
marriage were born the following-named 
children: Preston, the subject of this 
sketch; Marcus C, born February 19, 1839, 
who died leaving a family; and Samuel L., 
born November 17, 1841, deceased in 
youth. The mother of these children died 
May 2, 1842, and was buried in Fitchville 
township. On October 29. 1844, Mr. 
Palmer married Anna P. Lyon, who was 
born in Cayuga county, N. Y., where the 
marriage took place. Tiie children born 
to this marriage are named as follows: 
Eliza, born September 1,1848; Samuel E., 
born August 1, 1851, and Anna. The 
last named three children died in youth, 
and on September 27, 1876, their mother 
passed away. The father died December 
5, 1882, and the remains of both lie in the 
Fitchville cemetery. Mr. Palmer was a 
farmer even during the years when he 
taught school in Fitchville township. As 
a horticulturist he was well known, for he 



brought fruit-tree seeds from the East, and 
set out the first nursery in the township. 
He read every book, pamphlet and news- 
paper which came to his hand, and was 
particularly devoted to Bible reading. A 
supporter of the Congregational Church, 
and in early years a trustee in that Church, 
the latch-string of liis home was always 
out tor preachers of that denomination. 
An unflinching Abolitionist, he was a 
''conductor on the Underground Rail-^ 
way,'' at times concealing from ten to fif- 
teen negroes round the home, until he 
could forward them to Canada. In 1856 
he joined the Republicans, and remained 
with that party tbe rest of his life. He 
was a most successful farmer, and highly 
esteemed in his district. 

Preston Palmer was reared in the man- 
ner common to pioneer boys in Ohio at his 
time. The common school existed when 
he was of school age, and in that of his 
district he received a rudimentary educa- 
tion, being a student at the time when 
school was held in nine distinct houses, 
and at irregular periods. At the age of 
fourteen years his labor on the farm was 
deemed more necessary than his education, 
and from the spring of 1848 to the sum- 
mer of 1850 he worked steadily as a farm 
hand. In 1850 he began to learn the 
coach painter's trade under Jacob Loomis, 
of Cleveland, and worked as journeyman 
painter throughout southern Ohio in 
1851-52, and part of 1853, when he re- 
turned to Fitchville township and resumed 
farming. 

On Jnne 26, 1859, he married Elthina 
Crane (daughter of Chauncey Crane), a 
native of Fitchville township, who died 
August 27, 1890, without issue. On June 
11, 1892, Mr. Palmer married Mrs. Jo- 
hanna (Van Vechten) Smith, daughter of 
Dr. D. D. Van Vechten, formerly of Alle- 
gany county, N. Y. Mr. Palmer has not 
devoted his whole life to agriculture. In 
June, 1863, he was summarily summoned 
from industry to war, and enlisted in an 
artillery company at Cleveland, Ohio, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



435 



wliich was dissolved by Gov. Tod. On 
July 20, 1863, he enlisted in CoTiipany M, 
First (). H. A., known also as the One 
Hundred and Seventeenth 0. V. I., trans- 
formed into an artillery regiment by order 
of May 2, 1863. He was engaged in the 
construction of the works at Covington 
and IS^ewport for the protection of Cincin- 
nati, and also served at Alexandria atid 
P'ort Whittlesey until the end of January, 
1864, when tlie command proceeded to 
Point Burnside, Tenn. At the close of 
February the order to move toward Knox- 
ville was observed, but, on that terrible 
march over the mountains, Mr. Palmer's 
strength failed, and he was left at a farm 
house to be cared for. About the last of 
March he joined the company at Knox- 
ville, and on April 6 was assigned to serv- 
ice on the engineer corps under Lieutenant 
Steruberger. In July, 1864, he was 
stricken with malarial fever, and trans- 
ferred to hospital at Knoxville, where he 
remained until discharged. May 26, 1865. 
Returning from the war, he resumed farm- 
ing on the old homestead, and has won 
success as an agriculturist. A Republican, 
he is one of the counsellors of the party in 
his county, is well posted on public mat- 
ters, and being a man of sound judgment 
and common sense his opinion is often 
sought in public affairs and in many pri- 
vate concerns. 



EORGE VAN HORN, one of the 
y pushing, vvide-awake citizens of Ha- 



r. 

V^li vana, and a prosperous mer<duint 
^^ of the town, of which he is also 
postmaster, is a native of Norwich 
township, Huron county, born in 1857. 

William H. Van Horn, father of sub- 
ject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1827, a 
son of William D. Van Horn, also a 
native of the Keystone State, bcirn of Ger- 
man ancestry. William H. was a carpen- 
ter and builder, and came to Ohio when a 
young man. He married a Miss Hicks, 
by whom there were seven children. 



The subject of these lines received a 
liberal education at the public schools of 
Norwich township, and was thoroughly 
trained to the arduous duties of farm life 
until the age of seventeen, at which time 
he commenced clerking for his uncle, F. 
Van Horn, in Havana, Huron county, with 
whom he remained eleven years. Then 
for six years he was a partner with his 
uncle, after which he bought his uncle out, 
and commenced business for himself. He 
is a thoroughly representative self-made 
man, having risen from very small l)e- 
ginnings, by his own indefatigable energy, 
to his present position of comparative 
affluence. In his political preferences 
Mr. Van Horn is a stanch Republican, and 
on February 22, 1889, he was appointed 
postmaster at Havana. In religions faith 
he is a member of the Universalist Church. 



El LI O. ELLIS, a worthy descendant 
of pioneers of Vermont and north- 
I ern Ohio, was born November 28, 

1825, on the farm in Peru town- 
ship, where he now resides. 

Andrew Ellis, grandfather of Eli O., 
was a farmer of Essex county, Vt., and in 
connection .with agriculture carried on the 
manufacture of lampblack, in which he 
was assisted by his children, whose names 
are Mary, Andrew, Freeman, William, 
Apollis, Joseph Cornelius and Lyman. 
Lyman Ellis was born about 1795, on 
the home farm in Vermont. When a 
youth he served with tlie troops of his 
State in tlie war of 1812 as a substitute 
for his father. Before and after that con- 
flict he worked in the lampblack factory, 
and tlion learned the cooper's trade. In 
1820 he determined to see for himself 
what truth there was in the reports from 
Ohio, and made the journey tliither on 
foot, carrying with liim all liis property. 
Locating for awhile in Lorain countY, near 
Black River, he satisfied himself that Flor- 
ence (now Berlin), Sandusky county, offered 



436 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



greater advantages to liiin, and thither he 
proceeded. There he married Annie Wil- 
son, a native of Hebron, Wasiiington Co., 
N. Y., near tlie Vermont line, daughter of 
Asa Wilson, and who came with her par- 
ents to Ohio in 1820. Dnring the jour- 
ney they encountered a very heavy snow- 
storm, the ground being covered to a depth 
of two feet, and malving it necessary for 
the travelers to obtain the small limbs of 
trees to feed to the cattle. In 1820 Asa 
Wilson purchased 500 acres in Peru town- 
ship, Huron county, at five dollars per 
acre, and built a rude cabin thereon, where 
he dwelt with his wife and family. Lyman 
Ellis died in 1864; his widow followed 
him to the grave in 1883, and both are 
buried in the Wilson family cemetery. 
Mr. Ellis was one of the early Methodists, 
and was class-leader for a number of years, 
until he and his wife renounced Method- 
ism and embraced the Free will Baptist 
doctrine. In politics he was originally a 
Democrat, but voting for Fremont in 1856 
he remained thereafter a consisterit Repub- 
lican until his death. 

Eli O. Ellis, like other pioneer boys, 
passed his youth in farm work, in school 
or in play, there being always a surplus of 
work present. When a youth he was 
sent to a school at Norwalk; but mechan- 
ics and agriculture being more in conso- 
nance with his nature than clerical work, it 
is not a matter for surprise to find him 
again on the farm, sharing in the work of 
clearing and cultivating. When the San- 
dusky & Mansfield Eailroad was surveyed 
young Ellis was rodmaii for John Webb, 
the surveyor. Being a natural mechanic, 
he worked at various trades until 1847. 
On May 23, that year, he married Miss 
Hannah Gordon, a native of New York, 
and to this marriage the following-named 
children were born: Emma, Mrs. William 
F. Robinson, of Norwich township, and 
Adelbert D., who died when eleven years 
old. Mrs. Hannah Ellis died in 1862, 
and Mr. Ellis in 1864 married Sarah L. 
Clement, who bore him two children, 



Clayton and Elbert M., both residing 
here. After the death of Mrs. Sarah L. 
Ellis, who was killed by the cars in 1881, 
he married Mrs. Mary Millis. After his 
first marriage our subject settled on the 
home farm, which he had aided his father 
in clearing, and here he has resided for 
over forty-five years. Some years ago he 
was injured by a runaway horse, and since 
that time has done no active farm work, 
although he still attends to the direction 
and management of all his interests. Mr. 
Ellis is an independent thinker, and will 
not be held by party bonds unless the 
principle and deeds of the party appear to 
him to be wise. He was a Republican 
prior to the passage of the McKinley Bill, 
and is now allied with the People's party. 
Though he has been honored with town- 
ship offices since twenty-three years of age, 
be is not a politician in the sense that an 
office seeker is; for he can speak fluently 
and intelligently on all sides of a political 
question regardless of sympathy with it, 
and indeed can ably bring out the good 
and bad points in the lives of local and 
national statesmen. 



L 



P. SISSON, a retired farmer of 
Greenwich township, was born Feb- 
ruary 15, 1823, in Wayne county, 
N. Y., a sou of Sanford Sisson, who 
was born in Rhode Island, but when seven 
years old accompanied his father, Jabez 
Sisson, to Rensselaer county, N.Y., where 
he grew to manhood. 

When a young man Sanford married 
Flaviah West, a native of Rensselaer 
county, and they moved to Wayne county 
in pioneer times, residing there until 1827, 
when the family came to Ohio. They 
located in Ripley township. Huron county, 
where the father purchased 114 acres of 
land, upon which he erected a rude log 
house. The old settlers of Huron can 
form an idea of the courage of these pio- 
neers in entering Ripley township at that 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



43'; 



time. It was a veritable wilderness, the 
favorite haunt of deer and other large 
game, and Mr. Sisson, it is related, has 
stood in one place and killed three deer at 
a time. The bear and wolf were regular 
visitants, and wild turkey abounded. To 
Sanford and P'laviah Sisson fourteen chil- 
dren were born, of wbom two are now 
living, namely: L. P., the subject of this 
sketch, and Augustus, of Ft. Payne, Ala. 
Arnold, the last one whose death is re- 
corded, died in 1893 in Hastings, Mich. 
The father died in Ripley township iti 
1859, his widow in Barry county, ]\[ich., 
in 1862, each being buried in the place of 
death. Mr. Sisson was a Whig, and took 
an active part in the political contests of 
his time. 

L. P. Sisson was nearly five years old 
when his parents moved to Huron county. 
He attended a winter school, taught by one 
of his sisters in a rude log building, and 
when school days were over entered on 
farm woik. On December 15, 1844, lie 
married Elizabetii Mills, who was born 
Decembers, 1822, in Wayne county, N. Y., 
daughter of Nathaniel Mills, who settled 
in Ohio with his familj' about the year 
1838. The children of this marriage were 
Willis N., a fanner of Greenwich township; 
Frances Josephine, Mrs. D. D. Washburn; 
Sanford H., a farmer of Greenwich town- 
ship; Emma F., who died when nineteen 
years old; Lucius A., residing at home; 
Oscar L., living in Greenwich township; 
Addie L., who died young; William E.. a 
farmer of Greenwich township, and Jennie 
A.. Mrs. Charles McMillen, of Berea, 
Ohio. After liis marriage Mr. Sisson 
worked on his father's farm for three 
years, and then as a tenant for U. B. 
Thomas. In 1850 he pnrcliased fifty acres 
in Xew London township; in 1853 he 
took up liis residence on the old Mills 
homestead, where he continued to live till 
October 31. 1893, when he moved to the 
village of Greenwich. In politics origin- 
ally a Whig, he has been a Republican 
from the organization of the new party. 



and has held various township offices, being 
always earnest and faithful in the perform- 
ance of his duties. He has been a most 
successful farmer and stock grower, but 
live years ago lie practically retired, and he 
now enjoys the ease and peace which 
generally follow economy and intelligent 
labor. 

E' G. E. EASTMAN, who was born 
April 17, 1838, in Bronson town- 
I ship, is a son of Seba Eastman, 

born July 18, 1798, near Rutland, 
Vt. Seba Eastman was married, Novem- 
ber 26, 1830, to Keziah Edson, who was 
born December 8, 1801, near Charlestown, 
Massachusetts. 

Starting in life Seba sold a valuable 
team of horses for four hundred dollars, 
but was cheated out of three hundred and 
ninety-five dollars of this sum. the balance 
of which, five dollars, he invested in a 
Bible, which is now in the possession ot 
his son. The incident is given to show 
the intensity of the faith, as it i)urned 
among the Green Mountains at the begin- 
ning of this century. Before leaving Ver- 
mont two cliiidren were born to Seba and 
Keziah Eastman — Caroline E. and Keziah 
A. — both of whom were brought west by 
their parents in 1832. The family traveled 
by the Erie Canal and lake to Ohio, and 
first located in Lykius township, Crawford 
county, but in the fall of 1832 made a 
permanent settlement in Huron county. 
()f their children who came with them to 
Ohio, Caroline, who married Alonzo 
Adams, died December 9, 1869, and 
Keziah, who became the wife of Myron 
D. Stevens, resides in Michigan. The fol- 
lowing children were born after their set- 
tlement in Ohio: E. G. E. ; Seba A., a 
fanner of Greenfield township, and James 
A., who enlisted when sixteen years old in 
Company C, Twenty-fifth O. V. I., and 
died in South (-arolina. The father died 
of apoplexy July 4. 1850, his widow on 
May 6, 1877, ami both are buried in 
Centre cemetery. 



438 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



E. G. E. Eastman received a primary 
education in the schools of his native town- 
ship. On the death of iiis fatlier he began 
wori< as a farm hand at six dollars per 
month, and with this small pay labored 
each summer until 1854, when he and his 
brother formed a partnership, and later, 
with their mother, purcliased sixty acres 
of land which now forms a part of his 
estate. In 1859 Mr. Eastman moved to 
Fulton county, Ohio, where he remained 
one year, and then, returning, resided with 
his mother until her death. 

On January 3, 1878, he married Mary 
J. Kendall, who was born June 19, 1845, 
at Amity, Orange Co., N. Y., daughter of 
Amos Kendall, who broujcht his family to 
Huron county in 1846. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Eastman have been born the following 

o 

named children: EfRe G., Grace E., Gary 
E., Amos K., and one who died in infancy. 
With the exception of one year passed in 
Bronson townsliip, and two years on one 
of the tracts in Peru township, the family 
have resided on the old farm, purcliased 
about 1854. Mr. Eastman is non-partisan 
in politics. His idea is to place honest 
men in office, and this accomplished the 
laws will be observed strictly, improve- 
ments carried out economically, and taxa- 
tion reiluced to a minimum. He takes 
special pride in being known as an indus- 
trious, frugal man, who has, in fact, made 
a valuable property by his own intelligent 
labor. 




EV. HENEY G. SUTTER, pastor 
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church 
of Bellevue, was born February 12, 
1857, at Sugar Grove, Fairfield 
county, Ohio. 
His parents, John J. and Eva (Hoffman) 
Sutter, natives of Switzerland and Wur- 
temberg (Germany), respectively, came to 
the United States when children, and to 
their marriage four daughters and one son 
were born. John J. Sutter was a German 
Evangelical Lutheran minister, and 



preached in Fairfield county the greater 
part of his life, but also served charges at 
Clyde, Marion and Bellevue, Ohio, after- 
wai'd. Rev. John J. Sutter died January 
4, 1884. Mrs. Eva Sutter resides with her 
son, Henry G., at Bellevue. 

Our subject was educated in the schools 
of his native place, and completed a liberal 
course of study in the Capital University, 
Columbus, Ohio, from which institute he 
graduated in 1880. Entering the German 
Lutheran Seminar}' at Columbus, he grad- 
uated thence in 1883, and was ordained at 
Attica, Seneca county. In April, same year, 
he took charge of the church at Attica, and 
introduced preaching in both German and 
English, German having been used exclu- 
sively in the pulpit up to that time. In 18S4 
he was called by the Bellevue congregation, 
and this with two congregations in the 
district he serv^es most satisfactorily. He 
is one of the ablest of the younger minis- 
ters of the Lutheran denomination in Ohio. 

Rev. Henry G. Sutter was married Sep- 
tember 18, 1884, to Miss Minnie Rut- 
hardt, born in New York City, October 25, 
1861, whose parents were both natives of 
Wurtemberg, Germany. To this union 
were born four children, namely: Fred- 
erick, Gertrude, Walter and Hortense. 



JOSEPH F. SMITH, grandson of 
Josejih Smith, was born April 1, 
1849, in Peru township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, and received his primary edu- 
cation in the common schools. Later heat- 
tended Bryant & Felton's Business Col- 
lege at Cleveland, Ohio, whence he 
graduated. 

Returning to his native county, he 
worked on his father's farm for some time, 
then entered the employ of William & A. 
W. Prentiss at Monroeville, where he was 
a clerk for eighteen months, until stricken 
with small-pox. Abandoning business he 
returned to the home farm. In 1876 he 
came into possession of the home place, 
and on May 14, 1877, was married to Miss 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



439 



Mary Amend, wlio was born in Havana, 
Ohio, a daughter of Frank Aiiieiid, farmer 
of Norwich township. The children born 
to this marriage are Joseph, Clarence and 
Amelia, all residing at home. Since his 
marriage he has resided on the home farm, 
which is part of the "Old Johnson Farm." 
Mr. Smith is one of the prominent agri- 
culturists and stock growers of the county, 
is very popular among the Germans of 
his neighborhood, and is a highly respected 
citizen of his community. Ilis farm and 
buildings tell, at a glance, how far system 
in agriculture goes toward success. The 
ancestry of the family is recorded in the 
biograpiiy of Mr. Frank J. Smith, of Peru 
township, a brother of our subject. Mr. 
Smith gives the Democratic party his un- 
flinching loyalty; but beyond the time de- 
voted to the municipal interests of the 
townsliip he does not permit politics to 
interfere with his business interests. The 
family are members of the Catholic 
Church. 



fl( RTHIIR WILLOUGHBY, who 
l[l\ during his lifetime was one of the 
Ir^ nn)St progressive citizens of Rich- 
■fj mond township, was a native of 

Harrison county, Ohio, born near 
the present town of Xew Hagerstown. 
He was the fourth child of James and 
Margaret (Patterson) Willoughby, the 
former of whom was born in Washington 
county, Penn., the latter in Ireland, whence 
when a young girl she came with her par- 
ents to America, locating in Harrison 
county, Ohio, where they were pioneers. 

James Willoughby was a farmer in Har- 
rison county, whither he too had come with 
his parents in pioneer times, and where he 
was married. While living in Harrison 
county three children were born to them, 
as follows: Catherine, who was married 
to John Bingham, and died in Seneca 
county, Ohio; Robert, a farmer of Rich- 
mond township, and Ai'thur, the subject 
proper of this memoir. About 1829 this 



family settled in the woods of Seneca 
county, at which time the vicinity 
abounded with wild animals — bear, deer, 
wild cats, turkeys, etc. The journey, 
which was made by wagon, was very diffi- 
cult, and in some places they even had to 
cut their own roads through the country. 
He purchased land at one dollar and 
twenty-five cents per acre, and made some 
money acting as guide for land seekers; he 
also speculated to some extent, with the 
hard-earned money he had accumulated in 
Harrison county, and had some success in 
that line. His ability as a marksman, 
with an old flint-lock rifle, was really re- 
markable, and many were the wild ani- 
mals which fell before it. Two more chil- 
dren were born in Seneca county: Rel)ecca, 
now Mrs. Chauncy Reed, of Michigan, 
and Jane, widow of William Gardner, also 
residing in Michigan. Mr. Willoughby 
died June 22, 1834, and was buried at 
Attica, Seneca county; he was indeed a 
pioneer in his section. His widow was 
afterward married to Jacob Courtwright, 
to whom she bore one child, Jacob, who is 
now a liveryman of Attica, Seneca county. 
They resided in Norwich township, and 
she lived for a number of years afterward, 
dying April 17, 1865. 

Arthur Willoughby was born February 
27, 1825, was reared to farm life, and, as 
his step-father did not believe in much 
education, received during his early youth 
but little school training. When seven- 
teen years old he left home, with but few 
clothes and a small amount of money, and 
took up his abode with Major La Rue, in 
Venice township, Seneca county, where he 
workecl as a farm hand. Here he also at- 
tended school. He was a good worker, and 
received nine dollars a month for his serv- 
ices, prior to which he had split rails for 
fifty cents a hundred. In the fall of 1852 
he married Mary .lane Ringle, born in 
Carroll county, daughter of George and 
Catherine (Pottorf) Ringle, and the young 
couple settled in Norwich township on 
one hundred acres of land, which he had 



440 



HUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



purchased at eleven dollars per acre. He 
had previously bouglit eome land in Wy- 
andot county, Ohio, and selling this at a 
profit, he was able, with the proceeds and 
one hundred dollars which his wife re- 
ceived from her home, to pay all but one 
hundred dollars of the eleven hundred dol- 
lars, the price of the new land. It was 
then entirely in the woods, and contained 
a log house in which the family njade 
their home for eighteen years. From time 
to tinrie additions were made to this land, 
and in 1869 an elegant brick residence 
was erected across the road in Richmond 
township. The following children came to 
bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur 
"Willougiiby: Simon A., a former resident 
of Keno county, Kans., where he died 
April 28, 1893, leaving a widow and three 
children (he was a member of the Kansas 
State Board of Pardons, and in an obituary 
notice of him in a local paper we lind the 
following: " For several years he had been 
a very active man in politics, and labored 
with an intelligence and earnestness in the 
new political movement that marked him 
as one of its leaders. He was yet a young 
man, and would have made a good official 
record had his life lieen spared "); Harry 
E., of Cincinnati, an electrician in the em- 
ploy of the Electric Kailroad; Willie M., 
a shoe merchant of Chicago, Ohio; Alice 
M., Mrs. Cyrus Everingim, of Attica, 
Ohio; Charley L., a farmer of Richmond 
township; Clara B., a school teacher, a 
highly educated lady; and Walter J., at- 
tending school. 

The father of this family passed from 
earth August 21, 1889; his death was sud- 
den and rather unexpected, as he had al- 
ways been a robust man, never ill for a 
day. For eight years previous, to his de- 
cease he had made his home in Attica, 
Seneca county, in order to educate his 
children, and here he lived a very retired 
life. At the time of his death Mr. Will- 
ougiiby owned an elegant home and 375 
acres of excellent land. In politics he was 
a Democrat, and one of the leaders of the 



party in his section; in religious belief he 
was a member of the M. P. Church, in 
which he held the office of steward. He 
was in many ways an active man; even in 
his early youth he understood the value of 
knowledge, and this occasioned the dis- 
cord between him and his step-father 
wliich caused him to leave home to seek 
an education. He continued to hold these 
opinions all his life, and as his family grew 
up he affijrded each member ample op- 
portunities for an education, of which they 
were not slow to take advantage. As a 
family and as individuals the Willoughbys 
stand second to none in the county. After 
the death of her liusband Mrs. Willoughby 
returned to the home in Richmond town- 
ship, where she has ever since resided. 
She is a member of the M. P. Church, and 
is one of the most highly respected ladies 
in the community in which she resides. 



OLE. Of the families of this name 
in Bronson and Norwalk townships, 
the earliest ancestor of whom there 
is authentic record was one John 
Cole, born in 1670, in England, whose 
son, also named John, was born in 1705, 
in "that tight little island," and came to 
America in old Colonial days, passing the 
later portion of his life in Connecticut. 
He was twice married, first time to a sister 
of Benjamin Franklin, his second wife be- 
ing Mary Brown. John Cole was the 
father of six children — two sons and four 
daughters — the eldest of whom was John, 
the second son being named Thomas. The 
latter was born August 25, 1735, in Wind- 
ham county. Conn., and on December 7, 
1757, was united in marriage to Miriam 
Kinne, who bore him the following-named 
children: Silas, Amos, Spencer, Levi, 
Thomas, Jeremy, Samuel, Mary, Eunice 
and Marion. The descendants of this fam- 
ily are very numerous, and are scattered 
throughout the many portions of the 
United States. The following is quoted 
nearly verbatim, and with some additional 





/^ 




HURON- COUNTY, OniO. 



443 



matter, from a liistory of Huron and Erie 
counties, giving a biographical sketch of 
Levi Cole: 

Levi Cole, the fourth son of Thomas and Mir- 
iam (Kinne) Cole, was born November iO. ITHij, in 
Windham county. Conn., married November 2.i, 
1790, and died February 11, IWO, at Norwalk, 
Ohio. His wife, Hannali Kinne, was born in 
Windham county, ('onn.. July 24, 1770, and died at 
Norwalk, Ohio," February 27, 1840. They had 
seven sons and two daushters, as follows: Jeremj', 
born March 17, 17!»o; died July 30. 1818; came to 
Ohio in 1815. Asher, born April 2;i, 171i7, died No- 
vember 4, Vi'if); came to Ohio in 1810. James, born 
April 25, 17UH; came to Ohio in 181'j; on January 
1.5, 1824, he was married to Fhilena Johnson, born 
October 4, 1802, and there were born to tbera live 
children — tour sons and one daughter, viz. : Albert, 
born October 2. 1824, still living in Greeley. Colo.; 
Bryant, born March 7, 1828. died May 10, 1863; 
Starry H., born March 6, 1831, died October 30, 
187ti (he was first lieutenant of Company B, One 
Hundred and Si.xly-sixlh Regiment O. V. I., for a 
term of ninety days); George W., born February 22, 
183."). died January t>, 1893 (he enlisted in the Third 
Ohio Cavalry for a term of three years); and 
Maria, born August 13, 1841, died January 1, 1893; 
the father of these died December 20, 1881, the 
mother on April 30, 1881. Levi, born March 23, 
1801 ; died in Kidgefield township; came to Ohio in 
1811). .Miner, boi^n July 20, 1803; died in Norwalk 
township; came to Ohio in 1810. Manly K., born 
February 11, 1807, and who came to Ohio in 1816, 
has mention farther on. Lyman, born March 10, 
1810; died October 10, 18.53; came to Ohio in 1810. 
The daughters were Hannah, born March 11, 1792, 
died Aueust 24, 1795. Ardelia, born December 4, 
1811, died May 8, 1812. 

In 1814 Mr. (^ole was living in Herkimer county, 
N. Y., where he lost money after marriage, and, 
that year, in company with -Major David Underbill 
and Timothy Baker, came on to look at lauds held 
by Mr. Underbill in liidgefield township. He was 
pleased with the land, and bargained for a piece 
this side of the present farm of Sidney Brown, and 
then returned home. 

In 1815 the fi^ther came out again, accompanied 
by his son Jeremy, Horace Morse, Dr. Joseph 
Pierce and David Underbill, put up a house on the 
land, commenced a clearing, and otherwise pre- 
pared for bringing his lumily out the ne.xt year. In 
the fall, leaving .Jeremy to look after the place and 
continue the improvements, he returned home 
again. 

During this visit, and on the 10th day of July, 
181.'), he. Major Underbill and Dr. Joseph Pierce, 
bruslied out a "trail," or road, from Abijah Com- 
stock's place to the " Sand Ridge," as it was then 
called (pnw Norwalk), and at night returned and 
stayed at Comsto<'k's until the next day. and then 
started out and completed their worK through to 
Underhill's place on the 17th. This was the first 
highway labor ever done on Main street. They 
followed the old " Indian trail," which came out 
oil the ridge somewhere between Milan and Chat- 
ham streets. 



In January, 1810, Mr. Cole and Major Under- 
hill started with their families and such goods and 
supplies as they might require in their new homes, 
with six teams and sleighs, three to each family. 
The party comprised twenty persons, to wit: Mr. 
and Mrs. Cole and six of their boys, Mr. and Mrs. 
Underbill and six children, Jasper Underbill (a 
nephew of the Major), Daniel Warren. Marks Ros- 
beck, Rhoda Pierce, sister to Joseph Pierce, and a 
person by the name of Wilcox. 

After spending six weeks upon the road (fiTe 
days resting at Avery, the old county seal), they 
reached Major Underbill's on the 22nd day of Feb- 
ruary, 1810. The Huron river was then so high 
that Mr. Cole could not cross with his family and 
teams to his own house, so he took them to Dr. 
Pierce's house (the Benjamin Newcomb place), 
and soon after purchased that place, and remained 
there so long as he lived. 

In 1818 Mr. Cole took a prominent part in the 
movement which culminated in the removal of the 
county seat to Norwalk. 

On February 9, 1820, while Mr. Cole was en- 
gaged hauling a large saw-log, one of his limbs, 
owing to an accident in unloading, was caught 
between the logs, and so terribly crushed that he 
died two days afterwards. 

Of tlie children born to Levi and Hannah 
Cole the following is a brief record: Asher 
(the second son), or Col. Asher Cole, as he 
was called, was married Jaimary G, 1828, 
to Narcissa Lawrence, who bore hitn one 
son, also named Asher. This son was borq 
November 12, 1828, and on October 19, 
1859, was united in marriage with Sarah 
J. Pnrdy. He died May 2'J, 1885, leaving 
a widow and seven children. 

Miner Cole (fifth son), father of Asher 
M. Cole, was born, as above recorded, July 
2(), 1803, in Herkimer county, N. Y., 
where he received his boyhood school 
training. In 1816 he came to Huron 
county, Ohio, with his father, making his 
new home on a farm of 100 acres in Xor- 
walk township. In addition to his eleraent- 
arv education he attended Norwalk Acade- 
my one term, and further improved his 
mind by home study and close observation 
of men and things. On July 30, 1840, he 
married Miss Mary A. Allen, of Ripley 
township, born November 7, 1819, a 
daughter of Hiram Allen, a prominent 
farmer of near Utica, N. Y. After mar- 
riage Mr. Cole continued in his life voca- 
tion up to the time of his death, which oc- 
curred August 20, 1885. A Republican 



444 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



in politics, he served his township faith- 
fully as trnstee. But one child was born 
to him, Asher M. Cole, a sketch of whom 
follows. The mother died September 20, 
1801. 

Manly K. Cole (sixth son) was married 
March 27, 1844. to Sarah M. Bristol. 
They lived in Section 3, Brouson township, 
and were the parents of three sons and two 
daughters. Manly K. Cole died April 29, 
1898, at the age of eighty-six years. 

Lyman (youngest child) was married 
February 28, 1841, to Sarah Johnson, a 
native of Genesee county, N. Y. About 
the year 1840 he bought of Judge Baker 
100 acres of heavy woodland, in Section 
3, Bronson township, Huron county, which 
is now the home farm. He was a prominent 
agriculturist, and took an active part in 
public matters. He died in 1853, his 
widow surviving him till February 22, 
1892, when she too passed away, in her 
seventy-second year. They left three 
children, viz.: Emma, living with her 
brother on tlie old homestead; Ella, wife 
of Sylvester Snyder, of Peru township, and 
Levi L., sketch of whom follows. 

Asher M. Cole was born November 19, 
1843, on his present farm in Norwalk 
township, and received a liberal education 
at the schools of the home district, at the 
same time learning agriculture on the 
homestead under the preceptorship of his 
father. At the age of twenty he enlisted 
in Company B, One Hundred and Sixty- 
sixth O. V. I.,. and May 15, 1864, was 
mustered into the service. His first expe- 
rience was on garrison duty at Arlington 
Heigiits, where he remained until Septem- 
ber, same year, when, his term of enlist- 
ment expii'ing at that date, he was dis- 
charged. Prior to his enlistment in the 
United States forces, he had served on 
home gnard for some time. 

On March 5, 1869, Mr. Cole married 
Miss Louisa E. Channing, a native of 
Somersetshire, P^ngland, born in 1846, and 
who. at the age of five years, was brought 
to Huron county, where on a farm her 



youthful days were passed. One child, 
Miner A., born August 26, 1880, has come 
to brighten the cosy home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Cole. During the same year they adopted 
a little boy of six summers, named Drill 
Allen, a distant relative. Mr. Cole owns 
a fine farm in Norwalk township of 125 
acres, and he is honored and respected not 
only as an industrious and prosperous 
fanner, but also as a useful and loyal citizen. 
He and his wife are members of the Uni- 
versalist Church. 

Lkvi L. Cole was born October 19, 
1850, on the ancestral acres in Bronson 
township, Huron Co., Ohio. He received 
his elementary training in the neighboring 
schools, then attended Milan Normal 
School three terms. On October 20, 1880; 
he was married to Elva T., daughter of 
Richard and Eliza (Lutts) Boyle, a native 
of Norwalk township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
They have one daughter, Anna E., who is 
now ten years of age. Mr. Cole has fol- 
lowed in the footsteps of his forefathers, is 
a practical, successful agriculturist, and 
has owned the old place (consisting of 150 
acres) since the death of his father. 



^/ 



IV JIfRS. BENJAMIN MOORE is a 
\rl daughter of Jacob Weiker, a na- 
1| five of Pennsylvania, and a highly 
educated citizen of Philadelphia. 
He was a wealthy and prominent 
man, and died at Bellevue, Ohio; in poli- 
tics he voted with the Democratic party. 
His daughter Anna was born July 10, 
1818, in Union county, Penn., and in 1835 
came to Bellevue, Ohio. On November 
28, 1837, she was united in marriage with 
Benjamin Moore, a son of Henry Moore, 
a native-born farmer of Pennsylvania, and 
in religion a member of the Evangelical 
Churcii. He died at the home of his son 
Charles, near Bellevue, January 25, 1855. 
his age being eighty-one years. 

Benjamin Moore was born May 19, 1814, 
in Mitilinburgh, Union Co., Penn., where 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



445 



he received his early education, and learned 
the carpenter trade. His mother, Mrs. 
Susannaii Moore, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania Ma}' 11, 1779, and died in the same 
State December 25, 183-4, at the age of 
tifty-tive years and three months. In 1836 
Benjamin Moore came on foot through 
the winter snow from Pennsylvania to 
Bellevue, Ohio. Arriving at liis destina- 
tion witli no capital except energy and a 
good trade, he set bravely to work, win- 
ning for himself position, wealth and 
friends. After his marriage with Miss 
Weiker, lie oontinned to follow liis trade 
until 18(31, and then moved to a neij^hbor- 
ing farm which he had purchased. In 
1885 he and his family came to another 
farm adjacent to Bellevue, and tinally set- 
tled in that village, wliere he erected a 
neat brick dwelling. He was actively in- 
terested in all matters relating to the pro- 
gress of the community, and for forty 
years was a member of the Baptist Cluirch ; 
in politics he was a Republican. He died 
June 11. 1892, honored and mourned by 
all who knew him. He had the following 
children: Sarah M., deceased August 1, 
1846; William H., a druggist of Bellevue 
(has two children, Benjamin and George); 
Mary E., wife of J. IT. Mayne, a prom- 
inent business man of Bellevue (she has 
two children, Nettie and Ernest, by her 
former husband); Louisa, wife, of Frank 
Smith, a famous evangelist of the Congre- 
gational Ohuicli (they liave four children, 
Fannie, Anna, Gertrude, and Willie). 

Mrs. Moore has three great-giandcliil- 
dren, namely: Ethel Barker, Robert 
Barker and Ernest Barker, and her last 
days are passing amid a throng of loving 
friends and relatives. 



I( AMES McLANE, who was born De- 
w I ceinber 23, 1825, in County Tyrone, 
^^ Ireland, is the eldest son of Robert 
and Margaret (Arthur) McLane, who 
were born in the same county in 1799, 
where the family originated. 



Robert McLane married Margaret Ar- 
thur, daugliter of Jolm Arthur, a farmer 
of (bounty Tyrone, and tliree children were 
born to them there, James (in 1825), John 
and William. The fourth son, Tiiomas 
A., was born in Greenfield township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, two years before which 
event the family had emigrateii from Ire- 
land, landing, after a voyage of six weeks, 
at New York. The father's means were 
limited, so that his further progress had 
to depend upon his earnings. Finding 
work in New York State, he labored there 
until his savings warranted him in resum- 
ing the journey to Huron county, OhiOj 
where relatives of his wife had previously 
settled. In the fall of 1831 they set out 
for their destination, traveling via the Erie 
Canal and lake to Sandusky, Ohio, whence 
the father walked to Steuben, in Green- 
field township, Huron county. There he 
hired an ox-team, and returning to San- 
dusky brought his family to their future 
home in the United States, locating on 
rented land. Mr. McLane entered the 
employ of Archibald Easter, with whom 
he remained two years, when he purcha?ed 
some land at one dollar and fifty cents per 
acre, and developed the farm on wliich he 
resided until his death in 1889. His wife 
died Octobei- 3, 1865, and was buried in 
Steuben cemetery, where the remains of 
her husband also lie. Robert McLane 
cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and 
voted for every Democratic candidate down 
to 1889. Like his wife, he was a Congre- 
gationalist in religion. Of their cliildren 
James, John and Thomas A. are residents 
of Huron county, while William is a 
farmer of South Dakota. The four sons 
assisted the father in clearing and improv- 
ing the home farm. 

James McLane attended tiie early schools 
of Greenfield township, in which the old- 
fasliioned speller was the only te.xt book. 
Scliool days over, the youth entered on 
reo"ular farm work, and remained on the 
home place until November 18, 1869, 
wlien he married Rebecca C. Schaeffer, 



446 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



who was born at Fayette, Seneca Co., N. 
Y., whence when six years of age she came 
witli her iatlier, Michael Schaeffer (a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania, who had settled at 
Fayette, Seneca Co., N. Y.), to Milan 
townslii|), Erie Co., Ohio. To her mar- 
rirge with Mr. McLane the following 
named children were born: Schaeffer M., 
a stenographer, of Cleveland; Howard B., 
who died in infancy; Mary C. and Robert 
D., residing at home. In 1869 they lo- 
cated on the farm which they now occupy, 
and which they have made one of the most 
valuable in the township. In politics Mr. 
McLane votes with the Democratic party, 
and formerly he took an active interest in 
political affairs, serving his township in 
various offices. In Church relation he is 
a Congregationalist, and one of the most 
liberal supporters of that denomination 
here. As a farmer he is well known for 
his systematic methods, while as a stock 
grower he has the reputation of being ex- 
perienced and successful. He is an in- 
dustrious man, highly esteemed for what 
he lias accomplished. 




J^ILLIAM H. PIEECE, postmas- 
ter at Wakeman, is a native of 
the town, born in 1840, and there 
received his education. 
Amile Piatt Pierce, grandfather of sub- 
ject, was a native of Connecticut, whence 
in 1815 he came to Wakeman township, 
Huron county, making the journey with 
ox-teams, crossing the Alleghany Moun- 
tains, and encountering many dangers and 
obstacles by the way. He located in the 
northwestern part of the township at a 
time wi)en there were only two houses in 
it. His children were Lemuel Bennett, 
Minot, Ann, Fanny, and David S., of 
wliom are yet living: Minot, now seventy- 
nine years of age, and Ann (Mrs. Dr. 
Johnson, of Oberiin), now aged seventy- 
si.K years; the remainder of the family all 
roiiched advanced ages. 



Lemuel B. Pierce, father of our sub- 
ject, was born, in 1807, in Connecticut, 
where his early boyhood days were passed 
on his father's farm. He was about eight 
years old when his parents brought liiin to 
Wakeman township, and on the journey, 
small boy as he was, he drove one of the 
ox-teams. Here he encountered all the 
trials and dangers of pioneer life, attend- 
ing a few brief months the subscription 
school of the locality, wiiich was held in 
a dilapidated old log cabin, with greased 
paper in lieu of windows, and rough slabs 
tor seats and desk. During his earlier 
youth he learned milling, a trade he fol- 
lowed in connection with agricultural pur- 
suits. He married Miss Eunice Burr, 
daughter of John Burr, a pioneer of the 
county, having settled in Wakeman town- 
ship in 1817. To this union were born 
five children, viz.: Amelia and Elbert B. 
(both deceased); Julia, Mrs. T. V. Bunce, 
of Oberiin, Ohio; Frank L., a resident of 
the same place, and William IL The 
father died in August, 1874, leavintr an 
estate of great value, and, of still greater 
value, an honored name and an enviable 
record for iionest}', and generositv even to 
a fault. In his political predilections he 
was first an Old-line Whig, afterward, 
from the formation of the party, a Repub- 
lican. He and bis wife were both devout 
members of the Cong-recrational Church, 
thorough Christians, and earnest workers 
in tlie cause of the Master. 

W. H. Pierce, the subject proper of this 
sketch, with the exception of about six 
years has spent his entire life at the place 
of his nativity, and received thorough 
practical lessons in the arduous duties of 
farm life under the competent preceptor- 
ship of his father. At the breaking out 
of the Civil war, tired by the spirit of pa- 
triotism, he enlisted in Company H, Forty- 
iirst O. V. I., under Captain Pease, and 
served some tliree and one-half years, one 
and one-half as private, from which he was 
promoted to lieutenant. He jiarticipated 
in the battle of Pittsburg Landing (where 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



447 



his regiment was hotly engaged), besides 
many skirinisiies, etc. Receiving an hon- 
orable discharge, Mr. Pierce returned to 
Wai<einan, and for about one year was en- 
gaged in his former vocation. In 1866 
he etnbarlced in mercantile pursuits in the 
town of Wakeman, but after a short ex- 
perience in this line lie found an oppor- 
tunity of disposing of the business, and 
returned to his old love — farming. Then 
followed a series of movintrs and retnov- 
ings between the years 1882 and 1888, after 
which lie again found himself in Wakeman 
engaged in general mercantile pursuits. 
In 1890, as the result of an election held 
by the citizens of the town to determine 
by vote wlio might be the most popular of 
the many aspirants for the postmastership 
of Wakeman, he was installed in the office, 
an honor he has in every respect proved 
himself well worthy of. 

In 1864 he was united in marriage with 
Miss Dosia A. Wantjh, datijjhter of Lan- 
eing Waugh, a native of Chautauqua, N. 
Y., and who came to Wakeman township 
in 1850. Children, as follows, have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce: Clarence 
H., at home; Arthur M., in Findlay, Ohio; 
Gilbert, who died in 1872; Ada M., at 
home, and Anna, deceased in 1878. Our 
subject and wife are members of the Sec- 
ond Cotigrecjational Church of Wakeman, 
and in politics he is a square Republican. 



fr^) EV. W. A. KEESY was born July 
f^^ 25, 1843, in Richmond township, 
I ^ Huron Co., Ohio. His grand- 
■^ father, Henry Keesy, was born in 

Pennsylvania during the eighteenth 
century, worked on the home farm until 
of age, and then established his own home- 
stead. He was a soldier in the war of 
1812, removed to Huron county, Ohio, 
some years later, and died at the house of 
bis son John, in Richmond township, 
about the year 1855. He was an unassum- 
ing, industrious man, who played his part 
in the development of the "Firelands." 



John Keesy, the father of our subject, 
settled in Ohio about the year 1830. His 
education was necessarily limited, but 
owing to his youth being spent in a coun- 
try and time where tlie Gorman language 
was more popular than the English, he 
could speak both with ease. On April 3, 
1828, he married Elizabeth Gons, and to 
this union ten children were born, a brief 
record of whom is as follows: Harriet" is 
the widow of Daniel Rogers; Jolin H. 
resides in Richmond townshij); Margaret 
is the wife of Mathias Ringle, Tuscola 
county, Mich.; Peter B. F. resides in 
Richmond township: Noah Miley also re- 
sides in Richmond township; Catherine, 
who married David Hershiser, died in Ful- 
ton county, Ohio, in 1865; W. A. is the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Mary A. is the wife of 
Daniel Fink, of Attica, Ohio; George W. 
resides in Yuba City, Cal., and Sarah E. 
is the wife of Archibald Riddle, of Ricli- 
mond township. «The father of this family 
died January 18, 1859, the mother in 
1873. Jolin Keesy was a farmer of ster- 
ling character. He followed an idea per- 
sistently, and thus it is not to be wondered 
at that lie was a radical Whig and an ex- 
treme Abolitionist, but after the formation 
of the Republican party he gave it his un- 
qualified support. He filled many town- 
ship offices and served as justice of the 
peace, trustee, treasurer and in various 
other local positions. When he first set- 
tled in Ohio he was a Winebrennerian, 
but owing to the scarcity of Wineiireimcr's 
followers here he joined the majority and, 
for over a quarter of a century, was a most 
zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

W. A. Keesy received a primary educa- 
tion in the schools of his district, which 
was supplemented, after the war, by a term 
and a half at the Milan (Ohio) Normal 
School. In fact, agriculture rather than 
education claimed the attention of his early 
youth. After his father's death he worked 
as a farm laborer until October, 1861, when 
he enlisted in the Fifty-fifth O. V. I., 



448 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



went into camp at Norwalk on the 17tli of 
that month, and on January 25, 1862, left 
for the front with his command. The 
severe marches from New Creek to 
Romnej, and to Mourefield, W. Va., in- 
troduced him to war no less than diseases 
which fell upon the regiment at Grafton, 
in February, 1802. The April campaign 
and unsatisfactory marching and coiinter- 
marchincr of tlie spring and earlv summer 
of 1862 ended near Winchester, Va., in 
June, and in that month the Fifty-tirst 
was made a part of the army of Virginia. 
In August the affairs on the Rappahan- 
nock tested the merits of tlie regiment. In 
May, 1863, it performed splendid service 
at Cliancellorsvilie; at Gettysburg, the 
coininand lost lifty-five men, and in the 
Knoxville campaign, carried on in winter, 
also suffered severely. Mi'. Keesy did not 
participate in the work of 1803, for after 
the second battle of Bull Run his health 
began to fail, and he was,sent to hospital, 
from whicli he was discharged, December 
11, 1862. In October, 1801, he was a 
robust, well-built, wiry man of 155 pounds. 
On receiving his discharge from the army 
he weighed only ninety-seven and a half 
pounds, and, with this, was in a wretched 
state of health. 

On returning to Huron county Mr. 
Keesy rested for si.\ months, and then went 
to work with his brother in a sawmill, 
where he was engaged until he answered 
the draft of 1864, in the fall of which year 
he was one of 400 recruits received into 
the Si.xty-fourth O. V. I., at Chattanooga, 
Tenn. He took part in the pursuit of 
Hood's forces to Alpine, Ga., where his 
command was incorporated with Gen. 
Thomas' army, returned to Chattanooga, 
proceeded to Athens, Ala., thence marched 
to Spring Hill, Tenn., where they again 
suffered losses. At Franklin the regiment 
sustained heavy loss, but marched with 
spirit to Nashville, where its service was 
substantial and its losses great. After 
Hood's army was used up, the Sixty-fourth 
went into camp at Athens, but they sub- 



sequently served at Athens and Decatur, 
next at iluntsville, Nashville and Straw- 
berry Plains, and again at New Orleans, 
until ordered to Victoria, Tex., in Septem- 
ber, 1865, where they were mustered out 
December 3, 1865. After the total rout 
of Hood, Mr. Keesy received an honorable 
discharge in Tennessee, June 16, 1805, re- 
turned to Ohio, and entering the Normal 
School at Milan, as before related, studied 
for a term and a half and afterward taught 
school in Huron county five terms. 

On July 7, 1868, he married Miss Mag- 
gie Lane, daughter of Rev. S. T. Lane, of 
the United Brethren Church. Of their 
children, Minnie is the wife of William 
McKee; Mary is married to J. E. Wheeler, 
and Maggie L. died November 2, 1878, 
aged four years and four months. The 
mother died September 24, 1873, and on 
February 9, 1875, he married Hattie 
Augusta Charles, daughter of Robert 
Charles, of Richland county, Ohio. To 
this union were born six daughters and 
one son, namely: Flora, Osceola, Vesta, 
Edith and Ethel (twins), Leon Cassel 
and Fern. 

In 1865, after his return from the war, 
Mr. Keesy made a profession of religion 
for the first time. In 1868 the Quarterly 
Conference licensed him to preach, and 
recommended him to the Annual Confer- 



ence. 



The last named body granted him 



license August 27, 1869, and he was or- 
dained a preacher in 1872, being assigned 
to Huron Mission, in Huron county, the 
same year. He served at Honey Creek 
two years; Melmore, one year; Shelby, 
one year; Richland Circuit, two years; and 
Cliicago Junction over three years. At 
the latter place he organized, in 1870, a 
United Brethren class, the first church in 
that place, and in 1871 was instrumental 
in building a house of worship there. 
After a year's service at Osceola, he was 
elected three consecutive years Presiding 
Elder — one year at Fostoria and Clyde, 
and two years at Attica, in Seneca county; 
he then held the position of elder in the 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



449 



districts of Sandusky, Findiay, Fostoria 
and Bowling Green for seven consecutive 
years. 

Mr. Keesy made his home in Richmond 
township until he began service as an 
elder, when he located at Chicago Junc- 
tion. He is a pioneer of the town, and 
one who has taken a prominent part in its 
upbuilding. In denominational affairs he 
is iintirinij in his zeal, and has accom- 
plished much for the cause he represents; 
and few men in any trade oi' profession 
are better known throughout northern 
Ohio than he is. In the war he took part 
and was under lire in the followinti en- 
gageraents, viz.: Mooretield, Stransbnrg, 
Cross Keys, Bull Run, Franklin (Va.), 
Columbia, Spring Hill, Franklin and 
Nashville (Tenn.), besides being in many 
raids and skirmishes. He has organized 
and built several churches, and proposes 
to continue to war against sin. He is a 
forcible, logical and sympathetic as well 
as fearless preacher, and wiiile the "com- 
mon people hear him gladly," all classes 
are edified by his eloquent sermons. 
Wherever his extensive influence reaches, 
the public is inestimably benetited. 



'Jr^j UFUS S. MILES, one of the best 
l^^ known and most highly respected 
I ^ citizens of Fitehville township, was 
^ born January 1, 1824, in Green- 

wich township, Fairfield county, 
Connecticut. 

His father, Daniel Miles, was also a na- 
tive of Fairfield county. Conn., and a well- 
known stonemason and sawmill owner of 
Greenwich township. When a young man 
he married Eliza Ann Austin, and to them 
were born, in Connecticut, the following 
named children: Rufus S., whose name 
opens this sketch; Emily F., Mrs. Will- 
iam Hickok, of Fitehville township; 
Peninah C, Mrs. Robert Kelsey, of 
Wauseon, Ohio; Mary, who died in Con- 
necticut when four years old; Sylvester, a 



farmer of Hartland township, who was 
killed by an enraged bull in 18'JO; Phi- 
lander C, who died of the measles at 
Wheeling, W. Va., while a member of 
Company C, One Hundred and Twenty- 
Third O. V. I., and Marcus S., who resides 
in Otsego county, Mich. The family mi- 
grated to Ohio in 1830, the journey being 
made by canal and lake boat to Huron, 
Ohio, and thence by wagon to Norwalk 
township, where the father purchased land 
at seven dollars per acre. That farm he 
partly improved, carrying on, in connec- 
tion therewith, a sawinill. In 1841 T\[r. 
Miles purchased wild lands in Fitehville 
township, and removing thereto cut the 
first tree on the tract. After residing there 
for some years, he established the family 
on a farm in Ilai'tland township, and was 
a taxpayer of that township at the time of 
his death. He had gone on a visit to Con- 
necticut, his native State, and while there 
died. Mrs. Eliza Ann Miles died in Hart- 
land township, Huron Co., Ohio. Both 
were identified closely with pioneer times 
and events in Huron county, and the old 
settlers of three townships ofte7i speak of 
the days when the Miles family settled in 
the wilderness. 

Rufus S. Miles came to Ohio when little 
more than thirteen years old. In his Con- 
necticut home he had received an elemeii- 
tary education, and in Ohio he had to aid 
his father in clearing the land, enduring 
no small share of the hardships and priva- 
tions which fell to the lot of the pioneer. 
At the age of nineteen years he began to 
learn blacksmithiug, and subsequently 
worked for nine years at the trade in 
Greenwich township. On October 13, 
1852, he married Jane Crittenden, who 
was born in Fitehville township Decem- 
ber <J, 1832, a daughter of C. C. Critten- 
den. To this marriage the following 
named children were born: Mary D., wife 
of O. F. Walton, of Norwalk, Ohio; 
Charles D., a young merchant of Fiteh- 
ville, and Frank R., who died at the age of 
twelve years. After marriage Rufus S. 



450 



HUBON COUNTY, OHIO. 



and Jane E. Miles located in Hartland 
township. Fur three or four years lie 
operated a sawmill in that township, and 
then moved to Fitchville, bringing with 
liiin the mill. Trading the machinery for 
lands in Wood county, Ohio, he established 
a general store in Fitchville, also a black- 
smith's shop and tin store. He remained 
at Fitchville until 1882, when he moved 
to his present farm, which he had pur- 
chased some years previons. This land is 
in a high state of cultivation, and im- 
proved with a substantial residence and 
Rne farm buildings. 

Republican in political faith, Mr. Miles 
gives his party a hearty support, and is 
looked upon as a safe counsellor in local 
political affairs. Since he arrived at the 
age of twenty-one years he has held town- 
ship offices, and has frequently tilled sev- 
eral at one and the same time; for six 
years he was postmaster of Fitchville. In 
the days of the Civil war he was an earnest 
worker in meeting the demands made 
upon the township by the draft. Some 
years ago, when there was a prospect of 
connecting Fitchville with the outside 
world by railroad, he favored the scheme 
and aided the promoters in a very decided 
manner. For eighteen years he was con- 
nected with the Greenwich Fair Associ- 
ation, and held every office in connection 
with it, during that long period. For over 
twenty years he was superintendent of 
the Sabbath-school of the Congregational 
Church, and held various offices in that 
church. The part taken by his wife in 
domestic affairs and in the social doings of 
the township has been a material one, and 
her influence for good has been recognized. 
To-day she shares with her husband the 
esteem and confidence of the people. 



djASON A. WHEELEKwas born Jan- 
uary 21, ISS-i, in Greenfield town- 
' ship, Huron Co., Ohio. His grand- 
father, John Wheeler, was a native 
of Massachusetts, and when a youth of 



seventeen years settled in western New 
York, where he grew to manhood. While 
residing in Ontario county. New York, he 
cleared a tract of farm land, where he es- 
tablished his home. There he married 
Polly Franklin, a native of Massachusetts, 
and to this union the following named 
children were born in Ontaiio county, 
N. Y.: Sylvester F., John H., Eeuoni, 
Aaron and Calvin. 

In the fall of 1818 the father visited 
Ohio, and purchased land in Greenfield 
township, Huron county. Early in the 
spring of 1811* he set out with his wife 
and children for their new home, making 
the journey in a wagon drawn by a team 
of oxen and a team of horses. The trip 
occupied four weeks. They had no lack 
of friends in the new country, for neigh- 
bors of the family, such as the Starrs, 
Adams, McKelveys and others, had pre- 
viously located in Huron county. The 
splendor of the forests, no less than the 
hopes for the future, buoyed up the cour- 
age of the new comers. John Wheeler 
was an ardent lover of out-door sports, and 
here he could enjoy them ad libitum. The 
animals of the chase abounded; bear and 
deer offered themselves as targets for the 
Iiunter and food for the settlers, and the 
rich soil jiromised rewards corresponding 
with the industry of the husbandman. In 
such a country the younger children of 
John and Polly Wheeler — Chauncy B., 
Almiraand Samuel B. — were born. ()f the 
children who came to Ohio with their par- 
ents, Aaron (of Norwalk) and Calvin are 
the only survivors, the others having 
passed away in Huron county. Of the 
children born in Greenfield township, 
Chauncy died in Crawford county, Kans. ; 
Almira, who first married a Mr. Van Tine 
and later a Mr. Tucker, is a widow; and 
Samuel B. resides at Parsons, Kans. They 
were all reared in Ohio in the manner of 
pioneer children. When Calvin was four 
years old his parents left him and tliree 
brothers in the cabin, while they assisted 
at the burial of a neighbor. During their 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



451 



absence the children saw a large sow root- 
ing in the soil near the house, and, while 
they were watching, a black bear appeared 
in the clearing and carried ■off the fright- 
ened hog to the edge of the woods, where 
he killed it. Some time after a clearinor 

o 

was made in Greenfield township the father 
revisited Ontario county, N. Y., and there 
was ordained a Free-will Baptist minister. 
On his return he became an active vs^orker 
in that Churcli, and organized several So- 
cieties in Huron and Ashland counties. 
His first wife died in June, 18 — , aged 
sixty-three years. For his second he mar- 
ried Mrs. Hulda (Osborn) Gregory, 
widow of Lansing Gregory, and she died 
some years before him. He was a strong 
Democrat until the slave question arose, 
when he joined the Republican ranks. 
He possessed a stentorian voice, and when 
leading religious services could be heard 
at long distances. He preached for a 
Dumber of years at Steuben, where he was 
the first Baptist minister; and, tiiongh his 
circuit was a wide one, it was all known 
to him, for he was a hunter and a fisher- 
man as well as a farmer and preacher. He 
died about 1877, in his ninety-first year. 
Calvin AVheeler, son of John Wheeler, 
was born January 19, 1818, in Ontario 
county, N. Y. Little over a year later he 
was brought to Huron county, and here 
was reared on his father's farm. He ob- 
tained the rudiments of an education in a 
school, to which lie had to walk two miles 
each winter morning and return the same 
evening. In February, 1842, he married 
Mary Richards, who was born January 27, 
1821, in Herkimer county, N. Y., and 
came with her father to Huron county in 
1837. The children of this marriage were 
as follows: Nancy Genette, born January 
15, 1843, who married E. T. Trimmer, 
and died in Kalamazoo county, Mich., 
March 5, 1868; Agnes E., born March 9, 
1844, now Mrs. Marion Parsons, of Shi- 
loh, Ohio; David M., born December 29, 
1846, a traveling salesman, whose home is 
at Plymouth, Huron county; Benjamin 



R., born November 20, 1848, a farmer 
and stock buyer of Greenfield township; 
Calvin J., born July 31, 1850, a farmer of 
Peru township: Chauncy B., born January 
3, 1852, an engineer on the Chicago, 
Rock Island <k Pacific Railroad; Jason A., 
born January 21, 1854; Jesse (twin of 
Jason A.), a merchant at Cliicago Junc- 
tion; Alice, born January 18, 1857, widow 
of Henry Bronson, now engaged in mer 
cantile business at Chicago Junction ; Al- 
fred (twin of Alice), now a harness maker 
at Plymouth, Ohio; Lillis, born November 
14, 1861, now the widow of Dayton L. 
Green, residing at Steuben; and Linda 
Belle, born October 3, 1863, now Mrs. 
Elmer McMorris, of Steuben. The father 
of this large family was engaged in farm 
work up to 1870, when he removed to 
Steuben to engage in mercantile l)usiness. 
He was postmaster there for some years. 
His wife died March 5, 1866, and was 
buried in Steuben cemetery with the rites 
of the Free- Will Baptists, of which Church 
she was a member. Mr. Wheeler was a 
Democrat until the organization of the Re- 
publican party, when he became a Free- 
soiler. For over fifty-six years he lias 
been a member of the Baptist Chui'ch. 

Jason A. Wheeler was born January 21, 
1854, in Greenfield township, and received 
his education in the district schools and in 
the Buckeye College.* Wiien school days 
were passed he entered the store of his 
brother, D. M. Wheeler, of Steuben, in 
whose employ he remained until 1874. 
For a time he was a clerk for A. J. Coul- 
ton, of Steuben, in which capacity he 
learned all the details of business, and on 
January 7, 1877, he estal)lished himself in 
trade at Steuben. Here for ten years he 
conducted a general store, and built up an 
extensive trade, his courteous manners and 
reputation for fair dealing winning him 
an immense patronage. On May 30, 
1887, his store and goods, valued at 
$8,000, were destroyed by fire, but with- 
out delay he opened a stock at Chicago 
Junction, and was engaged iu general 



452 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



trade there for a short time, when he re- 
tired to his farm, one mile soutli of Steu- 
ben, whither he had moved in 188t5. The 
tract was known as the "Piatt Farm." 

Mr. Wheeler was married October 15, 
1873, to Charlotte Ashley, who was born 
in Clinton county, Iowa, February 11, 
1856, and cauje to Ohio with her father, 
Dennis Ashley, in March of that year. 
The children of Jason A. and Charlotte 
"Wheeler are Charles N., George M.,Mary 
L., Jason A., Jr., and Tluth. The eldest 
graduated from Oberlin College in his 
eighteenth year. On October 21, 1891, 
he delivered the oi'ation on "Columbus 
Day," being selected by the faculty for 
this task in recosnition of his high stand- 
ing in oratory. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, 
with the three elder members of the fam- 
ily, belong to the Presbyterian Church. 
He is one of the leaders of the Republican 
party in Huron county; was postmaster at 
Steulien for some years; was clerk of 
Greenfield township eight years, is now a 
trustee of that township, and November 7, 
1893, was elected comniissioner of Huron 
county three years. Since 1886 he has 
given close attention to his fine farm, and 
has the reputation of being a methodical 
agriculturist and a most excellent citizen. 



fr^) UDOLPH GEIGER, retired, is a 

lU^ native of Baden, Germany, born 

ir^ December 17, 1823, a son of John 

JJ Geiger, who died in Baden wiieo 

Rudolph was five years old, leaving 

five children. 

In Marcii, 1844, the widow and three of 
her children — Lawrence (who had visited 
the United States twelve years before), 
Josephine (who died six weeks after arriv- 
ing in the country), and Rudolph — set out 
for the shores of Columbia, here to better 
their condition and make a new home. 
They first proceeded to Rotterdam, Hol- 
land, thence to Havre, France, where they 
took sailing ship for New York, landing 
after a voyage of forty- two days. From 



there they traveled westward to Ohio, ar- 
riving in course of time at the town of 
Huron, Erie county, whence Lawrence and 
Rudolph walked to Greenfield township, 
Huron county, where they hired a team, 
drove back to Huron, and brought their 
mother and sister to Greenfield. 

Rudolph Geiger received his education 
in the Fatherland, and commenced to learn 
the trade of blacksmith; but he had to 
abandon it on account of his lungs being 
easily affected while working at the forge; 
he then for a brief spell tried his hand at 
carpentry, at which time he came to Amer- 
ica. In Huron county he first secured em- 
ployment in a brickyard, later in the tan- 
nery in Norwalk belonging to Judge 
Baker's brother, who was so much pleased 
with him, on account of his sterling hon- 
esty and characteristic industry, that he 
oflfered to give him seventy acres of land 
in Clarkstield township if he would stay 
with him two years longer. This highly 
complimentary and valued offer Mr. 
Geiger was constrained to decline, how- 
ever, on account of the tannery business 
impairing his health. He then drove team 
for Pickett Lattimore, a brewer of Nor- 
walk, and from there, after a time, he re- 
turned to Greenfield township, and learn- 
ing the trade of a brickmaker soon became 
owner of a kiln, which he conducted up to 
his marriage. After that event he and his 
young wife made their home in Milan, 
Erie county, where for four years he 
burned brick each season; and many of 
the best buildings in that town, and also 
in Norwalk, were made in his yard — in 
fact his brick was by far the best made in 
the county at that time. Until he com- 
menced in the business only a few brick 
buildings had been erected, but afterward, 
so popular had the product of his yards 
become, a "boom " in putting up brick 
houses was the result. He next came to 
Sherman township, and boughteighty acres 
of land in the woods, the trees being (to 
use liis own language) " as thick as hnir8 
on a dog's back." After two years labor 



UUROy COUNTY, OHIO. 



453 



here in clearing tlie land he moved to San- 
dusky, and tliere made four kilns of brick, 
which sold rapidly, notwithstanding the 
many other kilns in the place — the reason 
being, simply, that he made better brick 
than any one else. On the breaking out of 
cholera in that city, in 1855, he once more 
came to Sherman township, renewed farm- 
ing operations, and has lived here ever since. 
In Feiiruary, 1849, Mr. Geiger married 
Miss Sarah Ann Ott, who was born in Jjaden, 
Germany, in 1826, and came to the United 
States in young womanhood. The chil- 
dren of this union were John and Adolph, 
both in Sandusky; Louisa, who married 
John Smith, and died when twenty-five 
years old; Odelia, now Mrs. Frederick 
Brown, of Pulaski county, Ind.; Mary, 
now Mrs. John Weidenger, of Sherman 
township; and Anna, at home. The fam- 
ily are all members of the Catholic Church. 
Mr. and Mrs. Geiger, honored and re- 
spected in their old age, have been living 
for the past few years a comparatively re- 
tired life, compulsory in his case more on 
account of an accident he met with a few 
years ago, a log rolling on him, which has- 
tened his retirement from active work. 



S. LANTEKMAN, M. D., mayor 
of Bellevue, was born in 1847, in 
Tompkins county, N. Y., a son of 
^ John and Julia (Brown) Lanterman. 
The father was also a native of New 
York State, where he passed from earth at 
the age of forty-six years; the mother, 
who is a native of New England, is now 
eighty-one years old. 

Dr. G. S. Lanterman was educated in 
his native county, and read medicine there 
under a preceptor for some time. Later 
he was enrolled as a student in the Uni- 
versity of Michigan, and graduated from 
the Medical Department of that institution 
of learning in 1807. The same year he 
located in Cayuga county, N. Y., where 
he practiced medicine and surgery for one 



year, and then removed to Bellevue, Ohio. 
He is the oldest practicing physician of 
the regular school here to-day, and is un- 
doubtedly the most popular citizen in this 
particular section of Huron county. He 
was a member of the old Delamater Medi- 
cal Association of Norwalk, and for a long 
period was the life of that organization. 
He has been connected with the municipal 
affairs of Bellevue for a number of years, 
served as councilman for several terms, 
and is now serving his third term as 
mayor. In political life he is a thorough 
Republican, earnest in the support of his 
party, l)ut always good natured and logical 
in his arguments. He is well up in Ma- 
sonic work, and has reached the thirty- 
second degree. In August, 1802, at the 
age of fourteen years, our subject enlisted 
in the One Hundred and Ninth N. Y. 
Volunteer Infantry, and served in that 
command and in the Third N. Y. Light 
Artillery until the close of the war. 

Dr. Lanterman was united in marriage, 
September 20, 1872, with Miss Emma 
Heal, a native of Eno-land, daughter of 
Enoch and Charlotte Heal. He has proved 
himself a conservative power in the coun- 
cil of Bellevue, and a most able physician 
and surgeon; and it may be here stated 
that the municipal body is as safe in his 
hands as are his patients. 




C. HEYMANN. Among the 
earliest German settlers of Sher- 
man township is the subject of 
this sketch, who is an honored 
representative of a large and respected 
family of the name, noted for their thrift 
and wealth. 

Mr. Heymann was born in Germany in 
1808, and came to America in 1852, set- 
tling in Sherman township, where he en- 
joys the distinction of being now the 
oldest citizen. He married, and has ten 
children, named as follows: William, 
John, Charles, Jacob, Philip, Henry, 



454 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



George, Frederick, Mattie and Lizzie, to 
eadi of whom Mr. Heyinann has given a 
good start in life. By industry and judi- 
cious economy he has accumulated a com- 
fortable competence, being an extensive 
landholder, and is now living retired at 
Weaver's Corners. In his political pref- 
erences he is a Republican, and in re- 
jiijioas belief he is a member of the 
Lutheran Church. 



xVMUEL A\^. CURTISS, one of the 
progressive, active spirits of Fitch- 
vilie township, and a friend of every 
worthy enterprise, was born in that 
township July 10, 1832. 

Joseph C. Curtiss, his father, was born 
in June, 1803, in Oneida county, N. Y., 
attended the school of his native place for 
some time, and tlien learned the gunsmith's 
trade. He was there married to Liicina 
Ward, and early in 1825 the young couple 
set out for Ohio. It was then the para- 
dise of huuters, and Mr. Curtiss saw 
plainly that, where hunters were, would un- 
doubtedly be the proper place to carry on his 
trade. Locating at Norwalk, Huron coun- 
ty, he purchased a town lot on Main street, 
known as " The Todd Lot," and thereon 
erected a small house, to serve the dual 
purpose of dwelling and workshop. Early 
in 1S32 he removed to Fitchville, and en- 
teririg into partnership with Union White, 
established a general store at the center. 
Political incompatibility led to the disso- 
lution ot this partnership in 1835. There 
was no possibility of an agreement be- 
tween Whig and Democrat, under one 
roof, and hence the establishment of a sec- 
ond general store at Fitchville, in the year 
named. 

In 1835 Mr. Curtiss erected a residence 
adjoining his store, and there lived to the 
close of his life. In 1861 he retired from 
mercantile pursuits, but up to the period 
of his death, September 1, 1871, he took 
an active interest in politics, and particu- 
larly in the development of Fitchville vil- 



lage and township. Prior to 1856 he waa 
an Old-line Whig, and during his retnain- 
ing years a stanch Republican. In 1839-40 
he was an active partisan in the Harrison- 
Tyler campaign, and was himself elected a 
commissioner of Huron county on the 
Whig ticket. That office he held four 
years, when he was elected a member of 
the Legislature, in which he served during 
the sessions of 1845 and 1846. A tem- 
perance man by experience, he studied the 
devastation of human life by drink, and 
opposed free liquor witii all the force of 
his mind. In fact he carried the principle 
so far as to enlarge his dwelling and estab- 
lish a temperance hotel for the convenience 
of the public. Tiie enterprise was un- 
popular. Travelers, as a rule, were drink- 
ing men then, and the regular hotel-keep- 
ers furnished a certain amount of strong 
drink with board and lodging; so that the 
temperance hotel was compelled to light a 
long and strong battle against the sophistry 
and liberality of its opponents. Mr. Cur- 
tiss met their actions by furnishing board 
and lodgings twenty per cent, below the 
price charged by the regular hotel men, 
and this action compelled them to cut 
prices. Thus matters went along for thir- 
teen years, when the temperance house 
closed its doors. It was conducted at a 
profit, and taught lessons which bore rich 
fruit. 

Mr. Curtiss was twice married, first to 
Lucina Ward,- to whom three sons — J; C, 
Jr., S. W. and D. A. — and one daughter 
— Mary J. — were born. After the death 
of this wife he married a Mrs. Allen, who 
is the mother of one daughter, Jane, now 
living in Hamilton, N. Y. While a resi- 
dent of Norwalk Mr. Curtiss produced a 
greater number of guns than the demands 
of local trade required. The surplus he 
would load on a pack horse, at stated in- 
tervals, and sell along the old Wooster 
trail, and what retuained on arriving at 
Wooster he could easily dispose of there 
to hunters and farmers. He afterward be- 
came a heavy dealer in farm products, 



HUltOy COUNTY, OHIO. 



455 



which he received in exchange for mer- 
eliaiulise. On one occasion he sent for- 
ward a drove of 1,700 hoo;s to Now York 
City, and often shipped vast quantities of 
stociv and grain to the mariiets north, 
south and east. 

Samuel AV. Curtiss was born in Fiteh- 
ville township, immediately after the re- 
moval of the family from Norwalk, and in 
his boyhood attended the school of Miss 
Sarah Mason, just south of FitchviJIe vil- 
lage. After her day he continued to at- 
tend the school of the district, the hours 
after school being given to work in his 
father's store. Later he attended the 
academy of Rev. T. F. Thompson, of Nor- 
walk, and when his school days were 
passed took a position in the Curtiss store. 
On one occasion, in winter time, when he 
was seventeen years old. he was sent witii 
the drovers to deliver 1,700 hogs, which 
his father promised to supply to a party or 
parties at Baltimore. The route lay through 
Peimsylvania. Tlie Ohio river was crossed 
at Smith's Feriy, and they proceeded 
thence via the National Pike, through 
Washington county, Penn. Before reach- 
ing Baltimore the destination was changed 
to New York, and while en route they sold 
1,300 of the hogs at Reading, Penn., the 
balance being traded for fat hogs, which 
they took to New Y^ork And there sold. 
After returning to Fitchville our subject 
became a regular clerk in his father's 
store. In 1851 he married Fidelia Tucker, 
who was born in 1830, in Madison county, 
N. Y'., daughter of Lester Tucker, and 
after marriage the young couple^ went to 
reside on a farm in Greenwich township, 
llis first experience in agricultural pur- 
suits was on the farm he now owns, where 
he remained some three years, and then 
moved to Greenwich, whence after two 
years residence there he returned to 
Fitchville and re-entered his father's store. 
For three years thereafter he clerked, and 
then continued as partner with iiis father 
until the fall of 1864. Retaining iiis in- 
terest in the store, he returned to the farm. 



and was engaged in agriculture until 1871, 
wiien the deatii of his fatlier called him to 
Fitchville village to take charge of the 
store. In 1878 he admitted as partner his 
son, who managed the house from 1883 to 
1887, while tiie fatiier gave his atten- 
tion to his fine farm, situated northeast 
of the village. On this farm he built 
an elegant i-esidence and made many im- 
provements, but since 1887 he has 'made 
his home in the village, entrusting his 
farm to the care of tenants. The children 
of Samuel W. and Fidelia Curtiss are as 
follows: Ada M., Mrs. E. E. Townsend, of 
New London township; Sidney O.. of Xew 
London village; Carrie, who died when 
twenty-two years old; Doren. who died 
when four years old; Lena F., deceased 
wife of William Palmer; Bertha and Pearl, 
who reside at home. The mother of this 
family is a metnberof the Baptist Church. 
Mr. Curtiss enlisted April 2, 1864, in an 
independent company of the Si.xty-third 
Regiment, Ohio National Guards. In 

1863 the One Hundred and Si.xty-sixth 
Regiment was organized in Huron county 
as Home Guards, and in the spring of 

1864 Gov. Brough turned the Si.xtv- third 
over to the Government as United States 
troops, to go wherever called. On May 
2, 1864. they were ordered to Camp Taylor, 
at Cleveland, Ohio, but when mustered it 
was found there were sonie 200 men un- 
fit for duty, and Mr. Curtiss' company 
was then consolidated with the Seventy- 
ninth Battalion, O. N. G., of Medina 
county, a senior organization. On May 
15, 1><64, when the change was made 
in the disposal of the Sixty-third Regi- 
ment, he was mustered in as first 
lieutenant; and when his company was 
consolidated with the Medina battalion 
(at which time he was quartermaster), he 
was deprived of his commission on a 
technicality. Thereupon he was about re- 
turning home, when his superiors prevailed 
upon him to remain as lieutenant in Com- 
pany B. The regiment proceeded to Vir- 
ginia, and did duty at Forts Richardson, 



456 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Barnard, Reynolds and Ward, until muster- 
out, September 9, 1864. After the ex- 
citement attendant on Jubal Early's raid 
on Washington had died out, the men of 
Mr. Cnrtiss' regiment suffered much from 
camp sickness. At one time his own ill- 
ness was so serious that his wife traveled 
from Ohio to attend upon him, and to her 
ministrations his recovery is attributed. 

Our subject cast his first vote for the 
first Republican Presidential liorainee, and 
his loyalty to the party is well known in 
Huron county. He has filled various 
offices in his townshi)). Under the charter 
of the village of Fitchville he is mayor, 
although the corporation is sleeping. It 
was he who contributed lumber for the 
first sidewalk laid by the municipality, and 
to him must be credited, specially, the 
lighting of the streets of the village. 



QRREN W. HEAD was born at Paris, 
Oneida Co., N. Y., on the 18th day 
^' of May, 1808. His parents, Jona- 
than and Hepzibath (Livermore) 
Head, were both born in New England — 
the father in Rhode Island, the mother in 
New Hampshire. 

Mr. Head trrew to manhood on the farm, 
receiving his education in the subscrip- 
tion schools of the neighborhood. In 1836 
he contracted a matrimonial alliance with 
Julia Ch'ane, a resident of Marshall, Oneida 
Co., N. Y., and to this union were born 
five children — three sons and two daugh- 
ters, the latter of whom are both dead. In 
1842 Mr. Head and his family settled in 
Ridgefield township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
where he purchased the " Sours farm," 
together with other lands adjoining, mak- 
ing a farm of 420 acres, which he kept 
well cultivated and improved. In 1857 
he built what is now known as the "Davis 
Block " in Monroeville, in which for a 
number of years he did a banking busi- 
ness — first under the name of the Perkins 
& Head exchange Bank; then, after the 



death of E. B. Perkins, under the name of 
the O. W. Head Exchange Bank. In 1862 
he sold out to S. V. Harkness, but always did 
a private banking business. He occupied, 
and deservedly so, a high place in tiie es- 
teem of his fellow townsmen, and by close 
attention to business; by strict and hon- 
orable dealing; by carefnl and wise man- 
agement, he succeeded in accumulating a 
good competency. He was one of the 
founders of the Monroeville National Bank, 
and served as its first president, which po- 
sition he held up to the time of his death. 
He died October 2, 1882, and was buried 
in Monroeville cemetery. 

Mr. Head was ever willing to assist any 
movement tending to improve the condi- 
tion of the community in which he lived, 
and was well and favorably known through- 
out the county. He never refused aid to 
those worthy of assistance, and it can be 
said of him that he assisted more men, at 
the time they needed it most, to secure 
homes, than any other one man in the 
county. 

On October 4, 1872, Mr. Head was mar- 
ried to Annie M. Newcomer, of Ashland, 
Ashland Co., Ohio, a daughter of Ben- 
jamin and Annie (Albert) Newcomer, of 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

Since the death of her husband Mrs. 
Head has resided upon the home farm, 
and has conducted her business interests 
with success. She is now owner of over 
eight humlred acres of land, besides other 
properties. Though not a professor of re- 
ligion, she contributes liberally of her 
means to such institutions of which her 
husband was also a hearty supporter. 



f[J|ENRY KIMMEL, the pioneer car- 
IpH penter and builder of Bellevue, is a 
I 1| son of Henry and Anna Maria 
■JJ (Brandau) Kimniel, fartning people 

of Germany, who lived and died in 
their native land. 

Henry Kiinmel was born December 24. 
1828, in Niederngiida, Kreiss Rodenberg, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



457 



Germany. Wlien not eighteen years old 
lie, with a brother, catne to the United 
States, locating at Sandusky, Ohio, where 
Henry learned the carpenter's trade. In 
1848 or 1849 he came to Bellevue, Huron 
Co., Ohio, and worked at his trade by the 
day for a number of years. He was mar- 
ried July 22, 1851, to Miss Eva R Streck, 
of Bellevue, and to this marriage seven 
children were born, namely: Louisa, who 
is married to James Aigler, and has three 
children — Ernest, Ethel and Amos; Julia, 
who married Charles E. Burgess, and has 
two children — Aid and Robert; Isabel, 
married to Henry Mansfield; Franklin 
(married); Adelaide (unmarried); Eva R., 
married to J. Rudd, and one son de- 
ceased. After his marriage Mr. Kimmel 
returned to Sandusky, where he resided for 
one year, and then moved to New Haven, 
Ohio, remaining there six or seven mouths, 
during which time he purchased, con- 
ducted, and sold the hotel at that point. 
Returning to Bellevue, he has made this 
city his home up to the present time. In 
1862 he was drafted, but he furnished a 
substitute. 

Mr. Kimmel lias been engaged in con- 
tract work for altout thirty -four years. The 
first block in the town of Bellevue, the 
"Kern Block," was erected by him, and 
of the many buildings he has put up it is 
said that the owner was invariably satisfied, 
a record which speaks most forcibly of Mr. 
Kimmel's practical honesty. 



DAVID GRIEVE, one of the large 
landowners of Greenfield township, 
' was born April 28, 181'J, in Ber- 
gen county, N. J., son of Thomas 
Grieve, who was a native of Edinburgh, 
Scotland. 

At an early age Thomas Grieve removed 
to County Tyrone, Ireland, where in 1810 
he married Elizabeth Stewart, a native of 
that county, where one son — -Thomas — 
was born to them. In 1812 the father 
sailed from Ireland for the United States, 



and for two years worked at the weaver's 
trade in New Jersey. Having earned 
sufficient money to pay for the passage of 
his wife and son, he sent for them, and in 
1814 they arrived after a rough voyage of 
ninety days, the cost of passage for each 
being two hundred dollars. The family 
located in New Jersey, and there the 
father worked at his trade until 1836. 
The children born iu New .lersey to 
Thomas and Elizabeth Grieve are named 
as follows: David, James, William and 
George (twins), Elizabeth ,1. and John. In 
1886 the whole family came to Ohio via 
the Erie Canal and Lake Erie, and proceed- 
ing south located in Huron county. The 
father purchased land in Greenfield town- 
ship at eight dollars per acre, improved the 
tract with the aid of his sons, and had a 
comfortable home made for his family, 
when disease carried him off in 1838, he 
and his three sons — William, John and 
James — being buried within one month. 
The widow survived this terrilile atHiction 
until 1858, when she died, and was buried 
in Greenfield township. 

David Grieve attended school for six 
and one-half years, intending to devote 
his life to mercantile or clerical work. 
When an infant six. weeks old his right 
hand was burned so terribly as to render 
the member of little use, and to this inci- 
dent his long educational course must be 
credited. In his youth he went to New 
York City and found employment in a 
grocery store on the corner of Spring and 
Hudson streets, remaining there until 
1836, when he followed his parents to 
Ohio, where he taught school inan old-fash- 
ioned log house, boarding around with his 
pupils. He caught tlie "Ohio Itch," and 
suffered from lung troubles fostered by 
exposure in the ancient school buildings, 
and all this was rewarded by twelve dol- 
lars a mouth, with bed and board in va- 
rious places. Clearing the forest was pref- 
erable, and he abandoned the teacher's 
profession, and for the seven following 
years worked as a farm laborer. In 1865 



458 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



he married Sarali M. Koch, who was born in 
1842, near Pottstown, Penn., and came to 
Huron county with her father, Jonathan 
Koch, wlien a girl. The children born to 
this marriage are Elinira G., who resides 
at home, and John A., a farmer of Peru 
township. For some years before his mar- 
riage the mother and sister of our sub- 
ject weie his housekeepers. 

At the time of his father's death David 
Grieve was bequeathed a ti-act of land of 
forty acres, in consideration of the care 
bestowed by him on his mother and mem- 
bers of the family, and to this small tract 
he added gradually, until he now has over 
270 acres of good land. In 1854 he lo- 
cated on the farm which he now occupies. 
Politically Mr. Grieve is a Republican, 
formerly a Whig; in 1840 he voted for 
William H. Harrison. With the excep- 
tion of one year, which he passed as clerk 
in a wholesale grocery house at Toledo, 
Mr. Grieve has devoted his attention to 
agriculture. He has filled various town- 
siiip offices, and is a man who reads ex- 
tensively and thinks for himself. Mrs. 
Grieve is a member of the Lutheran 
Churcii. 



/ 



tyfff ARTIN ORDWAY, carpenter and 

\^ joiner, of Townsend township, is 

1] a native of the county, born May 

29, 1823, in Norwalk, the lifth in 

a family of nine children born to 

Neheraiah and Eleanor (Ferand) Ordway, 

both of whom were natives of Vermont, 

and of English descent. 

Nehemiah Ordway was educated and 
married in his native State, where he was 
engaged in agricultural pui-snits for several 
years. He was a gallant soldier during 
the war of 1812, soon after which, in 1816, 
he immigrated with his wife and family to 
the tlien western frontier of northern Ohio, 
settling near Norwalk, Huron county, then 
almost an unbroken wilderness, accomplish- 
ing the entire journey overland, from the 
hills of Vermont to this wild region, with 



wagons and teams. In the winter of 1823- 
24 he bought wild lands two miles south 
of the center of Townsend township, Hu- 
ron county, where he subsequently im- 
proved a farm. Here the family sutfered 
all the hardships and privations incident 
to a frontier life, their white neighbors 
beincr few and far between, the nearest one 
two and a half or three miles distant; the 
Redmen, however, were still numerous, but 
they were generally quite peaceable and 
caused but little trouble or anxiety to 
the white settlers. In about 1832 Mr. 
Ordway sold his place and bought another 
near Townsend Center, and there remained 
until 1852, when he again sold out, and 
removed to Wood county, Ohio. Here he 
bought a farm, and successfully engaged in 
agricultural pursuits until his death, which 
occurred in May, 1876. He was for many 
years trustee of his township, and for the 
last thirty years of his life was an earnest 
member of the Christian Church, to which 
his wife also belonged. 

Martin Ordway, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received such an education in 
youth as could be obtained at the common 
schools, taught in the rude schoolhouses of 
that early day, which were usually con- 
structed of logs, with puncheon floor and 
clap-board roof. He was employed on the 
home farm until he was nineteen years old, 
and then went to Milan, Ohio, to learn the 
carpenter's trade with his brother, with 
whom he remained about three years. He 
then went to work at his trade on his own 
account, and he has ever since continued 
to follow same, at various points, with 
most al)undaiit success. He owns a small 
farm near Townsend Center, upon which 
he has I'esided for the last forty- six ytars. 

Mr Ordway was married December 24. 
1846, to Miss Amilla Van Tassell, a native 
of Genesee county, N. Y., born Stjptember 
4, 1822, a daughter of Tunis and Puah 
(^Haven) Van Tassell, both of whom were 
natives of Onondaga county, N. Y., the 
former of Holland-Dutch extraction and 
the latter of Enoilish descent. To Mr. and 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



459 



Mrs. Ordway have been born five children, 
viz.: Betsey Jane, now Mrs. J. C. AVissert; 
Electa D , now Mrs. Niles II. House; Jef- 
ferson II.; Etfie A., now Mrs. W. G. Dart; 
and Einina N. (Birdie), now Mrs. C. B. 
Canfield. Mr. Ordway is at present serving 
as trustee of Townsend township, and has 
served as such at various times for many 
years. He lias been a member of the Ma- 
sonic Fraternity for over thirty years. 
Botii he and his wife are devout members 
of the M. E. Church, and in politics he is 
a stanch and uncompromising R^^publican. 
Mrs. Ordway's father, Tunis Van Tas- 
sell, was also one of the early pioneers of 
northern Ohio, haviricr removed from New 
York to Townsend township, Huron county, 
in 1836. Here he bought wild land and 
subsequently improved a farm, where he 
was successfully engaged in agricultural 
pursuits all his life. His father and father- 
in-law were soldiers in the Continental 
army during the Revolutionary war. The 
ance-tors of the Van Tassell family were 
among the hardy and patriotic Holland 

Sioneers of the old Dutch colony of New 
fetherlands, while the Haven family were 
also among the early pioneers of the game 
colony, later known as New York. 



FRANK CAMPBELL, a well-known 
citizen of Fairlield township, is a 
_^ grandson of Hugh A. Campbell, and 
is descended from the Argyle branch 
of the Campbell family of Scotland. 

Hugh A. Campbell was born May 15, 
1783. He married Margaret Mather; and 
to this union the following named children 
•were born: Ann Eliza, who married Will- 
iam Inscho, died Septeml>er 14, 1889; 
Lorenzo Q., born November 7, 1808, died 
December 25, 1884; Argyle, born Feb- 
ruary 3Q, 1810, died August 7, 1830; 
James M., born November 15, 1812; 
Angeline, born November 8, 1815, mar- 
ried James Burns, and died in Iowa; 
Jlelen M., born April 6, 1818, died No- 

80 



vember 30, 1853; Margaret S., born July 
3, 1821, who married Jonathan Atherton; 
and DeWitt C, born December 23, 1823. 
In the spring of 1817 Hugh Campbell and 
his family set out from their home at 
Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y., for the "Fire- 
lands" in Huron county, Ohio. Travel- 
ing via Cleveland, Rocky river and Nor- 
walk, they arrived in Greenfield township 
and located on the farm where the father 
died August 23, 1861. At the time of 
their settlement here a small log hut stood 
in a one-acre clearing on this land, an 
oasis in the wilderness. From 1817 to 
1861 the father of this large family toiled 
on the farm or at his trade, that of a shoe- 
maker. In politics he was a Whig until 
the organization of the Republican party. 
He was a Presbyterian for many years and 
was a deacon in that church, but later he 
united with the Congregationalists. The 
mother, Margaret Mather, was truly a pio- 
neer woman, and like her husband was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. The 
parents were buried in Steuben cemetery. 
Lorenzo Q. Campt)ell accompanied the 
family to Huron county, Ohio, in 1817. 
He learned the shoemaker's trade here 
from his father, and also learned tiie 
cooper's and carpenter's trades, and with 
all this obtained a primary education in 
the pioneer schools of Greenfield township. 
On April 15, 1834, he married Betsy 
Mathers, a native of Contiecticut, who ac- 
companied her parents to Huron county in 
girlhood, and to this union two children 
were born: Frank, born February 6, 1835, 
and Satira, born October 31, 1836 (she 
first married John H. Easter, later Jesse 
Snyder, and died Septendier 4, 1864). 
The mother died January 26, 1837, the 
father many years afterward, on December 
25, 1884. Like his father he was a Whig 
until the formation of the Republican 
part}', and filled nearly every township 
office, serving as justice of the peace for 
many years. In religious connection he 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
in which he held ottice. To him must be 



460 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



credited the excellent condition of the 
homestead in Greenfield township, for, 
some years after his father's death, he 
built a substantial residence and made 
very many important improvements. 

Frank Campbell was born February 6, 
1835, in Greenfield township. Up to the 
age of twelve years he attended the com- 
mon schools of his district, and then went 
to the Hillsdale (Mich.) Academy, subse- 
quently attending the Ohio Normal School 
at Milan. School days over, he resumed 
farm life and worked for his father until 
the latter's death. On September 26, 
1860, he married Martha J. Shourds, who 
was born February 5, 1841, in Cayuga 
county, N. Y., daughter of Daniel Shourds, 
who settled in Huron county. The only 
child born to this marriage is Mary Del, 
who was married October 6, 1891, to 
Roscoe B. Fisher, of Sandusky, Ohio. 
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of 
the Congregational Church. In politics 
Mr. Campbell is a Republican. He has 
traveled considerably over his native coun- 
try, and passed eighteen months on the 
Pacific coast. He is an active farmer and 
a skilled apiarist, much interested in bee 
culture. 



HELTON. When far advanced in 
life, Gershon Shelton (grandfather 
of Charles R. and Henry S. Shel- 
ton, of Wakeman township) came 
to Ohio, settling in Vermillion township 
fat that time in Huron county, now in 
Erie), where, during the later days of his 
life, he was engaged in broom making. 
His children, all of whom were born in 
Connecticut, were as follows: Jennette 
(Mrs. French); Julia, Sailie and Daniel, 
all three deceased; William, in Vermillion 
township, Erie county; and Lyman and 
Gershon (both deceased). The last named, 
father of Charles R. and Henry S., was 
reared on the home farm in Connecticut, 
receiving a limited subscription-school edu- 
cation during a few months in the win- 



ter season. About the year 1825 he came 
to Huron coiinty. and trading a small 
piece of improved land in Connecticut for 
a large tract of wild land in Wakeman 
township, he set to work to improve it, 
first building for himself a substantial log 
cabin. This tract consisted of 240 acres 
lying a short distance south of the present 
site of Wakeman village. Here by in- 
dustrious labor and judicious management 
he cleared his land, having at the time of 
his death the best improved farm in the 
locality. His wife was Hepsey, daughter 
of David Smith, both natives of Connecti- 
cut, and who were among the first settlers 
of Wakeman township. To this union 
were born four children, to wit: Henri- 
ette (Mrs. Joseph Hoskins), living in 
Wakeman; Charles R., sketcii of whom 
follows; Mary Ann (Mrs. Green), a widow, 
having her home in Wakeman; and Henry 
S., sketch of whom follows. The father 
passed from earth about the year 1840, a 
stanch Democrat, and a useful adviser of 
ills party. 

When he first came 
wild animals of many 
forest at will, wolves 
troublesome. While 
cabin, with the assistance of the few far- 
scattered neighbors, darkness set in tlie 
first day considerably before the work was 
completed. Thereupon, having to wait 
till next morning, the little party gathered 
together their provisions, together with a 
suttieient amount of firewood, and laid 
themselves down to rest for the night. 
Suddenly they were awakened by most 
ferocious howls and yelpings, and starting 
to their feet found to their dismay that 
they were surrounded by a pack of raven- 
ous wolves. Being totally unarmed, and 
the danger imminent, they at once betook 
themselves to places of security — some 
climbing trees, others the half-built house 
— and, in no little fear for their safety, in 
that manner passed the rest of the night. 
With the grey dawn of morning, the 
wolves, disappointed of their prey, retired 



to Huron county, 
kinds roamed the 
being particularly 

building his log 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



461 



to the fastnesse3 of the forest, and the he- 
roes of onr narrative descended to terra 
jirmit, and completed the building with- 
out further molestation. 

Charles R. Shelton, a retired farmer 
of Wakeinan township, and now proprie- 
tor of a prosperous hardware business in 
the town of Wakeman, was I)orn January 
3, 1820, in Oxford township. New Haven 
Co., Conn., and was there reared. In his 
boyhood lie received an elementary educa- 
tion, and after attaining his majority at- 
tended Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, 
one year, and further improved his educa- 
tion by considerable home study and care- 
ful reading. When his widowed mother 
married a second time, our subject formed 
the resolution to '• paddle his own canoe," 
struck out for himself, and for some years 
worked on farms. In the spring of 1851 
lie married Miss Eunice O. Wiiitney, a 
daughter of Abel Wiiitnej, of Florence 
township, Erie county, and Mr. Shelton 
then followed teaming, buying timber and 
haulincr it to Ashland, where he traded it 
for wheat, which in turn he conveyed to 
Milan, Erie county, where it was sold, 
that town being, on account of a canal 
connecting it with Lake Erie, an impor- 
tant market point for wheat and other pro- 
duce. After three years so engaged, Mr. 
Shelton, having made and saved money, 
bought land in Wakeman township, in- 
creased by fifty acres of wild land left to 
him by his father. This he cleared and 
further added to until he was owner of a 
considerable amount of good farm land, at 
one time owning 500 acres; but he has 
sold and given away a great deal, and now 
has 143 acres, all in excellent condition. 
In 1886 he retired from agricultural pur- 
suits, and corning to the town of Wake- 
man. began what has proven a successful 
mercantile career, and now conducts a 
thriving hardware establishment. In his 
I'Oiitical sympathies he is a straight Re- 
publican, and years ago held many offices 
of public trust; in religious faith lie and 
his wife are members of the Methodist 



Church. During the Civil war he was de- 
barred from joining tlie Union army 
through physical disability, but in giving 
pecuniary assistance he was as generous as 
he was loyal. 

Hevry S. Suelton, a well-known prom- 
inent farmer and stock raiser of Wake- 
man township, is probably the wealthiest 
among the agricultural community of his 
section. He is a native of the township, 
born November 10, 1832, on the old 
homestead, a part of which he now owns. 

He received his elementary education in 
his native township, and he well remem- 
bers the old red sclioolhouse with its primi- 
tive furnishings, and not less primitive 
" dominie." After a time he attended the 
schoolsof Milan, Erie county,and later, Ober- 
lin College, at Oberlin, Ohio, taking a partial 
course. When he was about ten years old 
his mother married a Mr. Squiers, of the 
" inn " at Milan, and he was there reared, 
being employed, from time to time after 
leaving school, on the surroundins; farms. 
Being gifted with more than ordinary 
strength, and having naturally industrious 
habits, his services were much sought after 
and appreciated. At the age of thirteen 
lie, unassisted, sowed to wheat thirteen 
acres of newly cleared land, from which he 
harvested 133 bushels, from the proceeds 
of the sale of which he invested in a team 
of oxen, and an old " Scotch drag." Thus 
equipped, he began the cultivation of his 
mother's portion of his father's small es- 
tate. Meanwhile, his stepfather having 
died, his twice-widowed mother and he 
continued to live together, for his true 
filial devotion for her, and her love for 
him, would never permit a separation, he 
toilincr and saving his earnings that she 

O t5 " . « 

mirflit be comfortably cared for in her fast 
declining years. 

I>y the time he reached his majority our 
subject had saved some sixteen hundred 
dollars, and he then married Miss A. M., 
daughter of Iloxey and Abigail Benson, 
natives of Dutchess county, N. Y., by 
which union there are no children. This 



462 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



wife dying after eleven years of married 
life, Ml'. Siielton, for his second spouse, 
wedded Miss Antoinette Vincent, of 
Clarkstield townsliip, Huron county, who 
bore him children as follows: Charles H., 
a resident of Berlin Heights, Ohio; Mary 
E. (Mrs. Charles Todd), inWakeman; and 
Addie B., George H., Myron A. and 
Harry S., all at home. The mother of 
these was called from earth in April, 1890. 
Politically, our subject is a Republican; a 
devoted adherent of the Methodist Church, 
he is a liberal supporter of same, and he 
is a useful and influential member of 
society. He is now the owner of 350 acres 
of land in Wakeman township, and forty 
in Clarkstield. and his remarkable success 
is clearly the result of his assiduous indus- 
try, indomitable perseverance and good 
management. 



\[ J[IRAM LATHAM, a prosperous 
ipH grocer of Lyme, and agent for the 
I 11 Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway, is 
■J/ a native of Huron county, born 

June 9, 1835, a son of Alexander 
W. and Anna (Wood) Latham. 

Alexander W. Latham was born in 1806 
in Connecticut, where he passed his child- 
hood and youth, attending the district 
schools of his neighborhood, and working 
on his father's farm. Feeling desirous of 
making a new home for himself, where he 
could have better opportunities for ac- 
cumulating money, he journeyed west and 
located in Sherman township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, where for sixty years he was promi- 
nently identified with its interests and 
progress. Nature endowed him with a 
great amount of tact and energy, charac- 
teristics that enabled him to win the re- 
spect of his new neighbors and to succeed 
in business. The country at that time was 
in an undeveloped condition, and he shared 
the hardships incident to pioneer life. It 
was his aim to deal fairly with every man, 
and at his death, which occurred in 1889, 
he was sincerely moiii-ned by all who knew 



him. He devoted his attention exclnsively 

to agricultural pursuits, and worked dili- 
gently in cultivating his farm. He mar- 
ried Miss Anna Wood, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and their union was blessed with 
four children: Thomas (deceased), Ly- 
man (deceased), Hiram and Rilev. His 
wife passed away in 1879, after having 
passed many useful and happy years with 
her husband and children. 

The subject of this biographical memoir 
received his education in Huron county, 
attending the rude log schools in his dis- 
trict. Until a year ago he engaged in 
farming, since wliicli time has been agent 
for the Wheeling &: Lake Erie Railway. 
His wife is postmistress at Lyme, and as- 
sists in conducting their grocery business. 
Mr. Latham was married, April 19, 1860, 
to Miss Mary A. Evans, who was born in 
Loudon, England, and came to America 
with her parents in 1849, and of their 
union have been born Ave children, viz.: 
Wilbur H., Thomas W., Fred E., Artiiur 
W. and Stella M. The family are mem- 
bers of the Episcopal Church, of which 
they are liberal supporters. Mr. Latham 
is a member of Raby Lodge, Monroeville, 
A. F. & A. M., and of the I. O. O. F., 
Subordinate Lodge No. 122. He was at 
one time elected justice of the peace, but 
did not serve, and iias been assessor for four 
terms. He is a wideawake, active busi- 
ness man, and popular in the commercial 
and social circles of Lyme townsliip. 



FREDERICK PARROTT (deceased), 
who for many years was a leading 
_^ farmer of Fairfield township, was 
born March 24, 1825, in England. 
His father, William Parrott, also a native 
of England, immigrated to America, locat- 
ing in Ripley township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
where he resided for a few years with his 
family. He then returned to England on 
a visit, during which time his family be- 
came scattered; and after his return he re- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



463 



siiieJ with oiir subject the remainder of 
his life. Of his children, one resides in 
Ripley township, Huron county; three of 
tlie daughters make their home in Toledo, 
Ohio, and one resides in Bioomington, 
Illinois. 

Our subject was l)ut sixteen years of age 
at the time of his immigration to America, 
but even then he was looked upon by the 
family as the provider. His education 
was consequently somewhat limited, but 
in after life he devoted much of his leisure 
time to reading, tlius acquiring a store of 
valuable general information. He was 
one of those who " felled the giant oak, " 
cleared from the laud the brush and waste, 
and luade thereon a home for iiimself and 
his family, destined then to be what it is 
now, one of the handsomest of rural homes 
to be found in Huron county. Mr. Par- 
rott was njarried October 7, 1847, to Miss 
Rosa M. Smith, daughter, of Aaron and 
Esther (Wallinj Smith, natives of New 
York State, who came to Fairfield town- 
ship, Huron county, when it was yet a 
vast wilderness. The land upon which 
they located is that on which Mrs. Par- 
rott now resides. Upon his marriage our 
subject purchased the interests of the 
'' iieirs apparent" to the Smith place, and 
assumed control and ownership of the 
large farm. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, late in 
their lives, moved to the West, where they 
resided with their children until they de- 
parted this life, the latter dying January 
18, 1851. 

To our subject and wife were born 
three children, as follows: Phonie, de- 
ceased; William, who is now a representa- 
tive of the D. W. Osborne Machine Co., 
of Auburn, N. Y. ; and Smith, at home. 
Mr. Parrott was very much interested in 
all kinds of machinery; for many years he 
was a thresher, owning and operating one 
of the first threshing machines in Huron 
county. He also took the first threshing 
outfit into the State of Wisconsin, where, 
to enable him to do business with the ma- 
chinery, it was necessary to insure the 



stock of grain against fire before he would 
be permitted on tlie premises of the own- 
ers. He was also engaged in selling 
various machines, and for years represented 
in his locality the firm in whose employ 
his son William now is. Mr. Parrott was 
a Democrat, and while takino- an active 
interest in the affairs of his country, he 
was not a politician, though for a number 
of years he held the office of township 
trustee. Mrs. Parrott is a member of the 
Disciple Church. 




|ILLIAM H. ERDRICH. a prom- 
inent business man of Bellevue, 
was born in that city in 1858, a 
son of Joseph and Pervis (Liitz) 
Erdrich, the former a native of Baden, 
Germany, the latter of Ohio. Joseph 
Erdrich emigrated to the United States in 
1855, and in 1861 established a cooperage 
in Bellevue, Huron Co., Ohio, carrying 
same on until his death, which occurred 
in 1889, when he was in his sixty-fourth 
year. His widow still resides here, where 
her parents had settled in 1820; her father 
was born in Pennsylvania about the year 
1800, and died at the age of eighty-eight; 
her mother died in the "sixties." 

William II. Erdrich was educated in 
the public schools of Bellevue, in which 
town he grew to manhood, learning the 
cooper's trade in his father's shop. As 
has been stated, the industry was estab- 
lished in 18G1, and the work was all done 
by hand until 1880, when steam power 
and modern machinery were introduced. 
The specialty of the cooperage is a light 
cask, made in imitation of foreign casks, 
the tannin being so extracted from the 
wood as to insure its future contents 
against discoloration. The founder of 
this cooperage saw it grow into a great 
industry before his death, and left to his 
widow and sons a valuable plant and a 
more valuable business. Casks are made 
in all sizes, and of all suitable woods. The 
trade, which extends from Buffalo, N. Y., 



464 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



to Omaha, Neb., is steadily growing, and 
■with it the reputation of this Bellevue in- 
dustry. When running on full time tlie 
establishment gives employment to forty 
men, and produces 60,000 light casks per 
annum. The equipmeut for handliug the 
output is arranged with a view to economy 
in labor, as is also the machinery. Since 
the death of their father, oiir subject and a 
brother have conducted the business with 
much ability. 

William H. Erdrich was married to Miss 
Amelia Gelle, and to them were born two 
children, Eugene and William. In 1885 
Mr. Erdrich was elected clerk of Lyme 
township, and was re-elected six times. 
He has been president of the Water-Works 
Company for over four years, and is closely 
connected with pul)lic affairs in township 
and city. Besides his cooperage he is in- 
terested in other business enterprises, and 
is a wide-awake citizen. Politically a 
Democrat, he gives loyal service to his 
party. In social affairs he is a member of 
of the I. O. 0. F. and of the Elks, being a 
popular member of both associations. 



T OHN F. GRABILL, M. D., one of the 
k. I prominent physicians of Townsend 
^Jj township, was born in Hayesville, 
Ashland Co., Ohio, February 19, 
1856, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth 
(Habeck) Grabill. 

Samuel Grabill was born in Germany, 
received a classical education in a college 
in that country, and was there married to 
Miss Elizabeth Habeck, also a native of 
the Fatherland. In 1830 Samuel Grabill 
emigrated from liis native country, and 
after reaching America located in Ashland 
county, Ohio, where he purchased a par- 
tially improved farm near Hayesville and 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. During 
his early life he served several years as 
cavalryman under Napoleon, participated 
in many of the most noted battles fought 
by that Emperor, and was several times 



wounded. His death occurred in the fall 
of 1870, when he was eighty-two years of 
age. Both he and his wife were devoted 
members of the Lutheran Church. His 
parents, who lived always in Germany, 
were quite wealthy, his father owning and 
controlling a large milling business. 

Dr. John F. Grabill was the fifth in 
order of birth of the seven children born 
to his parents. He received a common- 
school and academic education in his 
youth, attending the spring and fall ses- 
sions of the Perrysville Academy about 
six years, and teaching during the winter 
mouths. In 1877 he commenced to study 
medicine, under the preceptorship of 
Doctors Erwin and Craig, of Manstield, 
Ohio, and dui-ing the session of 1878-79 
he attended lectures at the Medical De- 
partment of the Western Reserve Univer- 
sity of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1879-80 he 
attended the Miami University of Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, and graduated with honors 
in the class of 1880. The same year he 
began to practice his profession in Reeds- 
burgh, Ohio, but after four years located 
in Townsend township, Huron county. He 
has built up an extensive and lucrative 
practice, is remarkably successful in his 
treatment of patients, and is undoubtedly 
one of the most eminent physicians in 
Huron county. In the I'all of 1880, Dr. 
Grabill married Miss Rosina Buchanan, 
who was born in Hayesville, Ashland 
county, in July, 1856, a daughter of 
George and Rosina (Hyatt) Buchanan. 
Their marriage was blessed with two chil- 
dren; Wade Hampton and Vera. Dr. 
Grabill is a member of the North Central 
Medical Society of Ohio, and is thoroughly 
posted in all the latest discoveries and ad- 
vancements made in his profession. Politi- 
cally he is a Republican. 

George Buchanan, father of Mrs. Gra- 
bill, was born in Washington county, Penn., 
of Scotch descent. He was a man of 
splendid scholastic attainments, being a 
graduate of Washington College, both iu 
the classical and theological departments. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



465 



Though prepared for the ministry, be liad 
no inclination tor the profession, and 
never entered it. He moved South, where 
he enjiaHed in teaching, and where he was 
first married. But with the first sio^ns of 
the Civil war he returned to Ohio, and 
settled in Ashland county, where he died 
in September, 1882, being eighty-two 
years of age. He was a lifelong member 
of the Presbyterian Church. 



BARTLETT DAVIS. In the year 
, 1635 there came to America from 
I Wales one Joseph Davis, a Cym- 

rodion of no small degree of promi- 
nence in his day, and from him are de- 
scended the numerous family of Davis in 
America. 

This Josepli Davis was born in 1617, 
and the best part of his life was passed in 
Roxbury, Mass. The next lineal descend- 
ant, of whom there is record, was another 
Joseph, who owned a tract of land in what 
is now the South Gore of Oxford, Mass., 
and later bought land and settled in Wor- 
cester, same State. He was engaged to 
some extent in mercantile business, and 
frequently made trips to Boston with farm 
produce, which be would exchange for 
groceries, etc., dealing in such extensively, 
and he was widely known as a man of the 
liighest integrity. 

Aaron Davis (a twin), son of the last 
mentioned Joseph, and father of Bartlett 
Davis, was born in Massachusetts June 9, 
1771. He was married November 29, 
1800, at Dudley, in that State, to Thonia- 
sine Bartlett, of Dudley, whose father, 
Roger Bartlett, was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and had served in the war of the 
Revolution; so far as known he had three 
children — two daughters and one son. Af- 
ter marriage Aaron Davis made his home 
for a time in Charlton, Mass., afterward 
went to Palmer. He was a laborer, and 
for thirty-two years suffered much from 
lameness caused by fever sores, which 



alone was the cause of his being a poor 
man up to the day of his death. About 
the year 1844 he went to Wisconsin, and 
at Bristol, Kenosha county, died Decem- 
ber 19, 1849. He was a' lifelong Whig 
in his political sympathies, but was never 
ambitious for office; his wife, who passed 
away August 9, 1866, was a member of 
the Congregational Church. The names 
of the children born to this couple are as 
follows: Pharos, Sarah, Dexter, Thom- 
asine, Aaron, Joseph. Bartlett, Wealthy 
Ann, Diantha and Samantha. 

Bartlett Davis, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was born May 14, 1815, in 
the town of Palmer, Mass., at the sub- 
scription schools of which place he re- 
ceived his education, necessarily very 
limited. At the early age of nine years he 
commenced work on a farm, receiving as 
compensation his board and clothes, and 
a few weeks instruction at the neighboring 
schools. At the age of sixteen he entered 
a woolen factory to learn the trade of 
spinner, and for the first year received six 
dollars per month for his services, after- 
ward from twelve dollars to fourteen dol- 
lars per month; and at the end of two 
years he had saved some two hundred and 
ten dollars. In 1836, in company with 
relatives, he came to Ohio, by way of the 
Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to 
Sandusky, and from there by wagon to 
Bronson township. Huron county. After 
a summer's residence there, he and Calvin 
O. Chaffee jointly made a purchase of one 
hundred acres of wild land at five dollars 
per acre, in Harlland township, and built 
thereon a stout log house. In 1865 Mr. 
Davis built a handsome residence, and 
still owns eighty-three acres of as fine land 
as can be found in the county. 

On May 10, 1836, Bartlett Davis was 
united in marriage -with Miss Maria Beal, 
daughter of William Beal, a native of Ver- 
mont, and the children of this union were: 
Louisa (Mrs. E. Burr), deceased; Mary A. 
(Mrs. James Blakeman), in Hartland 
township, Huron couuty; Martha, de- 



466 



nrnoy coryrr, nnio. 



ceased ; Flora, who died in infancy ; Charles, 
who was a soldier in Company A, Twenty- 
fourth O. V. I., was wounded at Shiioh, 
and died in Jefl'erson barracks, Mo., while 
a nieml)er of the U. S. Signal Corps, in 
which he had enlisted after recovering 
from his wound ; Lucy (Mrs. Ezra Webb), 
and Frank K., by trade a carpenter, living 
in Missouri. The mother of these died in 
April, 1850, and was buried in Norwalk; 
she was a member of the Methodist 
Church. On December 25, 1850, Mr. 
Davis married Miss Mary A. Jackson, 
daughter of John and Clarissa (Vandeveer) 
Jackson, of Elmira, N. Y., whose children 
were Maria, Clarissa, John and Mary A. 
Mr. Jackson was a soldier in the war of 
1812, and was drowned in Lake Owasco, 
Cayuga Co., N. Y. ; his widow was subse- 
quently intermarried with James Hiles. 
Mrs. Mary A. Davis came to Huron 
county with the Monahan family in 1833. 
The children by this second marriage of 
Mr. Davis are: Milo O., married to Flora 
Fish, and Cora L., wife of Ephi'aiin Tem- 
ple. Politically our subject is a Kepub- 
lican, formerly a Whig, and for twenty 
years has served as trustee of Hartland, 
of which township he was constable for 
some time after his arrival. He and the 
entire family are members of the M. E. 
Church, with which he has been connected 
nearly si.xty years, and has been trustee for 
some considerable time. Notwithstanding 
his years, Mr. Davis is hale and hearty, 
enjoying excellent physical health, and he 
still supervises his farm, which in its pro- 
ductiveness and neatness is a credit to the 
owner. 



DELBERT E. PECK, owner of 

l\ 101 acres of prime farm land in 

^ Wakeman township, is a native of 

the locality, born February 3, 1844, 

a son of Henry Peck. 

He was reared to the arduous duties of 

fartn life, and remained with his father 

until he was twenty-six years old, when he 




commenced for his own account. Having 
saved a little money, and being assisted by 
his father, he in 1874 went west and 
bought a farm in Henry county, 111., re- 
maining there nine years, and making a 
fair success. In 1877 he revisited his old 
home, and married Miss Julia E. Sweet, 
daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Sweet, of Lo- 
rain county, Ohio, born of English par- 
entage. Taking his young wife out to his 
western home, they there remained till 
1883, when he sold the property and 
bought his present farni of 101 acres in 
Wakeman township. On it, same year, 
he built an elegant home, an-d put up 
about one and one-half miles of fence; his 
specialty, in addition to general farming, 
is the breeding of high-grade live stock. 

Mr. Peck is a pronounced Prohibitionist, 
and when he first went west was the only 
voter on that ticket in Henry county. 111., 
where there are now eight votes. During 
the Civil war, in 1864, he enlisted in Com- 
pany E, Capt. I. O. Peck, One Hundred 
and Sixty-sixth O. V. I., one hundred- 
days men, and was mustered in at Cleve- 
land. His brother Edward was a member 
of the Twenty-fourth 0. V. I., having en- 
listed at the commencement of the war, 
and was killed at the battle of Pittsburgh 
Landing (Shiioh). 



h 



UCIAN JONES, a venerable and 
respected pioneer of Sherman town- 
ship, is a native of Vermont, born 
in Windsor county March 11, 1812. 
Bruce Jones, father of subject, was bora 
November 8, 1772, in Massachusetts, 
whence when a young man he moved to 
Vermont, and was there married Decem- 
ber 6, 1804, to Miss L. Partridge, who was 
born November 9, 1778, and died May 12, 
1819. The record of the children by this 
marriage is as follows: Amanda was mar- 
ried March 19, 1827, to Willard Crandall, 
and always resided in Vermont; Solon, 
born June 25, 1809, died in December, 
1809; Lucian is the subject of this sketch, 



IlCIiOy COUNTY, OHIO. 



467 



and Steoi-n, l)orn September 2, 1814, died 
November 11, 1862. For liis second wife 
Bruce Jones married Miss Lucy Sanderson, 
n-ho was born ilarch 18, 17S4, and died 
Marcli 19, 1865. Tliree children were the 
result of this union, viz.: Lucretia, now 
the widow of P. Bright, living in New 
London, Huron county; Sarah, born May 
15, 1822, died September 6, 1838; and 
Susan E., boi-n April 8, 1827, unmarried. 
The father died in 1846. He had settled 
on the land in Sherman township, Huron 
county, on which some of his children are 
yet living. 

The subject of this sketch came to 
Huron county witii his parents, and has 
lived longer in Sherman township than any 
one else. He has never married. He is 
a Republican in politics, and one of the 
most highly respected citizens of his sec- 
tion, honored the more, probably, on ac- 
count of his blindness, caused by disease, 
an affliction he bears with Christian resig- 
nation. His half-sister, Susan E., keeps 
house for him, and, Mr. Jones being very 
wealthy, has a vast amount of business to 
transact, which she does with most com- 
mendable care and accuracy. She also 
took care of her parents in their declining 
years. 

JH. BEATTIE, a leading clothier of 
New London, is a native of Ohio, 
born in Ruggles, Ashland county, in 
1849, a son of John Beattie, a native 
of Scotland, who came to America at the 
age of twenty-one years. 

Our subject was reared in Ashland 
county, attending the common schools of 
the neighborhood of his birth, and also the 
academy at Savannah, same county. In 
1874 he commenced business for his own 
account, having previously served as clerk 
in various mercantile houses in New Lon- 
don, but closed out his business in 1877. 
In 1889 he opened out his present cloth- 
ing and merchant tailoring establishment 
in New London, and it lias become the 
leading one of its kind in the place. 



In 1874 Mr. Beattie was married to 
Miss Martha L. Middlesworth, of Ivno.\- 
ville, Iowa, and six children, as follows, 
have been born to them: Edna Mary, F. 
J. M., Jennie Alberta, Louie Isabel, Les- 
ter M. and Alice. Our subject is a mem- 
ber of the F. &, A. M., Iloyal Arcanum, 
Knights of Honor, and National Union. 
In politics he is a Republican, and has 
been a delegate to various conventions; 
was State delegate for his party when 
Foraker was nominated for governor, and 
also when McKinley was the nominee of 
the party for the same office. 



d JUSTICE TOWNSEND, the popular 
and courteous proprietor of the 
^ "Gregory House," New London, is a 
native of Huron county, born in 
Hartland township in 1852. 

His father, D. T. Townsend, was born 
in Ulster county, N. Y., whence when 
twenty-one years old he came to Huron 
county, Ohio, making a settlement in 
Greenwich township. Here he married 
Miss G. W. Dewitt, a native of New York 
State, born in 1828, and three children 
came to them, two of whom are yet living, 
our subject being second in order of birth. 
The parents after marriage moved to Hart- 
land township, Huron county, where the 
mother is yet living; the father died at the 
ao-e of sixty-tive years; he was by trade a 
millwricrht, and operated a sawmill; in 
politics lie was a Republican, and in relig- 
ious faith a member of the M. E. Church, 
as is his widow. 

Justice Townsend received a liberal edu- 
cation at tlie common schools of Hartland 
township, Huron county, as well as at the 
schools of Milan, P^rie county, for a time, 
after which he commenced business. His 
first experience was on a farm, where he 
remained one year; he then went west to 
Beatrice, Neb., where he was in a sheep 
bubiness two years, after which he returned 
home and bouglit a farm, which he con- 



468 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



ducted one and one-half years. We next 
find Mr. Townsend, for lie was never idle, 
conducting a grocery business in Noi-walk, 
Huron county, up to the tinae of his 
father's death, when he returned to the 
homestead, on which he remained about 
tlii'ee years. Embarking then in the grain 
and treneral stock trade in Clarksiield, 
Huron county, he built an elevator, and 
continued in the business two years, at the 
end of which time he went into the hotel 
business in the same town, remaining in 
it some four years. In 1891 he became 
proprietor of the "Gregory House" in 
New London, and has since been its genial 
and obliging host, meeting with well- 
merited success, at the same time conduct- 
ing his farm. In 1873 Mr. Townsend was 
united in marriage with Miss Mabel Mer- 
rick, a native of Knox county, Ohio, and 
four children were born to them, viz.: 
One deceased in infancy, Charles O., Julia 
E. and John. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend 
are adherents of the M. E. Church; so- 
cially he is a member of the K. O. T. M., 
and in politics he is a solid Republican. 







TIS STKES, the oldest and most 
prominent business man at Chicago 
Junction, was born May 2, 1847, 
in Richmond township, Huron Co., 
Ohio. 

Daniel Sykes, his father, was born June 
6, 1806, at East Berkshire, Franklin Co., 
Vt., where he attended school, afterward 
working on the home or neighboring farms 
until 1827, when he determined to seek a 
wider field for his industry in New York 
State. The followine three years he 
passed at Sweden, Monroe Co., N. Y., as 
a farm hand, and there, on April 5, 1832, 
he was married to Arabella Butler. In May 
of that year he visited Michigan, purchased 
a quarter section of United States lands, 
and passed the summer there, clearing the 
land and jn-eparin"; a home. That fall, on 
returning to Monroe county, N. Y., he was 



urged by his friends to settle in Ohio, and 
in October, accompanied by his young wife 
and a \ev! friends, set out for that State. 
The journey was made by wagon to Buf- 
falo, and thence to Sandusky by lake-boat. 
At this point Daniel Sykes separated from 
the party, leaving his wife in care of her 
uncle, who took her to Milan on horseback. 
Her husband went to Michigan to dispose 
of his land there, but failed in his mission, 
returned to Huron county, Ohio, and pur- 
chased forty acres of wild land one and a 
half miles northwest of Greenfield Center. 
On this tract was a small loar cabin, and'^ 
into it the young pioneer couple moved, to 
begin life in the wilderness. With un- 
daunted courage Daniel began the work of 
clearing tlie forest. He had yet to pay for 
this forty-acre tract, for his earnings were 
nearly all invested in the Michigan pur- 
chase. With strong heart and hands 
and a brave wife he persevered, and with- 
in a comparatively short space of time 
succeeded, not only in paying for the land, 
but also in obtaining various household 
articles and comforts. In 1836 lie sold the 
old farm and purchased sixty acres in 
Richmond township from a Mr. McMas- 
ter, on which the home was established. 
A few years later lie purchased an adjoin- 
ing tract of sixty acres from Robert 
Askins; but owing to a defect in the title, 
Mr. Sykes was compelled to pay for this 
property a second time, to Henry Mills, 
the actual owner. Mr. Sykes had now a 
good farm of 120 acres, with substantial 
buildings, and all this he made out of his 
labor, before his children were old enough 
to help. His death, which occurred elune 
10, 1883, was the result of an accident; 
while crossing the railroad he was struck 
by a locomotive, fell under the wheels, and 
his lower limbs were severed from his 
body. He was a man of few words but of 
many deeds, and was loved wherever 
known. 

Of the eight children born to Daniel 
and Arabella Sykes, five grew to maturity, 
a brief record of them being as follows: 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



469 



William H. is a physician at Plyniouth; 
Andrew J. served in the Fifty-lifth 0. V. 
1., and was killed at Kesaca, Ga. ; Royal, 
who served in the Third O. V. C, died of 
typhoid fever at Pittsburg Landing; Aurilla 
resides on the old homestead in Richmond 
township; Otis is the subject proper of 
this sketch. In religious faith Mr. Sykes 
was a Baptist; in politics he was origin- 
ally a Democrat, and Liter became a Re- 
publican. 

Otis Sykes was educated in the district 
schools of his native township. On August 
13, 1862, while yet a mere boy, he en- 
tered the United States service with Com- 
pany C, One Hundred and Twenty-third 
O. V. I., and going to the front with the 
command, participated in many of the 
brilliant engagements which took place in 
the Shenandoah Valley, taking part in the 
battle of Winchester (where the famous 
cavalry officer, Sheridan, saved the day), 
in the Lynchburg raid, and in the battle 
of Staunton, Ya. At Winchester he lost 
his left limb, and was sent to the field hos- 
pital. Thence he was removed to the hos- 
pital at Baltimore, and later to that at 
Philadelphia, where he remained until 
June 6, 1865, when he received an hon- 
orable discharge and returned to his home. 
Some time later he commenced the study 
of dentistry at Plymouth, Ohio, and prac- 
ticed his profession for three years. In 
1872 he established a drug store at Wa- 
bash, Ind., which he carried on until 1876, 
and then came to Chicago Junction, where 
in 1878 he opened his present drug busi- 
ness, to which he has since given his ex- 
clusive attention. Mr. Sykes, in his poli- 
tical preferences, is a Republican, and on 
the incorporation of the town of Chicago 
Junction was elected a member of the first 
council. He was also a member of the 
school board, and in both ofhces exercised 
a wide influence for good. In Society af- 
fairs he is a member of Chicago Junction 
Lodge No. 748, I. O. O. F. 

In 1S73 Mr. Sykes was married to Miss 
Elizabeth A., daughter of Samuel and 



Elizabeth Miller, and to this union the fol- 
lowing named children were born: Maud 
I., who died in 1891, aged fifteen years, 
and Doris, who resides with her parents. 
Mr. Sykes began mercantile life with little 
or no assistance, and through his own ef- 
forts he has not only built up a prosper- 
ous business, but also that which is more 
difficult to acquire and sustain — a fine 
reputation. 



f^NOCH HEAL. The beginning of 
the modern buildinnrs of Bellevue 



E 



J may be credited to tiie year in which 
Enoch Heal arrived there. Mr. 
Heal was born February 1, 1826, in Devon- 
shire, England, and learned the trade of 
stone and brick mason under iiis father. 
He was married in his native country, and 
in 1849 emigrated to the United States, 
arriving at Bellevue, Ohio, the same year. 
His tirst work here was the building of the 
stone gristmill. Later he put up the old 
stone residence for Dr. Woodward, and he 
has since been continuously engagad as 
contractor and builder, and as stone and 
brick mason, building many of the sub- 
stantial structures now found in Bellevue, 
Monroeville and Norwalk. From 1849 to 
the present time his home has been at 
Bellevue, save for eleven weeks in 1878, 
which he with his wife and relatives 
passed in England. During the Civil war, 
when Cincinnati was threatened by the 
Confederate forces, he joined a Bellevue 
company, and went to the front to defend 
the city. 

Mr. Heal was united in marriage witii 
Elizabeth C. Joint, and to this union were 
born ten children, a brief record of whom 
is as follows: One child died in infancy; 
Elizabeth C. is the widow of W. K. Hil- 
bert; Emma is the wife of Dr. Lanterman; 
Mary is the wife of W. E. Miller; Amelia 
is married to George C. Beckworth, of 
Bellevue; W. A. is a clerk in the " Ball 
House" at Fremont; Nellie is the wife of 
R. H. Boyer, of Minneapolis, Minn.; 



470 



IlUliOX COUNTY, OHIO. 



Fi-ancls P. is a druggist in Belleviie; New- 
ton W. is a traveling salesman; Nettie E. 
is the wife of C. B. Cupp, a druggist. 
Tiie niotlier of this large family died De- 
cember 18, 1SS3. She carried on a milli- 
nery store here for about twenty years. 
In October, 1891, Mr. Heal married Carrie 
W. Duuiiing, a native of New York State, 
who for some time was a stenographer at 
Chicago, and for about three years was 
engaged in the dry-goods business at 
Bellevue. In political life Mr. Heal is a 
Prohibitionist, and in church connection 
a Congregationalist. Mr. Heal is the em- 
ployer of a number of skilled' mechanics 
and laborers, is the owner of valuable 
pi'operty at Bellevue, and altogether is a 
shining example of industry and enterprise. 
The parents of Mr. Heal, Enoch and 
Elizabeth (Tamlin) Heal, came from 
Devonshire, England, to America in 1854, 
and located at Bellevue, Ohio, where the 
mother died in 1868, the father in 1872. 
He had been twice married, the subject of 
this sketch being one of the children born 
to the second marriage. Our subject has 
two full sisters and one full brother, the 
latter and one of the sisters — Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Head, a widow — being residents of 
Bellevue. Four sons in the family were 
stone masons. 



EiLMER E. McKESSON, proprietor 
of a leading grocery establishment 
I in Bellevue, is a son of James Mc- 
Kesson, a native of Pennsylvania. 
Many years ago James McKesson lo- 
cated in Erie county, Ohio, where he fol- 
lowed farmino; and railroad work. When 
a young man he was united in marriage 
with Mayetta Provut, a native of the State 
of New York, and to this union were born 
f(nir children, Elmer E. being the young- 
est. The father is now a resident of 
Bellevue, and is still farming. 

Elmer E. McKesson was born Novem- 
ber 16, 1862, in Erie county, Ohio, where 
lie attended the common schools. He 



selected a life companion in the person of 
Helen M. Riese, a young lady who moved 
in the highest social circles of Bellevue. 
On March 1, 1891, Mr. McKesson em- 
barked iu a grocery business, which is 
very prosperons, as he carries a full line 
of excellent goods. 



DAVID BORES. Of the industrious 
and prosperous German settlers of 
' Sherman township, Huron county, 
none is more deserving of the re- 
spect and esteem of the community than 
this gentleman. 

Mr. Bores was born January 24, 1832, 
in Nassau, Prussia, a son of John and 
Catherine Bores, the former of whom was 
by trade a harness maker. David received 
his education in his native land, and 
learned harness making of his father. At 
about the age of twenty-two years he set 
sail for the United States in the good ship 
"Southampton," and after a voyage t>f 
twenty-eight days landed in New York 
December 18 following — "a stranger in a 
strange land." After a few days sojourn 
in New York City he came westward to 
Ohio, making his first stop in the Buckeye 
State at Monroeville, Huron county, where 
for three months he was employed by 
Philip Knoll at six dollars per month. He 
next moved to Indiana, and worked as a 
laborer on the railroad then being con- 
structed between Indianapolis and Peru. 
Returning to Huron county, he engaged 
with Christ Knoll, with whom he worked 
some time, but, suffering from fever and 
ague for three years, he was almost totally 
incapacitated for labor of any kind. 

Alter a pai'tial recovery from his illness, 
Mr. Bores married, in 1855, Miss Anna 
Mary Fachinger, also a native of Nassau, 
Prussia, daughter of John Fachinger, who 
came with his family to the United States 
when Mrs. Bores was twenty-six years old. 
After marriage our subject, though still 
unwell, worked as a farm hand in Lyme 
township, Huron county, and then rented 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



471 



farms for six years. In 1802 he purchased 
fifty acres of wild land in Sherman town- 
ship, Huron county, at forty dollars per 
acre; this he has liy hard work and assidu- 
ous industry converted into a productive 
farm. He went into debt for this prop- 
erty, and has not only succeeded in paying 
for it, but has added thereto until now he 
has 240 acres of prime land, in the ac- 
cumulating of which, atid in the convert- 
ing of the farm generally, he has been ably 
and faithfully assisted by his amiable wife. 
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bores 
were as follows: Joseph, who died young; 
Henry, a fanner of Sherman township; 
Elizabeth, Mrs. Chris. Wilhelm, of Leip- 
sic, Putnam Co., Ohio; August, a farmer 
of Sherman township; flohn, living at 
home; and Emma, now Mrs. AVilhelm 
Kiuirlein, of Putnam county, Ohio. Poli- 
tically our subject is a Democrat, and he 
has held the office of school director with 
acceptability. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Church, of which he 
is trustee. He is a typical self-made man, 
and considering his long period of sickness 
and the expenses incident to same, he has 
been wonderfully successful. 



IlOHN F. GUENEY, one of the most 

L. I extensive farmers of Richmond town- 

\yj ship, was born November 10, 1S32, 

a son of Samuel and -fane (Cross) 

Gurney. 

In 1S38 the parents came to Ohio, 
bringing their family, which then con- 
sisted of four children, viz.: Olive Jane, 
now the widow of John Detweiler, of 
Mansfield, Ohio; John F., wlio is men- 
tioned farther on; Oliver, of Bellville, 
Ohio; and Lewis, a bricklayer and plas- 
terer, of MansHeld. After coming to Ohio 
they had born to them one child, Sarah 
Elizabeth. When Samuel (rnrney arrived 
in Oliio he settled near l>ellvillc, Richland 
county, where he owned one of the best 
farms in the section, being a man of no 
small means. He was possessed of con- 



siderable genius as a mechanic, and in- 
vented a shingle machine, a contrivance 
for pulling stumps, and also a machine for 
converting palm leaves into fans; while in 
the South he made many profitable sales 
of his inventions, and it is supposed that 
he was killed in New Orleans for his 
money. Some time later his widow mar- 
ried, for lier second husband, Hiram 
Bailey; she died about 1878 near Bellville, 
Richland county, where she was buried. 

John F. Gurney was about six years old 
when he came with the rest of the family 
to Ohio. He received the greater part of 
his education from a private instructor in 
the person of his employer, John C. Bate- 
man, a farmer of Knox county, Ohio, and 
attended school very little, in fact for onl}' 
one winter. Beiiur the eldest son the 
family depended principally on him after 
the death of the father, and at the age of 
eighteen he commenced to learn plaster- 
ing, serving an apprenticeship ot three 
years, after which he bought out his em- 
ployer, William C. Weirick, and continued 
in the business for twenty-one years in 
Mansfield and vicinity. On January 0, 
1856, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Lavina Tinkey, who was born De- 
cember 16, 1829. in Washington county, 
Penn., daughter of George and Elizabeth 
(Swickard) Tinkey, who came to Ohio in 
1853. locating in Richland county. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gurney rented a 
house in Bellville, where they resided for 
about ten years, and then purchased a 
small place south of the town, where they 
made their home another ten years. On 
July 19, 1874, they came to Richmond 
township, Huron Co., Ohio, locating on 
their present farm, where Mr. Gurney has 
ever since been actively engatred in aijri- 
culture and stock raising. To our subject 
and wife have been born children as fol- 
lows: Elizal)eth Jane, Mrs. James L. 
Frederick, of Chicago Junction, Ohio; 
Ann Eliza, Mrs. William Cox. of Rich 
mond township; Mary Inez. Mrs. D. B. 
Ziegler, of Plymouth; Otis Washington, a 



a 

472 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



farmer of Hicks ville, Ohio; Ella May, Mrs. 
Portice Williams, of Fostoria, Ohio; and 
Martha Adele, Mrs. J. A. Rang, of Chi- 
cago Junction. 

In May, 1S64, Mr. Gnrney enlisted, for 
one hundred days' service, in Company D, 
One Hundred and Sixty-third Reoiment 
O. V. 1. (of which he had been a member 
for five years), and participated in the en- 
gagements in the Shenandoah Valley, 
around Richmond, etc., serving with special 
bravery and distinction; on one occasion 
he was one of four .soldiers, who, after 
having been ordered to surrender, defied 
and held at bay POO rebels, until their 
comrades rallied and captured the enemy. 
Our subject is the owner of 268 acres of 
most excellent land, the result of his own 
unremitting energy and industry, and his 
continual perseverance in improving and 
cultivating. This tract, located in the 
north end of what was known as the 
" Black Swamp," was once a vast swamp, 
and was considered practically worthless; 
but it is now the most productive land in 
tliis section of the county. Mr. Gurney is 
a member of the Republican party, but 
takes no active part in politics; in religions 
connection he was originally a Cumber- 
land Presbyterian, but is now a member of 
the U. B. Church, and he has always con- 
tributed liberally toward churches and 
church work. 



JfOHN A. HETTEL, retired farmer of 
^ I Peru township, was born March 20, 
\Jl 1816, in Germany, and is a son of 
John A. Hettel, a hatter who emi- 
grated to the United States witii his family 
in 1834. 

They sailed from the port of Havre, 
France, and after a voyage of thirty days 
landed at New York, proceeding thence by 
river, canal and lake boats toHuron, Ohio, 
and from that village to the wilderness of 
what is now the beautiful township of 
Peru. Here the father purchased, at ten 
dollars per aci'e, the land on which there 



was at that time a clearing of six acres, and 
increased gradually the area of the tract. 
Mr. Hettel and his wife resided on this 
tract until their death. Each arrived at a 
ripe old age, living to see some of their 
children settled, and fair provision made 
for the younger members of the family. 
The pioneers rest in St. Peter's Catholic 
cemetery at Norwalk, where so many of 
the early settlers are buried. 

John A. Hettel, was eighteen years old 
when he accompanied the rest of the family 
into the wilderness of Ohio. He had re- 
ceived a good education in his native land, 
and after coming to America assisted his 
father in making a new home. 

On November 15, 1847, he married Miss 
Maggie Horn, who was born February 10, 
1822, near the birthplace of Mr. Hettel, 
and came to the United States with her 
father, Joseph Horn, in 1843, residing for 
the next three years in Massachusetts, 
when the family came to Huron county. 
The following named children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Hettel: Louisa, 
Rose, Albert and Louis, all deceased when 
young; Anna M., residing at home; John 
F., a farmer in Peru township; Edward 
A., a farmer of Henry county, Ohio, and 
Frank A., residing at home. The mother 
of tiiis family died July 25, 1887, and 
was buried in the Catholic cemetery at 
Monroeville. From the period of her 
marriage until her death the old home- 
stead, still occupied by Mr. Hettel, was 
her home. 

Mr. Hettel, though retired from active 
work, is not an idle onlooker. Rounding 
out as he now is fourscore years, he is 
still hale and hearty, and takes especial 
jiride in seeing the farm which he helped 
to hew out of the forest grow in beauty 
and productiveness at the hands of his 
children. In his old age he can look back 
over a useful and honorable life, and take 
pride in the children who grew up around 
him. He appreciates the assistance he has 
received from them and their mother, who 
has passed away, in amassing, or rather the 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



473 



making, tlie wealth which he calls his own, 
and which they will enjoy after him. 
Since the mother's death, his daughter, 
Anna Mary, has been mistress of the old 
home, wiiile the farm is managed by the 
sons. ]V[r. TIettel has always been a con- 
sistent Ilepul)lican, but takes no active in- 
terest in party affairs. He and his chil- 
dren hold to the Catholic faith, and as he 
aided in planting it in northern Ohio, so 
liis sons and daughters to-day aid in sus- 
taining it. 



TEPHEN BERRY, a wealthy and 
highly honored agriculturist of Lyme 
townsliip, was born March 12, 1844, 
in Waldo township, Marion county, 
Ohio, a son of Henry and Christina (Powel) 
Berry. 

Henry Berry was born in Virginia, and 
there received the most complete education 
afforded by the schools of that j)eriod. At 
an early age he became familiar with agri- 
cultural pursuits, an occupation which en- 
gaged his exclusive attention until his 
death, whicli occurred in 18S2. He was 
a man of unusual cultnre and sterling 
worth, and used his wealth to succor the 
helpless neighbors who invariably appealed 
to him for assistance. His vast estate was 
highly cultivated, and his fortune of eighty 
thousand dollars carefully managed. He 
served in the war of 1812. He married 
Mi^s Christina Powel, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and of this union were born nine 
children (six of whom are now living), 
viz.: Strander. Thomas, William, Stephen, 
Massey (Mrs. Barney Collins), Mary (Mrs. 
John Showers), Christina (Mrs. Jonathan 
Wriglits, of Michigan), Cordelia (Mrs. 
William Mills, who died in Bellevue) and 
one whose name is not given. The mother 
of this family died in 1872, after a life 
tilled with kind impulses and generous 
deeds, and was sincerely mourned by her 
family, friends atid neighbors. 

Stephen Berry was quite young when 
he came with his parents to I^yme town- 



ship, where he has since continued to re- 
side. He received an education in the 
district schools of the township, but his 
natural ability and the advantages of cul- 
tured parents enabled him to attain a 
much greater degree of knowledge than 
the teachers of those days were j)re])ared 
to impart to their pupils. For eight years 
he ojierated a sawmill, but has cliiefly en- 
gaged in agricultural j)ursuit8, and owns 
two farms, one of forty-four acres in Lyme 
township, the other comprising 102 acres, 
in Sherman township. At prt sent he rents 
his land, ami is surrounded by all the com- 
forts that attend wealth. He is a Repub- 
lican, and very prominent in the political 
circles of Huron county. Mr. Berry was 
married, in 1872, to Miss Priscilla Gensal, 
who was born in Pennsylvania, arid their 
union has been blessed with two ciiildren: 
Ada and Arthur W. Mr. and MVs. Berry 
are members of the Reformed Church, and 
are actively interested in all charitable en- 
terprises. 



JOSEPH SHERCK, who for four years 
—from Ajiril, 18S2, to April, 188G— 
served as mayor of Bellevue, was 
born November 10, 1828, in MitHin 
county, Penn. John and Magdalena (Krei- 
der) Sherck, parents of our subject, iiuived 
from Pennsylvania to Seneca county, ( )hio, 
locating in Thompson township October 1, 
1834. L) 1808 the family migrated to 
Michigan, locating in St. Josepii county, 
where Mrs. Alagdalena Sherck died in 
1882; the father also died there. They 
reared a family of twelve children (our 
subject being the eldest), of whom five 
are yet living. 

Joseph Sherck received a primary edu- 
cation in the district school of Thompson 
township, Seneca county, and afterward 
worked on the home farm, where he grew 
to numiiood. On August 19, 1n51, he 
married Barbara A. Decker, th.e youngest 
child of Jacob and Susanna (Billman) 
Decker. Jacob Decker is a son of John 



474 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



and Julia Aim (Royer) Decker, who came 
in 1S16 from Union county, Peiin., to 
Wayne county, Ohio, and thence in 1830 
to Keneca county, where Mrs. Sherck was 
born. To her marriage witli Josepli Sherck 
two cliildren were born, namely: Mary A., 
Mrs. Miller, of Seneca county, and Charles 
M., associated with his father in business 
at Bellevne. From the time of his mar- 
riage until 1S73 Mr. Sherck worked on 
the farm, and in 1860 purchased the 160 
acres in the center of Thompson township, 
Seneca county, known as the Sherck home- 
stead. While on this farm he was elected 
justice of the peace, and served in that 
position for nine years. In 1873 he moved 
to Bellevne, Huron county, and established 
a saddle and harness house, which he con- 
ducted until 1884, when he engaged in the 
grain trade. To-day he operates the large 
elevator at Bellevne, and carries on a most 
extensive business in grain, seed, coal, 
plaster, salt, water- lime, etc. 

Mr. Sherck can trace his ancestry back 
300 years, and for a century or more can 
claim this country as the family home. 
Prominent in Masonic work, he is a mem- 
ber of the Lodge, Chapter and Council at 
Bellevne. and of the Commandery, K. T., at 
Norwalk, Ohio. In religious affairs he 
alKliates with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. An active, enterprising biisiness 
man. one who has taken a full part in the 
development of Bellevue, he enjoys, as he 
merits, the confidence of the community. 



IV/If '^' ^'^^^^' general 'agent for all 

I VI' l<inds of agricultural implements, 

I ll with residence at Weaver's Cor- 

■fj ners, is a native of Pennsylvania, 

born in 1848, whence when five 

years old he was brought to Huron county, 

Ohio, hy his parents. 

Mr. Stapf received his education at the 
public schools of Bellevue, Huron county, 
and learned the trade of butcher, at which 
he worked in various places. Abandoning 



this business, he secured a position as trav- 
eling salesman for Nicholas Seckler, 
wholesale liipior dealer, Cleveland, his 
territory covering the States of Ohio and 
Pennsylvania, and in this line he remained 
some eighteen years. He then came to 
Weaver's Corners, Huron county, where 
he has since been successfully engaged in 
his present business, doing a large and 
profitable trade. In 1869 Mr. Stapf was 
married to Miss Catherine Walter, and 
eight children were born to them, namely: 
George, Hester, Rosa, Frank, Nettie, 
Henry, Lucy and John. Politically our 
subject is an active Republican, and has 
been assessor of Sherman township two 
years; socially he is a member of the 
i. O. O. F. and K. of P.; in Church con- 
nection he is a Lutheran. 

Frederick and Christina (Baer) Stapf, 
parents of M. J., immigrated frc^n Ger- 
many to this country, and they took up 
their residence in Bellevue, Huron Co., 
Ohio, where the father followed his busi- 
ness, that of brewer. He died in 1887 at 
the age of seventy-five years; his widow, 
now seventy-six years old, the mother of 
four children, is living with her son M. J., 
and with him enjoys the respect and es- 
teem of the community. 




JLLIAM WELLS VAN GOR- 
DER, a prominent and influential 
citizen of New London, where he 
cornlucts a flourishing furniture 
store and undertaking establishment, is a 
native of Willoughby township. Lake Co., 
Ohio, born September 23, 1834. 

Peter Van Gorder, his father, married 
Miss Martha Allen, and nine children were 
born to them, named respectively: Allen, 
Mary, Sarah Ann, Henry, John, Miranda, 
Martha, Daniel and William W. The last 
named, our subject, received a liberal edu- 
cation at the common schools of the neigh- 
borhood of bis place of birth, and at the 
age of seventeen commenced to learn car- 
pentry, working at the same for others for 



IlUJiOX COUNTY, OHIO. 



475 



about three years, bj the end of whicb 
time lie had saved about three hundred 
dollars, being; thus enabled to commence 
business for liis own account. For eleven 
years he followed the trade with varying 
success, and found himself the possessor of 
tive thousand dollars of hard-earned cash, 
which he invested in property, and then 
embarked in his present business. 

Mr. Van Gorder was united in marriage 
with Miss Angeline Sarah Kinp;, b}' which 
union there is one child, Lillian Adelaide, 
who was first married to Dr. Andrews, by 
whom she has two children, named Mil- 
dred and Ermy. Dr. Andrews dying, ins 
widow was subsequently married to Mr. 
Sheerer, who controls the lecture course in 
a college in Cincinnati. As will readily 
be seen, Mr. Van Gorder is a self-made 
man in the strictest sense of the expres- 
sion. He is a director of. the First National 
Bank of New London, and one of the most 
enterprising citizens of the town. Poli- 
tically he is a strong Prohibitionist, hav- 
ing been a member of that party since its 
organization. 



jlfUGn KENDEIGH, an enterpris- 
'!^ ing, highly respected farmer citizen 
1 of Townsend township, was born 
■J) October 15, 1828, in Westmoreland 

county, Penn. He is the second 
child in a family of six born to Daniel 
and Sarah (McKinney) Ivendeigh, both of 
whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and 
of German and Scotch- Irish descent re- 
spectively. 

Daniel Kendeiwh received no education 
in youth, never having attended school a 
day in his life; but after attaining to man- 
hood's years he succeeded, by his own ex- 
ertions, in obtaining sutHcient education 
for the ordinary transactions of life, and 
was possessed of a varied stock of useful 
knowledge, acquired in the great school of 
experience. His youth was passed on the 
old homestead farm in Pennsylvania, where 
he was also married, snon after which 

86 



event he went to Pittsburgh, where he was 
engaged in the manufacture of brick for 
some four or five years. He then engaged 
in coal mining at the same place, in wiiicli 
he continued for some tenor twelve years, 
and in ls;3;J removed with his family to 
Amherst township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
where he bought a partially-improved 
farm, and other lands in the same county. 
In 1840 he sold the home place in Lorain 
county and returned to Pittsburgh, remain- 
ing three or four years, and tlien coming 
back to Lorain county, whence, after a 
residence of about one year, he removed to 
Lenawee county, Mich., selling his prop- 
erty. In Michigan he purchased a farm 
whereon he resided and engaged iu agri- 
cultural pursuits until his death, which 
occurred in 1885, when he was in his 
seventy-second year. In 1863 he enlisted 
in a Michigan volunteer regiment, serving 
under (tcu. Gilmore in South Carolina, and 
participating with his regiment in all its 
marches and engagements until the close 
of the war. Both he and his wife were 
earnest lifelong members of the Presby- 
terian Church. The McKinney family 
were among the early pioneers of the old 
Keystone State, and took an active part 
in the progress and development of that 
Commonwealth in the early Colonial days. 
Hugh Kendeigh received a fair English 
education in youth at the select atid sub- 
scription schools of his native State and 
also in Ohio, and reniained with his par- 
ents until he was about twenty-three years 
old, when he commenced the battle of life 
on his own account. He bought wild land 
in Townsend township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
where he subsequently improved a farm. 
This he sold in 1862, the next year, 1863, 
buying another farm in the same township, 
where he yet resides, and has since been 
successfully engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. The place is well improved and 
under a high state of cultivation. Mr. 
Kendeigh was nnirried in 1855 to Miss 
Hannah Love, who was a native of New 
Jersey, born in 1836, daughter of Andrew 



476 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



and Eliza (Kelsey) Love, both also natives 
of New Jersey. Three children, only one 
of whom is now living, were born to this 
iiiiion, viz.: Charles L. ; Arvilla Ann, who 
died November 18, 1882, in her twentieth 
year; and Myra D., Mrs. Elmer Belmey, 
who died July 18, 1886. Mrs. Hannah 
Keudeigh departed this life January 3, 
1874, in her thirty-sixth year. In politics 
Mr. Kendeigh is a Republican, and he is 
one of the progressive and highly esteemed 
citizens of the township and county. 



TlOHN C. PALMER, a descendant of 

k. I one of the pioneer families of Huron 

^^ county, is a son of John C. Palmer, 

whose father, Roger Palmer, was a 

farmer of Washington county. New York. 

John C. Palmer, father of our subject, 
attended the rate schools, and when a 
young man married Mary Piester, of 
Washington county, N. Y. They moved 
to Huron county, Ohio, making a portion 
of the journey by wagon, the remainder 
via canrtl and lake, landing at Huron, on 
Lake Erie. At this time Mr. Palmer's 
capital amounted to forty dollars and a 
span of horses, one of which was killed 
while being taken from the boat at Huron, 
whence they proceeded southward, locating 
along tlie Huron river in Ridgetield town- 
ship. The land was covered with dense 
forest, and after a rude means of shelter 
had been provided he set to work to "fell 
the giant oak." Year after year of hard 
labor brought slow but sure reward, and 
fields of golden grain in due time sup- 
planted the grand old forests, and the pioneer 
became a prosperous agriculturist. In poli- 
tics he was a Whig and Republican, and 
in religion he and his wife were members 
of the Baptist Church. A brief record of 
their children is as follows: Matilda, 
widow of Philo Whitford, is living on 
the home farm; Elzina, widow of Rob- 
ert Richey, is also living on the old 
place; Emily is the wife of Ira 0. Stew- 



art, of Michigan; Melissa is married to 
Luther Ashley, of California; John C, 
whose name opens this sketch; Luther is 
a farmer of Ridgetield township; Myron 
lives in Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio, and 
Harlow, who sailed from New Bedford, 
Mass., on a whaling vessel, was lost in 
the Straits of Snnda. The father of this 
family died in 1862, aged fifty-seven years, 
followed by the mother in 1882, at the 
age of seventy-eight years. To citizens of 
Mr. Palmer's stamp too much praise can- 
not be given for the hardships and 
struggles which they endured in the early 
settlement of Huron county. These pion- 
eers sleep side by side in the Monroeville 
cemetery. 

John C. Palmer was born November 
17, 1838, on the farm in Ridgefield town- 
ship which he now owns. His earliest 
education was obtained at the subscription 
schools, and this was supplemented by a 
short course in an institution away from 
home. Since then his entire time and at- 
tention have been given to the farm, and 
those principles of enterprise and energy, 
characteristic of his father, are equally 
noticeable in the son. He has charge of 
the home farm, and in addition lo general 
agriculture deals extensively in cattle. In 
politics he has been a lifelong Republican, 
taking an active interest in the success of 
the party. Mr. Palmer is unmarried, and 
his two widowed sisters and a brother 
make their home with him. 



P)HILIP HORN. Huron county 
has within her borders many men 
toward whom she may point the fin- 
ger of pride, men who in their ad- 
vancement have not been blind to 
their country's welfare, and while winning 
honor and success for themselves have also 
shaped her destiny. Chief among these 
men ranks Philip Horn, who was born in 
1826 in Germany, and settled in Huron 
county as early as 1854. His father, Gott- 
fret Horn, is a prosperous farmer in Ger- 



IIUEOX COUNTY, OHIO. 



477 



many, and lias eight children, six of whom 
are now in America, our subject being 
third in order of birth. 

Philip Horn received a good practical 
education in (xermany. Growing tired of 
the customs of his native land, he came to 
America, and in Huron county, Ohio, 
worked two years as farm laborer for 
Joseph Wood, of Lyme township, and one 
year for his brother, At the end of that 
time he had, by practicing strict economy, 
accumulated sufficient money to rent a few 
acres of land from Isaac Bently, and be- 
gan farming for his own account. Five 
years later he purchased a farm in Belle- 
vue, but sold that and purchased his pres- 
ent place, comprising 128 acres of highly- 
cultivated land, where he devotes his at- 
tention to agricultural pursuits and stock 
raising. In politics he is a Democrat, and 
served as school director of Lyme town- 
ship eight years, and as supervisor six 
years. He and his wife are members of 
the Protestant Church. 

Mr. Horn was married, in 1856, to Miss 
Catherine Steel, and by her has nine chil- 
dren, five of whom married and are now 
living in Huron county, viz.: Louisa 
(Mrs. Henry Boehler); Gustavo (married); 
Charles (married); Minnie (Mrs. Christ 
Uttar) and Emma (Mrs. Otto Boehler). 



dCAL. WAIiD, a progressive and 
successful dry-goods merchant of 
Chicago Junction, was born June 5, 
1853, in llichland county, Ohio, son 
of S. F. and Jane (Ilunter) Ward, who 
were natives of Kichland and Columbiana 
counties respectively. The father was a 
cabinet maker, an adept at his trade, at 
which he worked all his life, and he alwaj's 
found ready work for his hands. He had 
served an apprenticeship of four years in 
Alansfield while learnintr cabinet making, 
during which time he received only his 
board and clothes. Of his children, J. (/. 



Ward is the subject of this .sketch; and 
Sophronia is the wife of Albert Gething, 
of Manstield, Ohio. 

J. Cal. Ward attended the common 
schools of his district in youth, but owing 
to pool health gave study very little at- 
tention, and at the age of sixteen years 
entered the general store of Uriah Uhler, 
at Shiloh, Richland Co., Ohio. Hero he 
held the position of clerk for six years, 
never losing a day or day's pay in that 
long term, and though beeinnincr work at 

1 111 ^ 

but ten dollars a month (and boardincr 
himself), his untiring attention to business 
soon secured for him higlier pay. Leav- 
ing this old house he entered the employ 
of Williams, who kept a dry-goods and 
grocery store at Shiloh, but left this posi- 
tion within a very short time. In 1878 he 
established a grocery house (borrowing the 
necessary capital), which he carried on 
until February, 1881, when he closed out 
the stock and entered the employ of the 
Acme Grease & Oil Manufacturing Co., 
of Cleveland, Ohio, as traveling salesman, 
in which ho continued for about six 
months. In the fall of 1881 he took a 
position in a dry-goods house at Rerea, 
where he worked until the spring of 1SS8, 
and then resumed his position with the 
Acme Co. at an increased salary, reraain- 
ingwith them until Christmas-time, 1885, 
when he and S. S. Holtz purchased the 
Brinemond stock of dry goods at Shiloh. 
In September, 1887, Messrs. Ward & 
Holtz, dissolving partnership, made an 
equal division of the stock, and the former 
continued the business until the spring of 
1888, when he located at Chicago Junc- 
tion, and opened up a dry-goods and no- 
tion store in the old Ilockett Building. 
In October, 1890, he moved into the Wool- 
ford Building, whore he i-emained until 
February, 1892, when his present estab- 
lishment in the Opera House Building 
was opened. He carries a select assort- 
ment of dry goods, notions and wall-paper, 
ranging in value from five thousand dollars 
to seven thousand dollars. 



478 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Mr. Ward was married, July 4, 1878, to 
Miss Ellen Iloltz, who died February 14, 
1887, and on October 17, 1887, lie married 
Miss Flora E. Case, daughter of Israel 
Case. Politically Mr. "Ward is a Republi- 
can, but not especially active in party 
affairs. Socially he is a member of the 
Masonic Frateruity, of the Knights of 
Pythias, and of the I. O. O. F. and En- 
campment. He is a thorough business 
man, but takes a deep interest in municipal 
affairs and ])rivate enterprises affecting the 
the welfare of the town. 



Li 



GUIS WILLIAMS. Of the many 
prosperous agriculturists of Nor- 
wich township, none is better known 
or more highly respected than this 
gentleman, lie is a son of John Williams, 
whose father, also named John, a tailor by 
trade in Germany, married a Miss Leicht, 
by whom he had one child: John. Soon 
after John's birth the mother died, and the 
father subsequently married Miss Stien, 
who bore him three children, all now 
deceased. 

John Williams, Jr., was born in 1795, 
in Nassau, Prussia, where, on a farm, 
his boyhood was passed. In early youth 
he entered the Prussian army, and he 
served at the battle of Waterloo, for 
which he received a silver medal now in 
the possession of Mrs. John Willow, 
daughter of the subject of this sketch. Af- 
ter the close of that memorable campaign 
he served six years in the Prussian army, 
in Holland. On leaving the army he mar- 
ried Miss Catherine Herschberger, and then 
commenced farming in his native land. In 
1853 they came to America, and in Nor- 
wich township, Huron Co., Ohio, Mr. 
Williams opened up a farm of 110 acres, 
for which he paid tiie sum of three thou- 
sand dollars. He had a family of five 
children, viz. : John, Jennette, Anthony, 
Christian and Louis, all now deceased 



except Anthony and Louis. Mr. Williams 
never became a naturalized citizen, but was 
a Democrat in principle. 

Louis Williams, of whom this sketch 
more particularly relates, was born in 1835 
in Nassau, Prussia, where he first received 
a good education. After coming to this 
country, which he did at the age of eigh- 
teen years, he lived with his father until 
he was twenty-one years old, and subse- 
quently worked out by the month until 
after his marriage, when he came to his 
present farm, now consisting of 459 acres, 
on which he has since carried on general 
agriculture, including the raising of Short- 
horn cattle. In 1861 he married Mrs. 
Elizabeth Williams, widow of his brother 
Christian, and six children were born to 
this union, namely: Jennie, Artilla, Eliza- 
beth, Wilhelmina, Edward and Gustavus. 
In his political associations our subject is 
a Democrat, and he is a member of the 
Lutheran Church. 



P. JACOBS, a popular aiid public- 
spirited citizen of Chicago Junction, 
was born August 27, 1855, in Liv- 
'>^i ingston county, N. Y., son of Gus- 
tavus and Sarah (^Roth) Jacobs. 
Our subject is the fourth in order of 
birth in a family of nine children — live 
sons and four daughters. Completins his 
education in the schools of Norwalk, he at 
once embarked in the lumber business, in 
which he has since been continuously en- 
gaged. In 1872 he purchased a mill in 
Wood county, Ohio, and conducted same 
for six years, during which time he re- 
ceived injuries in a mill accident, which 
for two years incapacitated him for active 
work. On recovering he carried on the in- 
dustry at Millbury, Wood Co., Ohio, for 
two years, and in 1886 located at Chicago 
Junction, where he established a mill and 
lumberyard, and at once built up an ex- 
tensive trade. He supplies large quan- 
tities of timber to railroads, and lumber 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



479 



and mill work to the local trade. To- 
gether with this he is a building contrac- 
tor and an extensive dealer in real estate, 
owning property in Norwalk and Chicairo 
Junction. His trade in line hardwoods, 
and sash, doors and blinds is proportion- 
ately great. 

In November, 1872, Mr. Jacobs was 
married to Miss Ida S. Davis, daughter of 
Benjamin F. Davis, of Norwalk, and to 
them have been born eight children, six 
sons and two daughters, namely: Earl, 
Welton, Wesley, Clarence, Ilai-ry, Vernon, 
Bertha and Mabel, all residing at Chicacro 
Junction. Mr. Jacobs votes with the Re- 
publicans, is active in the councils of his 
party, and has filled various local offices 
with satisfaction to the people, and credit 
to himself. He is a member of Lodge No. 
748, I. 0. 0. F. ; he is a thorough-goincr 
business man, and one of the most enter- 
prising citizens of the town. 



AMDEL MILLER, a prosperous 
liveryman of Bellevue, was born, in 
1810, in Lancaster, Fenn., a son of 
Samuel Miller. His parents were 
well-to-do, and his mother was well edu- 
cated both in ETiglish and German; she 
died in Wisconsin. 

Our subject passed his school days in 
his native State, receiving his education in 
the primitive schools of his neighborhood. 
In 1832 he came west, seeking broader 
fields of labor and a home where he could 
put in practice the habits of thrift and 
energy that he had been taught at home. 
With this object in view he settled in Ohio, 
which at that time was but sparsely popu- 
lated, and where the pioneers were endur- 
ing many hardships and clearing land 
preparatory to cultivating the soil. He 
lived two years in Fremont, working at 
his trade of shoemaking, and from there 
moved to Tiiompson township, Seneca 
county, where he farmed for two years, at 
the end of which time he located perma- 



nently in Bellevue. and engaged in the 

1 . , . too 

livery busmess, in which lie lias since con- 
tinued, meeting witli great success. He is 
widely interested in buying and selling 
horses in connection with his regular busi- 
ness, purchasing car-loads of horses from 
all over the country for both himself and 
others. His livery and sale stable are 
well stocked with tine horses. 

In 1830 Mr. Miller was married to 
Miss Sarah Oswick, who was born in 
Pennsylvania, a daughter of George Os- 
wick, a prominent agriculturist of that 
State. Their union has been blessed by 
eight children, viz.: Reuben G. (deceased), 
Edward (who married Miss Hale, and lives 
in IJellevuej, John (deceased), Charles 
(married, in partnershi]) in the livery busi- 
ness with his father in Bellevue), Belle 
(who is married, and resides in Huron 
county), Sarah (deceased), Clara (Mrs. 
Weil), and Emma (who lives with her par- 
•ents). Mr. Miller was remarkably active 
in ills youth, and has through every period 
of his life manifested energy and great 
business ability. He took no part in the 
Civil war, being too old, but his sons Ed- 
ward and John were both in the service. 
He is popular alike in commercial and 
political circles, and has served as marshal 
of Bellevue for several years. 




B. CCYKENDALL, who is 
prominently identified with the 
business interests of Plymouth, 
was born, in 1828, in Cayuga 
county, N. Y., son of Solomon and Mary 
(Bran) Ciiykendall, also natives of New 
York State. The American ancestors of 
the family emigrated from Holland. 
Solomon Cuykendall was a well-to-do 
farmer of Cayuga county, and resided on 
the homestead there during liis life. Of 
the three sons born to Solomon and Mary 
Cuykendall, the eldest died in his native 
State; the second still resides there, and 
W. B. lives in Ohio. 



480 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



W. B. Cuykeiidall received a liberal 
coinmon-scliool and academic education in 
his native State, and, school days over, en- 
tered a dry-goods house at Owasco, N. Y., 
where he remained three years. In 1852 
he married Miss Adelaide Tompkins, a na- 
tive of Cayuga county, and two years later 
they started for Davenport, Iowa, visiting, 
en route, friends at Plymontii, Huron Co., 
Ohio, and thence pushino; on by rail to 
Chicago. The streets of the Garden City 
were not then graded, and to all but the 
hunter after the "almighty dollar" it was a 
rather uninviting spot. His wife became 
sick there, and he was compelled to take 
her to Adrian, Mich., during their stay at 
which place Mr. Cuykendail purchased 
property at Charlotte, Eaton Co., Mich., 
intending to locate there. But correspond- 
ence with his friends at Plymouth, Ohio, 
changed this purpose, and going thither 
in the fall of 1854, he purchased a stock 
of drugs from II. M. Wooster, and estab- 
lished himself in the drug business on the 
south side of the Square, conducting same 
for seven years. For a while he was con- 
nected with the dry-goods house of H. 
Graham here, and also engatred in the 
grocery business at Bucyrus, In 1864- 
65 he was clerk iu the quartermaster's 
department at Pittsburgh, Penn., and 
"Washington, D. C, under Gen. Brinker- 
hoff. After the war he went to Newberne, 
N. C and was engaged in cotton growing 
there until 1870, meeting with consider- 
able success. 

Keturning to Plymouth in 1870 Mr. 
Cuykendail entered into partnership with 
H. Graham, but in 1873 he sold his inter- 
est and started a lumber yard, which he 
carried on until appointed cashier of the 
First National Bank of Plymouth in 1875. 
This bank was founded in 1871, under 
United States charter, and the important 
office of cashier was filled by Mr. Cuy- 
kendail from 1875 to 1886, when he re- 
signed to make a tour of the country on 
the Pacific Slope. In August, 1889, he 
succeeded Josiah Brinkerhoff as president 



of the bank. For about twenty years he 
has been engaged in the insurance busi- 
ness, representing standard companies. 
He is the owner of a farm of one hundred 
acres near Plymouth, and in every way is 
closely identified with the town and sur- 
rounding country. In politics he is a Re- 
publican, and in social affairs a member of 
the Masonic Fraternity. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cuykendail have had thi-ee children, all of 
whom died young. 




\ILLIAM H. 8HEDD is one of 
the wealthiest citizens and most 
successful agriculturists of Bron- 
son township, having accumulated 
a handsome competence by strict economy 
and untiring industry. 

He is a sou of Simon and Rachel (A\^ood) 
Shedd, natives of Connecticut, the former 
of whom, a farmer by occupation, died in 
New York at about the age of seventy- 
three years, followed by his wife, who died 
when eighty- five years of age. They were 
the parents of nine children — seven sons 
and two daughters — of whom one son 
died at the age of twelve, and one at the 
age of nineteen; another son, Foster L., is 
living at Bridgewater, S. D., and with the 
exception of William H. the remaining 
childi'en are residing in the East. 

William H. Shedd is the third child in 
order of birth, and the only representative 
of his family now living in Ohio. He was 
born in April, 1824, in Jefferson county, 
N. Y., attended the subscription schools 
of the neighborhood, and began life as a 
farmer in his native State. AVhen twenty- 
two years old he was married to Miss 
Sarah Willard, who bore him one son, 
Willard H., now living in Erie, Penn. 
Mrs. Sh^dd died three years after her 
marriage, and in April, 1857, our subject 
was married to Rachel Shedd, who has 
borne him two sons and one daughter, 
viz.: Herbert C, a railroad mail clerk, in 
Bronson township; Milton B., of Bridge- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



481 



water, S. D., and Florence May, living; at 
home. In 1852 Mr. Shedd went to Cali- 
fornia, and there remained four years, 
mining the first year, and then fanning 
successfully for tiiree years. Having se- 
cured a competence in California he de- 
cided to make a home in Huron county, 
Ohio, and in 1868 lie bought 231 acres of 
land in Bronson township, located one 
mile and a quarter west of Olena. He has 
invested six thousand dollars in improving 
this place, and in the spring of 1888 
erected a handsome dwelling in the out- 
skirts of Olena, where he lias since resided. 
In politics he votes the Republican ticket. 



,AVID A.WHITE, who conducts a 
snug, fertile farm of seventy-five 
acres which he owns in Norwich 
township, is a native of Greenfield 
township, Huron county, born in 1842. 

Nathaniel AVhite, his father, a native of 
near Mansfield, Ohio, was a son of Nathan- 
iel White, who was born in Pennsylvania, 
was a tanner by occupation, and was mar- 
ried to Miss Nancy Thornton, of the same 
place. They had thirteen children, of whom 
nine grew to maturity : Thomas, Nathaniel, 
William, Mahlon, John, Edwin, Polly, 
Sarah and Emily, all now deceased except 
Edwin, who lives in California. Nathan- 
iel, the second son, was born in 1806, and 
passed his boyhood days on a farm, learn- 
ing at the same time the trade of tanner. 
He married Miss Elizabeth Skeels, of the 
same locality, and they then settled on 
fifty acres of land in Greenfield township, 
Huron county, where children, as follows, 
were born to them: William, Isaac, John 
(deceased), Mary, David A., Leander, John 
and James, all now scattered over the 
United States. 

David A. White, whose name appears 
at the opening of this biographical sketch, 
received a fair education at the common 
schools of his native township, was reared 



on a farm, and learned the trade of har- 
ness maker. In 1862 he enlisted in the 
First Ohio Heavy Artillery, which was 
attached to the army of the Cutnberland, 
and participated in the battles of Mission 
Ridge, Chickamauga and others, after a 
service of two years and seven months re- 
ceiving an honorable discharge and return- 
ing home. Recommencing the pursuits of 
peace, he first opened out a harness shop 
in Centretou, Norwich township, Huron 
county, which be conducted two years, and 
then moved to Wood county, this State, 
where he bought 160 acres of land close 
to the town of Milton Center; but selling 
out in about one year he again came to 
Norwich township and commenced farm- 
ing on a fifty- acre tract of land. At the 
end of two years he went to California, 
traveling over the greater part of the 
State, following his trade, and to some ex- 
tent mining. He made some forty-five 
thousand dollars, but lost it all in quick- 
silver speculation. On his return to Nor- 
wich township he settled on his present 
farm, and has met with considerable suc- 
cess. He owns a hotel and a half interest 
in a farm of 160 acres in California, be- 
sides his seventy-five acres in Norwich 
township. Huron county. 

Mr. White was united in marriage with 
Miss Olivia G. Magee, of Norwich town- 
ship, daughter of William Magee, and five 
children, named as follows, were born to 
them : Dolly, Page (deceased), Grace, Myr- 
tle (deceased) and Dora. In his political 
affiliations our subject was a Democrat 
until four years ago, at which time he 
enlisted in the ranks of the Republican 
party. 



l\ ylr RS. M. A. CORWIN. This lady 

Vrl is one of the most popular and 

1 useful citizens of Norwalk. She 

is a daughter of the late Hon. 

Timothy Baker, and traces her 

lineage to three brothers who sailed from 

England and located in Lyme, Mass.; 



< 



482 



HURON COUNTY, Omo. 



afterward one of the brothers, Abner, set- 
tled in Northampton, Mass., in early 
Colonial days. 

Abner Baker was a member of the 
church of Dr. Edwards. He married Lois 
Waters, of Connecticut. He spent the 
later years of his life in Norwalk, Ohio. 
His son, Timothy, was born August 5, 
1787. in Northam]iton, Mass. He went 
to Utica, N. Y., in 1801, and in 1805 made 
his home in Herkimer, N. Y. In 1814 
he joined some friends in a journey to 
Huron county, Ohio, with no intention of 
purchasing land or making a home in the 
locality. '• Passino; through Norwalk on 
an Indian trail, the party found shelter 
for the night, witli several other similar 
companies, in a log cabin about fifteen 
feet square, two miles south of the village, 
ten or twelve making their bed on the 
poles and bark that formed the Hoor under 
the primitive roof. In 1815 he again 
visited Ohio, and purchased several large 
tracts of land, including the farm in Nor- 
walk." After returning to Herkimei-, he 
was married, March 23, 1816, to Miss 
Eliza Remington, a resident of Fairfield, 
who was born in 1794, in Providence, R. 
I., and whose maternal grandfather was a 
cousin of Gen. Greene, of Revolutionary 
fame. She was reared on a farm, and 
educated in Fairfield Academy, N. Y., be- 
ing a very intellectual woman, and was of 
material assistance in promoting the suc- 
cess of her distingnislied husband. On 
September 27, 1819, Tiraotliy Baker, ac- 
companied by his family and brother The- 
odore, moved upon his property in Nor- 
walk, Ohio, the village then consisting of 
ten or twelve families. He immediately 
entered heartily into every plan for the 
progress and development of the place, 
and was a prominent citizen for forty 
years. In 1821 he was made associate 
judge of Huron county, serving in that 
capacity for twenty-one years, iu 1842 de- 
clining reappointment. He was also presi- 
dent of the Bank of Norwalk for many 
years, and in all these responsible positions 



won a reputation for integrity and good 
judgment which has been accorded to but 
few, and which was never better deserved. 
In 1842 he united with the First Baptist 
Church of Norwalk, and the tie thus 
formed proved a source of strength and 
blessing during his remaining years, grow- 
ing more precious as the years passed. 
Mrs. Baker died September 27, 1862, fol- 
lowed by her husband January 27, 1878. 
They were the parents of six children, all 
of whom lived to be over si.xty years of 
age. They were as follows: M. A., James 
W., William (an attorney in Toledo), Timo- 
thy (now deceased, connected with the Chi- 
cago Board of Trade), and Charles H. and 
George, in Toledo. 

Mrs. M. A. Corwin grew to womanhood 
beneath the paternal roof, and was educated 
at the old Norwalk seminary when it was 
a leading institution of the State. Among 
her schoolmates were students who have 
risen to national fame, and she has de- 
veloped into a woman of rare culture. On 
September 3, 1840, she was united in mar- 
riage with Rev. Ira Corwin, who was born 
December 12, 1809. in Cazenovia, N. Y. 
He was educated in the schools of his 
native State, and then took a theological 
course at Hamilton, N. Y., now Colgate 
University. He then came to Medina, 
Ohio, being ordained a Baptist minister in 
1838, which was his first charge. He had 
pastorates in Erie, Penn., three years, and 
then came to Ohio; was nearly nine years 
in Marietta, Ohio, and then was seven 
years in South Bend, Ind. In 1861 he re- 
signed his pastorate in South Bend, and 
came to Norwalk, and supplied vacancies 
in Huron and adioining counties. He was 
a thorougii scholar, and watchful pastor, 
doing grand service for the cause to which 
his life was given. He died July 7, 1886. 
The children were as follows: Timothy 
B., William H., George Whipple, Eliza, 
Charles, and George W., last named being 
deceased. There are two grandchildren. 
Bertha and Maria. Mrs. Corwin has been 
a prominent leader in promoting the 



HUROlSr COUNTY, OHIO. 



483 



literary and social culture of Norwalk, as 
one of the organizers of the Society for 
that purpose which prospered for many 
years, and whose influence is yet evident. 
She is now living at Norwalk in semi- 
retirement, though yet a devoted worker 
in the Baptist Church, and gives liherally 
to all worthy enterprises. For morning 
exercise she indulges in a novel hut suc- 
cessful method of healthy recreation, pull- 
ing weeds in the garden Ijcfore breakfast, 
which she affirms produces a salutary effect, 
and is very conducive to a good appetite. 



Hi USTllSr CUSIIMxVN, a native-born 

l/V agriciiltnrist of Norwich township, 

lf~\\ where he is well-known for his in- 

•fj dustry and frugality, first saw the 

light in 1846, his parents being 

Henry and Julia (Turner) Cushman. 

The father of the subject of this sketch 
was a native of Ohio, born in 1820 in 
Knox county, and was lirought up a fartner 
boy, his education being limited to twenty- 
six days attendance at the subscription 
schools, to which lirief experience he ma- 
terially added by home study and a close 
attention to men and things. When com- 
menciiig life for himself, he bought a farm 
of forty acres in Norwich township, Huron 
county, and in course of time commenced 
the ijractice of law, in which he still con- 
tinues, mainly the carrying through the 
court of petty cases in his township. He is 
a Democrat, and has held township offices, 
such as justice of the peace and clerk; 
in religious views he is an adherent of the 
Universalist faith. Henry Cushman mar- 
ried Miss Julia Turner, of Peru township, 
Huron county, a daughter of Jacob Turner, 
the owner of several small farms in the 
county. To this union were born four 
children, viz.: Austin (subject of sketch), 
Seymour, Ellen, and one that died in in- 
fancy. The mother of these was called 
from earth in 1852, and Mr. Cushman 



subsequently wedded Miss Mary Cole, of 
Richmond, Ohio, by which marriage there 
were five children, as follows: Charles, 
Amos, Addison, John, and one that died 
in infancy. Mr. Cushman is now retired 
from active life. 

Austin Cushman, whose name introduces 
this biographical sketch, received a liberal 
education at the common schools of the 
neighborhood of his place of birth. Up 
to the time of his marriage he worked by 
the month, after which, in 1867, he settled 
on his present place of seventy-six acres 
excellent farm land, where he is engaged 
in general agriculture, including the breed- 
ing of sheep. His success, which has been 
marked, has been due entirely to his own 
untiring efforts and honesty of purpose. 
In 1867 Mr. Cushman was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Alice Clark, daughter of 
William Clark, of Norwich township, 
Huron county, and one child, Artie, born 
in 1883, brightens and cheers their home. 
Politically our subject is a Democrat. 




jILLIAM H. HOULE. In every 
county there are men who, by 
their strength of will and irre- 
proachable character, impress their 
individuality upon the entire community, 
and succeed in whatever they undertake. 
Such a man is William II. Houle, who, 
since 1854, has resided in Huron county. 
He was born, in 1828, in Devonshire, 
England, where he received his education, 
and where he served for a time as footman 
to a wealthy family. Since his arrival in 
Lyme township he has devoted his atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits. When he 
emigrated from England his only capital 
consisted of energy, perseverance and good 
health, and he was, therefore, compelled 
to accept the first means of earning money 
that presented itself. He worked for a 
number of years as a farm laborer, before 
he accumulated a sufficient amount of 



484 



HUBOHsr COUNTY, Off TO. 



money to purchase his present farm, con- 
sisting of 114 acres of valuable land, two 
and a lialf miles from Bellevue. Mr. 
Houle was married in 1854 (just before 
leaving England), to Miss Lucy Gaydon, 
who was also born in that country, and 
their union was blessed with four sons and 
three daughters, viz.: William H., John 
G., Lucy H., Frank G., Ida M., Frederick 
G. and Jennie. All of these children re- 
side on the home farm, with the exception 
of Jennie, who is deceased, and William 
H., who is married to Miss Jennie Collins, 
daughter of J. D. Collins, and lives with 
liis wife's parents. Mr. Houle is a self- 
made man of more than ordinary ability, 
of sound judgment, whose integrity was 
never questioned, and whose influence 
through life has always been for good. 



D WIGHT M. BARRE, a lifelong 
farmer of Ripley township, is a 
' native of same, born in 1848. John 

Barre, his grandfather, was born in 
Northumberland county, Penn., where he 
was reared, and resided until his removal 
to Tompkins county, N. Y., in early man- 
hood. He was married in Pennsylvania, 
and to this marriage were born tliree sons 
and two daughters, namely: Thomas, 
David, John, Betts and Catherine, all de- 
ceased but the last named. John Barre 
was a practical farmer, both in Pennsyl- 
vania and in New York, and when he 
came to Ripley township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, about the year 1830, he brought 
with him capital sufficient to purchase 400 
acres in that township, and confidence in 
himself to bo able to hew a good home out 
of the wilderness. At the period of his 
settlement in Ripley, the township was 
almost wliolly in its primitive state, roads 
were not then laid out, and l)ear, deer, 
wolves and other game were numerous. He 
resided there until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1836. 

Jojjn Barre, father of Dwigiit M. Barre, 
was born in Northumberland county, 



Penn., and passed his boyhood there and 
in Tompkins county, N. Y. On August 
25, 1825, he married Amy Stout, a daugh- 
ter of Jonathan Stout, of Tompkins county, 
N. Y., and for a few years after marriage 
the couple resided in that county, and 
then, in 1832, moved to Huron county, 
Ohio. To their union were born fifteen 
cliildren, namely: Cornelius (deceased), 
David, Herman (deceased], Jane, Jona- 
than, Wellington, Henry, Ira, Maryetta, 
Lyman, James, Corvis M., Dwight M., 
Josephine and Jessie. Of these Corvis M. 
and Henry served in the war of the Re- 
bellion. Corvis M. Barre is now an at- 
torney of Hillsdale, Mich. ; he was formerly 
cashier of the bank there, and subsequently 
served as United States consul in Chili, 
having been appointed by President Har- 
rison. For one year the Barre family re- 
sided in North Fairfield township, in 1833 
moving to Ripley township, where the 
father engaged in general farming and. 
stock growing. 

Dwight M. Barre attended the district 
school, subsequently took a course in a 
select school, and tiien entered agricultural 
life. In 1876 he was united in marriage 
with Ella Wolcott, daughter of Rensselaer 
Wolcott, a farmer of Berkshire county, 
Mass., and after marriage the young couple 
settled on the farm where they now re- 
side, and here two children have been born 
to them: Walter and T. DeWitt. Mr. 
Barre is a Republican in politics, and has 
served liis township as trustee for eight 
years. In religious faith he is a mem- 
ber of tlie Congregational Church. His 
farm of eighty-five acres is highly im- 
proved, and speaks well for the industry 
of the owner. 



DANIEL W. LONEY, M. D., of 
Olena, is a son of Calvin Loney, 
' whose father, John Loney, was born 

in Virginia, of Scotch- Irish parents. 

Calvin Loney, a native of Knox county, 

Ohio, was married to. Mary Ridenour, 



imiiON^ COUNTY, OHIO. 



485 



who was born in "Washington county, Md., 
and tiiey have always since resided in 
Knox county, Ohio, where tliree sons and 
three daughters were born to them, of 
whom Daniel W. is third in order of birth. 
The names of the others are John A., 
Clarence, Annie, Belle and Berniee. Both 
parents are yet living. 

Dr. Daniel W. Loney was born May 20, 
1861, in Knox county, Ohio, and after 
attending Greentown Academy at Perrys- 
ville, Ohio, for three years, spent two 
years at Kenyon College. In 1882 he 
entered the medical school of the Univer- 
sity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, graduat- 
ing therefrom in 1885. While yet a stu- 
dent, he was married, December 18, 1884, 
to Ilallie, daughter of Jacob Foltz, of Fort 
Smith, Ark. It; the spring of 1886 they 
came to their present home in Olena, 
where the Doctor has since been engaged 
in the practice of medicine. Dr. and Mrs. 
Loney have two daughters, Mary E. and 
Doratha E. In his political preferences 
he is a Democrat, as were his father and 
grandfather. 



f^ W. HOFMAN, a highly respected, 
I w. influential citizen of Plymouth, is a 
\^ son of John H. Hofman, who was 
^^ a native of Pennsylvania, born near 
Hagerstown, Md., of German de- 
scent. He was a jeweler by trade, and in 
1823 came to Eichland county, Ohio, em- 
barking at Mansfield in tiie jewelry busi- 
ness, in which he continued for twenty 
years. In 1843 he removed to Plymouth, 
and later, in 1850, to Bucyrns, conducting 
a jewelry business in both places. He 
died in Bucyrus in 1854. Mr. llofman 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
E. Huffman, of near Hagerstown, Md., 
and to their union were born eleven chil- 
dren, namely: Aaron, Catherine, Eliza, 
Charles, G. W., John II., Jr., R. E., 
Allen G., Mary E., Laura, and Frank. 
In politics the "father of this family was 
a Democrat. 



G. W. Hofman was born in 1831, in 
Mansfield, Ohio, and was twelve years of 
age when the family removed to Plymouth. 
He received his education in the common 
schools, and when yet a young man em- 
barked in the jewelry business with his 
brother, Aaron Hofman, with whom he 
remained until the breaking out of the 
Civil war. In 1861 he enlisted in the 
First Ohio Independent Hattery, and 
served three years with the army of the 
East, taking an active part in twelve 
engagements — Lynchburg (Va.), Cloyd 
Mountain, etc. He returned from the 
war in 1865, and buying out his brother — 
A. Hofman — embarked in the jewelry 
business, in which he is still engaged; and 
though at times he has been unfortunate, 
he has, iii the main, been prosperous and 
successful in his mercantile career. In 
1889 Mr. Hofman received the appoint- 
ment of postmaster of Plymouth from 
President Harrison; he is a liepnblican 
politically, and has always Ijeen active in 
party affairs in Richland county. 

In 1858 Mr. Hofman was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Susan Frye, of New Haven 
township, Huron county, daughter of 
Abraham Frye, a farmer. To this union 
have come two children, viz.: Belle, who 
married Robert McDonough, a traveling 
salesman; and Maude, married to W. F. 
Reed, a newspaper man of Plymouth. 



CAPTAIN JOHN WILLIAMS, for 
nearly half a century a resident of 
Lorain county, was born January 22, 
1796, at New Haven, Connecticut. 
In the spring of 1804 he came with his 
parents to (^liio, locating in Columbia, 
Cuyahoga county, this part of the State 
being at that time a comparative wilder- 
ness, awaiting the westward march of 
civilization. Where is now the magnifi- 
cent city of Cleveland there was, when 
Mr. Williams landed at that port, but a 
single log building, and he assisted in the 



486 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



erection of the first frame structure in the 

Elace. In 1820 he removed to Ridgeville, 
orain conntj, wliere he resided twenty 
years, diii-ing tlie first five of which he 
taught the first school held in Elyria. In 
1825 he married Lorain Root, who was 
born August 1, 1810, in Hartford, Conn., 
wiience wlien she was but six weeks old 
she was brought to Ohio by her parents, 
being the first white child to be baptized 
in what is now Lorain county, which was 
named after her. Her father's family 
consisted of eleven boys and one girl 
(Lorain), all of whom lived to rear families 
of their own. To Capt. John and Lorain 
(Root) Williams were born twelve children. 
He died February 27, 1867, at the age of 
seventy-one years, one month, his widow 
surviving him till January 16, 1881, when 
she too was called to her long home. 

J. S. Williams, the only surviving son 
of this honored pioneer couple, was born 
April 16, 1844, in Lorain county, Ohio. 
On January 15, 1867, he was united in 
marriage with Mary A. Greig, and there 
have been born to them nine children — 
three sons and six daughters — all yet 
living. 



LYMAN AUSTIN. The New Eng- 
I land States have always been dis- 
\ tinguished for their industrious, 

honest and frugal sons, one of 
whom, bearino- all these enviable charac- 
teristics, is the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Austin was born in New Hamp- 
shire in 1815, a son of Daniel Austin, a 
native of Plainfield, same State, who was 
a son of John Austin, a carpenter and 
joiner by trade, who was killed while rais- 
ing a building. Daniel Austin was born 
May 22, 1783, and in 1811 married Miss 
Electa Lyman, of Norwich, Mass., daugh- 
ter of Luther Lyman, a farmer. After 
marriage Daniel moved to Vermont, 
and carried on farming there for a few 
years, after which he came to New York 
State, making a settlement in Genesee 



county, where he died July 1, 1852. He 

was generally successful, but in the panic 
of 1833 he lost all he had made; never- 
theless he died comparatively well off. 
He bad a family of eight children, viz.: 
Albert, Lyman, William, Betsy, Harriet, 
Rodney, Adeline and Oscar, all now de- 
ceased except Albert, William and Lyman. 
The father was a stanch Whig, held some 
township ofiices, and was a member of the 
Methodist Protestant Ciiurcii. 

The subject proper of this sketcli was 
educated at the common schools of Gene- 
see county, N. Y., whither his parents had 
brought him when a boy. After his mar- 
riage he worked on the home farm for five 
years, and in 1845 came to Huron county, 
Ohio, where, in Norwich township, he lo- 
cated on the farm which he subsequently 
bought, and now owns. It originally con- 
tained fifty acres, to which from time to 
time he has added until it now comprises 
some 175 acres of prime farming land. 
In 1882 he retired from active work, and 
is at present living in the village of Cen- 
treton, same townsiiip. 

In 1840 Mr. Austin married Miss Re- 
villa Rolf, of Cayuga county, N. Y., 
daughter of Jonathan Rolf, a carpenter 
and joiner, and two children were born to 
them, to wit: L. D., a resident of Nor- 
wich township, and L. W., living on the 
home farm. Politically our subject was 
originally a Whig, and since the formation 
of the party has been a straight Republican. 



EORGE C. PARKER, a prosper- 
, ous and prominent agriculturist of 
Bronson township, was born Sep- 
tember 23, 1841, on a farm situated 
one and one-half miles south of his 
present home. Our suliject is a grandson 
of George Parker, a farmer, of English 
descent, who lived in Cayuga county, 
N. Y. He was quite wealthy, and gave all 
his children a good start in life. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



487 



Nelson Parker, son of George Parker, 
was born September 9, 1809, in Cayuga 
county, N. Y., and grew to manhood on 
the home farm. He then taught school 
and a singing class, and on May 1, 1834, 
was nnited in marriage with Malancy 
Wade, who was born February 26, 1809, 
in Massachusetts. In early life he came 
to Bronson township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
preceded thither by three brothers and two 
sisters, and here he became a prosperous 
farmer, at one time owning 450 acres of 
land. In politics he was a strong Aboli- 
tionist. Mrs. Parker was the second in a 
family of eight children, three of whom 
located in Huron county. She was a re- 
markably intelligent woman, and through 
reading acquired a liberal education. She 
was a minister in the Christian Church, 
and during active life was an earnest, 
forcible preacher. She died in June, 1892, 
having been preceded to the grave by her 
husband in December, 1887. They were 
the parents of eight children, as follows: 
Two that died in infancy; Phosbe, who died 
at the age of seventeen; George C, whose 
sketch follows; Hannah F., wife of Will- 
iam Cole, deceased in 1890, at the age of 
t'orty-six years, leaving two children; Celia, 
wife of Aro Carpenter, a farmer in Fair- 
field township, who has one child; Eunice, 
who is married to A. G. Dale, of Bronson 
township, her second husband, and has 
six children; and Laura M., who died in 
1872, at the age of twenty years. 

George C. Parker received but a limited 
education, his help having been much 
needed on the home farm, as he was the 
only son. He took entire charge of the 
place upon attaining his majority, and re- 
mained with his father until his marriage. 
On October 7, 1872, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Esther Ann Chapin, a native 
of Hartland township, Huron county, 
daughter of Morris and Clarissa (Granger) 
Chapin, and to this union have lieen born 
two children: Clara Ann and Edward 
Conger. In October, 1882, Mr. and Mrs. 
Parker came to their present home, con- 



sisting of 148 acres, in Bronson township, 
where lie has conducted a prosperous agri- 
cultural business; during the past year he 
sold over one thousand and three hundred 
dollars worth of produce. Politically he 
is a Democrat, and has served as township 
trustee, being, with one e.vception, the only 
Democrat who has ever held an office in 
Bronson townshij). 



ITUS HOERNER, a successful 

farmer of Peru township, was born 

August 7, 1832, in Baden, Germany, 

and is the pioneer of the Hoerner 

family in Ohio. 

The father of our subject, also named 
Vitus, was a native-born farmer of Baden, 
where his sou attended school until he at- 
tained the age of fourteen years, when he 
began farm life for himself. At the age 
of twenty-two years he proceeded to Havre, 
France, from which port he embarked in 
the sailing-vessel "New York," landing at 
New York City after a memorable voyage 
of forty-seven days. Mr. Hoerner set out 
at once for northern Ohio, arriving at Nor- 
walk during the cholera epidemic, when 
the town was almost depopulated. Learn- 
ing of the deplorable condition of aflairs 
there, he did not wait for the command to 
go, but betook himself to Sherman town- 
ship, Huron county, where he found work, 
the compensation for same being fifty 
cents per day. Later he was engaged to 
chop wood at fifty cents a cord. On May 
15, 1854, our subject was married, by Rev. 
Mr. Klein, a Lutheran minister, to Mary 
Hildebrand, who was also born in Baden 
in 1832, and came to America with her 
parents in 1853, locating at Norwalk with 
them. She became the mother of a large 
family, as follows: Mary, Mrs. C. Bow- 
man, of Indiana; Margaret, Mrs. L. Lin- 
der; Vitus, a farmer of Peru township; 
Lizzie, Mrs. George Sheidt, of Peru town- 
ship; Catharine, Mrs. Charles Sheidt, of 
Peru township; William, of Sherman 



488 



IIUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



township; Charles, Minnie and Frederick, 
residing at home; and Jacob, Louis and 
Lottie, deceased. Immediately after mar- 
riage these sturdy pioneers settled on a 
farm, which both worked hard to clear and 
buy. Within a year or so tliey purchased 
twenty acres in Sherman township, where 
they erected a log cabin and resided until 
1873, when they purchased the present 
farm in Peru township, and took up their 
residence iiere. He still owns the pioneer 
farm in Sherman township, together with 
valuable tracts in other divisions of the 
county. Arriving in the United States 
with a capital of thirty dollars, he and his 
wife have built up a valuable property, 
provided well for each member of their 
family, and still own a considerable estate. 
Mr. Hoerner, though non-partisan in poli- 
tics, lias been honored with various town- 
ship offices. The men, rather than the 
measures, claim his support; for bad men 
cannot administer good measures. In re- 
ligion he is a member of the Pontiac Lu- 
theran Church. 



FH. SCHUYLEE, a successful agri- 
culturist of Lyme township, was 
born in 1826 in Pennsylvania, a 
son of Garret and Mary (Heacock) 
Schuyler, and came to Huron county 
in 1834. The country was in a wild con- 
dition, and in order to till the soil it was 
first necessary to clear the land and trans- 
form the dense woods into farms. The 
pioneers of those days were sturdy and 
energetic, and practiced frugality to a de- 
gree that is unknown to their children. 
Mr. Schuyler now ranks among the most 
highly esteemed residents of Huron county, 
and has accumulated a comfortable for- 
tune. He has married. 

Garret Schuyler, father of our subject, 
was born in New Jersey, and was there 
married to Miss Mary Heacock, also a 
native of that State. Their union was 
blessed with six children, viz.: Philip N"., 
Sarah A. (who died in 1842), Mary, P. II. 



(our subject), Elizabeth, and Nancy (who 
died in 1834). In 1834 Garret Schuyler 
moved to Ohio, and located in Sherman 
township, Huron county, where he en- 
gaged in farming. His thrift and economy 
soon enabled him to take a prominent 
place among his neighbors, and he was on 
several occasions honored with townsiiip 
offices. His death occurred in 1849; his 
wife preceded him to the grave in 1834. 



HARLES SAWYER ranks among 
the prominent pioneer farmers of 
Lyme township, who came to Ohio 
when the State was almost an un- 
broken wilderness, thickly populated by 
Indians. Those early days were filled with 
hardships and dangers of which the present 
residents of the State have little knowledge, 
and our subject, like the other children of 
pioneer parents, received only a limited 
education, and that under difficulties that 
the average youth of to-day would never 
undertake. He was born in 1816 in Sus- 
sex, England, a son of Stephen and Doro- 
thy (Lanstell) Sawyer, and came with his 
parents to America when three years of age. 
Stephen Sawyer was born in Sussex, 
England, where he received an ordinary 
school education, and in 1819 immigrated 
to the United States, settling near Cincin- 
nati, on the Ohio river. He engageil in 
farming and stock raising, and died at the 
age of eighty-six. He was married in 
England to Miss Dorothy Lanstell, who 
was also born in Sussex, and died in Ohio 
at the age of eighty years. Their union 
was blessed with nine sous and four daugh- 
ters, of whom four are now living. 

Charles Sawyer worked on the home 
farm, comprising 364 acres of land, from 
1826 up to the time of his father's death, 
and has always been engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits. He was largely instru- 
mental in makiiiij Lyme township what 
it now is, being one of the oldest and most 
highly respected citizens of same, and has 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



489 



been prominently identitied with all of the 
itnpoi'tant events connected with tlie his- 
tory of Huron county. In 1851 Mr. Saw- 
yer was united in marriage with Miss 
Eachel A. Gates, who was born in 1819, 
in New York, a daughter of Elijah and 
Hannah Gates. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer are 
n)embers of the Episcopal Church, of 
which they are liberal supporters, and 
after louf^ and well-spent years are enjoy- 
ing; the sunset of life. Mr. and Mrs. Saw- 
yer have no children of their own, but 
some they have adopted. 



THADDEUS SPRAGUE, an enter- 
prising and successful farmer and 
stock raiser of Wakeman township, 
is a native of New York State, born 
January 28, 1826, in Ulster county. 
George Sprague, father of subject, was 
born in Dutchess county, N. Y., and was a 
lifelong farmer. He married Elizabeth 
Grav, and seven children were born to 
them, of whom are living Thaddeus, Henry 
(in Hartland, Huron county), Jose])h (in 
Nebraska) and Minerva (in Fitchvilie, 
Ohio). The parents both died in 188-4, 
aged about seventy-six years, in "Wakeman 
township. They came to Huron county 
in 1833, and purchased sixty-three acres of 
partly improved land at five dollars per 
acre, on which they erected suitable farm 
buildings, and here they made a success, 
being enabled to give each of their sons a 
good start in life. They were members of 
the Free-will Baptist Church, and in poli- 
ties Mr. Sprague was a lifelong Democrat. 
Thaddeus Sprague, the subject proper 
of these lines, received his early element- 
ary education at the schools of his native 
place, and when seven years old was 
brought to Huron county by his parents, 
who took up a farm in Hartland township. 
Here he resumed his studies, attending the 
subscription schools a few months in the 
winter season, the rest of his time being 
occupied in working on his father's farm, 



whereon he remained till his marriage. He 
then bouglit sixty-six and three-quarters 
acres in Wakeman township, to wiiicli from 
time to time he added until ultimately he 
found himself tlie owner of 200 acres of 
prime land, fifty-live of which he has given 
to his son. Elver, and fifty to his other son, 
Elmer. In 1852 Mr. Sprague married 
Sarah Arnot, daughter of Terry 
and Catherine (Townsend) Arnot, who 
in an early day came to Huron county 
from Penn Yan, N. Y., settling in Hart- 
land township, where Mrs. Sarah Sprague 
was born April 24, 1833. Four children 
have been born to this union, viz.: Elver 
and Elmer (on the home farm), Lydia Bell 
(wife of John Den man, of Norwalk) and 
Nora (wife of Doran Rowland, in Mans- 
field, Ohio). Mr. Sprague has in his day 
traveled considerably, and is well informed 
on most topics, a great observer of men 
and things. He is a Democrat, and has 
served his township as trustee. In 1854 
he erected substantial and commodious 
buildings on his farm, greatly enhancing 
the value of his property, which lias since 
been« further improved. [Since the aliove 
was written we have been informed of the 
death of Mr. Sprague. — Ed. 



FRANK CHASE, a well-known farmer 
of Townsend township, was born De- 
_^ cember 23, 1826, in Putnam county, 
N. T., the second j-oungest child in 
a fainily of twelve born to Alvin and Ruth 
(Cole) Chase, both of whom were natives 
of New York State and of English descent. 
Alvin Chase was educated and married 
in his native State, where he engaged in 
agricultural pursuits all his life. He was 
a veteran of the war of 1812, liaving 
served in the New York lino, and for 
more than thirty years officiated as justice 
of the peace. Both he and his wife were 
ardent, lifelong members of the Presby- 
terian Church. In politics he was a Whig 
and a great admirer of Henry Clay, and 



490 



Tirnnx couxty, oiiio. 



was ])itterly opposed to secret societies of 
all kinds. His father was a stanch patriot, 
and served in the Continental army dur- 
ing the entire seven years of the Revolu- 
tionary struggle. The Chase family were 
among the early English settlers of the old 
Empire State, taking an active and honor- 
able part in the various struggles of that 
commonwealth in the early days. The 
Cole family were also among the pioneers 
of New York State, many of them serving 
with distinction in the war of the Revolu- 
tion as well as in the Indian wars of an 
earlier period. 

Frank Chase, the subject proper of this 
sketch, received a very fair common-school 
and academic education in his early life, 
and at the age of sixteen years (in 1842) 
came to Seneca county, Ohio, with his 
sister and brother-in-law, on whose farm 
he was employed until he attained his ma- 
jority, after which he taught school for a 
short time in Crawford county, Ohio. In 
1849 he went south, and was employed on 
a packet steamboat plying between Vicks- 
burg arid New Orleans for some seven 
years, after which he returned north and 
was employed on a farm in Erie county, 
Ohio, for about one year. He then pur- 
chased a farm in that county, upon which 
he remained for about seven years, and 
then traded for another farm in the same 
neighborhood. After a few years lie 
traded this place for a farm in Sandusky 
county, Ohio, upon which lie remained 
some eighteen or twenty years, selling it 
in 1890, and purchasing another in Town- 
send township, Huron county, where he 
now resides and is successfully engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. While livincr in 
Sandusky county he was twice elected 
trustee of his township. In the spring of 
1864 he enlisted in Company I, One Hun- 
dred and Forty-fifth 0. V". I, proceeded 
with his command to Washinorton, D. C, 
was engaged in garrison duty on Arling- 
ton Heights during the entire summer, and 
was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, 
Angust 24, 1864. 



On May 5, 1858, Mr. Chase married 
Miss Sarah J. Tompkins, a native of 
Dutchess county, N. Y., and daughter of 
Nelson and Hannah (Knapp) Tompkins, 
both of whom were natives of New York 
and of English descent. Four children 
have come to this union, viz.: Lester T., 
U. S. Grant, Arthur and Burton B. Mr. 
Chase belonfjs to no church, but he is a 
firm believer in practical Christianity. So- 
cially he is a member of Townsend Post 
No. 414, G. A. R. He was distantly re- 
lated to the late Hon. Salmon P. Chase. 
In politics he is a Republican, and is one 
of the enterprising and most respected 
citizens of his township and county. The 
Tompkins family were also early settlers 
of the Empire State, and bore an active part 
in the various struggles of that grand old 
commonwealth — civil and military — both 
before and after the Revolutionary war. 



/p^EORGE SCHUSTER, a successful 
I y, harness maker of Bellevne, was 
V^J born in 1829, in Germany, where he 

Ji learned his trade and received a fair 
education. Becoming dissatisfied 
with the commercial prospects of his na- 
tive land, he determined to make for him- 
self a new home in a country wdiere broader 
fields of labor were open to young men. 

With this in view he emigrated from 
Germany in 1851, the only member of his 
family who came to America, and imme- 
diately after landing traveled westward, 
locating in Bellevue. Ohio. He worked 
two years on a farm, and then as a journey- 
man at his trade until 1854, at which time 
he beo^an business for himself, opening 
one of thelargest harness shops in Bellevue. 

In 1854 Mr. Schuster married Miss 
Barbara Cox, and of their union were born 
five children, two of whom, Hattie and 
Addie, are now living. The motiier of 
of these dyiii? in 1864, Mr. Schuster was 
married in 1866, for iiis second wife, to 
Miss Elizabeth Kaiser, of Thompson, Ohio, 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



491 



1)3' wliich marriage he has two children, 
George and Laura. Mr. Schuster coin- 
iiienced life with a capital composed ciiietly 
of energy, a thorough knowledge of his 
trade, and a determination to succeed, and 
now ranks iiigli in business, social and 
religious circles. He and liis family are 
members of the Reformed Church, and are 
actively interested in whatever is intended 
for the public good. In the Civil war he 
served two years and nine months, having 
enlisted in Company D, Tliirty-fourtli 
Regiment, O. V. I., under Gen. Cox, and 
took part in the battle of Wytheville; he 
was also a private in the Thirtynintii 
Regiment, O. V. I. He is pre-eminently 
a self-made man, and has by his own efforts 
built up a good trade. 



[p^ OL. SPEAR, a successful merchant 
of Plymouth, one who possesses the 
confidence and esteem of all who 
deal with him, is a native of 
the Fatherland, born near Hessen-Cassel 
in 1843. 

His father, "Wolf Spear, who was a son 
of Nathaniel Spear, was a merchant in 
Hessen-Cassel, Germany, where he passed 
his entire life, dying there in 1889. He 
married a Miss Schoenberg. a native of a 
neighboring province, and they became 
the parents of six children, as follows: Two 
that died in infancy; Nathaniel, deceased 
at the age of nine years; Sol., who is men- 
tioned farthetr on; Betty, married to Moses 
Sineld,a merchant of Plymouth, Ohio, and 
Jacob, who is ^ general merchant in his 
native town. 

Sol. Spe;^r passed his boyhood in attend- 
ing school in his native country, and at the 
age of fourteen years came to America, 
settlii^g immediately in Plymouth, Ohio, 
where he has ever since remained. At 
first he attended school, then for a while 
engaged in peddling, Init finally com- 
menced clerking, first with W. P>. Kahn, 

27 



with whom he remained two years. He 
next entered the employ of Billstein & 
Schoenberg, in the stock business, con- 
tinuing with them until the spring of 1866, 
when he engaged in the stock business for 
a few months on his own account. In the 
fall of 1866 he bought out the store of 
W. H. Kahn, conducting the business alone 
until 1868, in which year he admitted M. 
Shield into partnership, and they carried 
on the establishment jointly until 1891, 
when Mr. Shield sold his interest to our 
subject, who has since been sole proprietor. 
Besides the regular business, the firm also 
dealt extensively in wool, seeds, etc. 

In 1867 Mr. Spear was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Augusta Billstein, by 
whom he has six children, viz.: Nathaniel 
(residing in Cincinnati), Alexander, Joel 
(in Cincinnati), Ida, Maurice and Bernice. 
In politics our sal)ject has always been a 
Democrat, and has held various offices of 
honor and trust in his cominiinity; he has 
served on the school board for eighteen 
years, a longer term of service than any other 
member can boast of. Mr. Spear owns a 
storeroom, warehouse and dwelling in Ply- 
mouth. He has made a complete success 
as a business man, and fully merits the 
respect and good opinion which he has won 
from all who come in contact with him. 



J I II. HALLER, whose successful 
business career is ev^ery where recog- 
^ nized in Huron county, was born in 
1864, in Germany, son of John 
Haller, a tailor in the Fatherland, where 
he followed his trade. J. H. Haller re- 
ceived a practical education in the schools 
of his native place, and, in 1880, immi- 
grated to America. He had acquired suf- 
ficient knowledge of the tailor's trade from 
his father to enable him to work as a 
journeyman, and on arriving in New 
York City he found ready employment, 
and worked at his trade in the metropolis 
until 1885, when he revisited Germany. 



492 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



On Lis return to the United States Mr. 
Haller took a course in Mitcliell's Cutting 
Academy, and after graduating was em- 
ployed as cutter in New York and otlier large 
cities, becoming remarkably proficient in 
this important branch of the tailor's trade. 
In 1887 he engaged with a firm of mer- 
chant tailors in Plymouth, Ohio, with 
whom he remained nearly four years, and 
in September, 1891, established an inde- 
pendent tailoring house at Plymouth, 
meeting from the beginning with a most 
liberal patronage. In order to centralize 
his trade, in August, 1892, be transferred 
his stock to Chicago Junction, and his 
success here has been as decided as at Ply- 
mouth. He carries a large assortment of 
men's and boys' suitings, and conducts a 
profitable merchant tailoring establish- 
ment, doing good work at prices which do 
not fear competition. In 1887 our subject 
was married to Miss Jennie Peters, of 
PataskalaA^hio, whom he brought to his 
home at Plymouth, and there, as well as 
at Chicago Junction, they have been highly 
esteemed. In Society affairs Mr. Haller 
is a member of Plymouth Lodge, 
F. & A. M. His life furnishes an ex- 
ample of what may be accomplished by 
energy in business and earnestness in the 
desire to please customers. 




UGUSTUS JOSLIN, superinten- 
dent and secretary of the water- 
works at Norwalk, is a sou of Dr. 
Perry and Fanny C. (Davis) Jos- 
lin, who were natives of New York, 
born of Scotch-Irish descent. 

Augustus Joslin was born in 1827, in 
Ft. Edward, Washington Co., N. Y. In 
1844 he came west, and locating in Nor- 
walk, Huron Co., Ohio, was here engaged 
in the distillery business for ten years. 
He then went to Xipton, Ohio, and took a 
railroad contract on the Air Line, return- 
ing to Norwalk three years later, where he 



has since resided. For the past nine years 
Mr. Joslin has been connected with the 
water- works at Norwalk, having taken 
charge of the system when only four miles 
of pipe were laid. He has proved most 
efficient in this business, which has pros- 
pered under his management, fourteen 
miles of pipe being now in operation. 
Politically Mr. Joslin affiliates with the 
Democratic party. He was married to 
Miss Mary Weever, a native of the same 
State. 




UGGLES. The families of this 



name in Ridgefield township are 
descended from Edward Ruggles, 
who was born May 13, 1766, in 
Danbury, Conn., of Scotch-Irish 



parents. 

Daniel Ruggles, son of this Edward 
Ruggles, was born December 23, 1796, also 
in Danbury, Conn., and was the seventh' 
child in order of birth, and the second son 
of his parents. His literary education was 
completed before he was ten years of age, 
after which he made a practical use of his 
natural mechanical ability, and learned the 
carpenter trade. About 1(!>20 he removed 
with his parents to Luzerne county, Penn., 
where, on November 27, 1828, he was united 
in marriage with Louisa, daughter of Ben- 
jamin and Catherine F. Fuller. The 
parents were of Saxon ancestry, and re- 
sidents of Luzerne county, Penn., where 
the daughter Louisa was born June 3, 
1799. About 1831 Daniel and Louisa 
Ruggles moved from Luzerne county, 
Penn., to Ohio, bringing with them two 
yoke of oxen, one sjjan of horses, and two 
wagons, which contained all their worldly 
goods. They were over four weeks ou the 
road, and on arriving at Cleveland, Ohio, 
the teams and wagons were pushed across 
the river with " set poles " on a flat-boat. 
There was only one log house on the west 
side of Cuyahoga river, and in coming 
through Berlin township, Erie county, to 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



493 



Milan, Ohio, land was for sale at one dol- 
lar per acre. The people said then that 
the sandy soil between the two branches of 
the Huron river wonld not produce any- 
thing. j\Ir. Haggles purchased one lum- 
dred acres of land of Jonathan Hess, in 
Ridgefield township, Hnron county, for 
which he paid eight dollars per acre, add- 
ing to the original farm as years passed 
on, and at one time he owned over 
500 acres, paying eighty dollars per 
acre for the last purchase. Politically he 
was originally an Old-line AYhig, then a 
Free-Soiler, and liiially a Kepnblican, but 
be gave his principal attention to personal 
business. He was a member of the Free- 
Will Baptist Church, and many services 
were held in his own home, where he was 
ever a genial, hospitable host. He died 
April 4, 1867, having been preceded to 
the grave by his wife August 16, 1865, 
and they were buried on the home farm. 
They were tlie parents of children as fol- 
lows: Alonzo J., sketch of whom follows; 
Alfred and Almond (twins), born Febru- 
ary 12, 1827, the former of whom, 
now (^leceased, was a farmer of Ridgefield 
township (Almond died at the age of 
eleven years); Daniel W., sketch of whom 
follows; Dwight, born May 28, 1834, who 
was a member of Company B, One Hun- 
dred and Sixty-sixth Regiment, O. V. I., 
and died August 3, 1864, in a hospital at 
Washington, D. C; and Mary J., born 
August 8, 1836, wlfo became the wife of 
Charles Brown, of JJilan, Ohio, and died 
in 1892, in California. 

Alonzo J. Ruggles, eldest son of Dan- 
iel Haggles, was born in January, 1825, 
near Huntsviile, Plymouth township, Lu- 
zerne C!o., Penn., and was five years old 
when his parents moved to Ohio. He at- 
tended the schools of Huron county, re- 
ceiving his elementary training in a small 
white frame schoolhouse, which was a fair 
specimen of the Ijaildings then erected. 
He also attended school in Norwalk, and 
after returning home assisted in the work 
on the home farm. He would rise at four 



o'clock in the morning, get the o.x-team 
ready and go to the clearing, where he 
felled many monarchs of the forest. At that 
time the streams had to l)e forded, as bridges 
were then unknown in the locality. On 
September 15, 1852, Mr. Ruggles uuirried 
Tliekla A. Lewis, who was born April 11, 
1825, in Spatford, Onondaga Co., N. Y., 
daughter of Benjamin Lewis, who was 
born in Rhode Island, and was married to 
Betsey Whiting, a native of Vermont. 
In 1835 Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lewis 
moved to Ashtabula county, Ohio, thence 
to Huron county, where their daughter, 
Thekla A., was married. 

Alonzo J. and Thekla A. Ruggles began 
wedded life on a portion of the old home- 
stead in Ridgelield township, Huron 
county, where they remained until 1888. 
They then came to their present home in 
Norwalk, where he has since lived in semi- 
retirement. He yet cultivates a small tract 
of land in Ridgefield township, and owns 
150 acres of some of the finest and best 
improved land in the neighborhood. Po- 
litically Mr. Ruggles was tirst a Whig, 
then a Republican, and has tilled various 
local offices. He is a member of the Free- 
Will Baptist Churcli, his wife is identified 
with the Disciple Church. They have iiad 
children as follows: Charles, deceased in 
infancy; Mary J., wife of Charles Bishop, 
of Xorwalk; Betsy Louisa, deceased at 
the age of four years; Elizabeth T., de- 
ceased in 1891; Celia F., wife of Hugh 
Jacobs, of Cleveland, Ohio; Dwight J., 
deceased in infancy; Flora M.; and Flor- 
ence, married to Albert Prentiss, of Nor- 
walk. Fred Stewart, who was adopted by 
Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles when he was but 
four months old, and reared to manhood 
by them, is now a prominent manufac- 
turer in Norwalk, Ohio. 

Daniel W. Ruggles, fourth son of Dan- 
iel and Louisa (Fuller) Ruggles, was born 
August 1, 1831, in Erie county, (^hio, 
where his parents had made a temporary 
location while en route to Huron county, 
Ohio. When he was six months old the 



494 



HURON COUNTY, OIITO. 



family moved to the home farm in Hiiron 

county, where he was reared and educated. 
On December 25, 1862, he was united in 
marriage with Chloe, daughter of Lee and 
Phcebe (Bradley) Moore, the former of 
whom was born in Vermont, and married 
in Summit county, Ohio. Chloe was the 
ninth in a family of eleven children, and 
was born Jiily 25, 1837, in Bowling Greeu, 
Ohio. To the union of Daniel W. and 
Chloe (Moore) Euggles three children have 
been born, viz.: Frank W., Arthur L. and 
Dora M., all living with their parents. 
Mr. Kuggles has given his time to agri- 
culture, in which pursuit he has been suc- 
cespful, but for the past ten years he has 
not been strong enough to perform any 
manual labor. He has been a zealous 
worker in the Republican party, casting 
his first vote for John C. Fremont, and 
has represented his locality in numerous 
county conventions, serving also as school 
director and supervisor. He and his wife 
are members of the M. E. Church at 
Norwalk. 



TT^HOMAS MILLER, one of the best 

II and most hustling business men of 

I Norvvalk township, and a prosper- 

^ ous, enterprising agriculturist, is a 

native of Huron county, born, in 

1843, in Townsend township. 

Levi Miller, his fatlier, born near the Al- 
bany (E. Y.) salt-works, was a cooper, and 
at tlie age of twenty-live years removed to 
Richland county, Oiiio, where for , two 
years he followed his trade. He then 
came to Townsend township, Huron 
county, where he was engaged in farm- 
ing for ten years, dying in 1855 at the age 
of forty-iive, having been born in 1810. 
His first wife was a Miss Betsy Taylor, of 
Richland county, Ohio, and two children 
were born to them, viz.: Elizabeth and 
Maria, now Mrs. Jacob Rickett, of Toledo, 
Ohio. This wife died in 1838, and Mr. 
Miller subsequently married Miss Harriet 



Sanders, of Florence, Erie Co., Ohio, after 
which they came to Townsend township, 
as above stated. The children of this 
union were Jane Jarrett, now of Berlin, 
Erie county; Levi, who was a member of 
the Thirtieth Ohio Cavalry during the 
Civil war, and died at Corinth, Tenn.; 
Thomas, subject of sketch; and Henry and 
Charles, farmers in Fulton county, Ohio. 
Thomas Miller, whose name appears at 
the opening of this sketch, commenced 
active business life by selling farm ma- 
chinery, and doing threshing, which he 
continued in till after his marriage, when 
he took up farming in Townsend town- 
ship. Here he remained twelve years, at 
the end of which time (1882) he came to 
his present farm in Norwalk township, and 
has since been successfully engaged in 

. -r-r 

both farming and selling machinery. He 
was married, in 1870, to Miss Arvilla, 
daughter of John Hunter, a pioneer of 
Huron county. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have 
two children, viz.: Ellery L. and Gertrude 
May, both at home. 

In 1864 Mr. Miller enlisted in Company 
B, One Hundred and Sixty-si.xth Regiment 
O. V. I., under Col. Blake, attached to the 
army of the Potomac, and stationed at 
Fort Barnard, Va., eighteen miles from 
Washington. He has been a lifelong 
Democrat, as was his father before him, 
and has held various township offices. 



JOHN B. N I VER, a progressive and 
well-to-do farmer of Norwich town- 
ship, was born March 19, 1813, in 
Orange county, N. Y., where he lived 
nineteen years, working on his father's 
farm, and attending the common schools 
of the period. 

Mr. Niver is a son of Jacob Niver, of 
German descent, who came from Orange 
county, N. Y., to Huron county where he 
carried on farming, and died in the prime 
of life, when our subject was five months 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



495 



old. In 1802 he married Margaret Mc- 
Millan, a native of Scotland, and daughter 
of John McMillan, a shoemaker by trade, 
who came to tiiis country with his family, 
settling in Orange county, N. Y., where 
lie passed from earth. He and his wife 
had the following named children: Denni- 
8on, James, Charles B., Mary J., Jacob 
and John B., all now deceased except 
John B. 

The subject of these lines received a fair 
education at the schools of his native place, 
and was reared to farm life. In 1882 he 
came to Huron county, and settled on his 
present place of 122 acres, at that time 
covered with a dense and sombre forest, 
through which deer, wolves and other wild 
animals roamed at will. In 1843 he mar- 
ried Miss Sarah A. White, of Mansfield, 
Eichland Co., Ohio, daughter of Natlianiel 
White, and four children — Edwin (who 
was a member of Company I, Third 
O. V. C, and died in Andersonville prison), 
Marietta (deceased), Emma J., and Nancy 
(deceased) — were born to them. The mother 
of these died in 1864, and for his second 
wife our subject was wedded to Miss Esther 
Simmons, of Greenfield township, Huron 
county, a daughter of Albert Simmons. 
Three children were born to this union, 
nameiy: Eimon L., Louie and Harry, all 
yet living. A stanch Republican in pol- 
itics, Mr. Niver cast his first Presidential 
vote in 1836, for W. H. Harrison, when 
the latter ran against Martin Van Buren. 
In religious faith he is a member of the 
Methodist Church. 



E 



S. TUTTLE, proprietor of elevator, 
and an extensive dealer in grain, 
J coal, oil, etc., was born in 1853, in 
Erie county, Ohio, son of J. M. and 
Charlotte (Crawford) Tuttle, both natives of 
New York. J. M. Tuttle came with his 
father's family to the " Firelands " in Erie 
county, and here cleared his farm, which 
is still in the family's possession. About 
1873 the family removed from the farm to 



Norwalk, and, in partnership with W. T. 
Bowen, built the elevator, which they suc- 
cessfully operated until 1887, when they 
leased to the present proprietor. The pa- 
ternal grandfather, Nathan Tuttle, was 
also born in New York, and came to Ohio 
with his wife, who was a Leland. 

E. S. Tuttle came to Huron county with 
his parents, and was educated in the Nor- 
walk public schools, passing through the 
high school with credit. lie commenced 
his active life as a clerk in a hardware 
store, and there remained for thirteen 
years, when he engaged in the grain busi- 
ness, meeting: from the first with marked 
success. He is regarded by all as one of 
the intelligent, rising business men pf the 
city, liberal and enterprising, and of pleas- 
ing social qualities. He is solo proprietor 
of the elevator and grain department, and 
has two mills for making food and bolted 
corn meal. Mr. Tuttle is a man who 
kee])s his mind in touch with the social 
and other interesting questions of the day. 
In 1876 he was married to Clara E. Lam- 
kin, a native of Seneca county, Ohio, 
daughter of Dr. George Lamkin, of Nor- 
walk, and they have three children: Ora, 
Bessie and George. 



H[ON. H. K. HOUSE. The city of 
Norwalk takes proper pride in her 
many thrifty, intelligent and pro- 
gressive citizens, of whom not the 
least prominent is the gentleman 
whose name introduces this brief sketch. 
Mr. House after leaving school com- 
menced business life as an employe on the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, on which line for 
several years he was a popular, faithful 
and efficient conductor. Always frugal 
and careful, he saved his earnings, retired 
from the railroad, and locating in Norwalk 
purchased property and embarked in the 
furniture business. After a time he sold 
out this industry, and engaged in railroad 
contracting — his first contract being on 



496 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



the Wheeling & Lake Erie Kailroad — a 
line of business that has since claimed his 
close attention. 

During the early "eighties" the Ke- 
puhlican party in Norwalk, recognizing 
the ability, sagacitj' and acumen of Mr. 
House, by an almost unanimous move- 
ment invited him to represent the head of 
their ticket in municipal election. Being 
prevailed on to accept the nomination, he 
was easily elected mayor of the city, an in- 
cumbency lie has filled with characteristic 
dignity and grace, and his administration 
is remembered as one of the most peaceful 
and prosperous in the municipal life of 
Norwalk. Mr. House was married to 
Mrs. Otis (wt'd Reed), whose father was the 
first white male child born in Greenwich 
township, Huron county. Our subject 
erected, in the southern part of the city, 
an elegant and pleasant home residence. 



ri( BRAHAM D. JENNEY was born 
//_\ \ May 19, 18l3, at Fairhaven, Bris- 
ir% to! Co., Mass. His grandfather, 
■fj Benjamin Jenney, was born Febru- 

ary 28, 1744, in New England, and 
married Bersheba Bassett, who was born 
December 14, 1744. They had four sons 
arfd one daughter, of whom John was the 
third son in order of birth. 

John Jenney was born July 12, 1773, 
in Bristol county, Mass., and when a 
young man married Catherine Davis, who 
was born May 28, same year. They re- 
sided in Massachusetts, where John fol- 
lowed the trade of ship carpenter until the 
removal of the family to Cayuga county, 
N. Y., where he worked at the mill- 
wright's trade, and for a time was engao-ed 
in milling. On May 19, 1823, he and lannly 
followed his sons to Ohio. It appears 
that the two sons — Mordecai and Obediah 
— visited Huron county, Ohio, about 1818, 
and selected lands in Greenwich township. 
A daughter, Bersheba, who was married 



in Xew York to E. L. Salisbury, came 
here in 1820. Thither the father and 
family moved in 1823, and he purchased 
the land at one dollar and fifty cents per 
acre, and erected a log house, the interior 
of which he furnished in a style hitherto 
unknown to the pioneers. After the home 
in the wilderness was made, the father 
went to Sandusky and built two vessels for 
Townsend & Chapman, which were called 
the "Ligura" and "The Charles Chap- 
man." He passed several winters at Sa- 
vannah, Ga., where he was recognized as 
a good ship carpenter, and always found 
work at his trade, so with that and farm- 
ing he was an industrious and altoo-ether 
a well-to-do citizen. He died March 4, 
1852, his widow June 9, 1853, and both 
are buried in a private cemetery on the 
farm. Of their children the following 
record is made: Obediah died at Nor- 
walk, aged eighty-nine years; Sarah mar- 
ried, in Massachusetts, Ebenezer Wing, 
and died in that State at an advanced age; 
Mordecai W. died in Greenwich township; 
Bersheba married E. L. Salisbury, and 
died in Greenwich township; Elizabeth 
married Joseph Bartlett, and died in Hu- 
ron county; Sylvia C. was married in New 
York to Joseph Gilford, and died in Kan- 
sas; Jane married Humphrey Gifford, and 
died in Greenwich township; Benjamin 
resides in Montcalm county, Mich.,; Mary 
married Benjamin Watson, and moved to 
Kansas; Abraham D. is the subject of this 
sketch. 

Abraham D. Jenney was reared in the 
manner common throughout western New 
York in pioneer days. He was ten years 
of age when his parents moved to Ohio, 
and here be passed his youth, working on 
the farm and attending the subscription 
schools of tlie period. Being the only soa 
who did not learn a trade, he remained on 
the farm and assisted his father in clearing 
it. On March 20, 1842, he married Sally 
Ann Griffin, who was born in New York 
State October 7, 1818, and to this mar- 
riage came eleven children, as follows: 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



497 



James W., now a citizen of Kansas; Salina, 
a physician; George D., a physician of 
Kenton, Ohio, where he died; Cornelia, wlio 
married Jasper Jennings, of Lexington, 
Ky., and died at Fitciiville, Ohio; Smith, 
wlio died in yonth; Mary, married to Otis 
Enrge, of Greenwich township; Chloe, re- 
siding at home; A. Warren, a school 
teacher; and Charles A., residing on the 
home farm ; besides the children named, 
there were two who died young. 

After his marriage Mr. Jenney located 
on his present farm, where he lias been en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits np to the 
present time. In 1856 he became a Re- 
publican, having previously been a Whig, 
but beyond filling various township posi- 
tions he does not go actively into political 
life. He and his wife are members of the 
Society of Friends. Both are endowed with 
e.xcellent memories. 



EILIJAH PEICE, retired farmer of 
Fairfield townsnip, is of Welsh 
1 descent, and is a grandson of Alex- 
ander Price, who was a farmer in 
Cayuga county, N. Y. He was among 
the first to offer his services in the war of 
1812, during which conflict he commanded 
a division of militia with the rank of gen- 
eral. He was a Democrat in politics and 
served many years as justice of the peace. 
Alexander Price was united in marriage 
with Polly Seely, and to this union were 
born six children, namely: Elijah, Will- 
iam, Mary (who married Lucas Foot, of 
North Fairfield), Betsey, Caroline, and Ann 
(who married James Vincent, a farmer of 
Chautauqua, N. Y.). 

Elijah Price, son of Alexander, was born 
in 1805, in Cayuga county, N. Y., was 
reared on the home farm, and received his 
education in the schools of the period. He 
was married at Skaneateles, Onondaga (Jo., 
N. Y., to Miss Abigail Foot, who was 
born there in 1806, and they had seven 



children, viz.: Alexander (who is now a 
stock grower in Idaho), Eben, Salvio, Will- 
iam, Elijah, Mary Louise and Grant. In 
May, 1882, Mr. Price brought his family 
to Huron county, Ohio, and settled on tlie 
present homestead in Fairfield township. 
He cleared the land and made a beautiful 
farm of 177 acres, and at his death, which 
occurred in 1888, left a valuable property 
to his heirs. In political opinion he was 
a Democrat, and served as township trus- 
tee. Mrs. Price died December 14, 1869. 
Elijah Price, the sul)joct proper of this 
sketch, was born April 6, 1832, in Cayuga 
county, N. Y., and was brought by his 
parents to Ohio the same year. On Sep- 
tember 7, 1856, he married Harriet Place, 
of Fairfield towtiship, and they took up 
their residence on the home farm, where 
two children were boru to them, one that 
died in infancy, and S. Grant, a business 
man of Norwalk. After his father's death 
he purchased the home farm of 177 acres, 
and engaged in general farming and stock 
growing, giving particular attention to the 
rearing of coach, trotting and draft horses. 
In politics Mr. Price is a Democrat, and 
has served his township as trustee. 



L. KREIDER, M. D., is the oldest 
medical practitioner in Monroevilie, 
and has been very successful in his 
chosen vocation. He is a son of 
Michael Kreider, a native of Lebanon 
county, Penn., and his ancestry (who were 
of Dutch origin) have been natives of 
Pennsylvania for three generations. 

C. L. Kreider was born May 29, 1840, 
in Lebanon county, Penn., and received his 
early education at Lebanon Academy. He 
then took a medical course at the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania, graduating therefrom 
in 1863, and liegan to practice in Lebanon 
county. In 1868 became to Monroevilie, 
where he has ever since V)een actively eii- 
o-aged in the duties of his profession. Dr. 



498 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Kreider was united in marriage at Phila- 
delphia, Penn., with Miss Caroline "Walter, 
who has borne him four children. He was 
formerly a member of the American Med- 
ical Association, and is now identified with 
the Delamater Medical Association. In 
politics he votes with the Republican 
party, with which his sons are also asso- 
ciated. He and his family are all adher- 
ents of the M. E. Church, and socially he 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. 

Of the children born to Dr. and Mrs. 
Kreider the following is a brief record: 
"Walter Kreider was educated in the public 
schools of Monroeville, then took a par- 
tial course in civil engineering at Ann 
Arbor, Mich.; he is now employed in 
Chicago, 111. E. E. Kreider graduated 
from the Monroeville High School, then 
took a medical course at Jeflferson Medi- 
cal College, Philadelphia, receiving his 
diploma in 1890; he is now in j^artnership 
with his fathei', and has already secured 
the confidence of the community as a rising 
young physician. Charles R. Kreider also 
graduated from the Monroeville High 
School, afterward preparing for business 
life at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; he is now 
in the employ of Sanborn & Co., Chicago, 
111. Mabel, youngest child of Dr. and 
Mrs. Kreider, is a student in Delaware 
College, Ohio. 



D A. AVOOD, M. D., is one of the 
oldest physicians and surgeons now 
' in practice in Huron county — in- 
deed, with a solitary exception, he 
is the oldest. 

His parents, Alva and Levissa (Buck) 
"Wood, were both natives of New York 
State, the former born in 1809 in Saratoga 
feounty, where he grew to manhood and 
carried on a farm in connection with a 
gristmill. He died at Utica, N. Y., in the 
sixty-eighth year of his age. Levissa 
(Buck) "Wood died at Utica in the seventy- 
seventh year of her age. Of their six chil- 



dren, live are living. Their parents came 
from Connecticut to western New York at 
an early day, and were among the pioneers 
in the agricultural development of this 
now rich portion of the Empire State. 
The grandfather of Dr. "Wood was a jus- 
tice of the peace in Onondaga county for 
many terms, and is still remembered by 
the older residents of that county. 

Dr. D. A. "Wood was born September 16, 
1832, in Onondaga county, N. Y. He re- 
ceived an elementary education in the 
common schools, and subsequently entered 
Clinton University, where he took a full 
literary course. After reading medicine 
for some time, he went to Syracuse, N. Y., 
attended lectures there, and graduated from 
the Eclectic Medical College. Early in 
1S58 he removed to Ohio, and locating at 
Olena, practiced medicine there fc^r many 
years. Meantime he neglected no oppor- 
tunity which offered to him greater per- 
fection as a physician, for he is found at 
Cleveland attending lectures, or at home 
reading Austrian, French or American 
authorities. He graduated, in the winter 
of 1871-72, from the Cleveland Medical 
College, and continued to i-eside at Olena. 
He had seen great changes in his district. 
The trials which awaited him in his early 
professional life were no longer to be 
looked for. Loner rides through the forest 
were no longer necessary, nor was there a 
prospect of his being again compelled to 
lead his horse through the thickets or fol- 
low unfamiliar paths to the cabins of his 
patients. 

Dr. Wood was married, at Olena, to Miss 
Lucy A. Cherry, and to this marriage five 
children were born, namely: Louise, wife 
of "W. C. Laney; Frederick; Elmer D., 
who died in early boyhood; Gertie M., 
residiTig with her parents; and Harley D. 
In 1881 the Doctor moved to Greenwich, 
where greater successes rewarded his close 
studies and faithful attention to his patients. 
In early practice he made a reputation in 
restoring to health those stricken with 
fever; he was also very successful in ob- 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



499 



stetrics, and won tlie entire confidence of 
the people. To-day he numbers among 
his patients many whose birth he attended. 
Dr. Wood beloHijs to the Alumni Medical 
Association of Cleveland, and is a retrular 
attendant at meetings of this Association, 
as well as a periodical student in the col- 
lege. Among his favorite medical jour- 
nals are tlie "Cleveland Medical Journal" 
and the "New York Medical Journal." 
But his readings on medicine and surgery 
are not at all confined to these, for lie takes 
special delight in anything and everything 
written on the two subjects. 



dD. EASTON is descended from an- 
cestors who were prominent actors in 
the early history of the New England 
colonies. One of these pioneers of 
the Easton family settled in Providence 
Plantation, in Phode Island, becoming an 
associate of Roger AViliiams. The grand- 
mother of our subject, Miss M. Perry, 
was a full cousin of Commodore Perry, of 
Lake Erie fame. 

Perry Easton, father of J. D., was born 
January 8, 1790, in Woodbury, Conn., and 
when yet a boy came to Greene county, 
N. Y., and served in Capt. Clark's Com- 
pany during the war of 1812. After the 
war he came to Ontario county, N. Y., and 
in 1818 moved to Huron county, Ohio, re- 
siding in Ridgefield and P>ronson town- 
ships. When a young man he was married 
to Sajlie Paymond, who was born in Great 
Barrington, Mass., a descendant of Lord 
Raymond, and they had three children, of 
whom are mentioned J. D., the subject 
proper of this sketch, and a twin brother 
who lives in Paris, Texas. Politically Mr. 
Easton was first a Jeffersonian Democrat, 
then a Henry Clay Whig, and subsequently 
a Republican. He and his family were 
members of tiie Presbvterian Church. He 
died in 1858. 



J. D. Easton was born in 1816, in Rush- 
ville, N. Y., and was reared and educated 
in Huron county, Ohio. In 1848 he was 
united in marriage with Miss Jane Barker, 
who was born in 1815, in Cayuga county, 
N. Y., and they made their home on a 
farm in Peru township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
During the war he bonglit horses for the 
Government. About 1873 they settled on 
their present home, containing 170 acres, 
ninety of which are within the limits of 
the corporation of Monroeville. In poli- 
tics our subject was originally a Wiiio-, 
now a Republican, and lie has served six 
years as a member of the board of directors 
for the county infirmary. He has taken 
an active interest in other matters of local 
importance, and was recently elected vice- 
president of the Firelands Historical As- 
sociation. His wife is a member of the 
Society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Easton 
are the parents of two children, namely: 
Ida S. and John P., the latter of whom "is 
married to a Miss Fish, and is now living 
on a farm near Monroeville; he has two 
children, Eunice and Candace. 



^/ 



MRS. DAVID L. GIESECK is a 
daughter of Henry D. and Han- 
nah J. (Harris) Smith, both of 
whom were natives of Ohio, tlie 
former born in Knox county, the 
latter in Licking county. The father died 
at the age of sixty-five years. 

Carrie S. Smith was born on the home 
place in Knox county, where she grew to 
womanhood, attending the common schools 
of the vicinity. She also received a year's 
training in the normal school, then taught 
two years in Licking county, Ohio. On 
January 29, 1885, she was united in mar- 
riage with David L. Gieseck, wliose father 
was a native of Germany, his mother an 
American, born of German ancestry. 

David L. Gieseck was born March 8, 
1858, in Black Lick, Ohio, passed his 



500 



HUROX COUNTY, OHIO. 



yontli in liis native county, and after his 
marriage came to Huron county, locating 
in Monroeville Marcli 20, 1885. Here, in 
partnersliip with his father, he founded 
the tile works, the product of which was 
sent to the eastern and western part of 
Ohio, and also as far south as Columbus. 
In the following April they employed 
eight men. Mr. Gieseck in politics was a 
Democrat. He was a member of the 
school board, and a justice of the peace, 
holding the latter position at the time of 
his death, which occurred February 9, 
1892. He was baptized in the Li;theran 
Church; his widow is identified with the 
Baptist denomination. Since the deatli of 
her husband Mrs. Gieseck has conducted 
the tile business with great success. She 
has had three children, namely: Henry L. 
(deceased at the age of two years and nine 
months), Emma T. and Mable H. 



llACOB BEOWN was born April 6, 

k. I 1836, in Peru township, Huron 

\^i Co., Ohio, a son of Jacob Brown, who 

was the pioneer of the family in the 

United States. 

The father of our subject was a native 
of France, whence he emigrated when a 
young man, and found a home iu the 
United States. He worked on the Erie 
Canal, at Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, and there 
met and married Mrs. Mary Ann Bentley, 
a widow. Soon after their marriage this 
couple located in Pern township, on a tract 
of five acres, and Mr. Brown, together 
witii improvins that little farm, worked 
for others, his industry enabling him to 
gradually extend the lines of the original 
purchase. His property was destroyed by 
fire once, obliging him to seek another lo- 
cation in the township. After a life of 
hard, honest toil, he died on the farm, and 
three years later was followed to the grave 
by his wife; both are buried in the Catho- 
lic cemetery. Mr. Brown merely exercised 



his constitutional right to vote, giving his 
closest attention to his farm and family 
interests. To his marriage with Mrs. 
Bentley were born five children, namely: 
Henry, who served during the Rebellion 
with the Fifty-fifth O. V. I., and died 
shortly after the close of the war from in- 
juries received in battle; Coleman, a farm- 
mer of Peru township; Jacob, subject of 
this sketch; Lainie, married to Henry 
Brown, of Norwalk, Ohio; and Mary Ann, 
who married William Brown, of Peru 
township. 

Jacob Brown received a common-school 
education, and worked on the home farm 
until 1861, when he was married to Mary 
Ann Addleman, a native of Peru township, 
daughter of Joseph Addleman. To this 
union nine children were born, namely: 
Evaline (now Mrs. John Greseamer, of 
Sherman township), Charles (a farmer of 
Norwalk township), Alfred, Arthur, Ida, 
Laura (Mrs. William Hettel, of Peru town- 
ship), Eleanor, Theodore and Otto, resid- 
ing at home. In 1861 Mr. Brown located 
on the home farm, and remained thereon 
for five years, when he purchased a one- 
hundred-acre tract. He owned several 
farms at difl'erent times prior to 1873, 
when he settled on his present place. The 
residence and other buildings erected here 
by Mr. Brown within the last two decades 
speak of his progressive character, his taste 
and his industry; while his farm is testi- 
mony to the methodical application of agri- 
cultural knowledge. The members of the 
family belong to the Catholic Church. 



THOMAS THOMPSON, proprietor 
of the "Greenwich Hotel," is not 
OTily a pioneer of northern Ohio, but 
also an old and respected hotel man 
of this section. 
Thomas Thompson was born November 
28, 1832, in Richland county, just across 
the Huron county line. His parents, 
Thomas and Mary (Bard) Thompson, were 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



501 



pioneers of Richland county. The father 
was born in Washington county, Penn., 
moved to Richland county, Ohio, in 1823, 
bought a tract of wild land, and settled 
thereon with his young wife, a year after 
their marriage. The names of the six 
children born to them are as follows: 
Margaret, a widow; Ann, Mrs. McLaugh- 
lin; John, living in Greenwich township; 
Keziah, residing on the old homestead; 
Thomas, the subject of this sketch, and 
Absalom, a carpenter and joiner. 

Thomas Thompson grew to manhood on 
his father's farm, which he helped to im- 
prove. He assisted in opening the old road 
Wween Huron and Richland connties, and 
also aided in making the first road on the 
west brancli of the Yermiliion river. He 
was not yet fourteen years old when he 
hauled the grain and other products of the 
farm to Milan, the nearest market-town, 
and from that age to his twenty-eighth 
year was the man of all work on the home- 
stead. On October 4, 1860, he married 
Miss Susan Clark, who was l)orn in Orange 
township, Ashland county. One son 
George M., was born to them, who, enter- 
ing the telegraph service at fourteen years 
of age, is now filling an important position 
with the Western Union Co., in the State 
of Washington. Soon after marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Thompson located on a rented 
farm in Greenwich township, whence he 
shortly afterward moved to the center of 
the township, and carried on a hotel 
for three years. He ne.Kt came to 
Greenwich, purchased property in the 
vilhige, and conducted a hotel from 
September, 1800, to September, 1876, 
when he disposed of his interests in the 
old house, and purchasoil his present 
property, where he has since resided and 
carried on business. Mr. Thompson was 
one of the men who cut the first lumber 
used in the construction of the C.& I. R. R., 
and for four or five years was engaged 
in the lumber business, handling ])rinci- 
pally black walnut. During the Civil war 
he was represented in the field by his 



cousin, John Thompson, who is now living 
in Pennsylvania. In politics our subject 
is a Democrat. His paternal grandparents 
came from Ireland, where their fathers 
liad settled on the confiscated lands. They 
came here with the theories of ownership 
of real and personal property inculcated 
in Ireland, and those theories have been 
inherited by their children and grand- 
children. On the maternal side the grand- 
parents came from England, and found a 
home in Pennsylvania. 




ICHAEL STEIBER. Jr., a pros- 
perous, intelligent farmer of 
Ridgefield township, is a son of 
Joseph Steiber, a native of Ger- 
many, and by trade a stonemason. 
Michael Steiber was born in 1^29 in 
Baden, Germany, and after attending the 
public schools of the Grand Duchy, learned 
his father's trade. In 1860 he was united 
in marriage with Victoria Ilolerbaugh, 
also a native of Haden, who bore him four 
children, namely: Frank, now a farmer of 
Ridgefield township, Huron county; Mi- 
chael, whose sketch follows; Gretchen, and 
Louis, the latter two having died in their 
youth. The father followed his trade some 
years after his marriage, then farmed for 
a time. A brother (Franklin) who had 
settled in America, then bargained for a 
farm, which they purchased, and in 1872, 
with his wife and two sons, Michael 
Steiber sailed from Hamburg, landing at 
New York. They then proceeded to Nor- 
walk, Ohio, remaining there four weeks, 
waiting till their property was vacated, 
then located on the farm where they have 
since resided. Among the many improve- 
which Mr. Steiber has made on his place 
should be mentioned the handsome dwell- 
ing and commodious new barn. He has 
successfully conducted a general farming 
and stock-raising business, and has suc- 
ceeded in saving a good sum of money by 



« 
502 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



dint of constant toil and judicious economy. 
He is an nnassmiiiiig but thorouglily sub- 
stantial citizen, and in politics votes the 
Democratic ticket. He and his wife are 
zealous supporters of the Catholic Church 
at Norwalk. 

Michael Steiber, Jr., son of Michael and 
Victoria (Holerbaugh) Steiber, was born 
September 28, 18G3, in Baden, Germany, 
where he attended school two years, then 
came with his parents to Huron county, 
Ohio. After settling in this country he 
finished his education at the schools of 
Kidgefield township, and on May 4, 1886, 
he married Mary Fitz, who was born in 
1861, a daughter of Frank Fitz, of San- 
dusky, Ohio. Since their marriage Mi- 
chael and Mary Steiber have resided on his 
fatlier's farm, which he works. He is one 
of the leading young men of Ridgefield 
township, and in political opinion is a 
Democrat. He and his wife are members 
of the Catholic Church. 




"% OBEKT F. WADDELL, Hartland 
^ township. This gentleman is a 
\^ grandson of Robert Waddell, a 
farmer, who was born near Balti- 
more, Md., whence in middle life 
he migrated to Ohio, dying in Knox 
county at about the age of seventy- two 
years. The names of some of his children 
are Charles, Abbott, Robert F., David, 
Bertha and Rachel. 

Robert F. Waddell, father of subj'-^t, 
was also a native of Maryland, and came 
to Ohio along with his father. He was a 
farmer all his days, and in Brown town- 
ship, Knox county, was a local preacher. 
He took up wild land in that township, and 
" blazed " a road from Danville to his farm, 
a distance of nearly eight miles through 
the woods. He cleared half an aci-e, and 
built him a log cabin, after which he re- 
turned to Maryland for his wife and child, 
whom he had left behind, bringing them 



to their new western home, together with 
all the household goods and chattels, the 
journey being made in winter-time with 
an ox-sled. Wild animals still roamed the 
forest, and wolves would frequently make 
nocturnal attacks on the illy-protected 
cabin, rushing for the " door," which con- 
sisted of nothing stronger than a blanket 
hung up; but by keeping up a bright tire 
the ravenous brutes were held at bay. Mr. 
Waddell cleared 250 acres, and had many 
an adventure while engaged at either 
chopping or hunting, at one time having a 
narrow escape from a bear, which would 
have killed him but for his faithful dog. 
He built the first church and school bou^e, 
and established the tirst burying-ground in 
Brown township, Knox county, Ohio. 

Robert F. Waddell, Sr., married Eliza- 
beth Critchtield, a daughter of Alvin 
Critchfield, a native of near Cumberland, 
Md., who came to Knox county, Ohio, and 
there passed the rest of his days. To this 
union were born children as follows: Ray- 
mond, Milton . and Matilda, all three de- 
ceased; Evaline (Mrs. Melton), also de- 
ceased; Mary Ann (Mrs. Phillips), in Hart- 
land; Charles, a physician in Indiana, 
where he has an extensive practice; James, 
in Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio; and Rob- 
ert F. The father died in 1850, a mem- 
ber of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the 
mother about 1868. 

The subject of this sketch was born 
February 7, 1848, on the old homestead in 
Knox county, Ohio, and received his edu- 
cation at the common schools of the vicin- 
ity. At the breaking out of the Civil war 
he would have joined the Union army but 
for physical disability, and, moreover, it 
was necessary for him to care for his aged 
mother, he being the only one left at home. 
He married Miss Christiana Blakely, 
daughter of William and Sarah Blakely, 
of Knox county, Ohio, and five children 
were born to this union, to wit: Jennie, 
Charles, Raymond, Sarah Elizabeth and 
Jessie Mabel, all at home except Charles, 
who is deceased. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



503 



After marriage Mr. Waddell sold the old 
homestead and bought fifty acres of land 
in Huron county, which lie paid for in fonr 
or live years, and then resold and purchased 
his present place in Hartland township, 
comprising ninety-one and a quarter acres 
of excellent farm land. In 18'J0 he built 
a commodious barn, and otherwise greatly 
imjiroved the property. Politically Mr. 
"Waddell is a Republican, and in religious 
faith he is a member of the United Breth- 
ren Church. 




V C. FEIEND, M. D., a deservedly 
popular rising young physician and 
druggist of Monroeville, is a native 
of that town, born in 18G2. 

He is a son of Charles Friend, 
who was born in Baden, Germany, in 
1827, a son of John Friend, of the same 
place. Charles was a cooper by trade, 
working at which as a journeyman, he 
traveled over the greater part of Switzer- 
land. When comparatively yet a young 
man, he immigrated to the United States, 
and to Ohio, making a new and permanent 
home in Monroeville, Huron county, where 
he carried on his trade several years, and 
then einbarked in the grocery business, in 
which he met with fair success. In 1858 
he married Miss Paulina Stoeckley, also of 
Baden, Germany, a daughter of John 
Stoeckley, who came from Germany to 
Monroeville, Ohio, some few years ago. 
To this marriage seven children were 
born, viz.: Henry, Alfred, Emma and 
Catherine, all deceased in infancy; and 
Mary L. (Mrs. Tyler), in Monroeville; Dr. 
A. C.; and John B. The father died 
April 2. 1889; the mother died July 19, 
188S. They were worthy members of the 
Catholic Church. 

The subject of this biographical sketch 
was educated in his native town, and after 
leaving school entered the drug store of 
D. Jay Kling as clerk. He then, about 
1882, went to the Western Reserve Medi- 
cal School, where he graduated in 1884. 



He first commenced the practice of his 
profession in Sandusky, but remained only 
a short time, returning to Monroeville, 
where in 1887 he bought a half interest in 
a drug store, his brother John B. owning 
the other half. Not long afterward our 
subject bought out his brother's interest, 
and has since had undivided control of the 
business, an excellent one, the store bein": 
replete with everything essential to a first- 
class drug establishment, including the 
careful compounding of prescriptions. 

In 1888 Dr. Friend was married to 
Miss Loretta E. Worley, daughter of An- 
drew Worley, a retired merchant of New 
Riegel, Seneca Co., Ohio, and three chil- 
dren have come to brighten their fireside 
• — Ralph W., Oliver J. and Sylvia Marie. 
The Doctor has l>een for a considerable 
time a prominent local Democrat of no 
little influence, and has served in various 
positions of trust, such as justice of the 
peace, and town clerk, which latter incum- 
bency he is now filling with marked 
ability; has been president of the Demo- 
cratic club of Norwalk, and chairnaan of 
the central committee. He is president of 
the National Building and Loan Associa- 

o 

tion of Monroeville, and in religious faith 
is a prominent member of the Catholic 
Church. In addition to his thriving drusr 
business, he enjoys a lucrative and fast 
increasing practice in his profession. 
[Since the above was written we have iieen 
informed of the death of Dr. Friend, 
which occurred November 8, 1893. — Ed. 




E. HERSHISER, M. D., whoenjoys 
a wide reputation in Huron county 
and vicinity as a successful physi- 
cian and surgeon, is a native of 
Ohio, born in the town of Shelby, 
Richland county, in 1854. 

He is a son of Solomon Hershiser, who 
was born in Bradford, Penn., whence when a 
small boy he came with his father to Ohio, 
settling in Richland county, where he en- 
gaged in farming all his life. His grand- 



504 



nUEON COUNTY, OHIO. 



father (great-graud father of our subject), 
came to America before the Revolution, 
in whicli struggle he served on the side 
of the patriots. 

A. E. Hershiser received a liberal com- 
mon-school education, after which hegradu- 
ated in a scientitic course, and then took 
up the study of the classics. He read 
medicine tirst under tlie preceptorship of 
Dr. N. Huss, then of Shelby, Ohio, now 
of Brooklyn, JSf. Y., and attended lectures 
at Cleveland Medical College, two terms, 
finally graduating at Mianii Medical Col- 
lege, Cincinnati. The Doctor commenced 
the practice of iiis profession at Collins, 
Ohio, whence after about three years he 
proceeded to Philadelphia, where for a 
year he attended hospitals and leading 
medical colleges, receiving his diploma 
from Jefferson Medical College. In 1885 
he came to Wakeman, and has since en- 
joyed a wide and successful practice; he 
has given diseases of the lungs and abdomen 
special attention. Our subject was mar- 
ried, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss JMettieS. 
Purdj, and one child, Mary Beulah, has 
been born to them. Dr. and Mrs. Her- 
shiser are members of the Congregational 
Chnrch; politically he a Prohibitionist, 
socially a member of the North Central 
Ohio Medical Association. 



IfSAAC McKESSON. The well-known 
family, of which this gentleman is a 
_[ worthy member, originated in Scotland, 
where one Jolin McKesson was born 
and educated, graduating with high honors 
frum both the literary and theological 
departments of the University of Edin- 
burgh. Immediately after graduation he 
was ordained to the ministry of the Pres- 
byterian Church, and passed his life as a 
"watchman on the walls of Zion." 

About 1760 he set sail for the United 
States in company with some friends, first 
locating at Windsor, York Co., Penn., 
where in addition to his ministerial duties 



he owned and operated a large distillery, 
taking the produce to Baltimore and other 
markets by means of four-and-six-horse 
teams. His superior scholarship was of 
practical use in land surveying, of which 
there was much in those days, untangling 
knotty problems, adjusting compasses, 
levels and other mathematical instruments; 
and also enabled him to act as interpreter 
in the various courts. He was a stanch 
patriot, rendering numerous and important 
services to the young Republic. 

He and his wife, Jane McKesson, who 
was also a native of Scotland, had a family 
of seven children. 

Isaac McKesson, youngest child of John 
and Jane McKesson, was born July 25, 
1782, in Pennsylvania. He received a 
good education, and began to study for the 
ministry, but theology did not suit his 
tastes, which were inclined to mechanical 
pursuits. Accordingly, he abandoned his 
theological studies, and served several 
years as an apprentice to his brother James, 
who was an expert millwright and equally 
skilled in all branches of woodwork. After 
serving his time, Isaac McKesson success- 
fully followed his trade the greater part of 
his life. On October 1, 1811, he was 
united in marriage with Elizabeth, daugh- 
of James and Jane (Reed) Caldwell, the 
foiiner of whom was a prominent patriot 
and colonel in the Continental army, 
rendering valuable service to his country 
dui'ing the Revolution. After their mar- 
riage Mr. and Mrs. McKesson removed to 
Lycoming county, Penn., where he took 
up about 2,200 aci'es of land among the 
hills on the west branch of the Susque- 
hanna river. He then built a saw and 
grist mill at Sinnamahoning, Cameron 
county, near the mouth of Sinnamahoning 
creek, also dealing extensively in lumber, 
which he shipped down the river to Balti- 
more and other important points. After 
the war of 1812 he s\istained heavy tinau- 
cial losses, through the depreciation of 
currency throughout the country. In 1827 
lie moved to northern Ohio, first locating 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



505 



in Venice, Erie county, tlien moving to 
Huron county, where lie repaired the saw 
and grif-t mills owned by E. Jessips, an ox- 
tensive land owner, of whom Mr. Mc- 
Kesson purchased a farm in Margaretta 
township, Erie Co., Ohio. Mr. and Mi's. 
McKesson reared a family of eiglit chil- 
dren. They were members of the M. E. 
Church, in which he held numerous offi- 
cial positions. He died March 25, 1854, 
at the home of his son Isaac. 

Isaac McKesson, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was born January 12, 1821, 
in Lycoming county, Penn., and when 
seven years of age came with his parents 
to Ohio. After receiving a subscriptiou- 
school education he taught for a while, at 
the same time assisting his father with the 
carpenter and mill-wright business. He 
then opened a lumber and sawmill estab- 
lishment at Enterprize, Huron county, 
and after conducting this one year, re- 
sumed farming on his father's place, later 
moving to near Sandusky. During the 
winter season he dealt in lumber for about 
three years, then bought a farm in York 
township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, and (bl- 
lowed agricultural pursuits, also acting 
as agent for various kinds of agricultural 
implements. In 1851 Mr. McKesson 
moved to a place knowm as the " Seven- 
Mile House," in Erie county, Ohio, which 
he purchased, and there continued farm- 
ing, in addition to the agency business, 
until the autumn of 1869. He then sold 
a part of this farm, and moved to Towns- 
end township, Huron county, where, 
about three years previously, he had pur- 
chased several hundred acres of land and 
the bendintr works situated at CJolliiis. He 
continued to improve the works, which 
had been opened in 1852, being the 
first establishment of the kind in that part 
of Ohio, and in 18T1 sold the business to 
his son, L. V., and established a sash and 
blind and pump and tubing factory at 
Collins. The famous " Collins force pump" 
was first made at the factory just men- 
tioned, which Mr. McKesson afterward 



sold and then conducted the first " Genesee 
separator" used in this country. He now 
owns a large tract of land in Eaton county, 
Mich., and for several years has conducted 
a largo sawmill and turning factory about 
two miles below Eaton Rapids; he has 
also been part owner of an edge-too fac- 
tory at the same place. He is now retired 
from active business, but still owns several 
hundredacresof land in Ohio, Virginia, Mis- 
souri and Michigan, besides town and vil- 
lage property in various places. During 
the Civil war he was elected lieutenant- 
colonel of the Erie county militia, and since 
then has tilled numerous civil and military 
positions. He served eight successive 
terms as trustee of Groton township, Erie 
county, being elected by the Eepublicau 
party in a township usually having a 
Democratic majority. He was originally a 
local leader of the Whigs, afterward assist- 
ing to organize the Eepublican party, in 
which he has been a prominent worker. 
At one time he was an earnest advocate of 
the " Greenback " theory, but never re- 
nounced fealty to tiie Republicans, and is 
now deeply interested in the National Rank 
systeui. He has served as township treasurer 
and justice of the peace, and for two years 
was commissioner of Erie county. Mr. 
McKesson has also been appointed ad- 
ministrator of various estates and guardian 
for minor children. He has been a trustee 
of the Childrens' Home Association of 
Huron county since that institution was 
organized, and for several years has been a 
director of the Agricultural Society of Erie 
and Huron counties, having assisted with 
the location and purcliase of the grounds 
for the Erie County Agricultural Associa- 
tion. He lias ever been a leading spirit in 
all public enterprises, and was the prime 
mover in the erection of the new depot at 
('oUins. He also assisted in locating, 
grading and adorning the beautiful little 
park at that place, in securing tiie elegant 
music hall, the improvement of several 
streets, and has been interested in various 
public enterprises. 



506 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



On October 28, 1841, Mr. McKesson 
was united in marriage with Lorada Jane 
Hunt, who was a native of Bridgewater, 
N. H., born August 8, 1817, and was edu- 
cated at the Norwalk Seminary, being a 
pupil of the late Bishop Thomson. She 
was a daughter of John and Nancy (Lord) 
Hunt, both of whom were natives of New 
Hampshire, of English descent. She died 
September 29, 1878, a lifelong member of 
the M. E. Church, leaving two children: 
Lester Y. and Nancy E., wife of George 
D. Lyles. In March, 1880, Isaac Mc- 
Kesson married, for his second wife, Mrs. 
Harriet S. (Reed) Emerson, who was born 
July 19, 1818, in Connecticut. She died 
July 1, 1886, at the home of her daugh- 
ter, Mrs. J. D. Waggoner, a member of 
the M. E. Church, and on November 1, 
1887, Mr. McKesson was married to his 
present wife, Mrs. Rebecca Jane (Ball let) 
van Buskirk, who was born May 18, 
1840, in Mansfield, Ohio, a daughter of 
Henry and Catherine (Montz) Balliet, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, whither their an- 
cestors had emigrated from Alsace-Lo- 
raine (then in France, now in Germany). 
Our subject, in religious faith, is a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church, which he has 
served in various capacities, while Mrs. 
McKesson is identified with the Presby- 
terian denomination. 



Joseph t. lazell, a successful 

k. I farmer of Fitchville township, is a 
^j) native of New York State, born at 
Moravia, Cayuga county, February 
15, 1837. 

Calvin Lazell (great-grandfather of sub- 
ject) and his brother emigrated from 
France to America about the close of the 
eighteenth century, the first named locat- 
ing in Cayuga county, N. Y., the latter in 
Pennsylvania. This Calvin was the father 
of fourteen children, of whom Daniel 
was one. 



Daniel Lazell married, and had si.x chil- 
dren, Jared, the third in order of birth, be- 
ing the father of our subject. Jared La- 
zell was born in 1812, in Cayuga county, 
N. Y., was reared there in the manner 
common to the boys of his time, and while 
still a youth was apprenticed to a shoe- 
maker. AVhen a young man he married 
Hannah Turner, a native of Cayuga 
county, and they soon after migrated to 
Huron county, Ohio, locating in Hartland 
township, where they lived at the home 
of Spencer Phillips. Here he followed 
his trade for a short time, and then re- 
turned to Cayuga county, where Mrs. La- 
zell died in July, 1841. Mr. Lazell mar- 
ried, for his second wife, Mary Sawyer, 
and then, again determined to try Ohio, 
he came to Berlin, Erie county, where he 
worked at his trade one year, going from 
house to house, as was then the custom. 
The family then returned to Cayuga 
county, N. Y., where Mr. Lazell followed 
the trade for six or seven years, and then 
moved to Olena, Huron Co., Ohio. Later 
he established himself at Bairdstown, 
Wood Co., Ohio, where he is yet engaged 
at his trade, though now over eighty-two 
years of age. His wife also resides there, 
and both enjoy remarkable health for per- 
sons of their age. There were three 
childien born to Jared'and Hannah Lazell, 
namely: Joseph T., the subject of this 
sketch; Emeline, widow of Judson Smith, 
of Cleveland; and an itifant who died un- 
named. To his second marriage, with 
Mary Sawyer, two children were born: 
Franklin, of Bairdstown, Ohio, and Caro- 
line, widow of Byron Fullson, of Garretts- 
ville, Trumbull Co., Ohio. 

Joseph T. Lazell received an elementary 
education in the public schools, and when 
thirteen years old was apprenticed to AVal- 
ter Sabin, a shoemaker in Cayuga county, 
N. Y. Having previously acquired a 
knowledge of the trade with his father, he 
learned quickly, and soon received sev- 
enty-five dollars per annum for his 
labor, working with Sabin nine months. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



507 



Later he received two hundred and fifty 
dollars a3'ear, and subsetj^uently worked at 
Montville, X. Y., until he began life as a 
joiirneytnan. Owing to his youthful ap- 
pearance he was known as " The Boy Shoe- 
maker," a sobriquet crenerally conferred iti 
the kindest sense, for the people knew that 
he was as capable of doing tine work as 
the most experienced tradesman. He 
worked as journeyman from Moravia to 
Buffalo, and at the age of nineteen years 
located at Olena, Huron Co., Ohio, where 
he began work for T. G. King, afterward 
working for Benjamin Green, and he sub- 
sequently became a partner with his father. 
On February 16, 1<S58, Mr. Lazell mar- 
ried Mary A. Burris, who was born at 
Olena, daushter of William H. Burris, 
who came from Cayuga county, N. Y., 
and settled in Hartland township, Huron 
Co., Ohio. To this marriage were born 
the following named children: Blanche 
H., Mrs. A. H. Luxon, of Chicago, Ohio; 
Euth A., Mrs. J. E. Smith, of Fitchville; 
Nellie, Mrs. Eugene Lee, of Hartland 
township; Emma, Louise, and Jessie, all 
residing at home. After his marriage he 
built a home at Olena, and worked at his 
trade there until 1866, when he purchased 
the Al)ijah Palmer farm in Fitchville town- 
ship. To this tract he has added seventy 
acres, and improved the whole area. A 
Republican in politics, he has tilled vari- 
ous township otKces; but his farm receives 
the greater part of his attention. 



GHARLES S. CLARK. This gentle- 
man, who is one of the most enter- 
^^ ' prising and thoroughly successful 
young men of Wakeman, is a son of 
D. Stiles Clark, who was born in Milford, 
New Haven Co., Conn., in 182S. The lat- 
ter received a liberal common-school edu- 
cation, and in early youth commenced to 
learn the trade of boot and shoe maker, 
which he followed for fully twenty-five 
yeirs. 

88 



In 1856 D. Stiles Clark came west to 
Ohio, and located in Wakeman township, 
Huron county, where he continued his 
trade, and invested in real estate in and 
near the present site of Wakeman village, 
which was then but a mere " cross road." 
Some of his property was divided into town 
lots, the remainder he cultivated and 
farmed. In Connecticut he had married 
Miss Esther A. Boyd, and five children 
were born to them, as follows: Ella, Wal- 
ter and RoUie (deceased); Harriet, now the 
wife of Prof. Andrews, of Oberlin College; 
and Charles, subject of sketch. The father 
died in February, 1887, a thorough Chris- 
tian, and a member of the Congregational 
Church of Wakeman. In his political 
sympathies he was a Republican until a 
few years before his demise, when he be- 
came a Prohibitionist. In the course of 
his busy life he had accumulated wealth, 
but in later years he naet with I'everses and 
lost heavily. In the cemetery of Wake- 
man stands a beautiful monument, erected 
by tlie family to the memory of a devoted 
husband, a kind and loving father, an hon- 
ored and trusted neighbor and citizen. His 
noble wife, who through sunshine and 
storm was ever his helpmate and comfor- 
ter, survives him, and is now at the age of 
sixty- four years residing with her son, of 
whom she is justly proud. 

Charles S. Clark, whose name opens this 
sketch, was born March 21, 1860, in 
Wakeman, Huron county, where his boy- 
hood was passed, during the winter months 
attending the village school, the remainder 
of the year working on his father's farm. 
Oti reaching his majority he decided on 
his future sphere of life, and renting from 
his father an acre of ground, bought five 
dollars worth of corn-seed, that sum being 
his entire capital. This seed lie sowed on 
the land he had rented, and the crop there- 
of he sold for seed purposes; then the fol- 
lowing year he rented more land, and this 
time planted sweet corn, on each occasion 
carefully cultivating and harvesting his 
crops. From this small beginning Mr. 



508 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



Clark has gradually risen until to-day he 
is the most extensive seed-corn grower in 
America. He handles more than eighty 
diti'erent varieties of corn — including iield, 
pop and sweet — and his businese has 
grown to such proportions that he now has 
seven branch othces and w-arehouses in 
various parts of the United States. He is 
the originator of the varieties of corn 
known as "Clark's Mastodon Field Corn " 
and " None-such Sweet Corn," which, 
though placed on the market a lew years 
ago, are known and grown by corn raisers 
all over the world. During the past tew 
years he has invested many thousands of 
dollars in buildings, etc., while his daily 
freight bills reach far into the hundreds, 
which in themselves testify to the magni- 
tude of his trade. In connection with his 
business interests, Mr. Clark has traveled 
extensively, and is well known in every 
part of the land. 

On June 12, 1888. our subject was 
united in marriage with Miss Sadie T. 
Smith, daughter of Stiles Smith, of Mil- 
ford, Conn., and two children have come to 
brighten their home, viz.: Hazel, born 
February 20, 1892, and another daughter, 
born February 17, 1894:. In his political 
predilections Mr. Clark may be said to be 
a " No Party " man, casting his vote for 
the candidate — Presidential or otherwise 
— he considers best qualified for the posi- 
tion, and the best man for the people at 
large. His wife and mother are members 
of the Congregational Church. 



E'DWIN" DENNIS TODD, one of 
the many well-to-do farmer citizens 
I of Wakeman township, is a native 

of same, born on the old homestead 
farm December 20, 1841. 

George Todd, fatlier of Edwin D., was 
born in North Haven, Conn., in 1807, and 
was there educated, and reared to agricul- 
tural pursuits. In 1836 became to Ohio, 
settling on land now owned by our sub- 



ject, in Wakeman township, Huron county, 
at that time a vista of almost unbroken 
forest and deep-tangled undergrowth. He 
married Miss Betsy Pierpoint, also of 
Connecticut birth, and four children, as 
follows, came to their union: Edgar M., 
living in Wakeman, Huron county; Ellen 
G., wife of Rev. Edwin Irwin, of Middle- 
toW'U, Ohio; Edwin Dennis, subject of 
sketch, and one deceased. The father of 
this family died in April, 1853, owner at 
that time of 206 acres of land which he 
accumulated by industry and good man- 
agement. Socially he was a good citizen, 
honest and upright; politically he was a 
stanch Democrat, loyal to his party and 
active in all its campaigns. His widow, 
now in her eighty-first year, is living with 
her son Edgar M. in Wakeman; she is a 
devout Christian, and enjoys the respect 
and esteem of the entire community. 

Edwin Dennis Todd received a limited 
elementary education at the common 
schools of the home district, which was 
supplemented with a two-terms course in 
the schools of Milan. He remained on 
his father's farm until twenty-six years of 
age, at which time he commenced working 
for his own account, and he is now the 
owner of ninety-six acres of prime land in 
Wakeman township, on which, in 1891, he 
built a coujmodious dwelling. On No- 
vember 25, l.sOy, Mr. Todd w-as united in 
marriage with Miss Anna Bates, daughter 
of Hiram Bates, of Wakeman, and natives 
of New York State. They have no chil- 
di'en. Our subject is a Prohibitionist, and 
is regarded as a good representative citizen. 
He has been a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church several years. 



dAMES PARK, one of the prominent 
farmei-s of Huron county, was born 
April 20, 1832, in County Donegal, 
Ireland, within eighteen miles of 
Londonderry. 

His father, Joseph Park, son of Joseph 
Park, a farmer of County Donegal, Ire- 



HUROlf COUNTY, OHIO. 



509 



land, was born in 1802 on the farm of liis 
father and there reared to manhood. lu 
early manhood he tnarried Sarah McAdoo, 
who was born in 1805 in County Donegal, 
Ireland, and to this marriage six children 
were born in Ireland, namely: Joseph and 
Robert, both farmers of Bronson town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio; James, the subject 
of this sketch; William H., a farmer, who 
served in the Third Iowa Cavalry, and was 
for seven years U. S. guager at Cincinnati 
(he died in 188B); Alexander, a farmer of 
Bronson township, and Matthew, who 
served in the One Hundred and First 
O. V. I., and after the war was clerk for an 
iron company in Missouri, where he was 
taken ill (he returned home and died in 
Eronson township January 20, 1S74). The 
father of this family was the owner of two 
good farms near Londonderry and the em- 
ployer of many farm hands until 1847, 
when he sougiit a home in the United 
States, where a wide field was open for 
hiinsp.lf and his children. In 1847 Joseph, 
his wife and the six sons proceeded to Liv- 
erpool, England, and embarking on the 
ship " Royalist," sailed for the United 
States. The voyage was a stormy one 
from the start, so much so that the old ex- 
perienced Scotch captain of the vessel rec- 
ommended his passengers to prepare for 
death. The olil captain, fortunately, was 
out in his reckonings, the storm abated, 
and the good ship anchored in the shadows 
of Quebec's heights twenty-eight days 
after leaving Liverpool. 

The Parks proceeded westward I^y river 
and lake boats until they reached the port 
of Huron, Ohio. They proceeded by 
wajron from that villao-e to William Mc- 
Pherson's house in Bronson township, 
Huron county, and there rested for a few 
weeks. Later the family went to Ashland 
county, Ohio, and remained among friends 
from Donegal for a few months. In the 
fall of 1847 the father retui-ned to Bron- 
son township, purchased seventy-five acres 
of laud at ten dollars and fifty cents per 
acre, and there resided until his death, 



November 6, 1860; he was followed to 
the grave by his wife January 1, 1861, 
and the remains of both lie in Olena ceme- 
tery. The land which he puj'ciiased was 
all wild with the exception of three acres, 
and in clearing it the father and sons ex- 
pended much labor; for the work was new 
to them and their financial condition, low- 
ered by the extraordinary expenses of tlie 
journey to Huron county, Ohio, caused 
them to exercise the closest economy 
while making their home in the wilder- 
ness. The fact is that he had to buy his 
first farm on credit, but through the per- 
sistent industry of himself and sons he 
prospered, and before his death had made 
a comfortable home. 

James Park received an elementary edu- 
cation in the schools of his district in 
Douecral, Ireland, and as soon as he was 
old enough assisted in the farm work and 
cattle herding. <^ In 1847 he accompanied 
the family to America, and gave his best 
labors here until their first home in the 
Xew World was made and clear of debt. 
He next entered the employ of Isaac Sel- 
over, in Bronson township, the cotisider- 
ation being one hundred and sixty-two 
dollars for the year ending in October, 

1855. The next three months our subject 
worked at carpentry, and on January 20, 

1856, embarked at New York on board a 
vessel bound for Aspinwall, and after 
crossing the Isthmus of Panama took pas- 
sage in the "John L. Stevens" for San 
Francisco. During the two years he passed 
iti California he was engaged in various 
pursuits, such as mining, packing mer- 
chandise between Humboldt Bay and Sal- 
mon river, and butchering. On July 4, 
1858, he re-embarked on the "John L. 
Stevens " for the Isthmus, crossed to As- 
pinwall, and thence sailed to New York 
on the " Moses Taylor." He paid another 
visit to California, and also revisited his 
native land — Ireland. 

In April, 1859. Mr. Park was married 
to Catherine Ernsberger, who bore him 
two children, William H. and Emma, both 



510 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



of whom died in youth. The mother of 
these cliildren dying in February, 1803, 
Mr. Park married Martha Ernsberger, sis- 
ter of his first wife, and to tliis \inion were 
born three children: Jennie, Mrs. Charles 
F. Brown, of Hartland township; Emmett, 
who resides at home, and Lizzie, Mrs. A. 
D. M. Pratt, of Norwalk. After the death 
of Mrs. Martha Park, he married, for his 
third wife, Mary A. McPherson, and she 
became the mother of four children, 
namely: Louise E. (a student in Oberlin 
College), Clara B., Edna M. and Alice F., 
residin": at lionie. On the death of bis 
tirst wife Mr. Park took up his residence 
with bis father-in-law, Mr. Ernsberger, on 
the farm which he now owns, later pur- 
ciiasing this place and adding to it gradu- 
ally, until bis estate now comprises over 200 
acres of the best land in the township. In 
1884 he selected a natural elevation on his 
farm for a residence, and thereon built the 
finest dwelling house in the township. Mr. 
Park's success rests on labor. He is an 
indefatigable worker and a most system- 
atic agriculturist. Endowed with the vim 
and energy characteristic of the sons of 
Erin, he carved out for himself a fortune 
and gave to the fairest portion of Ohio one 
of its best improved farms. Politically a 
llepublican, he lias always been loyal to 
the party, and is one of its most trusted 
members in Huron county. He has served 
his township in various official positions, 
as director of the County Infirmary for 
nine years, and township trustee for thir- 
teen years. During the Civil war he 
helped in raising nineteen thousand dollars 
to clear the township of demands arising 
from the draft. He has taken a prominent 
part in the organization of agricultural so- 
cieties, and has held various positions in 
agricultural fair associations throughout 
the county. A man of e.xcellent judgment, 
his opinion is sought on questions affect- 
ing township and county; while, in pri- 
vate affairs, his reputation for honesty and 
sincerity causes him to be selected as 
guardian and e.xecutor. In religious con- 



nection he and his wife are members of 
Olena PresbA'terian Church, in which he 
lias been elder for over twenty-five years, 
superintendent of Sabbath-school for over 
twenty-seven years, and is from every 
point of view a pillar in the Society. 




S. ANDREWS, son of Samuel 
and Eunice (Taylor) Andrews, 
was born in 1843, in Fairfield 
township, Huron county Ohio. 
Samuel Andrews was born in Cayuga 
county, N. Y., and resided there until his 
marriage with Eunice Taylor. The young 
couple then removed to Huron county, 
Ohio, and settled in Fairfield township, 
where Mrs. Andrews died in her seventy- 
sixth year. Samuel Andrews, now over 
eighty years old, resides with his son, W. 
S., at Greenwich. They had two sons. 

W. S. Andrews was educated in the 
district schools, and subsequently took a 
commercial course in Oberlin College. 
Ileturning home, he worked on the home 
place until he was twenty-six years old, 
when he established himself as a dealer in 
horses, making a specialty of fine coach 
and carriage horses for the New Yorlc and 
Boston markets. He located at Greenwich 
in 1882, when he established a livery in 
connection with his stables. In 1884 he 
sold liis livery interests, in order to give 
exclusive attention to his growing business 
in fine horses. Animals worth from two 
hundred and fifty dollars to eight hundred 
dollars are always ready in his stables for 
shipment, and his representation of a horse 
is accepted, for there is no better judge of 
horses in the county than he is. The fact 
that he has a horse in his stable is a certain 
guarantee that the animal possesses all the 
points necessary in a coach or carriage 
horse. He is recognized as a thoroughly 
reliable, honest business man, and he gen- 
erally receives his own price for his stock. 



UURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



511 



Mr. Andrews was united in marriage, in 
Fairtield, witli Miss Flora Wright. In 
politics he is a Hepublican. As a citizen 
he has done much to encourage tiie breed- 
ing of line stock, and has exerted a bene- 
ficial influence on the horse markets of 
eastern cities. 




[[ATHANIBL W. O'DELL, a protn- 
inent citizen of Fitchville township, 
was born February 8, 1842, in Hart- 
land township, Huron Co., Ohio. 
His great-grandfather, James 
O'Dell, was one of three bi'others who came 
from Ireland to the young Republic in the 
latter part of the eighteenth century. 
James settled in Connecticut; another 
brother located in Virginia, and one became 
a sailor, all trace of the latter being lost. 
Nathaniel O'Dell, son of James O'Dell, 
was born November 6, 1799, in Warren 
county, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, 
and learned the trades of mason and plas- 
terer. In 1819 he was united in mar- 
riage to Sally Lane, who was born in the 
same county October 20, 1799, and there 
the following named children were born to 
them: Daniel, born July 4, 1819; Ansel, 
born April 19, 1821, came to Ohio with his 
parents, but about 1855 migrated to Mich- 
igan, settling in Ingham county, where he 
carried on farming until his retirement 
from active life (he now lives at Aurelius, 
Mich.); Lewis L., born August 31, 1823, 
died January 29, 1825; Amy, born Sep- 
tember 30, 1825, wife of William Hop- 
kins, of Aurelius, Ingham Co., Mich.; 
Lewis L. (2), born September 20, 1827, 
who was a farmer of Ingham county, 
Mich., died in Lucas county, Ohio; and 
Maria, born August 24, 1829, who married 
Ezra Stratton, and now resides at Swanton, 
Ohio. The family of Nathaniel O'Dell 
removed to Ohio about the beginning of 
the year 1838, the father having visited 
Huron county three years prior to their 



migration. The journey of the family, 
however, was not completed without disap- 
pointments. The lake was so rough that 
they were prevented from landingat Huron, 
and the teams sent down from Huron 
county to meet them and convey them to 
their new home returned. When the storm 
suiisided, a landimr was made, and Mr. 
O'Dell walked to Olena to procnre other 
teams. His trip was successful, and re- 
turning to Huron he brought the family to 
Hosea Townseud's farm in New London 
township. His capital at this time was 
twelve dollars, and the members of the 
family that were old enough had to enter 
at once on work, to earn sustenance. In 
this county the following named children 
were born: William, born February 14, 
1833, who died February 6, 1840, and was 
buried on the farm ; Emeline, born Sep- 
tember 4, 1836, wife of Frank Miller, of 
Swanton, Ohio; and Charlotte, born Sep- 
tember 20, 1844, married to Silas Munsil, 
of Swanton, Ohio, where she now resides. 
For six months after their arrival the fam- 
ily remained in New London township, 
and then moved to the site of the present 
town of Olena, then known as " Angel's 
Corners," where the father purchased some 
land. There he resided until about 1850, 
and then located on a farm some distance 
south of Olena, on which he made his 
home until his death, September 19, 1879. 
He was taken ill while visiting in Lucas 
county, Ohio, which illness led to his death. 
His wife died in 1878, and both lie in the 
cemetery at Olena, where monuments, 
erected by their children, mark their graves. 
Politically he was a Democrat until the 
time of the Civil war, when he joined the 
Republicans. Owing to the scarcity of 
work for him as a tradesman, he devoted 
his attention to agriculture, and even as 
an old man he could contest for the honors 
of work with the ablest hands on the farm. 
As a wrestler, he was never thrown by any 
one. His wife, known as " Aunt Sally," 
was a strong, healthy woman, and endured 
with the family all the trials of pioneer life. 



512 



HUROyr COUXTY, OHIO. 



Daniel O'Dell was born in 1819, at 
Queensbnry, Warren county, N. Y.,came to 
Ohio witli his parents in 1833, and took a 
full share in supporting the family. Be- 
fore leaving Warren county, N. Y., he at- 
tended scliool, and even in Ohio he realized 
the value of an elementary education, for, 
while working here for A. G. Post, he 
found time to attend the winter school of 
the district. When a young man he at- 
tended the masons in the erection of the 
first brick buildincr at Norwalk, and he also 
cut the first four-foot lire-wood hauled to 
Norwalk, the consideration being two shil- 
lings per cord. He was united in marriage 
February 11, 1841, with Miss Almira 
Wooley, who was born April 28, 1824, in 
Genesee county, N. Y., and came to Ohio 
when a cliild ten years of age. To her 
marriage with Mr. O'Dell the following 
named children were born: Nathaniel W., 
the subject of this biographical memoir; 
Henry C., born May 18, 1844, a resident 
of Olena; Charles J., a farmer of Fitch- 
ville township; Wesley D., a resident of 
Olena; and Sarah J., born October 15, 
1861, deceased July 3, 1862. In 1841 
Daniel O'Dell and his wife settled on a 
farm of forty acres in Hartland township, 
Huron Co., Ohio, thence in 1860 removing 
to Townsend township, where he had pur- 
chased land. In 1871 he returned to 
Hartland township, eight years later taking 
up his residence in Greenwich township, 
and remaining there until 1881, when he 
located at Fitcliville. Here he resided un- 
til his death, March 16, 1891; the death 
of his wife, the preceding day, affected 
him so powerfully as to cause his own 
death within twenty-four hours, and the 
pioneers were buried side by side in Olena 
cemetery. Mr. O'Dell was an enthusiastic 
Democrat, and in Church connection affili- 
ated with the Society of Friends. His wife 
joined the Methodist Church in early 
years, but seventeen years prior to her 
death united with the Society of Friends 
at Greenwich. Both were excellent peo- 
ple, as parents and citizens, and possessed 



broad sympathy for the unfortunate. At 
their golden wedding, held February 11, 
1891, the large number of relatives and 
friends demonstrated clearly the esteem in 
which the old people were held. 

Nathaniel W. O'Dell passed his youth 
after the fashion of farmers' boys of the 
period, working on the farm and attending 
winter school, his first teacher being Miss 
Emma A. Pierce. From the age of eigh- 
teen to that of twenty-one years iiis health 
was poor, but recovering somewiiat he 
went to Cleveland, where he obtained the 
position of traveling salesman in Noyeson 
Bros.' dry-goods and notions house. The 
salary of twenty dollars per month was 
soon increased to forty-five dollars, and he 
remained in the service of that tirm until 
the close of June, 1869. On Julj 1, 
1869, he was united in marriage with 
Mrs. Dania (Templar) Deneen (widow of 
William Deneen), who was born January 

22, 1850, in Hartland township. Her 
father, Jonathan Templar, was born 
March 20, 1813, in Schenectady county, 
N. Y., came westward to Ohio in 1848, 
and subsequently went to Mason, Micii., 
where he died October 10, 1866. To Mr. 
and Mrs. O'Dell came the following 
named children: Frank, a farmer of Fitch- 
ville township; Fred L., born August 1, 
1871, also a farmer of Fitch ville; Annie 
S., born November 14, 1875, Mrs. John 
Kennedy, of Olena; Nicholas T., born 
March 19, 1877; Colonel E., born April 

23, 1882, and Delia, born November 4, 
1886, all residing at home. After mar- 
riage Mr. O'Dell and his wife located in 
Greenwich township, where he was en- 
gaged for one year in buying and furnish- 
ing wood for the C. C. C. & I. Railroad 
Co. He had fifty-three acres of land in 
Townsend township, the property of his 
maternal grandfather, and selling this 
tract, together with one of thirty acres in 
Greenwich township, he removed to Olm- 
sted Falls, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, where he 
became interested in farming and stone 
quarrying. After a year he returned to 





/vr^ 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



513 



Greenwich townsliip, and, in partnersliip 
with his fatlier, purchased a farm and car- 
ried it on for over six years. Then lie 
removed to ITartland township, to take 
possession of Grandfatlier O'Dell's farm, 
M'hich lie purchased, and on whicli he re- 
mained for five years, a part of tlie time 
conducting a general store at Olena, in 
connection with his farming operations. 
In 1883 he purchased the Hezekiah .Tohn- 
son farm in Fitchville township, and he 
now owns 178 acres, all improved, which 
he manages systematically. In connection 
with his agricultural pursuits on tliis heau- 
tiful farm, he does a large business in agri- 
cultural implements, a trade which he has 
built up during the last twelve or thirteen 
years. Politically Mr. O'Dell is a Demo- 
crat; religiously, a Presbyterian. 



JOHN S. DAVIS was born March 28, 
180t;, in iialtimore county, Md. His 
parents were Jesse and Mary Ann 
(^Sowers) Davis. Ilis mother died 
while he was still an infant, and he was 
brought up by his maternal grandparents, 
John and Mary Ann Sowers. After his 
mother's death his father was twice mar- 
ried — firf.t to a Miss Hunt, by whom he 
had two children, Mary and Jackson — and 
again to a Miss Sewell, who bore him one 
child, Ann Eliza. Not long after his 
mother's death, his father removed to the 
State of Pennsylvania, where (in the vil- 
lage of Shrewsbury, York county) he died 
about the year 1833. 

In 1811, when he was but five years old, 
Mr. Davis came, with his grand])arents 
above named, to Fairfield, Lancaster Co., 
Ohio. Not long after, they settled in 
Ilidgefiekl township, on what is now known 
as the Cone farm — a [)art of which is in- 
cluded in the corporation of Monroeviile. 
Here his grandfather died July 23, 1820, 
aged sixty-three, and his grandmother 
twenty-eight years after, May 21, 1848, 



aged ninety-three. These grandjiarents 
had four sons, John, Moses, Daniel and 
James, with the older of whom Mr. Davis 
lived till after iiis majority. It is well 
woi'thy of record, as a remarkable physio- 
logical fact, that James, the youngest of 
these four uncles (who is still living in 
Whitley county, Ind.), was born when his 
mother was fifty-three years old, his next 
older brother, Daniel, being then in his 
fourteenth year. 

Mr. Davis lived in this township till 
1835, when he removed to Lexington, 
Richland county. Three years later he 
moved again to Galion, Crawford county, 
where he lived twenty-eight years — re- 
turning to Monroeviile in 1866. 

While living at Galion, on the 17th of 
May, 184:3, he married Catharine Nave, 
who was born in Path Valley, Franklin 
Co., Penn. They had four children, of 
whom two daughters are still livino-. The 
elder of these daughters, Amanda J., born 
February 17, 1844, married Capt. A. S. 
Skilton in Galion, December 20, 1865. 
They had two children, John Davis Skil- 
ton and Elizabeth Roby. ^Ir. Davis' young- 
est daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born 
January 15, 1869. 

Mr. Davis followed the honorable pro- 
fession of farmer, on a small place in 
Ridgetield township, till he was thirty 
years old, when he went into the dry-goods 
business with Mr. Bloomer as partner. 
About the year 1850 he embarked in the 
business of banking, first in the Exchange 
Bank of (xalion, maiiageil under the firm 
name of Atwood, Davis vk: Bloomer; after- 
ward in the First National Bank at the 
same place. He was also interested in the 
Farmers' National Bank of Mansfield, the 
National Bank of Plymouth, and (more 
especially) the Exchange Bank of ^lonroe- 
viile, of which the managing firm was 
Davis, Crim it Stentz. Mr. Davis was 
also president of the First National Bank, 
Monroeviile, acting in that capacity up to 
the time of his death. In all his business 
enterprises Mr. Davis was singularly sac- 



514 



HURON- COUNTY, OHIO. 



cessful, and if he did not " make money " 
quite as fast as Midas, lie was more for- 
tunate tlian that fatally avaricious king, in 
that lie was permitted to choose what 
shonld, and what should not, turn to gold 
under his touch. 

On the 28th of March, 1876, a very 
numerous company of his relatives, friends 
and neighhors assembled at his spacious 
mansion to celebrate his seventieth birth- 
day. The affair was managed by his good 
wife, tocrether with his daughter and son- 
in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Skilton, as a "sur- 
prise," and most complete was their suc- 
cess, Mr. Davis having not the least sus- 
iiicion of what was Doing on, till the 
guests began to arrive. But his surprise 
reached its culmination when, after the 
company had all assembled, an elegant 
gold-headed cane, and a beautiful, life- 
sized crayon portrait of Mrs. Davis (a 
present from the above-mentioned parties), 
were produced and ju'esented to him in an 
appropriate address. Touched to the heart 
by these manifestations of kindly regard, 
it would have been strange, indeed, if he 
had found any other than the simplest 
words of thanks, in which to express his 
grateful emotions. The Huron County 
Teachers' Institute, being then in session 
at Monroeville, were present in a body, 
and with them the distinguished gram- 
marian. Professor Harvey, of Painesville. 

In the fall of the same year he enjoyed 
the distinguished, but unsought, honor of 
being chosen elector of president and vice- 
president of the United States; and after- 
ward, in the college of electors, of casting 
his vote for Rutherford B. Hayes and 
William A. Wheeler, as president and 
vice-president of the nation. 

Mr. Davis enjoyed perfect health up to 
his last illness, which resulted in death, 
July 1, 1888, being over eighty-two years 
of age. He was looked up to by young 
and old as a kind friend and prudent 
counsellor. No object, looking toward 
the moral and religious improvement of 
the community, failed of his cordial support. 



IlOSIAH LAWRENCE. The Law- 
k. I reuce family are represented among 
\^) ihe oldest pioneers of Huron county, 
having been for many years prom- 
inently identihed with the history of its 
development. 

Samuel and Hannah (Dibble) Lawrence 
were natives of Connecticut, where tiiey 
were reared and married. In June, 1804. 
they removed to Cayuga county, N. Y., 
and there passed their remaining days on 
a farm, where lune children — six sons and 
three daughters — were born. Samuel Law- 
rence was a zealous member of the Pres- 
byterian Church, and was known as a man 
of sterling worth. He died when about 
eighty-three years of age. Of his children, 
Timothy, George and a sister are men- 
tioned, the latter of whom is now residing 
on the old home farm in New York. 

George Lawrence, son of Samuel and 
Hannah (Dibble) Lawrence, was born, in 
1805, in Cayuga county, N. Y., and was 
the first member of the family to settle in 
Huron county, Ohio. In the spring of 
1831 he was married, in his native State, 
to Rhodema Smith, and the succeeding 
autumn came via Lake Erie to Sandusky, 
thence proceeding to Huron county, Ohio. 
He bought the home farm in Bronson 
township, and was obliged to cut a road 
through the woods before he could get to 
the place, which was cleared with the assist- 
ance of his son, Miner. The father gave 
his pi'incipal attention to carpentry, until 
obliged to retire from active life as old 
age approached. He is now living on the 
home farm in Bronson township at the 
age of eighty-seven years. He reared the 
following children: Minei, born in 1833, 
w'as married in 1865 to Julia Smith, and 
is now living on the home farm (tiiey have 
liad six children, five sons and one daugh- 
ter); Alonzo E., born in 1838, was married 
to Jane Herrick (who has borne him one 
son), and is a prominent farmer of Bron- 
son township; Addison, living in Califor- 
nia, and Alice, widow of Hubbard Law- 
rence, living in Bronson township. 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



515 



Timothy Lawrence, sou of Samuel and 
Hannah (Dibble) Lawrence, was horn in 
1800, in Connecticut, and was a small boy 
when his parents moved to Cayuira county, 
K. Y. After attaining his majority lie 
worked at the carpenter trade about twelve 
years. In 1831 he was married in New 
York to Calista Todd, a native of Tomp- 
kins county, N. Y., born March 6, 1812. 
In 1833 he came to Huron county, Ohio, 
and bought his present farm of 112 acres, 
in Lot 18, Section 4, Bronson township, 
the place at that time being a wild piece 
of heavily-wooded land. Here he resided 
the remainder of his life with the excep 
tion of the eight years, between 1868 
and 1876, when he lived in Norwalk 
township. In personal appearance Tim- 
othy Lawrence was of medium size, some- 
what below the average height. Politically 
he was originally a Whig and Abolition- 
ist, afterward becoming a Republican, and 
in religious belief he was a Presby- 
terian. He died January 30, 1882, leaving 
a widow and two children — Josiah. and 
Mrs. Delia L. Curtis, of Calumet, Mich. 



The mother is yet living on the home farm. 
Josiah Lawrence, son of Timothy and 
Calista (Todd) Lawrence, was born No- 
vemher 9, 1834, on tiie home farm in 
Bronson township, Huron Co., Ohio. He 
attended the common schools, and from 
early boyhood has followed agricultural 
pursuits. In 1867 he was united in mar- 
riage with Alice Newman, a native of In- 
diana, who was residing in Ohio at the 
time of her marriage. She died in 1870, 
leaving two children, Eben and Mary, and 
in 1871 Josiah Lawrence was married to 
Maggie Baird, born in Monroe county, 
N. Y., of Scotch parents. She died in 
1878, leaving one child, Vina, and for his 
third wife Mr. Lawrence married, in De- 
cember, 1879, Nancy liowland, of Clarks- 
fiekl, Huron county. Since 1868 he has 
had full charge of the old place, upon 
which he carries on a successful business, 
and has added thirty-eight acres to the 
original tract. Politically, he is a Re- 
publican, and has served in various local 
othces: in religion he is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. 




n 



uvjr 




I2TY, 



5<!i«,ft.^' 






VV Jl. 





OLONEL NAHUM 
^ BALL GATES, wlio 
for more than fifty 
years was closely iden- 
tified with the pros- 
^ perity of Elyria, was 
born in St. Albans, 
Vt., September 28, 
He was tiie youngest 
twelve children of Joini 
Abigail (Ball) Gates, who 
in 1800 migrated from North- 
borough, Mass., to St. Albans 
township, Franklin Co., Vt., 
where they followed farming. 
Col. N. B. Gates received 
his education in the district 
his native town, also one year 
Albans Academy, which well pre- 
him for teaching, a vocation he 
followed for three winters, laboi-ing on 
his father's farm during the intervals. In 
the spring of 1834, being violently attacked 
with M-hat was called "Western Fever," 
he threw down his axe and declared 
he would never chop another stick of 
wood in Vermont; so with the scanty 
means his parents could afibrd, at the 
age of twenty-one he came to Elyria, 
wliere his brother, Horatio N. Gates, was 
engaged in mercantile business. In Sep- 
tember, same year, he engaged as clerk in 
his brother's store, where he remained till 




schools 
at St. 
pared 



May, 1835, at which time he went to 
Cleveland, Oliio. While there the ciiolera 
epidemic broke out, but it in no way drove 
him away from the place, as it did thou- 
sands of others, for he remained at his post 
and manfully devoted his time for weeks 
in attending to the sick and dying, and 
also to the burying of the dead. These 
acts of humanity were characteristic of 
him all through his life. He had no fear, 
and upon other occasions, when smallpox 
and other scourges afilicted the community, 
he performed similar offices, and escaped 
all contagion. In Cleveland he remained 
engaged in a variety of pursuits until Sep- 
tember, 1834, when he returned to Elyria, 
and during the remainder of that year and 
part of 1835 clerked for the firm of Gates 
& Green. On May 17, 1835, our subject 
went to Black River (now Lorain), in Lo- 
rain county, and opened a general store 
for Gates & Green, remaining in charge of 
same until the fall of 1838, when he was 
elected sheriff of the county, and removed 
into the town of Elyria. " From 1836 to 
1844 a copartnership had existed between 
himself and his brother, II. N. Gates, in 
the forwarding and commission business 
at Black Eiver. While a resident of that 
place he tilled the various offices of con- 
stable, justice of the peace and marshal. 
He was elected sheriff in 1838 because of 
his thorough fitness for the position ; there 



520 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



was much public excitement in that year 
— banks suspending specie payment, and 
counterfeiters springing up in every sec- 
tion — and it was undoubtedly due to Sher- 
iff Gates' indomitable courage and deter- 
mination that Lorain county was rid of all 
kinds of nefarious characters. 

In 1840 Col. Gates was an ardent Whig, 
and took an active part in the memorable 
campaign of that year. Mounted on his 
famous black horse "Bucephalus," he led 
the delegation in the procession from Lo- 
rain county to the imposing grand conven- 
tion held upon the banks of the Maumee 
river on June 11, that year. In Elyria he 
built a sawmill, sash, door and blind fac- 
tory, and in 1843 he put up an ashery, 
which he operated for many years. In 
1843 he was elected mayor of Elyria for 
the first time, and served many succeeding 
terms, though not coi\secutively. In 1844 
he embarked in general mercantile business 
in Elyria, but at the end of a year he sold 
out. In 1850 he was a director of the Lo- 
rain Plank Road Company, and for many 
years was its superintendent. In 1852 he 
was elected president of Lorain County 
Agricultural Society, and gave it its first 
permanent footing. In 1862 he was active 
in the Kepublicau party, and a member of 
the "Wide-awake Club." Same year he 
was appointed by Abraham Lincoln col- 
lector of Internal Revenue for the Four- 
teenth District of Ohio, in which office 
he remained till removed by President 
Johnson. 

Indeed it may be truly said of Col. 
Gates that his life in Elyria has been one 
of constant action. His code of morals 
may be inferred from the following scrip- 
tural quotation found among his papers — 
yellow with age — and which he exemplified 
in all his intercourse with his fellows: 
"Pure and undefiled religion before God, 
the Father, is this: To visit the fatherless 
and widows in their affliction, and to keep 
himself unspotted from the world." 

Col. Gates died December 9, 1890; all 
his family were present at the funeral ser- 



vices except his daughter Helen, then ab- 
sent in New York, whose health prevented 
her from attending. The services at his 
late residence were conducted by his pas- 
tor. Rev. E. E. Williams, and were brief 
and impressive. The ceremonies at the 
grave were performed by Elyria Lodge 
No. 103, I. O. O. F., which Col. Gates 
was mainly instrumental in the formation 
of, and at the time of his death was the 
only living active charter member. His 
son-in-law, Rev. T. Y. Gardner, read a few 
extracts from a paper written and sealed 
by deceased on his birthday, two years be- 
fore, in whicli he briefiy reviewed the past, 
and gave some of the leading principles 
which had been the guide of his actions. 
To give a more detailed history of our 
subject's useful and busy life comes not 
within the province of this article; suffice 
it, that he was possessed of those sterling, 
solid qualities which were calculated to 
give him prominence in his newly-chosen 
field, and make him what he proved to be, 
one of Lorain county's leading and hon- 
ored citizens. In his administration of his 
public duties he was brought in contact 
with all classes, and in his discharge of 
those duties, while his aim was always to 
maintain a high standard of morality, his 
kind heart never failed to respond when 
there was opportunity for leniency or 
mercy. He will long be remembered by 
the poor for his many acts of charity and 
benevolence. Being a positive and ag- 
gressive man, his position on all public 
questions was never a doubtful one, and 
he was always found true to his convic- 
tions, whether religious, political or other- 
wise. In the home circle he was a great 
favorite. His geniality and his rare social 
qualities made him ever companionable. 
Although for months clinging to life by a 
slender thread, baffling disease with all the 
force of his great will-power, like a true 
philosopher he was unconiplaining, always 
hopeful, always better, always heroic, as 
he passed down the line to the gateway of 
the great Unknown. To the hearts of his 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



521 



family wlio ministered to In's wants he 
brought only sunsliine; and when tiie end 
came it was as calm and peaceful as the 
close of a midsummer day. 

On May 12, 1841, Col. Gates was united 
in marriage with Miss Sarah S. Monteith, 
a daughter of Eev. John Monteith, form- 
erly professor of ancient languages in 
Hamilton College. She survived her hus- 
band but a little over two years, dying in 
New York City from the result of an ac- 
cident, April 18, 1893. There were born 
from this marriage, John Quincy, who 
died early; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. A. AV. 
Wheeler, of Cleveland ; Charlotte, wife of 
Rev. T. Y. Gardner; Mary Ely, who died 
in childhood; Charles Alexander, of Mas- 
sillon; Helen Gates, of Elyria; William 
N., of Cleveland, and Frederick H., of 
Cleveland. Mrs. Gates was a highly edu- 
cated lady, possessed of marked cliaracter- 
isties, a leader in all kinds of reform, 
Cimrcli and missionary work, strikingly 
non-partisan, prominent in W. C. T. U. 
■work, and withal an uncompromising ad- 
vocate of temperance. Mr. and Mrs. Gates 
lived to enjoy nearly fifty years of marital 
felicity, for Mr. Gates' death occurred but 
live mouths prior to their fiftieth anniver- 
sary of wedded life. They lived also to 
see four of their children married, and 
born of them twelve grandchildren. This 
large family periodically held their family 
reunions, and the old homestead at such 
times was the scene of rare festivities. 

Rev. John Monteith" was born August 
5, 1788, at Gettysburg, Penn. His father, 
wlfose parents were natives of Dundee, 
Scotland, was an early settler in the wilds 
of western Pennsylvania, where the son 
was reared in a life of industry and plain 
farmer's toil. His mother was also a 
native of Dundee, Scotland, and from this 
parentage he inherited that hardy physical 
constitution, and those sturdy mental and 
spiritual traits that conspired to tit him 
for the heroic work that fell to his hands 
as a pioneer, and a lifelong educator and 
reformer. He graduated at Jefferson Col- 



lege, Penn., in 1813, and at Princeton 
Theological School in 1810. About this 
time an invitation was extended to him 
'• to introduce the Gospel into the Terri- 
tory of IVfichigan," to accept which offer 
he declined an ap])ointment as professor 
in a Pennsylvania college. On Sunday 
afternoon, June 18, 1816, he preached the 
first English sermon that had ever been 
pronounced in Michigan, from the text 
Luke ii, 10. In May, 1817, Mr. Monteith 
was ordained in the Presbyterian Church 
at Princeton, N. J., Dr. Alexander deliv- 
ering to him the charge. Returning to 
Detroit be entered upon the work with 
characteristic zeal, industry and personal 
sacrifice. He organized tiie Presbyterian 
Church at Monroe, and preached the first 
Protestant sermon in that place. The 
"University of Miciiigan," in point of fact 
simply a school, established in 1817, in a 
great measure owed its birth to Mr. Mon- 
teith, wiio had the office of president and 
no less than six professorships conferred 
upon him. 

On June 7, 1820, he was married to 
Sarah Sophia Granger, of Portage, Ohio, 
who died in the autumn of the same year, 
while visiting her parents in Ohio. In 
1821 he married, at Nahor, in the then 
wilds of northern Ohio, Miss xVbigail 
Harris, and here his career in Detroit 
came to an end. From that point he re- 
moved to New York State, to occupy the 
Chair of ancient languages in Hamilton 
College, in which position he remained 
eight years. Tiien for several years he 
followed academic labors at Cambrid<>-e, 
N. Y., and at Germantown, Penn., after 
which, in 1832, he came to Elyria, Ohio. 
" Here was the evident goal of his provi- 
dential destiny. He bettered the town 
and the community by his educational 
labors and lectures. He bettered the 
Western Reserve l)y joining his hand with 
others in the estal)lisliinent of churches^ 
and Presbyteries, and colleges.'' He 
ijirded on the armor of a zealous and nn- 
compromising anti-slavery champion, and 



522 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



fearlessly and conscientiously fought its 
battles. '• When the clash of arms came, 
he felt that the beginning of the end was 
at hand; and when the red cloud of war 
passed beyond the horizon, he felt that the 
ultimate vision of liis life was realized. 
* * * His joy was calm, dignified and 
silent." 

In 1845 Mr. Monteith again resided in 
Michigan, ministering to the spiritual 
wants of the good people of Blissiield and 
Monroe until 1855, in whicli year he re- 
turned to Elyria, where lie passed the re- 
mainder of his busy, useful life, dying 
Api'il 5, 1868, in the eighty-tirst year of 
his age. 

Rev. John Monteith was a fine speci- 
men of manly physique; he was si.x feet 
tall, straight and muscular, his povver of 
endurance being transmitted from the 
Scottish race from which he sprang. As 
a scholar he was accurate and learned, and 
though the scope of his culture was not 
wide, yet in the ancient languages and in 
French his proficiency was something re- 
markable for his day. Duty was the 
mainspring of all his actions, and fear- 
le-sly he performed it, as witness his he- 
roic efforts to introduce the Gospel into 
undeveloped territories, making long, 
weary and ofttimes hazardous journeys in 
the prosecution of benevolent work. 



I< 



f ON. JOEL TIFFANY. To Hon. 
George G. Washburn, of Elyria, the 
publishers are indebted for the fol- 
lowing biographical record of this 
deceased gentleman, who "was a 
most original genius, and one of the in- 
veutive creators of his age." 

Mr. Tiffany was a native of Bai'kham- 
stead. Conn., born Septemljer 6, 1811, and 
where his ancestors lived in the days of the 
Revolution. They being Presbyterians, 
he was placed in college in 1827 to pre- 
pare him for the ministry, but, preferring 



the study of law, he in 1831 entered the 
office of William G. Williams, of New 
Hartford, Conn., as a law student. lu the 
following year he went to Ohio on a visit 
to a brother and other relatives, and was 
induced to make Ohio his home, which he 
did, first locating in the town of Medina. 
Here he resumed the study of law tinder 
the preceptorship of Charles Olcott, and in 
the summer of 1834 was admitted to the 
bar and commenced practice. In the spring 
of 1835 he came to Elyria, Lorain county, 
and entered into the practice of law with 
Horace D. Clark, and together they worked 
harmoniously — Mr. Clark preparing the 
cases, and Mr. Tiffany trying them in court. 
In 1848 he removed from Elyria to Little 
Mountain, Ohio, where he remained a short 
time, and thence to New York City. From 
1850 he gave up all other business, and 
devoted bis time to writing and speaking 
upon the subject of spiritualism until 
1860, when he went to Albany, N. Y., 
engaging there in legal writings, etc., and 
in doing what he could in suppressing the 
Civil War. He served as reporter for the 
court of appeals for several years with 
marked distinction. At the end of ten 
years he went to Chicago, 111., and was 
actively engaged in different lines of busi- 
ness up to the time of his death, whicii 
occurred at Hinsdale, III., July 1, 1893, 
he being then eighty-two years old. 

Mr. Tiffany was not only a lawyer but 
also an inventor, and he is, probably, most 
widely known for his invention of the 
Tiffany Summer and Winter Refrigerator 
car; he also made, through his inventive 
genius, valuable improvements and inven- 
tions in machinery. 

Mr. Tiffany resided in Elyria thirteen 
years, during the prime of his manhood, 
and was engaged in the practice of law the 
greater part of the time. He served as 
prosecuting attorney during the years 
1837-38-39, and in 1841 and 1845 each 
for one year. As a lawyer, and especially 
as an eloquent advocate, he had no su|ierior 
at the bar, which was composed of strong 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



523 



men ; and had he devoted his great natural 
abilities to the practice of his profession 
lie would have attained the highest dis- 
tinction at the bar and on the bench. In 
the trial of causes he was aided not only 
by a remarkable memory, but by an intui- 
tive perception of the points his adversary 
would make, and thus was ever ready to 
meet them. The trials which gave him 
most distinction were the noted "counter- 
feiting cases," in which one Cash, whose 
testimony was important to the prosecu- 
tion, was shot by the counterfeiters be- 
cause he turned " States evidence," and 
was brought from his home on a litter to 
give his testimony. In these cases, which 
were tried in 1838-39, Mr. Tiffany acted 
both as detective and prosecutor with con- 
summate ability, regardless of the threats 
against his life that came from unknown 
sources. He persisted in his prosecutions, 
and succeeded in breaking up an extensive 
gang of counterfeiters who had hitherto 
successfully plied their vocation in this 
county without detection, and landed four- 
teen of tiiem in the penitentiary. He was 
a scholar of almost unlimited resources, yet 
he derived little pecuniary aid therefrom. 
His inventive genius was remarkable, but 
it took the direction of natural science and 
philosophy rather than practical mechan- 
ics, and this, near the close of his life, gave 
him a competence. 



/ 



HfON. GEOKGE G. WASHBURN 
is a native of Orange, Grafton Co., 
N. IL, born iS"ovember 24, 1S21. 
Plis father, Azel Washburn, de- 
scended from the Maine branch of 
the Washburn family, and his mother, 
Elizabeth Danforth, was of Scotch-Irish 
descent, her ancestors btiuir ainon<£ the 
early settlers in Londonderry, New Hamp- 
shire. 

The subject of this sketcii spent his early 
days among the rugged New Hampshire 



hills, with his parents for his only teacher, 
until he was eleven years old, when the 
family removed to Ohio, and settled in 
Perry township (then in Geauga county) 
where for three years he had the benefit of 
good schools. In 1885 they removed to 
Camden, Lorain county, then an unbroken 
wilderness, where he spent most of the 
days of his minority in the laborious work 
of clearing up a new farm. 

By the aid of his fatiier, and by the li<^ht 
of the log-cabin fireplace, he ac(|uired suf- 
ficient education to teach school in the 
winter, while his summers were spent in 
farm labor. At the age of twenty-one 
years he abandoned the farm, and spent 
one year in teaching a private school in 
Brandenburg, Ky. On his return he spent 
four years in study at Oberlin College, 
paying his way by labor on the college 
farm, and by teaching duriug the winter 
months. From Oberlin he removed to 
Elyria, nine miles distant, where he read 
law in the office of Hon. Philemon Bliss. 
He w"as admitted to practice in IS-iS, and 
for two years was associated with Hon. 
Sylvester Bagg, who subsequently removed 
to Iowa. 

Mr. AVashburn became an early writer 
for the press, and on the removal of Judge 
Bag2 to Iowa he assumed cliartje of the 
Elyria Courier, the organ of the then 
Whig party, which soon became recog- 
nized as an influential factor in moulding 
public sentiment. He soon abandoned all 
other pursuits, and for forty-two years con- 
ducted tiiat journal and its successors — 
the Independent Democrat and the Elyria 
Republican — as the sole proprietor, editor 
and manager. For many years lie de- 
clined all political prefermeut, but served 
during this period as member of the 
board of .school examiners for the 
county, member of the Elyria council, and 
for six years as president of the board of 
education. lie was appointed by Gov. 
Uennison, and served during the war as 
secretary of the military committee for 
Lorain county, the duties of which often 



524 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



led him to visit the battle-fields of the Re- 
bellion, and aid in caring for the wounded 
soldiers. He lias been connected with the 
Lorain Bank in Elyria, and its successor, 
the National Bank of Elyria, as one of its 
board of directors for thirty-four years. 

In 1888 he consented to become a mem- 
ber of the Ohio General Assembly, as the 
representative for Lorain county, and served 
four years with credit to himself and his 
intelligent constituency. He then declined 
further political service, and resumed liis 
journalistic duties, but was soon afterward 
commissioned by the Governor as one of 
the board of managers of the Ohio State 
Reformatory, wliich he had been active in 
establishing while in the General Assem- 
bly, and wliicli position he now holds. In 
September, 1891, he sold the entire plant 
of the Elyria Repnhlican, which he had 
conducted with marked success for so many 
years, and is now devoting his time chiefly 
to the reformatory movements of the day. 
His long connection with the State and 
National Press Associations, and services 
as a legislator, have jj;iven him an exten- 
sive acquaintance with men prominent in 
politics and journalism in both the State 
and Nation. 



EILY FAMILY. Among the firSt 
land proprietors of what is now 
] Lorain county, Ohio, was Justin 

Ely, of West Springfield, Mass., a 
very extensive dealer in real estate, aiid 
one of the original proprietors of wliat was 
then known as " The Connecticut Western 
Reserve," in Ohio, under the Connecticut 
Land Company. 

Hon. Heman Ely, fourth in. the family 
of Justin Ely, and who succeeded to his 
father's estate in what is now Lorain 
county, was also a native of West Spring- 
field. Mass., born April 24, 1775. He 
was a linguist of ability, and a traveler of 
no small experience, having visited, prior 



to 1810, many of the leading places of in- 
terest in Europe. In that year he returned 
to America, and in 1811 came west as far 
as Cleveland, Ohio, with the view of open- 
ing up for settlement the land owned by 
his father, tlien known as "No. 6, Ranee 
17, Connecticut Western Reserve." The 
impending war between the United States 
and Great Britain, however, made it an 
inauspicious time for coloiiization, and 
Mr. Ely returned to his New England 
home. 

In 1816, ])eace being now concluded be- 
tween the two countries, he atrain ventured 
west, and immediately commenced opera- 
tions for the development of his forest- 
covered land, contracting for the building 
of the first house that marked the spot 
whereon now stands the prosperous city of 
Elyria, together with a gristmill and saw- 
mill. Having accomplished so much, he 
returned to West Springfield, and in Feb- 
ruary, 1817, finally left for his new western 
home, where the remainder of his life was 
passed in the development of its resources, 
and the converting of the wild forest into 
prosperous farms, villages and towns. He 
erected several houses, including the one 
in which his son, Heman, now lives, in 
Elyria. The town was laid out by him in 
its present form, and bears his name, as 
also the township. On the formation of 
the county in 182-1, he named it Lorain, 
from Loraine, in France, in which prov- 
ince he spent some time while in Europe, 
and with which beautiful spot he was 
much delighted. He was also the founder 
of the educational, religious and other pub- 
lic institutions of Elyria, giving liberally 
of his means, and his name is still revered 
by the many descendants of the early set- 
tlers of Elyria. He passed from earth 
February 2. 1852. 

Heman Ely, Jk., was born October 30, 
1820, in Elyria. Ohio, and received his edu- 
cation at the "Elyria High School," and 
at Farmington, Conn. In his father's 
office he acquired a thorough training and 
insight into the real-estate business, which 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



527 



he followed for many years with much suc- 
cess. Like his father, but further in the ad- 
vaiiceiiieiit of the county, Mr. Ely lias iden- 
tified himself vvith many of the leading 
institutions of Elyria, prominent among 
which may be mentioned the Lorain Bank 
(establisheil in 1847); the First National 
Bank (organized in 18G4: from the J^orain 
Bank), and the National Bank of Elyria 
(organized in 1883 from the First National 
Bank), in which several institutions he has 
been director, vice-president and president, 
in which latter capacity he is at present 
serving in the last named organization. In 
1852, in connection with others, he secured 
tiie building of that section of tiie Lake 
Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, 
then known as the "Junction Road," from 
Cleveland to Toledo. From 1870 to 187.? 
he served in the State Legislature, and as- 
sisted in molding the present insurance 
laws of the State of Ohio. 

On September 1, 1841, Heman Ely and 
Miss Mary Harris Monteith, daughter of 
Rev. John and i\l)igail Harris Monteith, 
were united in marriage, and children as 
follows were born to them: Celia Belden, 
George H. and Mary Monteith. The 
mother of these children died in Elyria 
March 1, 1849, and May 27, 1850, Mr. 
Ely married, for his second wife. Miss Mary 
F. Day, daughter of Hon. Thomas and 
Sarah (Coit) Day, of Hartford, Conn. 
Four children were born to this marriage, 
namely: Edith Day, Charles Theodore, 
Albert Heman and Ilarriette Putnam. Mr. 
Ely is prominent in social life, as follows: 
Has been an active member of the F. & A. 
Masons since 1852; from 1858 to 1871 he 
was worshipful master of King Solomon 
Lodge No. 56 of Elyria; received the 
orders of Knighthood in Oriental Com- 
mandery of Knights Templars No. 12 in 
Cleveland, Ohio, in 1857, of wliich he was 
Eminent Commander from Deceml)er,18Gl, 
to December, 18G5, and from 1864 to 1871 
he was grand commander of tlie (irand 
Commandery, Knights Templars of Ohio. 
He is an active member of the supreme 

29 



council of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 
for the Northern Masonic jurisdiction of 
the United States of America, and was treas- 
urer of same from May, 1867, to September, 
1891. In matters of religion be has 
been a member of the Congregational 
Church of Elyria since 183S, and for many 
years has been one of its officers, about ten 
years as superintendent of the Sabbath- 
school. He is a Republican in politics, 
and a gentleman much respected in the 
community for his moral worth and his 
many unassuming charitable deeds. 



I|0HN W. HULBERT, cashier of the 
V. I National Bank of lilyria, was born in 
O Old Chatham, Columbia Co., IST. Y., 
April 1, 1827. 

His ancestor on the father's side settled 
in Connecticut in 1630. His great-grand- 
father and grand fatlier both served in the 
Revolution, the former in the capacity of 
surgeon. Grandfather Ilulbert was born 
in Connecticut, removed to western Mas- 
sachusetts, and thence to Canaan, N". Y., 
where iiis son, Philip, father of John W., 
was born. He, Philip, was born April 16, 
1799, and died March 27, 1881. He set- 
tled in Old Chatham, and followed the 
trade of carpenter and joiner until 1837, 
when he bought an iron foundi-y, which 
with a plow-factory he carried on till his 
death. On September 1, 1824, lie married 
Abigail Smith, born August 26, 1797, died 
May 8. 1840, and eight children were born 
to them, to wit: Harriet Elizabeth, John 
W., Geo. B., Chas. W., Seymour C, Mary 
I., Henry B., and Samuel C. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
education in the common schools of Chat- 
ham, and at the age of fifteen went to New 
York City, as clerk in a dry-goods house. 
He came to Elyria in September, 1847, 
under engagement in the large general 
store of Kendall ct Mussey, with whom he 
remained till 1853, when ho was appointed 



528 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



teller of tlie Lorain Branch of the State 
Bank of Ohio. In January, 1856, he was 
elected cashier, in which capacity he has 
remained through its re-organizations in 
1864 and 1883, being upwards of forty 
years of continuous service. 

Mr. Hulbert was united in marriage, 
January 1, 1857, with MissEllen N.Wood 
(daughter of Taber Wood and Almira his 
wife), who was born in Chesterfield, Mass., 
May 4, 1832, and died December 6, 1889, 
leaving two daughters. In politics Mr. 
Hulbert was a Democrat until 1853, when 
he became a FreeSoiler (afterward a Re- 
publican). He was made a Mason in King 
Solomon Lodge No. 56, F. & A. M., in 
March, 1851, a R. A. M. in October, 1851; 
and a Knight Templar in Oriental Com- 
mandery No. 12, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1855, 
to which organizations he still belongs. He 
was Master of his Lodge from 1853 to 
1859; M. E. H. P. of the Chapter from 
1853 to 1883. Mr. Hulbert is a member 
and trustee of the First Congregational 
Church, where for sixteen years he led the 
church choir. 



E 



R. HOLIDAY, M. D., Wellington, 
was born March 27, 1843, a son of 
J Lorton and Huldah Matilda (Gates) 
Holiday. 
Amos Holiday, the great-grandfather of 
our subject, is believed to have been born 
in Vermont. At the beginning of the Re- 
volution, however, he was living in Gran- 
by, Hartford Co., Conn., and with his 
three brothers served during that war in 
the Colonial army, enlistinsf and aoincrout 
in a company raised m what was known 
as "Salmon Brook Street" in or near 
Granby. One of the brothers was taken 
prisoner, and was either killed or perished 
in prison, as he was never heard of after by 
his friends. After the war Amos again 
returned and lived at Granby until 1800. 
In that year, in January, his son Jonathan, 



who was born in Granby in 1776, married 
Bethesda Holcomb, also a resident of 
Granby, born there June 22, 1879. In the 
spring of that year these three and a bro- 
ther of Amos, named Azariah, emigrated 
to Ponipey, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where 
were born to Jonathan and Betiiesda Holi- 
day the following children: Hiram, Lorton, 
Rowena, Milton, Eno and Arley — four 
sons and two daughters. During the stay 
in Pompey, Jonathan Holiday was twice 
called out in defense of the State and coun- 
try in the war of 1812, and served at 
Sacket's Harbor, Sodus Point and other 
places along the border. After the chil- 
dren had become somewhat grown, they 
removed to near Bath, in Steuben county, 
where they lived until 1828, when the 
grandfather of E. R. and four of his chil- 
dren — Lorton, Eno, Rowena and Arley — 
removed to Huron county, Ohio, the rest 
of the family remaining about Balh and 
Hornellsville, where their descendants now 
live. Amos Holiday was a pensioner of 
the Revolution, and lived to the remark- 
able age of one hundred and nine years and 
eleven months, dying in Steuben. Jona- 
than Holiday died in Hartland, Huron 
county, in 1845; his wife, Bethesda, died 
in the same place February 22, 1859. 

Lorton Holiday, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Pompey August 27, 
1804. Here and in Steuben he acquired 
a fair education in the branches taught in 
those times and places, and on arriving in 
Ohio taught school for a time. Marrying 
in 1830, lie soon after began hotel keeping 
in New London, in what was known as 
the " Asher House." Here E. R. was 
born. The other children of this marriage 
were as follows: (1) Huldah M., born De- 
cember 4, 1831, is now the wife of Hosea 
M. Hood, and resides in Hartland, Huron 
Co., Ohio. 

(2) Henry M., born March 3, 1833, who 
ran away at the age of sixteen, went to sea, 
and was a sailor for two or three years, 
but finally, through the influence of his 
captain, returned to shore life and books; 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



529 



graduated from Thetford Academy, Ver- 
mont, tlien wedding Miss Louise Jane 
Coombs, of tliat plaee, tiiey went South 
and taufflit schools in Georgia and Ala- 
bama until the trouble about slavery and 
secession grew so fiente thev were requested 
to leave, which tliey did in 1859; CDming 
nortii he studied theology at Walnut Hills, 
near Cincinnati, Ohio, then at Andover, 
Mass., from which place he 'went to St. 
Johnsbury Center, Vt., where he was in- 
stalled pastor of the Congregational Church 
of that place. From here he went to Tol- 
land, Conn., as pastor of a church there; 
thence he went to Alma, Mich., finally to 
Olivet, Eaton county, where he died July 
31, 1888, of typhoid fever; his wife died 
about a month later of same disease, leav- 
ing three children: Nina, Winifred and 
Charles. 

(3) Charles B., born November 11, 1834, 
was an attorney of St. John's, Mich.; en- 
listed in the Eighth Michigan Infantry as 
lieutenant, and died off Port Kuyal, Oc- 
tober 5, 1861, of typhoid, on board ship, 
and was buried at sea. 

(4) Lenora J., born July 8, 1838; mar- 
ried Alonzo Hood, and lives at Alma, 
Mich. They have one daughter living — 
M. Louise Hood. 

(5) George G., born March 31, 1840, 
was a soldier in the late war, servintr three 
years; he married Miss Chloe Garget, and 
they have two daughters; he is a farmer. 

H. M. (Gates) Holiday, mother of E. R., 
was born December 8, 1812; died April 
18, 1843; she was a daughter of Gross 
Gates (born February 4, 1789, died Feb- 
ruary 8, 1841) and Abigail (Ames) Gates 
(born September 22, 1794, died June 13, 
1836); they died and were buried in 
Ruggles, Ashland Co., Ohio. Gross Gates 
served in the " war of 1812." 

Lorton Holiday, after the death of his 
wife, continued in the hotel business for a 
few years, when, his children having found 
homes (?) with friends and relatives, he 
went into the new State of Michigan, 
working at gunsmithing and trading with 



the Indians, among whom he was often 
styled — on account of his black eyes, 
swart complexion and heavy black beard — 
" Black Hawk." Ho was a man of splen- 
did physical proportions, si.x feet two 
inches in his stocking feet, and as lithe as 
a pantluM-. He was on friendly terms 
always with the Indians, and after settling 
down at Alma, they always camped upon 
his land if their rovings brought them in 
the neighborhood, knowing they were wel- 
come. He lived at Alma, Gratiot Co., 
Mich., before the township was organized 
as a township, keeping a sort of'" pioneer 
hotel." He was postmaster in that place 
under Buchanan. He died of pneumonia 
April 25, 1870. 

Edwin R., the subject proper of this 
sketch, on the death of the mother was 
taken and cared for by Helen M., a sister 
of the dead mother, and wife of Eno Holi- 
day, a brother of the father. Here he 
lived on a farm until the breaking out of 
the war, when, on the 5th of September, 
1861, he enlisted in the Third Regiment 
Ohio Vol. Cavalry, and served with that 
organization throughout the war, being 
discharged from the service August 14, 
1865; veteranizing in January, 1864, was 
discharged as sergeant; was at Savannah 
during the battle of Pittsburg Lamliug, as 
cavalry was useless, and there was enough 
to do the work anyhow; was in the Stone 
River engagement at Chattanooga; at 
Kenesaw; Atlanta; on the Wilson raid 
from Eastport, Tenn., to Macon, Ga., 
where they first learned of the surrender 
of Lee and the death of Lincoln; and last 
(but not least to him) had charge of twen- 
ty-five men from his company, which, with 
the regiment or a part of it, went in pur- 
suit of Jefferson Davis, but was too far in 
advance, however (eight miles), of that 
anomaly to be in at the capture, but saw 
him in the ambulance on the return trip. 

After the war our subject returned home 
on a Saturday, and the following Monday 
morning started for school at Alilan, Erie 
Co., Ohio, where he took one term; taught 



530 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



school the winter following, and in the 
spring wejit to reside with his brother 
Henry in Vermont, where he took private 
instructions until the following winter, 
when he began the term of lectures at his 
Alma Mater, the medical department of 
"Western Keserve College, from wliich in- 
stitution he graduated in February, 1871. 
For a time he practiced in the western 
part of the State, and in Michigan. 

On January 5, 1878, the JJoctor mar- 
ried Miss Ella B. Peet, of Brighton, Lo- 
rain Co., Ohio, who was born in that place 
December 1, 1856. He located in Ciarks- 
tield, Huron county, where he practiced 
for eight years, and twice was elected 
coi'oner of the county. In this place were 
born to Dr. and Mrs. Holiday three chil- 
dren: Lorton E., born November 24, 1878; 
Malcolm P., born February 26, 1882, and 
Bertha Gates, born DeceTuber 12, 1884. 
In April, 1887, the Doctor removed to 
AVellington, Lorain Co., Ohio, where he 
has since practiced his profession. 



H\ ON. JUDGE LAERTES B. SMITH, 
a prominent, well-known jurist of 
_[ Lorain county, attorney at law and 
•fj justice of tiie peace, with residence 

in Elyria, was born in Amherst 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, September 
21. 1830. He comes of an old New Eng- 
land family of Puritan descent. 

His paternal grandfather, Chiliab Smith, 
was born in Connecticut November 11, 
1765, and died in 1840. Prior to coming 
to Ohio he lived many years in Berkshire 
county, Mass., and was there married to 
Nancy Marshall, who was born January 
19, 1765, and died December 5, 1824. In 
1814 they immigrated to Lorain county, 
the trip being made with ox wagons; aiid 
it took them five days to cut a road from 
the present site of Elyria through the 
woods to what afterward became Amherst 
township (for it was not organized till 



April, 1817), where they arrived October 
16, 1814. Here they settled upon land 
for which grandfather Sinitli had traded 
property in the East to the Connecticut 
Land Company. He was by trade a tailor, 
at which he worked in his new home dur- 
ing intervals in his farm work, as oppor- 
tunity ottered. As an exhorter in the M. E. 
Ciiurch, he held frequent meetings in 
the neighborhood of his hoine and in his 
own house. When old age came upon 
him he turned his farm over to his chil- 
dren, who also inherited the good name 
of one of the best known and earliest of 
the pioneers. He had settled on Little 
Beaver creek, four miles west of where is 
now Elyria, and opened the first tavern in 
that vicinity. / 

David Smith, father of subject, was born 
in Berkshire county, Mass., March 20, 
1797, and came to Lorain county along 
with his father. In 1824 he raiirried a 
Miss Fannie Barnes, also a native of Berk- 
shire county, born December 23, 1802, and 
nine children were born of this union, six 
of whom grew to maturity, Laertes B. be- 
ing the third in the order -of birth. The 
father died April 30, 1861, the mother 
Aixgust 6, 1888. In religion she was a 
Presbyterian, attending the Church of that 
denomination in Elyi-ia till 1840. In poli- 
tics David Smith was a Democrat, and he 
was a quiet, unostentatious inan. 

Laertes B. Smitii, the subject proper of 
this memoir, received his education at the 
public schools of his native township. At 
the age of twenty-one years he left his 
father's farm to learn the trade of harness 
maker, at which he worked till he was 
about twenty-five years old. He then en- 
tered a hardware store at La Porte, Ind., 
where he remained some five years, or un- 
til 1858, in which year he returned to 
Lorain county, and commenced the study 
of law with Vincent & Sheldon, Elyria. In 
1860 he was admitted to the bar, and be- 
came a member of the firm with whom he 
had learned his profession, and within the 
first year, Mr. Vincent retiring, Mr. Shel- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



531 



don and Mr. Smith formed a new partner- 
ship; but the Civil war breaking out, the 
senior partner went into the army in 1861, 
and in the following year our subject be- 
came a partner with Judge W. W. Boyn- 
ton, which copartnership lasted some three 
or four years. In June, 1871, he was 
appointed probate judge of Lorain county, 
to till the vacancy caused by the resigna- 
tion of John W. Steele, and continued in 
the office, by re election, till February, 
1882, since when he has been acting jus- 
tice of the peace. 

On December 26, 1871, Judge Smith 
was united in marriage with Miss Mar- 
garet Smyth, of Ontario county, N. 1 ., 
and live children have been born to them, 
namely: Fannie, Clara Louise, Frank 
Carleton, Gertrude and Leroy. Politically 
Judge Smith was a Democrat till the 
breaking out of tiie war of the Rebellion, 
since when lie has been a Republican. 




EV. MATTHEW L. STARR, re- 
tired, was born April 4, 1809, in 
Jefferson township, Schoharie Co., 
N. Y., a son of Talcott and Mary 
(Lindsley) StaYr, whocame to Lorain 
county in 184U, and here died. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
elementary education at the subscription 
schools of his native place, supplemented 
with a three-years' course at an academy, 
and he was reared on his father's farm. 
Having decided to devote his life to the 
ministry, lie, after marriage, prepared 
himself for the work, attending a Theo- 
logical school in his native State. Having 
duly qualified, he preached his first ser- 
mon in Jefferson, Schoharie Co., N. Y., 
taking for his text the words: "Behold! 
I stand at the door and knock." For 
three years after his marriage he contin- 
ued to live on liis father's farm, at tlie 
same time following his duties as a min- 
ister of the M. E. Church, and then trav- 



eled four years in the New York Confer- 
ence. Removing to Massachusetts, he 
was associated witli the Great Barrington 
(Berkshire county) Conference for a time; 
from there was transferred to Bloomfield, 
Conn., thence to Colebrook, same State. 
In 1838 he received a transfer to the 
Michigan Conference, at that time em- 
bracing the portion of Ohio wherein 
Lorain county lies, to reach wiiich he and 
his wife had to drive to Buffalo, N. Y., 
thence proceed by lake to Cleveland, and 
then take stage for Elyria. From Elyria 
to Pentield township they came by a con- 
veyance driven by Orrin Starr, a pioneer 
of that township, and at his home our 
travelers matle their first sojourn in Ohio. 

The reason of Rev. and iVIrs. Starr pre- 
ferrinj; to come to Lorain county, was on 
account of her parents, William L. and 
Aurilla (Lindsley) Hayes, having made a 
settlement in Pentield township. Mr. 
Starr was on the Elyria circuit two years, 
durincr which time his home was at La- 
Porte. Lorain county; thence moved to 
Medina, then to the Wellington circuit, 
after which he was stationed, respectively, 
at TifBn, Sidney, Bellefontaine and Lima 
(all in Ohio), from which latter place he 
returned to Penfield township. After 
four or five years rest and relaxation, dur- 
ing which time he built a comfortable 
residence on his farm in that township, 
and moved therein (he had purchased this 
property before coming to Ohio), he pro- 
ceeded, at the earnest request of their 
friends, to LaPorte; from there went to 
Richfield (Summit county), thence to Co- 
lum!)ia (Lorain county), and from there to 
Hayesville (Ashland county) — aggregat- 
ing, from the date of his first sermon, a 
half century of active life in the ministry 
of the M. E. Church, and he is now 
superannuated, preaching only an occa- 
sional funeral sermon. 

On March 3, 1831, Mr. Starr married in 
Delaware county, N. Y, Miss Sarah Hayes, 
born in New Canaan, Conn., and to tills union 
were born children, as follows: Alta M., 



532 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



wlio (lied, unmarried, at the age of twenty- 
one; Sarali M., who died iiiiinarried at the_ 
arje of twenty-three; Elbert A., a farmer 
of Penlield township; Wilbur F., who died 
when five years old; Watson F., a livery- 
man, of Mackinaw Island, Mich.; Mary I., 
Mrs. William Sheldon, of Kansas; and 
Irviiif:^, a farmer of Pentiehl township. 
Mr. Starr, in Ins political preferences, was 
for many years a stanch Republican, but 
of late lias been an uncompromising Pro- 
hibitionist, not only in theory Init in prac- 
tice, for never in his long life has ho tasted 
either liquor or tobacco. He and his 
faithful wife, now in the sixty-third year 
of their married life, are hand in hand 
descending the hill toward the golden sun- 
set, wearing well their years of honored 
and useful lives, and enjoying the respect 
and esteem of a wide circle of friends. On 
October 23, 1893, Mrs. Starr received a 
shock which affected her right side, and on 
January 4, 1894, she fell, injuring her hip 
on the same side. 




LANSON GILLMORE. Tiiis hon- 
ored old pioneer of Lorain county 
deserves more than a passing notice 
in this volume, were it only for his 
continuous residence here of over 
fourscore years, in that period witnessing 
the transformation of forests wild into 
fields of golden grain; and the time of the 
old postboy and stage-coach giving place 
to the era of steam and electricity. 

Mr. Gillmore was born in April, 1805, 
in Hampshire county, Mass., seventh in 
the family and the only survivor of eio-ht 
children born to Edward and Elizabeth 
(Stewart) Gillmore, both also natives of 
Massachusetts. In 1812 they came to Lo- 
rain county, the journey from Hampshire 
county, Mass., being made overland with 
teams, and occupying thirty days. They 
located on land on the shore of Lake Erie, 
two miles west of the mouth of Black 



river. Here they opened out a farm, on 
which they passed the rest of their busy 
lives. The mother died in February, 1844, 
the father on April 9, 184(3. He was a 
strong John Quincy Adams man, also a 
supporter of John Adams; in his later life 
he was a Democrat. 

Alanson Gillmore was seven years old 
when his parents brought him to Lorain 
county, and he was reared ou the shore t)f 
Lake Erie, his education being received at 
the primitive schools of those early days. 
When the family first came here, they 
killed game in abundance in what is now 
Black River township. Our subject dis- 
tinctly remembers Perry's victory on Lake 
Erie, and the firing at the time of Hull's 
surrendering of Detroit to the Canadian 
militia. Till he was twenty-one years of 
aee he woi'ked on a farm, and then went 
into a shipyard with Capt. Augustus Jones, 
of the sloop " William Tell." For over 
thirty years he was employed as a siiip 
builder, working chiefly in the principal 
cities along the lakes. 

On February 23, 1833, he was married 
to Miss Evaline C. Junes, a native of Con- 
necticut, whose half-brother came to Lo- 
rain, Ohio, in 1818. To this union were 
born five children (all yet living except 
one), as follows: Adelaide E., wile of Ed- 
mund Gillmore, of Lorain; Simon A., mar- 
ried, and living in Lorain; Joel M., a 
seafaring man, drowned in Lake Michigan 
July 2, 1886; Byron A., residing in Lo- 
rain, and Fannie, wife of Capt. Thomas 
Wilford, also of Lorain. The mother of 
this family died on the farm on Lake Erie, 
October 5, 1850, and February 10, 1859, 
Mr. Gillmore married Emma Lynch. She 
died in 1863, and June 5, 1865, our sub- 
ject was united in marriage, in Dodge 
county. Wis., with Mrs. Sarah Mantoe, a 
native of New Hampshire, daughter of 
Jonathan and Mary (Barron) Burnham, 
who in an early day migrated t" Michigan, 
thence to Wisconsin at the time it was a 
territory. This Mrs. Gillmore had been 
twice married before her union with our 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



533 



Buhject, first time to Mr. A. Bankson, by 
whom slie liad two daughters, viz.: Louisa, 
wife of William Cross, of Fairmount, 
Minn.; and Jennie, widow of William 
Washington Peaiiiek. By her marriage 
with Mr. Man toe she had one son: George 
Arthur, in San Francisco, Cal., foreman in 
a bonded warehouse. Durinjr the Revolu- 
tion Grandl'atiier Jonathan Barron served 
as an aid-de-camp to his father Gen. Bar- 
ron. Jonathan Barron married a Miss 
Minor. 

In politics our subject was originally a 
Whig, and since the formation of the party 
has been a strong Republican; he has 
served as justice of the peace (two terms) 
and township assessor. In matters of re- 
ligion he is a member of the Disciple 
Church. 



Li 



EVI MORSE. Among the promi- 
nent citizens of Lorain county, none 
is more notable than this gentle 
man, who is a trustee of Elyria 
township. 

Mr. Morse is a native of Connecticut, 
born in Prospect, New Haven county, July 
1, 1812, a son of Lent and Lydia (X^oolittle) 
Morse, the former of whom was born in 
Cheshire, New Haven Co., Conn., followed 
farming, and died at the age of si.xty-seveu 
years; he was descended from one of three 
brothers who came from England in very 
early times. Mrs. Lydia Morse, the mother 
of our subject, lived to be fifty years old, 
and had si.K children, of whom the follow- 
ing is a brief record: Lydia married Sam- 
uel Bronson, and resided in Waterbury, 
Conn., where she died, leaving one son, 
Spencer Bronson; Lent died in Prospect 
when about forty years old, leaving two 
daugliters, Martha and Lucy; Luther lived 
in Prospect, married Adelia Piatt, and 
reared three cliildren: Nancy, Agnes and 
Edward; Levi, the subject of this sketch, 
is the fourth child; Harry married Sarah 
Gillette, and died, leaving seven children: 



George, John, Walter, Byron, Hattie, 
Mary and Alice; Achsah married George 
Payne, of Prospect, wliere she still resides 
(she reared three children: Achsah, Lydia 
and Harry). The mother of this family 
died in 1825, and in 1828 or '2'J Mr. 
Morse married Miss Tuttle, by whom there 
are three children: Augustus M., Sarah 
and Lydia Ann. 

Levi Morse, who.se name opens this 
sketch, was reared and educated in his na- 
tive town. Prospect. In 1835, at the age 
of twenty-three, when Elyria was l)ut a 
small place of perhaps four hundred in- 
habitants, with two or three- stores, a log 
house used for a jail and no church build- 
ings, he came west to Ohio, and there com- 
menced business in the stoi'e of S. W. 
Baldwin, who iiad accompanied him to the 
town. He remained in his employ some 
fifteen years, at the end of which time he 
embarked in the dry-goods business in 
company with a Mr. Andrews, under the 
firm name of Andrews iz Co. In about 
two years Mr. Andrews died, and Mr. 
Morse carried on the business alone for a 
time. We then find him in the responsi- 
ble position of first station agent at Elyria 
for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 
Railroad Company, which incumbency he 
filled with ability and satisfaction three 
years; after which for a time he was in the 
produce trade — buying and selling grain. 
In 1863 he was elected township trustee, 
which position he has held continuously 
since, e.xcej)ting one term. He was super- 
intendent of the County Infirmary for over 
two years. 

In 1840 Mr. Morse was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Minerva Mann, who was 
bom in New York State, December 7, 
1818, and the children iiorn to this union 
were as follows: Milo Welsey, born April 
21, 1842, enlisted in 18()2 in Company E, 
Forty-second Regiment O. V. I., and was 
killed May 25, 1863, at the siege of Vicks- 
burtf, while on sharpshooting duty; Clara 
A., "born January 15, 1846, die<l February 
18, 1849, of scarlet fever; Alfred D., born 



534 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



January 29, 1851, now living in Elyria. 
niarrifd to Miss Adams, of Colninbia; Ed- 
M'ard F., born November 11, 1853, is in 
tbe mining business, and be and his wife 
make tbeir home alternately in Stockton 
and Salt Lake City, Utah; Lydia May, the 
wife of Rev. J. F. Brant, of Port Clinton, 
Ohio, Avas born April 10, 1859; Charles 
L., born October 6, 1861, in business in 
Elyria, married to Miss Basset, of Elyria. 
Mr. Morse in his political proclivities is 
a Republican, and has voted for every 
Whig and Republican candidate for Presi- 
dent since 1833. In his church relation- 
ship he is a Methodist, and took a promi- 
nent part in bnilding the first M. E. 
Church (now the Disciple Church) on East 
Second street, which was dedicated in 1851. 
He has held an official position in the 
church of his choice since 1843, and is now 
one amony less than a dozen of the origi- 
nal membership of the First M. E. Chnreh. 
His children now livine; are four in num- 
her, and he has eight grandchildren. 



THOMAS LOTHROP NELSON, 
prominent merchant and banker of 
Elyria, was born in Lyme, Grafton 
Co., N. H., January 11, 1823, a son 
of Asa and Sarah (Gilbert) Nelson. 
His mother was the daughter of Major 
Thomas Lothrop Gilbert, a worthy citizen 
of Lyme. 

The Gilberts had emigrated to Lyme 
from Hebron, Conn., and, at the time of 
Thomas L. Nelson's birth, a line of worthy 
ancestors had lived in Lyme for at least 
one hundred and eighty years, and the old 
Gilbert Homestead, in which Thomas L. 
Nelson was l)orn, is now occupied by a 
descendant of the seventh generation. His 
father, Asa Nelson, was a merchant in 
Lyme, but died when his youngest child 
was small, and left his widow with no 
means, but a stout heart and courage to 
care for a family of small children. 



The little lad, Thomas L. Nelson, spent 
his boyhood days in his Grandfather Gil- 
bert's family. Mr. Nelson enjoyed and 
improved the few edncationai advantages 
which the place afforded, and then went 
for a time to Thetford Academy, Vermont, 
near by; but be was a close student and 
careful reader all his life. Upon leaving 
school lie was employed in a dry-goods 
store in his native town for two years, and 
then, attaining his majority, he started for 
the great West, reaching Oberlin, Ohio, 
where his uncle (by marriage) Deacon Por- 
ter Turner resided. His ambitif)n was to 
acquire an education at the college in 
Oberlin, but as all his possessions consisted 
of one dollar in money and the small 
bundle he carried in his hand, the way to 
procure an education did not seem clear to 
him. Yet this early struggle and disap- 
pointment prepared the way for him to 
sympathize with, and help in later years, 
young men similarly situated. 

Thomas L. Nelson left Oberlin, walked 
to Mansfield, Richland county, aiul at last, 
after many attempts and failures to find 
employment, secured a position as clerk in 
a dry-goods store, which clerkship he held 
for si.x months. A kind Providence after- 
ward directed his steps to Elyria, and 
he entered the store of Baldwin, Starr & 
Co. At the end of five years of industry, 
the strictest economy and self-denial, he 
was able to become a partner in this busi- 
ness, under the firm name of Starr & Co. 
In 1857 the firm of Baldwin, Laundon & 
Nelson was formed, and for fifteen years 
Mr. Nelson was known throuijhout the 
county as an honest, upright, successful 
merchant. The largest business in Lorain 
county was done by this house. At the 
time of this partnership the same parties 
also conducted a large mercantile house in 
Wellington. In 1872 Mr. Nelson with- 
drew from the mercantile business, and in 
company with J. C. Hill organized the 
Savings Deposit Bank, of wliich he was 
chief stockholder and the honored Presi- 
dent up to the time of his last sickness. 





o^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



537 



He was a valuable man in the commun- 
ity, and his presence in business or Chris- 
tian meetings was, as it were, "a tower of 
strength." He was always interested in 
the cause of education and the upbuilding 
of humanity. For thirty-one years he was 
a member of the Board of Education of 
Elyria, and for eighteen years its president. 
For nearly twenty years he served as trus- 
tee of Oberliti College. For one year he 
was mayor of Elyria, but declined all other 
offices tendered to him. Mr. Nelson cast 
his first vote with the Whig party, and 
afterward was a member of the Liberty and 
Republican parties as they came into ex- 
istence. For thirty-seven years he was a 
beloved member of the Congregational 
Church, ever ready to bear the burdens of 
the Ciiureh, a devout attendant upon its 
worship, a constant worker in the Sabbath- 
school, and a faithful witness for truth and 
righteousness. When a young man he 
laid down certain rules for governing his 
life, among which honor, strict business 
integrity and Christian charity stood most 
prominent in his mind. A life regulated 
by such standards bore its fruits in win- 
ning the confidence of all with whom he 
came in contact and in an enviable reputa- 
tion. How little does a sketch of tiiis 
length portray the character of such a man! 

In a business career of nearly half a cen- 
tury — a man of unstained integrity, as a 
citizen — honored and respected. A Church- 
member, beloved and mourned. In social 
circles always the gracious, affable gentle- 
man. Thomas Lothrop Nelson died Feb- 
ruary 21, 1891. 

Mr. Nelson was thrice married. Ilis 
first wife was Miss Lucretia Churchill 
(daughter of Judge Churchill, of Lyme, 
N. II.), whom he married July 24, 1851; 
she died January 18, 1853, leaving an in- 
fant daughter, Lucretia, now the wife of 
the Rev. E. P. Butler, of Sunderland, 
Mass. On August 21, 1856, he married 
ISliss Mary L. Moody, of Chicopee. ]\[ass. 
She died February 13, 1863, leaving three 
daughters: Mary L., the wife of A. L. 



Garford, of Elyria; Lizzie Gilbert, who 
died in childhood, and Sarah M., wife of 
Robert Frey. After ten years Mr. Nelson 
married, February 19, 1873, Miss Frances 
H. Sanford, of Elyria, who survives him. 
The last Mrs. Nelson was the youngest 
daughter of Frederick Burr Sanford and 
Eveline (Nichols) Sanford. Mr. Sanford 
was born in Danbury, Conn., April 25, 
1805. lie was educated in the academies 
of his native place, and at the age of seven- 
teen years, with his brother-in-law, Thomas 
W. Pitman, went South and engaged in 
commercial business in Newl)erne, N. C, 
but after a sojourn of some years they sold 
out and returned to their home in Dan- 
bury. On May 6, 1830, he married Eve- 
line Nichols, daughter of Aaron Nichols, 
of Danbury. She was a woman of rare 
gifts, active in Church work, a friend of 
the poor, a sister of mercy to the sick and 
afflicted — an example of all that is sweet, 
tender and heroic in Christian faith. 
After the birth of their si.x children they 
left Connecticut and settled in Elyria, Ohio. 
Mr. Sanford again embarked in mercantile 
business, for a long period being proprietor 
of the then well-known " Peoples' Store." 
Subsequently he engaged in the shoe busi- 
ness. His noble, beautiful life passed from 
earth December 27, 1879; his wife pre- 
ceded him March 1, 1864. Tliey were 
both members of the Congregational 
Church, and their children cherish the ten- 
derest memories of their home. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Sanford were descendants of the 
Starr family, a name well known through- 
out Connecticut, and they were worthy 
descendants of such a long line of noble 
ancestors. 



jRRIN HALL, than whom there is 
no one better known or more highly 
respected in Lorain county, was 
born April o, 1816, in Connecticut, 
a son of Avery Hall, also of the Nutmeg 
State, whose father's name was also Avery. 



538 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Avery Hall, father of subject, was reared 
on a farm, and wlieu a young man took up 
the business of what was commonly known 
througliout the country as a "Yankee 
peddler," selling, in company with another, 
tinware and notions from their tin shop in 
Meriden, Conn., the first of the kind in tlie 
town. On December 27, 1801, he married 
Miss Sarah Foster, who bore him two chil- 
dren: Seiden, born September 19. 1802, 
and died in Wellington, whither he had 
removed from Brighton, and where he lived 
retired; and Alfred, l)orn May 21, 1803, 
and (lied in 1890 in Perth Am boy, N. J., 
where ,he was in the terra cotta business. 
The mother of these dying, Mr. Hall mar- 
ried, September 1, 1805, for his second 
wife. Miss Lucy Bacon, the result of which 
union was children as follows, born in 
Connecticut: Erastus, born July 28, 1806, 
was a merchant, and died in Grand Rapids, 
Mich.; Sarah, born November 11, 1807, 
married Cyrus Miner, and died in Town- 
send, Huron Co., Ohio; Edwin, born April 
9, 1809, lives in Eljria, Ohio; Avery, born 
February 28, 1812, a farmer, died in 1891 
in Kansas; Lucy, born April IB, 1814, 
married Lorenzo Doty, and died in 
Brighton, Lorain county; Orrin is the sub- 
ject of this memoir; Julia and Julius 
(twins), born April 19, '1818, of whom 
Julius died in infancy (Julia was iirst 
married to Alfred Laml), and after his de- 
cease to William Cook; she died id Per- 
rysburg, Ohio); one born June 17, 1820, 
and died in infancy; and Theophilus, born 
May 15, 1821, lives retired in Wellington, 
Ohio. 

In New England Avery Hall owned a 
farm, and also a sawmill located on Muddy 
brook. About the year 1820 he came to 
Ohio in company with a man by the name 
of Comstock, the jonrney hither l)eing beset 
with many hardships and much sutt'ering. 
In Lorain county Avery selected 200 acres 
of wild land, and tlien returned to Connec- 
ticut, where for the Lorain land he traded 
what property he had to the State of Con- 
necticut. In the summer of 1822 he and 



such of his family as were then living, ex- 
cepting two sons — Seiden and Alfred (who 
had already gone on, in order to prepare a 
cabin, walking the entire distance carrying 
their packs on tiieir backs) — set out for 
their new Western houie. The family, to- 
gether with tiieir goods and chattels, came 
ill two wagons drawn by a span of horses 
and a yoke of oxen, respectively, others of 
the farm stock, including a couple of cows, 
being led behind. Alter a tedious though 
somewhat uneventful journey of four weel'is 
and four days, the party arrived in Lorain 
county, locating in what afterward became 
Brighton township. The county seat was 
then Medina, now of Medina county, Lo- 
rain county being organized about the year 
1821, and the Hall family was the fifth to 
come into the township. (The county was 
organized the year before they came in, and 
the township the year after). On their 
arrival they found the cabin not quite com- 
pleted, consequently they stayed at the 
home of Calvin Rice for a time. While 
living in Brighton townsliip three more 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Avery 
Hall, to wit: John W., born August 26, 
1823, of Wisconsin; William, born April 
11, 1825, now a mechanic of Southampton, 
Mass.; and Clarissa, born August 22, 
1829, who died when twelve years old. 
After a residence of some time here, Avery 
Hall attended a meeting whicli was called 
for the purpose of forming a township, 
and he there suggested for it the name of 
" Brighton." wliich was adopted. At that 
time there were only sufficient voters in the 
township to fill the several offices estab- 
lished by its formation. Tlie whole country 
all around for many miles was in a thor- 
oughly wild state, not ten acres of cleared 
land to be found in tlie entire township, 
and bears, deer, wolves, grey foxes, wild 
turkeys, .etc., were numerous; the Indians 
used to bring fresh meat to the Avery 
home, which they would trade for other 
things useful to themselves. In cour.se of 
time Mr. Hall, as declining years came 
upon him, retired from active work, and 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



539 



made his home in Brighton Center, where 
he died at an advanced age; hi» wife had 
preceded hiin to the grave, dying in No- 
vember, 1853, and they lie side by side in 
Brigiitoii Cemetery. In religiuus faith 
she was a Congregationalist. Politically 
Mr. Avery Hall was a Democrat until the 
formation of the Republican party, when 
lie united with it, continuing in the ranks 
thereof till the day of his death ; he held 
the first offices in Brighton township, and 
was as highly respected as he was well 
known. 

Orrin Hall, whose name introduces this 
sketch, was, as will be seen, six years old 
when the family came to Ohio, and as for 
nine years thereafter there were no school 
houses in Brighton township, his educa- 
tional advantages were necessarily some- 
what limited. For a time he found ample 
employment in assisting to clear up the 
land, and at the age of sixteen years he 
commenced to learn the trades of mason 
and bricklayer and plasterer, under A. 
Briggs. Having completed what might 
be termed his apprenticeship, he worked at 
these trades as a journeyman in twenty- 
eight States of the Union and in Upper 
Canada, traveling about as much to see the 
country as anything else. Immediately 
after his marriage he located on a portion 
of the old Kingsbury homestead in Brighton 
township, and in IbSo came to his present 
farm in Brighton township, comprising 
115 acres of prime farm land. Since 1888 
he has retired from active work, and is now 
enjoying with ease a well-earned com- 
petence. 

On November 1, 1843, Mr. Hall was 
united in marriage with Miss Louisa Kings- 
bury, born November 16, 1823, a daughter 
of Austin and Altomira (Adams) Kings- 
bury, who in an early day came from Berk- 
shire county, Mass., to Lorain county. To 
this union children as follows were 
born: Charles M., who became amember of 
Company F, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, and was 
killed in 1863 at Mt. Sterling, Ky., where 
he was buried; Albert, of Cleveland; An- 



drew, living at home; Mary, Mrs. Albert 
Pierrepont, of Wyoming; Jay, a teacher 
at Oberlin, Ohio; and Eva, of Wellington. 
Politically our subject was originally a 
Whig, now a liepublican, and in religious 
faith he is a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church at Brighton Center, which 
he has attended for over sixty years, and 
has held every office in same. 



ff^j EV. JOHN J. SIIIPHERD. Ober- 
Y^ lin is known in the world as an in- 
I ^ stitution of learning and a com- 
^J munity, the two having a common 

origin and a common history. As 
seen to-day it is a thriving city of some 
five thousand inhabitants, surrounded by a 
prosperous farming community, in the 
midst of which stands a college with its 
various departments, theological, collegiate, 
preparatory and mtisical, and an aveiage 
yearly attendance of about fifteen hundred 
students. The projectors and prime mov- 
ers of the enterprise were Rev. John J. 
iShipherd, then pastor of the Presbyterian 
(Jliurch of Elyria, and his associate and 
friend, Philo P. Stewart. 

John J. Shipherd was born March 28, 
1802, in West Granville, Washington Co., 
N. Y., son of Zebulou R. and Elizabeth 
B. Shipherd. He was carefully and re- 
ligiously educated, and while at school at 
Pawlet, Va., in preparation for college, his 
conscious religious life opened in a con- 
version which began in intense conviction 
and conriict, and resulted in great peace 
and joy. From this time to the end of his 
days his character and life were marked 
with profound earnestness and restless ac- 
tivity. In his youth a serious mistake, in 
swallowing poison instead of a remedy pre- 
scribed for a slight indisposition, so af- 
fected his constitution, involving a weak- 
ness of his eyes, that he had to abandon his 
preparatory studies for entering the col- 
letre at Middlebury, Vt., and turn his at- 
tention to such business as opened to him. 



t 

540 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



In 1824 he married Miss Esther Ray- 
mond, of Ballstoi), N. Y., and removed to 
Vergennes, Vt., to engage in the marble 
business. But he had still in view the 
work of preparing for the Gospel minis- 
try, and his eyesight having improved, he 
entered the study of Rev. Josiah Hopkins, 
of New Haven, Vt., where he spent a year 
and a half, in company with other young 
men, in theological study. His first year 
in the ministry was with the church in 
Shelburne, Vt. The next two years he 
was engaged in the sjenei-al Sundav-school 
work in tiie State, njaking Middlebnry his 
lieadquarters, editing a Sunday-school pa- 
per, and ti'aveling throughout the State in 
the work of orsjanizing schools. Conclnd- 
ing to try a new field for his life work, he 
took a commission from the American 
Home Missionary Society, and " went out, 
not knowing whitlier he went," but turn- 
ing his face to the " Valley of the Missis- 
sippi," as the whole country west of tlie 
Alleghany Mountains was then called. At 
Cleveland he met Rev. D. W. Lathrop, 
who liad just closed his labors as pastor of 
the church in Elyria, and upon his invita- 
tion lie came to that town in October,1830, 
and the following February was installed 
pastor of the church. In October, 1832, he 
tendered his resignation, and entered upon 
the work of laying the foundations at 
Oberlin, in which connection he was 
joined, the same year, by his old friend, 
Philo Penfield Stewart, the companion of 
his boyhood at Pawlet Academy. Thus 
the two founders of Oberlin were finally 
brought together, consecrated to the 
great cause, and ready for any sacrifice 
which the work required. In constitution 
and natural movement they were greatly 
unlike. Mr. Shipherd was ardent, hope- 
ful, sanguine, disposed to underestimate 
difficulties and obstacles; while Mr. Stew- 
art was slow and cautious, apprehensive of 
difficulties, and inclined to provide for 
tliem in advance. But they liad entire 
confidence in each other, in respect to rec- 
titude of heart and purpose, although their 



cooperation doubtless involved some diffi- 
culties; but whatever they were, there was 
unanimity in the pushing to consunxma- 
tion the one grand object in view. In 
their deliberations they exchanged views; 
one would present one point of interest, 
and another a different one. Thus they 
labored and prayed, and one day while on 
their knees asking guidatice, the whole 
plan developed itself to Mr. Shipherd's 
mind, and before rising to his feet he said: 
" Come, let us arise and Iniild." He then 
told Mr. Stewart what had come into his 
mind — to procure a tract of land and collect 
a colony of Christian families that should 
pledge them.selves with all its interests. 
They came down from the study, and Mr. 
Shipherd, with a glowing face, said to his 
wife: " Well, my dear, the child is born, 
and what shall its name be?" It was 
named lor John Frederic Oberlin, a Ger- 
man pastor of Waldbach, in the Vosges 
Mountains, Eastern France, who had died 
a few years before, of whose labors, in ele- 
vating the people of his parish, an inter- 
esting account had been published in this 
country, as a Sunday-school book. 

Several sites were proposed whereon to 
found Oberlin, but none of the situations 
gave sutticient scope to Mr. Shipherd's 
ideal community; finally a forest-covered 
tract eight miles southwest from Elyria, in 
the township of Russia, was decided on, 
the owners of which lived in New Haven, 
Conn. Hence a journey must be made 
by some one to New England, for the 
threefold purpose of securing the land, 
the money, and the men. In Novetnber, 
1832, Mr. Shipherd undertook the jour- 
ney, which had to be accomplished on 
horseback, arriving at his destination, 
New Haven, in the course of two weeks. 
" The day after his arrival," to quote from 
Mrs. Shipherd's records, " he called on 
Messrs. Street and Hughes, the owners of 
the land, and laid his plan before them, 
and asked the gift of five hundred acres for 
a Manual Labor School, proposing to 
gather a colony of families who should pay 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



541 



a dollar and a half an acre, for five thou- 
sand acres in addition, representing that 
this would bring the lands into market, 
and thns prove a mutual benefit. But 
they could not see the prospect. He 
called on them day after day unsuccess- 
fully, until at length he came down from 
his room one morning, and remarked to 
the lady of the house, our friend, ' I 
shall succeed today;' and she told me 
afterward that his face shone like the face 
of Moses. He accordingly went over to 
tile office, and after the morning saluta- 
tions, one of the linn said: 'Well, Mr. 
Shipherd, we have concluded to accept 
your proposition.' They adjusted mat- 
ters, and he was prepared to proceed with 
his work of collecting the colony.'' 

The arrangement was to sell live thou- 
sand acres, bought for one dollar and a 
half an acre, to colonists, at at) advance of 
one dollar an acre, and thus secure a 
fund of five thousand dollars for laying 
the foundations of the college. But Mr. 

o 

Shipherd engao-ed that from this fund a 
sawmill and a icristmill should be erected, 
to be owned by the college, as these were 
essential to the very existence of the 
colony, and there was no probability that 
the mills would be erected as a private 
enterprise. 

But as it does not come within the 
province of this biographical article to 
give a history of Oberlin, which has 
already most exhaustively and graphically 
been treated on by Prof. James II. Fair- 
child, president of Oberlin College, it but 
remains for us hei-e to conclude the per- 
sonal sketch of Mr. Shipherd. 

While in the East, he had engaged the 
number of families he suj)posed it desira- 
ble to invite to become the nucleus of the 
Oberlin Colony; had enlisted a considera- 
ble number of students who were to join 
the school at its opening in December 
following, or the next spring; had looked 
up and secured the appointment of the 
necessary teachers, and had raised a fund, 
in contributions and subscriptions, amount- 



ing to nearly fifteen thousand dollars. 
His journey back to Ohio was character- 
istic of the man and the times. Mrs. 
Shipherd had gone in the early sutnmer, 
witl) a six-weeks-old babe in her arms, to 
her father's home in Ballston, N. Y. 
There Mr. Shipherd joined her in August, 
and in an open buggy, with a willow 
cradle at their feet, they made tiie journey 
to Ohio, remembered by Mrs. Shipherd, to 
the last, as the most pleasant journey of 
their lives. They then took up their resi- 
dence in Oberlin. 

In 1884 the organizition of the " Con- 
gregational Church of Christ at Oberlin " 
was begun, the ministers present at the 
organization being John J. Shipherd; Seth 
II. Waldo, principal of the school; John 
Keyes, pastor of the church at Dover; 
J. H. Eels, pastor at Elyria; and Oliver 
Eastman, of Oberlin. Mr. Shipherd, by 
unanimous call, became its tirst pastor, in 
which relationship he continued, with 
some interruption from ill health and iiis 
other duties, until June, 1836. 

There were special educational enter- 
prises of a missionary character, in which 
the colony shared with the college. The 
first of these was led by Mr. Shipherd 
himself, who had laid the foundations 
here, and had a lotiging to continue work 
of the kind. In providing men for Ober- 
lin, the church and the college, he had not 
been careful to reserve a place for himself; 
and thus, after ten years, while still a 
young man, he foutid himself with im- 
proved health, free from the responsibility 
in the college except as trustee. H.iving 
occasion, in tiie autumn of 1843, to pass 
througli the State of Michigan, his mind 
occupied with the thought of another Ober- 
lin, he chanced upon a place in Eaton 
county that impressed him as possibly the 
appointed field. Returning to Oberlin, lie 
gathered a few of the men who had joined 
the Oberlin colony U])an his invitation, 
and proposed to tliein the new enterprise. 
In the spring of 1844 Mr. Shipherd took 
his wife and six sons into a wagon, together 



« 

542 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



witli such household goods as could be 
readily transported, with a yonncr man or 
two to drive his cows and sheep, and made 
his way overland to tlie new wilderness 
home. A half-dozen families from Ober- 
lin followed, and two young men, gradu- 
ates of the preceding year, joined them as 
teachers. Thus the foundations of the 
town and the college of Olivet, Mich., were 
laid. The new settlement had its experi- 
ences of hardship and trial; sickness came 
to many, especially to Mr. Shipherd and 
his family. In September, IS-l-i, at the 
Hge of forty-two, he passed away, and his 
grave was made in the new colony, where 
his memory is still cherished, as it is in 
Oberlin. No published writings of his re- 
main, and as no portrait of him, of any 
kind, was ever taken, not even an outline 
of his features was left. Mrs. Shipherd 
returned to Oberlin with her fatherless 
boys, and by the help of the people here 
her former home was secured to her. After 
some years three sons came forward to 
their mother's aid, and provided her a 
home in Cleveland, where some of them 
had settled in business. She died Decem- 
ber 7, 1879, at tlie advanced age of eighty- 
two. A memorial window in the Plymouth 
Church at (Ueveland symbolizes the self- 
forgetfulness and beauty of her life. A 
simple tablet in the Ladies' Hall is all that 
bears the Shipherd name at Oberlin — 
Oberlin itself is the monument. [Com- 
piled from "Oberlin: The Colony and the 
College," by the kind permission of the 
author, Prof. James H. Fairchild. 



llHILO PENFIELD STEWAET. 

This gentleman, whose name has 
II been associated with that of John 
■J/ J. Shipherd, in tiie above sketch, 

when treating of the organization of 
Oberlin Colony and College, was a native 
of Connecticut, born in the town of Sher- 
man, July, 1798. When ten years of age, 
on account of his father's death, he was 



sent to live with his maternal grandfather, 
in Pittsford, Vt., and at the age of four- 
teen he was apprenticed to his uncle in 
Pawlet, Vt., to learn the saddle and har- 
ness-making trade. In this apprentice- 
ship he served seven years, with a term of 
three months each year in the Pawlet 
Academy, a privilege which he greatly 
prized, and thoroughly improved. Under 
the influence of a Christian teacher in the 
Academy, he had devoted his life to the 
Master's service; and after completing his 
apprenticeship he experienced a sort of 
second conversion, in a conflict with his 
love of money, which seemed a natural 
tendency in his character. Thus he was 
prepared at the age of twenty- three to ac- 
cept an appointment from the American 
Board to a mission among the Choctaws, 
in the State of Mississippi. The journey 
of almost 2,000 miles to his fleld of labor 
he made on horseback, a pair of saddle- 
baijs containing his whole outflt. The 
officers of the Board had furnished him 
seventy dollars for his traveling expenses. 
But from the time of starting he entered 
upon his missionary work, and preached 
the Gospel to the families along the way, 
until he reached the Choctaw nation, at an 
expense to the board of only ten dollars 
for himself and his horse. 

An important part of his work at the 
mission was the superintendence of its 
secular affairs, for which he was well fitted. 
In addition he tauglit the boys' school, 
and with the help of an interpreter held 
services on the Sabbath in the different 
Indian settlements. His health failing, 
he returned to Vermont to recruit, but re- 
turned again to the mission in 1827, with 
a reinforcement of one young man and 
three young women, whom he took over 
the long journej' in a wagon, at an expense 
only slightly greater than that involved in 
his own journey six years before. 

In 1828 Mr. StevvSrt, now thirty years 
of age, married Miss Eliza Capen, one of 
the young women whom he had taken out 
to the mission the previous year from 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



543 



Pittsford, Vt., and together they wrought 
in the mission two or three years more, 
when Mrs. Stewai-t's broken liealth com- 
pelled them to return north, and resign 
the mission work. Still on the outlook 
for a field for Christian labor, he corre- 
sponded with his old friend, Mr. Shipherd, 
the companion of his boyliood at Pawlet 
Academy; and as a result, leaving Mrs. 
Stewart behind, he joined him at Elyria 
in tlie spring of 1832, and became an in- 
mate of his family. 

During Mr. Shipherd's eastern tour in 
1832, to secure lands, funds, etc., Mr. 
Stewart was rejoined by Mrs. Stewart, and 
they remained at Elyria with Mr. Ship- 
herd's family, Mr. Stewart being especially 
occupied in the work of bringing to per- 
fection a cooking-stove which he had in- 
vented, and which was known as the 
''Oberlin stove." This was the beginning 
of the Stewart cooking-stove, whicii has 
become so well known throughout the 
country. It was his expectation that the 
success of the invention would warrant the 
trustees of the school in taking the pecuni- 
ary responsibility involved, and thus all 
the profits might go to the school; but the 
trustees never felt authorized to assuiue 
this responsibility. 

While carrying forward the project of 
tile cooking-stove at Elyria, Mr. Stewart 
had general supervision of the work of the 
new colony at Oberlin, meeting the colo- 
nists as they came from the East with in- 
formation and counsel and enconrage- 
nient, conducting such correspondence as 
the work called for from this point, and 
iiolding frequent meetings with several 
gentlemen of the region who had con- 
sented to act as trustees of the enterprise. 
Thus the work at Oberlin was begun. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, having no chil- 
dren, had pledged themselves to the service 
,of the Oberlin Institute fur five yeai-s, for 
no other compensation than the mere cost 
of living. When the school was opened 
in 1833 they took charge of the boarding- 
hall, and continued in this capacity of 



father and mother to the young people, 
until 1836. The first year he was also 
general manager, in the absence of Mr. 
Shipherd, as treasurer of the college. 
His views and practice of frugality, and 
plainness of diet, were somewhat too rigid 
for general acceptance with the students, 
and in 1836 he resigned the stewardship 
of -the " Hall," and with some sense of 
disappointment Mr. and Mrs. Stewart 
made their way eastward to Vermont, and 
finally to New York, to work out the 
stove problem, which for two or three 
years had been held in suspense. He 
established his home at Troy, X. Y., in 
the neighborhood of the manufacturers 
who worked out his inventions. 

Mr. Stewart, worn out with the cares 
and perplexities of his business, died De- 
cember 13, 1868, at the age of seventy 
years. Mrs. Stewart afterward remained 
at her home in Troy, the only survivor of 
the group that in the parsonage at Elyria, 
in prayer and consultation, devoted them- 
selves to the work of building up in the 
wilderness a Christian College, and a 
Christian community. [Compiled from 
"Oberlin: The Colony and The College," 
by the kind permission of the author, 
Prof. James H. Fairehild. 



DAVID BENNETT, one of the early 
I settlers of Lorain county, was born 
, ' on the 26th day of May, 1788, in 

Westmoreland, Cheshire Co., N. H., 
being third in a family of fifteen children. 
His father, Dea. David Bennett, was 
the onl}' son of one of three brothers who 
came from England to the Massachusetts 
Colony about tiie year 1750, and was born 
at Harvard, Mass., May 28, 1761, his par- 
ents both dying in his infancy. At the 
ace of sixteen years he enlisted in the in- 
fantry service of the United States army, 
and fought in the Revolution. He was 
married in 1783 to Abagail Chase, and to 



544 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



them were born nine children. He joined 
tlie Baptist Church at Jamaica, Vt., in 
1)S06, and the next year received the ap- 
pointment of deacon. In December, 1811, 
he contracted a second marriage with Se- 
lina Holmes, and to them were born six 
children. He died at Dummerston, Vt., 
June 9, 1848. 

David Bennett at the age of twenty-two 
years married Polly Wheeler, and lived at 
Londonderry, Windham Co., Vt., until the 
year 1827, when became to Carlisle town- 
ship and purchased 112 acres of land in 
Section 12, one and one-half miles west of 
the center. He returned east for his fam- 
ily, consisting of his wife and a niece, and 
the next spring, in May, caine to make a 
permanent settlement on his farm. He 
soon afterward built the first frame 
house in that part of the township; put 
under cultivation 110 acres of land, and 
there resided until his death, July 16, 
1863. 

On February 6, 1830, he married, for his 
second wife, Jane, eldest daughter of Neri 
and Betsy Galpin, of Elyria, and to them 
were born six children: Polly, who died 
at the age of fifteen years; Jane A., wife 
of W. C. Sutliff ; Emerett, wife of Curtis 
Webster, Elyria; Celestia, who died in in- 
fancy; Melvin R. and Cassimar D. Mrs. 
Bennett died December 27, 1884, at the 
age of seventy-four years. David Bennett 
was an energetic farmer, and became suc- 
cessful in his chosen vocation. In politics 
he was a Democrat, and held various otRces 
of trust in the township, being for six years 
justice of the peace, and for two terms 
township treasurer. In religious faith he 
was a Universalist. 

M. R. Bennett, the eldest son, was born 
September 11, 1849, on the home farm, 
where he resided until 1884, when he 
removed to seventy acres adjoining which 
he now owns. He received an elementary 
education in the common schools of his 
native township, afterward attending Ely- 
ria High School, and subsequently Ober- 
]in Academy. 



On January 27, 1880, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Katie L. Schaden, a 
native of Lorain county, and to them were 
born two children, Florence E. and Karl 
E. Mr. Bennett, politically, votes with 
the Democratic party, and in 1872 was 
elected to the office of township clerk, in 
which position he has since served. 



GD. BENNETT, an enterprising 
wide-awake farmer of Carlisle town- 
_ ship, is a native of same, born No- 
vember 2, 1852, a son of David and 
Jane (Galpin) Bennett. 

He was reared to agricultural pursuits, 
and is now owner of sixty-four acres of 
well-improved land, where he carries on 
general farming. In 1887 he married 
Miss Carlie Kellogg, of Oberlin, Ohio. 



P)ARKS FOSTER. As a living ex- 
ample of what it is possible for 
man, with willing heart and hands, 
to accomplish — how from the bot- 
tom round of the ladder, upward, to 
work out for himself an honorable compe- 
tency, a solid reputation and a good name 
— this gentleman stands prominent among 
the worthy citizens of his native county. 
Mr. Foster was born in Lorain county, 
Ohio, September 4, 1832, of New England 
ancestry. His paternal grandfather, who 
was a native of Vermont, for some ten or 
twelve years lived in the State of New 
York, whence he came to Ohio, where he 
passed the rest of his days. Elisha Fos- 
ter, father of subject, also of Vermont 
birth, moved to New York State with his 
parents when nine years old, and in 1816 
proceeded westward to Ohio, making a 
settlement in what is now Avon township, 
Loi'ain county, at that time a wild, un- 
broken wilderness. The next year he 




^^a^^/r^ ^^^::5^^^i^^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



547 



moved to Amherst, same count}', and tlie 
farm which he cleared and lived on is still 
in the possession of members of tlie family. 
In addition to his agricultural interests he 
kept hotel at Amherst for foui-teen years. 
He married Miss Ann Maria Mason, who 
was born in Lee, Mass., January 12, 1804, 
and is still living on the old home farm, 
hale and hearty for a woman of her years. 
Parks Foster received his education in 
tile old log bchoolhouse at Amherst, and 
early commenced the arduous work inci- 
dent to farm life in his younger days. 
This he pursued nntil he was thirty-six 
years old, and then went into the stone 
business, Amherst township and vicinity 
being famed for its quantity' and quality 
of sandstone. At the end of two years he 
sold out and moved to Elyria, but shortly 
afterward, on account of his wife's im- 
paired health, they went to the Sunny 
South, sojourning in Chattanooga, Tenn., 
seven years, during which time lie was 
connected, as director, with the First Na- 
tional Bank of Chattanooga; was president 
of the first street railway organization in 
that city; was one of the first organizers of 
of the Roane Iron Company ]\Iills, at that 
time one of the largest rolling mills in the 
South, and was assistant superintendent of 
same; helped to start the Wasson Car 
Works, and also assisted *n the erection of 
a riouring mill. On behalf of the Govern- 
ment, he helped to open iip the Mussel 
Shoals Canal, employing in the work a 
large number of men for a year. He put 
out the first extensive peach orchard, yield- 
ing good fruit, on tlie side of Missionary 
Ridge, where the battle of Missionary 
Kidge was fought; in addition to wiiich 
he became interested in real estate, own- 
ing lands and houses, incluiiing a hand- 
some residence in Chattanooga, whicli was 
the family home while in that city. On 
his return to Lorain county, Mr. Foster 
reentered the stone business, in company 
with Clough Bros., the firm style being 
" The Clough Stone Co.," which continued 
some seven years. They built the railroad 



to the quarry from Oberlin, some four 
miles in length, afterward selling out to 
the Cleveland Stone Company. 

Afterselling his interests in the Clough 
Stone Co., Mr. Foster tooka trip toEurope, 
remaining there some months, visiting vari- 
ous countries, and then set sail again for 
his native land. Soon after his return he 
engaged extensively in the lake vessel 
business, as a member of two transporta- 
tion companies, the Escanaba & Lake 
Michigan Transportation Co., and the 
Owen Line, and one of the vessels, a hand- 
some craft, bears his name — "The Parks 
Foster." 

In 1888, Mr. Foster was appointed, by 
Gov. Foraker, one of the trustees of the 
State Asylum for the Insane, at Toledo, 
and served throughout the Governor's 
term; under Gov. Campbell he was re- 
moved for political reasons only, but was 
reappointed by Gov. McKinley, and still 
enjoys the incumbency. 

In addition to Mr. Foster's manifold 
businesses above recounted, he is interested 
in a cattle ranch in Colorado, and also in 
coal industries. For a time he was a 
stockholder in and director of the Savings 
Deposit Bank Co., of Elyria. He owns 
two large farms near Toledo, and, in con- 
nection with J. C. Hill and T. L. Nelson, 
was interested in an extensive timber 
business. He is at present a director of 
and stockholder in the Garford Manufac- 
turing Co., and the Electric Light Plant 
at Lorain, Ohio. In 1890 he was elected 
a member of the State Board of Equaliza- 
tion, serving thereon some seven mouths. 

While in Toledo Mr. Foster contracted 
(in 1891) with that city to lay some pipes, 
to tiie amount of fifty thousand dollars, 
and while engaged on same was taken so 
ill tiiat he had to be conveyed to his home, 
where he gradually became worse, and in 
May, 1892, he had to take to his bed, and 
for eleven months he lay between lite and 
death, his friends all ilcsp liring of his re- 
covery. In Ocloljer, after lying some five 
months dangerously ill, he submitted to a 



30 



548 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



heroic operation. Medical skill, backed 
by a good constitution, prevailed, and 
the patient slowly gained strength, al- 
thongh be had lost one hundred pounds in 
weight. Five months elapsed after the 
operation before much iinprovement in 
his system was noticeable, but since then 
Jie has improved steadily, and is now 
almost fully recovered — a living monu- 
ment to modern medical and surgical skill. 
In October, 1855, Parks Foster and 
Mary L. Robertson, a native of Lorain 
county, were united in marriage, and four 
children — one son and three daughters — 
were born to them, of whom the following 
is a brief record: Sarah May is the wife of 
S. L. Kent, of New York City; Burton P. 
is a resident of Findlay, Ohio; Mary L. is 
the wife of Arthur W. Walker, of Ports- 
mouth, N. H. ; and Miss Florence is a 
student of music at Boston, Mass. John 
B. Robertson, Mrs. Foster's father, was a 
native of Ballston, N. Y., and was well- 
known in prominent Democratic circles. 
He was formerly a resident of Saratoga, 
-N. Y., coming to Lorain county in 18B0. 
He married Miss Temperance Foot, a na- 
tive of Lee, Mass., and they had five chil- 
dren — three sons and two daughters — of 
whom two sons are living, in Lorain county 
and New York City, respectively. Mr. 
Robertson died in 1875. His widow is 



living in 
the 



Amherst township, Lorain 
advanced age of ninety- 



now 

county, at 
three years 

Mrs. Foster passed her girlhood in Am- 
herst township, where she was educated. 
It was after marriage, when her health be- 
gan to fail, that she and her husband went 
South, as already related. She has ever 
been a hard worker in the interests of re- 
form, a zealous Church woman, and was 
the one who took the initiative and most 
active part in the erecting of the present 
Baptist Church building. A member of 
Several organizations, she acts as chairman 
of numerous committees. She is a live 
worker in the social interests of the 
Church, and raised the wherewithal to 



establish the Temperance Reading Room. 
In the Anti-Liquor League recent)}' or- 
ganized, she is one of the active workers, 
and a leader in its councils. She is a 
power in the family circle, and a counsellor 
to her husband, at times aggressive when 
he may be mild or indifferent, but always 
on the side of right, to that end, in all 
things, fearless and unflinching. 




ILLIAM SMITH, retired, enjoys 

the distinction of being one of the 

oldest and most honored of the 

farmer citizens of Lorain county. 

He was born in Bennington county, Vt., 

December 30, 1809, and is consequently 

now fourscore and four years old. 

He is a son of Samuel and Pollie (Fuller) \ 
Smith, the former of whom was born in ' 
Vermont, was a farmer by occupation, and 
died in Ashland county, Ohio, at the age 
of eighty- three. His wife, when aged 
sixty-two, died in Illinois, whither he had 
accompanied her, but returned East just 
prior to his death. His father, Daniel 
Smith, a Vermonter, came of old Puritan 
stuck, and was a deacon in the Baptist 
Church; Mrs. Pollie Smith, our subject's 
mother, was also a Baptist. She had five 
children, of whom the following is a brief 
record: Jedediah is residing near Platts- 
burg, N. Y. ; William is the subject of 
this sketch; Willis is living in Utah; 
Laura, who was married in New York 
State to a Mr. W^ebb, died in Iowa; and 
Lydia, married to a Mr. Pixley, is living 
in Orange, Ashland Co., Ohio. 

William Smith received a liberal edu- 
cation at the schools of the neighborhood 
of his place of birth, and was reared to 
agricultural pursuits on his father's farm. 
At about the age of twenty-six he moved 
to New York State, but after a year's so- 
journ there came to Ohio, settling on a 
piece of land in Sullivan township. Ash- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



549 



land eotinty, coininenciiig there witli about 
tour Imndred dollars, and by iiulustry and 
indomitable perseverance succeeded in 
accniiiulating a handsome competence, 
becoming the owner of 888 acres of fertile 
land. There he lived forty-one years, or 
until about 1878, when he came to Well- 
ington, Lorain county, and has here since 
made his home. In Novetnber, 1835, our 
subject married Miss Sabriiia Palmer, and 
eleven children were born to this union, of 
whom the following is a succinct record: 
(1) Lydia M. married George .McClellen, 
and had two children: Lydia M. and Julia, 
both married; Lydia M. died in Welling- 
ton in 1884. (2) Piatt B. is a farmer in 
Sullivan township, Ashland county. (3) 
Fuller enlisted iu Company H, Eighth 
O. V. L, and was killed at the battle of Cold 
Harbor. (4) Russell also was in the Civil 
war, serving under Gartield in the Forty- 
second O. v. L, during which time his 
health was completely shattered ; he died at 
home. (5) Martin W. lives in Sullivan, 
Ohio; he is married and has live children: 
Nettie, Sabrina, Fuller, Claude and Ethel. 
(Gj Julia is the wife of a Mr. Beem, and 
resides in Sullivan, Ohio; she has one son, 
William S. (7) Eli resides in Michigan; 
he has four children: Milo, Mabel, Ruby 
and Ettie Joy. (8) George, living in Sulli- 
van, has two children: Louise and Mack. 
(<J) Ettie resides in Sullivan. (10) Milo 
died in youth. (11) One that died in in- 
fancy. The mother of these died in 1874, 
and in 1878 Mr. Smith wedded Mrs. Lo- 
rena G. West, nee Diinmock, a daughter of 
Solomon and Clarissa (Phelps) Dinunock. 
Her father, who was a native of Connecti- 
cut, in an early day came to Sharon, 
Medina county, Ohio, and died at Olmsted 
Falls, Cuyahoga county, at the patriarchal 
age of ninety-three years. He was a well- 
known Baptist minister, at first serving in 
the capacity of a missionary. His wife 
(who was born in Connecticut, and from 
there moved to Vermont, where she was 
married) died at the age of eighty-nine 
years. They had twelve children, Mrs. 



Smith being amoni£ the vouncrer ones. Her 
hrst husl)and, by whom she had four sons, 
died in Kansas iu 1875; he was a farmer, 
and a devout member of church. She is 
an adherent of the Baptist faith, Mr. 
Smith of the Disciples. Politically he is a 
Republican, and as a Whig cast his first 
vote for Polk. In his long lite and early 
pioneer e.xperiences he has an interesting 
history, and full many a tale of days gone 
l)y can be yet relate — of difhculties and 
dangers unknown to the present generation. 



THEODORE FREEING HUY SEN 
DANIELS, cashier of the Citizens 
Savings Bank, Lorain. Of the men 
who have from the first believed 
firmly and steadfastly in the ultimate 
greatness of Lorain, and whose faith has 
been and still is unshaken by any momenta^ 
rily discouraging circumstance that might 
arise, T. F. Daniels has been one of the 
most patient and persevering. The town 
never had a bank until he came in 1880, 
and it has had a good one ever since. 
When the town grows to a population of 
a hundred thousand or so he will be re- 
membered as the pioneer banker. His 
ability and integrity have brought pros- 
perity to the institution of which he has 
so lono' been an important officer, and his 
continued connection with it amounts to a 
guaranty of its continued success. 

Theodore Frelinghuysen Daniels was 
born in Caledonia, N. Y., on the first day 
of July, 1844, a son of Eli W. and Ann 
(Miner) Daniels, both of whom were na- 
tives of Connecticut. The mother died 
when Theodore was four years of age, but 
his father is yet living at the age of 
ei<Thty-one. When the subject of this 
sketch was two years of age the family 
moved to the wilds of Wisconsin. The 
first place the family settled was at Ocono- 
mowoc, a few years later moving to what 
is now Auroraville. The Daniels family 



550 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



was about the first white family to settle 
in the neitrliborhood, and young Tlieodore's 
first and for a number of years only play- 
mates were young Indians. Settlement 
was made on tiie bank of a sniall stream 
which was made to furnish power for a 
saw and grist mill. For many ye^rs the 
place was known as Daniels' Mills, but as 
it grew in importance, the name was 
chancred. At the breaking out of the war 
of the Rebellion young Theodore desired 
to accompany his older brother when he 
went to the front, but his father refused 
to give his consent on account of his son's 
delicate health, fie continued to asji.->t 
his father with his business until the last 
call for troops came in 1864. In Septem- 
ber of that year Mr. Daniels enlisted in 
Battery D, First Wisconsin Heavy Artil- 
lery. His company was sent to Brashear 
City, La., which is some distance below 
New Orleans. Mr. Daniels was detailed 
first as clerk in the company headquarters, 
but afterward became a messenger in the 
telegraph service. The responsibilities 
and dangers of this position were some- 
times great. He was still in this service 
when President Lincoln was assassinated, 
and carried the dispatches which spread 
the startling news. Mr. Daniels was at- 
tacked by " southern fever," and lay for 
several months in different southern hos- 
pitals, being finally discharged at Prairie 
du Chieii in July, 1865. 

The following winter he attended a nor- 
mal school near his home, and was in- 
fluenced by his teacher to go to Oberlin 
College. He reached Oberlin February 1, 
18(')6, and graduated from that institution 
in August, 1872. The next day after he 
graduated he entered the First National 
Bank of Oberlin, and it speaks well for his 
conduct and close application to his work 
that he became its cashier in a little less 
than two years and a half. In May, 1875, 
he was married to Miss Julia H. Lewis, 
of Pleasanton, Mich., an Oberlin student, 
who was born near Athens, Ohio, Septem- 
ber 9, 1850, daughter of Rev. William S. 



and Eliza (Campbell) Lewis, the former a 
native of Bridgeport, Conn., the latter of 
Acworth, N. H. In 1864 the Lewis 
tamily removed to Michigan, and later tiie 
daughter attended Oberlin College, where 
she met her future husband. 

During the summer of 1880 Mr. Daniels 
was attacked by the " western fever," and 
took a prospecting trip through Colorado, 
Neln-aska, Kansas and Wyoming. He 
came back satisfied with Ohio, but still 
determined to launch out for himself in 
business. About this time Loi'ain began 
to attract attention by reason of the build- 
ing of the brass works. Mr. Daniels came 
down from Oberlin one day to look the 
town over. What he saw must have 
pleased him, for be immediately resigned 
his position at Oberlin, and started the 
Bank of Lorain in the front room of a 
dwelling house owned and occupied liy 
Mrs. Mary Reid. Owing to the great de- 
mand for business rooms at that time, this 
was the only location that could be ob- 
tained. The town grew and the bank 
prospered. In January, 1882, the First 
National Bank was organized with a capi- 
tal of fifty thousand dollars as the successor 
of the Bank of Lorain. Mr. Daniels was 
offered the presidency of the new institu- 
tion, but preferred the more active duties 
of the cashiership. The bank paid regu- 
lar semi-annual dividends, and in Marcli, 
1893, divided an extra twelve per cent, 
dividend; and the First National Bank 
was then merged into the Citizens Savings 
Bank, with a subscribed capital of one 
hutidred thousand dollars. The new bank 
started out with a surplus of twelve thou- 
sand five hundred dollars, which in the 
coming January will be increased to four- 
teen thousand dollars, notwithstanding the 
unprecedented panic of 1893. 

Mr. Daniels has held different local offices 
among others that of city and township 
treasurer, councilman, water-works trustee, 
etc. It is needless to say he has filled all 
these positions with credit. He has always 
been much interested and a great deal of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



551 



the time an active participant in local pub- 
lic affairs. He has a pleasant home on the 
bank of Lake Erie a short distance west of 
Lorain. His family consists of a wife and 
three children: Irving L., Mabel E. and 
Ruth R. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels were both 
formerly members of the First Congrega- 
tional Cbnrch of Oberlin, and latterly 
members of the Concrreo-ational Church of 
Lorain. Politically our subject is a Re- 
publican. [Extract from " Men we all 
know," Lorain Herald, December, 1898. 



^jr\E V.JAMES BRAND, D. D., 
li«^ Oberlin, is a native of Canada, born 
J[ ^ February 2G, 1834, at Three Rivers, 
Jf) a town on the St. Lawrence, in the 

Province of Quebec. He is a son of 
James and Jennette (Boyesj Brand, natives 
of Dumfries, Scotland, where they married, 
and whence they came to Canada sliortly 
befure the birth of our subject. The father 
was a school teacher and farmer, and he 
and his wife were members of the Presby- 
terian Church; they died in Canada. 

Our subject received a limited education 
in tiie public schools, Windsor, P. Q., and 
graduated from Phillipps Academy, An- 
dover, Mass., after which, in 1861, he en- 
tered Yale College. His studies here were 
interrupted by a service in the Union army, 
he having enlisted in 1862, in the army of 
the Potomac, wiiere he served under Burn- 
side and Hooker and Mead, as color ser- 
geant of the Twenty-seventh Connecticut 
Volunteers. He participated in the bat- 
tles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville 
and Gettysburg, in the first of which he 
was wounded in the shonlder. At the ex- 
piration of his term of service he contin- 
ued his college studies at Yale, and in 1866 
graduated A. B. He then entered the 
Tiieological Seminary at Amlover, Mass., 
where for three years he studied theology, 
at the conclusion of which he became 



pastor of the Maple Street Congregational 
Church in Danvers, Mass. After four 
years labor in that field he came, in 1873. 
to Oberlin, and became successor to Pres- 
ident Finney as pastor of the First Church. 
Mr. Brand received his degree of D. D. 
from Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa. He 
has published several books and pamphlets, 
all treating more or less on theological sub- 
jects, and has also written considerably for 
journals. To some extent he has lectured 
on the battle of Gettj^sburg. He has taken 
a prominent part in the Temperance Re- 
form in Ohio; was a delegate to the Inter- 
national Council at London, England, 
where he delivered one of the addresses. 
In 1871 Dr. Brand married Miss Juliette 
n. Tenney, of Troy, Ohio, and has a family 
of six children, as follows: Charles A., 
Edith B., Mary T., Helen C, James T. and 
Margret R. 



ffffON. W. B. THOMPSON. In the 
t^^ front rank of the progressive and 
I 1 influential citizens of Lorain stands 
■^ this gentleman, a leading attorney 

at law, and mayor of the city. 
Mr. Thompson was born September 6, 
1863, at (Jolumbia. Lorain Co.. Ohio, a 
son of S. B. and Emular (Osborne) Thomp- 
son, residents of Columbia. He attended 
sciiool at Berea, Ohio, finally graduating 
from Baldwin University, class of 1885, 
taking the degree of Ph. B. He then, 
having decided on making the profession 
of law his life work, commenced its study 
with Judge Barber, of Cleveland, and 
completed same with prosecnting-attorney 
Webber, of Elyria. After a thorough 
delving into " Blackstone " and " Coke 
upon Lyttleton," our subject was admitted 
to the bar, December 6. 1888, and was as- 
sociated in business in Elyria with his last 
preceptor, one year, when, seeing the great 
possibilities in store for Lorain, a fast 
growing town, he moved thither and 
opened an office for his own account. He 



552 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



has succeeded beyond his most sanguine 
expectations. As a cogent reasoner and 
jurist, he is marked for his ability, and as 
a pleader he has few equals among men of 
his age and experience. By his integrity 
and business capabilities lie has won the 
contidence of the best business men of the 
community. In 1890 Mr. Thompson was 
elected mayor of Lorain, and is now tilling 
his second terra. During his incumbency 
as mayor have been made most of the 
great public improvements of the city, and 
in this he has always taken a leading part. 
During the year 1892 Lorain expended 
sixty thousand dollars on public sewers, 
and many otiier extensive improvements 
have been made. 

In December, 1890, Mr. Thompson was 
united in marriage with Lulu Sanford, of 
Delaware, Ohio. He is a member of the 
F. & A. M., K. of P. and I. O. O. F. 



ILAS D. WHITNEY, the oldest 
citizen of Pittsfield township, is a 
worthy member of a pioneer family 
of the county. He is a grandson 
of Asa Whitney, who in 1792 removed 
from Connecticut to the vicinity of Pitts- 
field, Mass., where he passed the remainder 
of his life, dying there in 1802. He was 
twice married, and among the children by 
his tirst wife was Asa, Jr., who afterward' 
became the tirst man to agitate the idea of 
a railroad to the Pacific coast. 

Milton Whitney, who was a son of Asa 
Whitney by his second wife, was born in 
1786 in Salisbury, Conn., and moved with 
his parents to Massachusetts, where he 
was reared. He received a common-school 
education, learned tlie trade of blacksmith, 
and had wagons and plows made in his 
wagon shop. After the death of his 
lather he resided with his mother until 
his marriage, in Pittsfield, Mass., with 
Miss Lydia Cleveland, who was born on 



the island of Martha's Vineyard, daughter 
of Zebdial Cleveland, an old sea captain. 
To this union came children, all of whom 
were born in Pittsfield, Mass., as follows: 
Asa W., a blacksmith by trade, who died 
in Pittsfield, Lorain Co., Ohio (he was in 
Lorain county when Pittsfield township 
was formed, it being No. 4, Range 18, 
Connecticut AVestern Reserve, and it was 
he who suggested that the township be 
called Pittsfield, after Pittsfield, Mass.); 
Chancey, who died young, the sharp point 
of an old-fashioned spinning-wheel having 
accidentally peneti'ated his skull; Clarissa, 
who married Hiram Humphrey, a presid- 
ing elder and minister in the M. E. 
Church, and died in Pittsfield. Ohio; 
Wealthy, who married J. L. Wadsworth, 
and died in Wellington, Ohio; Oliver W., 
deceased in Des Moines, Iowa; Silas D., 
who will receive mention farther on; 
Henry C, who owned a large tract of land 
in Colorado, where he died; and Frederick 
C, of Pittsfield Center. In 1820 Milton 
Whitney set out for Ohio, traveling by 
way of the Erie Canal as far as Buffalo, 
where he remained one week, waiting for 
the steamer (the only one on the lake) to 
take him to Cleveland, which was then a 
small village, containing but a few huts. 
He came by stage from Cleveland to South 
Amherst, and thence on foot to Pittsfield 
township, Lorain county, where he had 
some few years previously purchased a 
large tract of land, containing one thou- 
sand six hundred acres. He decided not 
to settle at that time, as the country was 
entirely wild, and there were but few 
white people in all of Lorain county. Re- 
turning to his home in Massachusetts, he 
remained there until 1833, when he sold 
his beautiful home for a good price, and 
in the fall of the year came with his wife 
to Lorain county, Ohio, where they de- 
cided to locate in Pittsfield township. 
Again returning to the East, they made 
preparations for migration, and on Jan- 
uary 22, 1884, their two sons, Asa W. and 
Silas D., left Pittsfield, Mass., setting out 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



553 



with two horses and two wagons for their 
new home, w'here they arrived in tlie latter 
part of February. The rest of the family 
followed shortly afterward. To Tiiomas 
and Jerry Wait Mr. AVhitney gave one 
hundred acren, and to Chauncey and 
Henry Remington, also one hundred acres 
(fifty acres to eacii individual), all wild 
land in an unbroken wilderness in No. -4, 
on condition that they settle on the land, 
which they did. The Waits (both bache- 
lors) settled here in 1821, being the first 
permanent settlers in Pittstield township. 

Milton Whitney was not physically a 
strong man, or robust, and he spent 
many seasons at Saratoga, N. Y., for the 
benefit of his health. He was an ardent 
member of the Democratic party, and 
served as postmaster during his residence 
in Fittstield township, where he owned 
one thousand acres of land. He died in 
1839, his wife in 1809, and they are both 
buried in the South cemetery, in Pittslield 
township. 

Silas D. Whitney was born March 3, 
1820, in Pittslield, Mass., where he re- 
ceived the greater part of his education, 
afterward attending the old log school 
houses of Pittslield, Ohio, and finally one 
term in Wellington. He was reared to 
farm life, and remained at home until two 
years after his father's decease. On No- 
vember 11, 1841, he was married to Miss 
Electa N. Parsons, who was born in 182-4 
in Hampshire county, Mass., daughter of 
Ebenezer and Electa (Naramore) Parsons, 
the latter of whom died when her daugh- 
ter Electa was born ; the father remained 
a widower ten years, when he remarried, 
and in 1835 he came to Pittsfield, Lorain 
Co., Ohio. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Whitney settled on the home farm, where 
they still reside, and here the following 
children have come to brighten their home: 
Arthur E., of St. Paul, Minn.; Ann Clar- 
issa, a most beloved daughter, who died at 
the age of thirty-one; Alma E., wife of 
Ciiarles E. Archer, of Massillon. Oiiio; 
Abbie, wife of F. C. Williams, of Creston, 



Ohio; Agnes, who was married November 
22, 1893, to Frank Coleman, of Nelson, 
Nel). ; Frances, living at home; and Ed- 
mund M., superintendent of the F. C. 
Kimball Manufacturing Co., Cleveland. 
In politics Mr. Whitney was originally a 
Democrat, but subsequently because an 
Abolitionist, and he is now an active mem- 
ber of the Republican party. He is a 
member of the Baptist Church; his wife 
worships at the Congregational Church. 



IA\ILLIAM HAWKINS (deceased) 
y was born July 2, 1804, in New- 
ly burgh. Orange Co., N. Y., a son 
of Samuel and Lydia (Van Camp) 
Hawkins, the latter of whom was born in 
the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, and 
was an eyewitness to some of the incidents 
connected with the massacre which took 
place in that historic vale. 

William Hawkins was one of a family 
of eight children, of whom he was the last 
survivor. When he was nine years of age, 
his father died, and the young lad then 
went to make his home with Adam Welty, 
a fartner of Owasco township, Cayuga 
Co., ]M. Y., with whom he lived some 
time, during which he attended the com- 
mon schools in winter and worked on a 
farm in summer. When seventeen years 
of age he commenced to learn the trade of 
blacksmith under one HoUiday, whom in 
later years he always referred to as his 
"old boss," and after an apprenticeship of 
three years he commenced business for his 
own account in Owasco township. When 
he started he was absolutely penniless, as 
during his apprenticeship he received 
nothing but his board and clothes, although 
treated very kindly, and as one of the 
family. His foster-father went security 
for an outfit of tools, which enabled him 
to make a good start, and after a few years 
industrious application at his trade lie paid 
off this indebtedness, his only one, and had 



554 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



saved monpy. In 1830 he made a visit 
to Micliiiian (wiiere lie had a lirotlier liv- 
inir). with the intention of reiDaining 
thfi-e, but being dissatisfied with the coun- 
try, returned to New York State. In 
1832 he came to Ohio, and locating in 
Erie county worked at his trade for a man 
named Tillinghnrst at but meager wages. 
Two years after his arrival in the Buckeye 
State he bought 105-J acres on Lot 13, 
Tract 10, Camden township, Lorain county, 
at that time covered with an unbroken 
forest, and devoid of buildings of any 
kind. Here, in company with his brother 
Charles, he set to work to make a clearing 
for a home, and together they erected a 
substantial log house, at that time consid- 
ered the best one in the township. Our 
subject also built a log blacksmith shop, 
and in connection with his farming opera- 
tions followed his trade for thirty years, at 
the end of which time he retired from 
blacksmithing, and continued agriculture 
exclusively during the remainder of his 
active life. He died September 6, 1888, 
after a brief illness, and was laid to rest 
in Camden cemetery. He was a man of 
remarkable vitality, strong, robust consti- 
tution, and almost iron frame. He made 
a success in life, and from a start of posi- 
tively nothing save a willing pair of 
hands accumulated a comfortable compe- 
tence, and succeeded in securing and re- 
taining the respect and esteem of his 
neighbors and many acquaintances. Po- 
litically he was originally a "Whig, later a 
Eepublican, and in church matters he in 
an early day united with the Baptist Con- 
gregation at Camden Center. 

On April 22, 1835, Mr. Hawkins was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Ab- 
bott, a native of Otsego county, N. Y., 
born March 29, 1813, a daughter of Squire 
and Anna (SpafEord) Abbott, of Massa- 
chusetts, where they lived till they were 
over twenty years of age. Mr. Abbott 
was a Baptist minister, and in pioneer 
days came from New York State to Ohio 
on horseback, being sent out as missionary 



from the Baptist board. In 1820 he lo- 
cated in Ashtabula county, and five years 
later came to Henrietta toAvnship, Lorain 
county, at that time part of Brownhelm 
township, where he died December 18, 
1853, at the age of eighty-three years; 
his wife had preceded him to the grave in 
1847, and they peacefully await the Eesur- 
rection Morn in Henrietta township ceme- 
tery. The record of the children — eight 
daughters and one son — is as follows: 
Eliza married Egbert Ingersoll, and died 
iu 1886 at Camden Center; Hannah is the 
wife of J. B. Cook, of Elyria; Maria is 
residing at home; Vesta married Oscar 
Tanner, and died May 23, 1863, in liug- 
gles, Ashland county; Mary is the wife of 
L. A. Andrews, of Delplios, Ohio, a con- 
ductor on the P. A. W. Railway; Anna 
is married to Simeon Hales, of Henrietta, 
Ohio; Charles E. is farming on the home 
place in Camden township; Naomi is the 
wife of E. H. Wing, of Chicago, 111.; 
Alice is the wife of Henry Hales, of Cam- 
den township. Since the death of her 
husband Mrs. Hawkins, now a hale and 
hearty lady, in the enjoyment of almost 
phenomenal health, has been making her 
home with her son Charles and daughter 
Maria on the old homestead, where well 
nigh sixty years of her honored life have 
already been passed. 



EYMOUR WESLEY BALDWIN, 

^^-, long a merchant in Elyria, was born 
^g/) in Meriden, Conn., June 29, 1807. 
He was, quite remarkably, only in 
the fourth generation from the first an- 
cestor of the name, Richard Baldwin, who 
settled in Milfurd, Conn., in 1639. The 
family was a very respectable one in 
Buckinghamshire, England, prominent in 
Milford and rich in lands — wiiich were 
divided and re-divided among the descend- 
ants, so that there was an unusual number 
of farmers of moderate wealth. 





V/ /^>/^-:h;-^^ 



LOIiAiy (. OUNTY, OUIO. 



557 



Such was Mr. Baldwin's fatlier, Charles 
Eakhviu, an early Methodist of the last 
century, who bought a large farm in 
Meriden, and died there in 1S18 leaving a 
widow and seven children, of whom Sey- 
mour W. was the youngest. He went to 
district school winters, w'orking at the 
farm summers, and was thought to have 
considerable education when he attended 
the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire for 
one winter. When seventeen, Seymour 
commenced business as a peddler, which 
mode of life was the common and almost 
only one open to enterprising and respect- 
able young men; and many prominent 
citizens in after days commenced as "Con- 
necticut peddlers." Many settled in that 
most prolitable Held, the South, as mer- 
chants, and many elsewhere. When, in 
1847, Mr. Baldwin retired to Meriden, the 
ex-member of Congress residing there — 
both bank presidents, the ex-president of 
the N. H. & H. R. R. Co., and a large share 
of the other leading business men of the 
place, had made such a beginning. When 
all goods had to be carted overland, this 
was quite the natural mode of trade. The 
carriage of goods by railroad has nearly 
abcdished this mode of trade, and vastly 
lowered its dignity. An entertaining study 
might be made of that business at that 
time. The field was on foot, or with 
horse and wagon in the New England 
States and Long Island, or with wagon in 
the South, and with regular routes and 
customers. 

Seymour soon entered into partnership 
with his brother Jesse, under the firm 
name of J. & S. Baldwin, as a country 
merchant, in Oxford, Conn., then a more 
thriving village than at present. The 
business was general, and while at first 
one of the brothers peddled, they also em- 
ployed other peddlers and manufactured 
silver spoons. Soon outgrowing Oxford, 
J. & S. Baldwin removed to Middletown, 
same State. The energy, ability and high 
character of the brothers had already be- 
come recognized in New York. That cele- 



brated Xew York merchant atid philanthro- 
pist, William E.Dodge, in his little book on 
Old New York published by Dodd, Mead 
& Co., in 1880, selected the two brothers 
and a comrade, who together entered his 
store with trunks, as typical samples of 
Connecticut merit and success. Tliey all 
became prominent and valued customers 
and friends of Mr. Dodge. Mr. Dodge 
mentioned that Mr. Jesse Baldwin had 
then been a bank president for twenty 
years, and the third a large manufacturer. 
Mr. Dodge then spoke of the subject of 
this sketch at greater length and with 
much respect. Both brothers became in 
South Carolina and Geoi"<ria strong anti- 
slavery men — Jesse as a leading Abolition- 
ist, while Seymour was a Whig, becoming 
an early Free-soiler. Possibly his wag- 
ons at Elyria may sometimes have traveled 
on the "Underground Railroad," for Ids 
works were always with his faith. In 
May, 1835, though the South was a more 
alluring field for money, Mr. Baldwin 
with his young wife and an infant son re- 
moved to Elyria. Here with a magnificent 
physical constitution he displayed great 
energy. Business was then so perfectly 
unlike business now, that a sketch of it 
ujay be interesting. 

Elyria, the county town, was settled in 
1817. The county was heavily timbered. 
It is easy to see that before the Erie Canal 
there must have been but little trade in- 
deed. The pioneers must have lived by 
themselves — lives very simple and full of 
" hardship," and perhaps as happy as ours. 
In 1835 there was a general barter trade; 
there was very little money. The heavy 
timber was burned into ashes, and ashes, 
pot and pearl, were considered " cash, " 
and went to Pittsburgh for glass and also 
to New York. Many salts went to Pitts- 
burgh in the shape of scorchings or black 
salts, which was lye reduced to a black mass 
and then scorched in ovens. From 1838 
much white oak and many staves went to 
Black River, thence by sail to Buffalo, 
thence by canal to New York. There could 



558 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



hardly have been any eastern trade with- 
out these commodities. The dry goods 
and groceries were bought in New York. 
They came l)y canal to Buifalo, thence by 
boat or sail to Cleveland, or more com- 
monly Black Kiver. No goods came 
through in the winter, and such replenish- 
ing, if any, as took place, came by Pitts- 
burgh to Cleveland, being hauled from 
Baltimore and Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. 
Hauling was a business of considerable 
extent, and one spring Mr. Baldwin met 
east of Pittsburgh within ten miles 
as many as fifty wagons. After a while 
some goods were bought of the firm of 
Hilliard & Hayes, in Cleveland. In the 
early spring goods were hauled from Buf- 
falo west (before that harbor was opened) 
to Silver Creek or elsewhere, to meet the 
boats, and Mr. D. B. Andrews, formerly 
partner of Mr. Baldwin, going down on a 
steamer, was compelled to land in Canada, 
cancrht cold, and died in Buffalo. 

The cheapest goods were then in demand. 
There were no ingrain carpets kept in 
Elyria until about 1845. Ingrain carpets, 
nice shawls and dresses, were bought on 
special orders. Mr. Baldwin was at first 
in company with Mr. Orrin Cowles, from 
Meriden. They separated, and be bought 
out (for the sake of the corner stand) Wil- 
cox & Beebe. successors of the Lorain Iron 
Company. That store long remained with 
Mr. Baldwin's sign " Old New York Store." 

Then commenced the very energetic 
competition which made Elyria noted for 
trade. Mr. H. K. Kendall, a merchant of 
greatability, then had the leading business. 
He was first on the ground, and there had 
been great falls in prices of which he had 
the credit. A merchant's life was labori- 
ous. Mr. Baldwin used to go by stage 
before navigation opened on the lake — 
sometimes by way of Buffalo and some- 
times by way of Pittsburgh — to New York 
and Philadelphia. It was a great thing to 
get the first goods in the spring, and he 
studied the matter carefully, spending 
several days in Albany. He loaded the 



canal boats in New York (being careful to 
have the boats filled with his own goods 
only), and early went to Albany before the 
canal was opened. There boats had a right 
to go in order of registry. For several 
years he offered prizes for being among 
the first ten boats at Buffalo, but there was 
danger of being too early; as, if unloaded 
at Buffalo in warehouse, the lake boats 
would take fresh canal boats rather than 
from the warehouse, thereby saving one 
loading. At the first decided triumph, 
when his rival had advertised the first 
goods, Mr. Baldwin passed those first 
goods safely stored at Buffalo, saw his 
own loaded in boat, got the boat to land 
at Black River, and accompanied the goods 
to Elyria long before his rival's arrived. 
Such single incidents seem small, but it 
was the many such struggles that made 
Elyria the center of trade for from fifteen 
to twenty miles east and west, and twenty- 
five miles south. The system of ready 
cash (there was but little) or barter was 
introduced, and this lowered prices. 
Elyria in those days was a sight to see. 
The farmer came over the mud road with 
his heavy wagon, frequently with oxen, for 
twenty-five miles, bringing part of his 
family and such articles as he had to sell, 
and doing the trading for the spring and 
fall. The street at midday would be full 
of wagons, there being often one hundred, 
more or less. Other merchants were 
crowded out, but both the chief competitors 
went safely through the hard times of 
1837 to 1840. In the spring of 1837 
both had to ask some extension, Mr. Bald- 
win asking only leave to extend their debts 
for some friends; but aside from this, in a 
business life of over sixty years, Mr. 
Baldwin has never been obliged to ask a 
favor of a creditor. It is difficult even for 
one who experienced it to see how busi- 
ness could have been conducted — with 
the frightful state of money and difficult 
transportation. The farmers brought but- 
ter (and very poor it was in those days), 
feathers, oats, wheat, in fact everything 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



559 



they had, and tlie merchants houalit almost 
everything but live beef. The butter went 
to Xew York, and the wheat was floured 
ai the local mills. But the farmers brought 
little money. 8ome cash came in with 
emigrants. When the farmers could ex- 
change a pound of butter for a pound of 
sugar there was rejoicing. In 1S3(5 there 
was a general suspension of hanks, and 
there was no resumption until 1840. 
There was "Michigan Wild Cat" paper, 
the worst currency imaginable, everybody 
fearing it. Mr. Baldwin once having flour 
to sell on commission — the currency being 
left to him — the farmers seemed to be very 
glad to get anything for such currency; 
and when Mr. Baldwin announced that he 
would charge a dollar more for currency 
than for barter, the currency came in only 
the faster. Produce was generally taken 
as cash, and sold again at home without 
proflt. It was very ditflcult for the farm- 
ers to get enough money to pay taxes, and 
Mr. Baldwin earned the lasting gratitude 
of one farmer by giving him two dollars 
hard money at the current price for butter. 
At a later date the Arm at Elyria sold at 
times from one hundred and tifty thousand 
dollars to two hundred thousand dollars, 
and a branch at Wellington two-thirds as 
much. A large share was paid in pro- 
duce, the firm at Elyria handling from flfty 
thousand dollars to sixty thousand dollars 
worth of butter in a year. The firm em- 
ployed at one time about forty clerks. The 
rivalry at Elyria was famous, and a retired 
New York merchant once said to the writer 
that, as a country store, Mr. Baldwin's was 
as remarkable in its way as that of Mr. 
Stewart's in New York City. Railroads 
largely revolutionized the trade. Mr. I'ald- 
win never tried to make large profits, 
and never lost money except one year 
(about 1840), the year the l)anks were re- 
quired to resume in Ohio. He paid a 
Cleveland bank that announced the inten- 
tion to resume thirteen per cent, premium 
in its own hills for a draft on New York 
ten days before the appointed time. The 



draft was paid, the bank did not resume. 
At that time merchants refused to sell at 
any price for the currency of the country. 
That generation needed no more lessons as 
to the value of safe currency. 

Mr. Baldwin has been a man of very un- 
usual poise of character. With such a 
business, which by its economy of labor 
and low profits has done the farmers of 
Lorain a very large amount of saving, he 
has not hiiuself cared for wealth. Always 
fairly economical — never ostentatious — he 
on coming to P^lyria resolved that when 
he had ao(|nired a moderate fixed sum he 
would retire. In 1847, in accordance with 
that resolve, he returned to Meriden, 
though it is doubtful if he would have 
been willing to (|uit unless he had become 
the leader. But he could not let business 
alone. He started there a ready-pay store, 
and became the president of the Home 
(now Home National) Bank, which post 
he resigned on his return to Elyria. He 
was also a member of the banking firm of 
Wicks, Otis & Brownell, of Cleveland. He 
became acquainted with the senior mem- 
ber of the firm, William A. Otis, while 
waiting at Albany to see the goods through. 
In 1856 he returned to Elyria, and until 
his death had a small interest in the busi- 
ness at Elyria and at Wellington. Losses 
invited his return, but he had no ambition 
for business in large places — having de- 
clined in 1847 an invitation to partnership 
in the leading house in Cleveland, and at 
other times favorable invitations to New 
York. His energy and business judgment 
would have made large wealth in larger 
places, but Mr. Baldwin had such mastery 
of life that he cared not for it. 

In 1870 Mr. Baldwin went abroad for 
travel, and after that he was notactivein his 
business. In 1874 he had so severe an attack 
of pneumonia that it was thought to be im- 
possible for him to live, atid his death was 
reported; but a vigorous constitution and 
pure life carried him through, and he lived 
until tlie fourth day of February, 1891. 
He continued active in his care of an 



5(50 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO, 



invalid wife until her death in 1886; in his 
garden; in slight attention to tlie business 
of tlie bank, of which he was many years 
director; or in other private business. He 
was always an intelligent reader, having 
especially a taste for history. 

Mr. Baldwin was also much interested 
in securing, before he died, the building of 
a new church, donatingthe lot and in other 
ways helping much. He gave the plans 
and the building much thought and time. 
He was a man of sturdy independence of 
character, with a frank toleration for the 
opinions of others, which steadily increased 
with his advancing years. An interchange 
of thought became a pleasure, for his in- 
terlocutor was sure of a fair hearing, how- 
ever diverse might be their views. His 
public spirit was evidenced by the deep 
interest he always took in the success of 
the many young men with whom he was 
associated. Said Dr. Hoyt at his funeral; 
" Coming as Mr. Baldwin did from Puritan 
stock, ho early inherited some of its 
marked peculiarities. He had an intense 
antipathy at all times to whatever he re- 
garded as meanness, to ingratitude and to 
every form and manifestation of injustice. 
He prized personal, political and religious 
freedom, and he sought in every way as he 
had opportunity to pi'otect the helpless and 
the oppressed, and to guard against the 
encroachment of power." 

Mr. Baldwin was always much inter- 
ested in what he regarded as the best in- 
terests of Elyria in political or business 
matters, and in early days, when railroad- 
ing was a problem, was a director in the 
Junction Railroad — built through Elyria 
and now a part of the Lake Shore & Mich- 
igan Southern Railway. He attributed 
his business success to rigid adherence to 
principles of which the chief were to always 
promptly fulfill his obligations, of what- 
ever nature, and to keep his business 
always within his control. It may fairly 
be said of him, however, that his life has 
been governed by a rare judgment and 
moderate ambition. 



Mr. Baldwin was twice married, first to 
Mary Candee, of Oxford, Conn., who died 
in Elyria September 28, 1836, leaving two 
children both under two years of age. For 
his second wife he married Fidelia Hall, 
of Meriden, Conn., who survived until 
1886. He had four sons — by the first 
wife: Charles Candee Baldwin, of Cleve- 
land, and David Candee Baldwin, of 
Elyria; by the second wife: John Hall 
Baldwin, a manufacturer, of New York 
City, and Arthur Rice, a resident of 
Atlanta, Georgia. 



CHARLES CANDEE BALDWIN 
was born December 2, 1834, in 
Middletown, Conn., a son of Sey- 
mour W. and Mary (Candee) 
Baldwin. 

In May, 1835, the family moved to 
Elyria, Ohio, making a considerable part 
of their journey by boat on the Erie Canal, 
where it is reported that the young traveler 
made his presence effectively known by the 
vigorous use of his then lusty voice. In 
1836 his mother died, too early for his re- 
membrance. In time her tender care was 
supplied by a stepmother, of whom it is 
said in the Baldwin Genealogy that she 
was as good a stepmother as ever lived. 
As illustrating the changes which have 
taken place in Lorain county, where his 
childhood was spent, and which has always 
been his pride, it is related, among the ex- 
periences of his early childhood, that when 
two years old he was lost in the woods 
where the Elyria depot now stands. 

In 1847 the family returned to Connec- 
ticut, residing in Meriden until 1856, when 
they again came to Elyria. Meantime, on 
August 1, 1855,. Charles had graduated 
with honor from the Wesleyan University, 
Middletown, and same month entered the 
Harvard Law School, where, in 1857, he 
took the degree of LL. B. In the autumn 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



561 



of the same year lie was admitted to the 
bar at Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the 
office of S. B. and F. J. Prentiss. In 1861, 
on the election of F. J. Prentiss to the 
office of county clerk, Mr. Baldwin entered 
into partnership with S. B. Prentiss, un- 
der the tirm name of S. B. Prentiss & 
Baldwin. In 1869, upon the election of 
S. B. Prentiss to the bench, the firm of 
Prentiss, Baldwin & Ford was formed, 
which in 1878 was changed to Baldwin & 
Ford. 

By too close attention to business Mr. 
Baldwin's health became so much im- 
paired in 1870, that he spent some time in 
Europe for recuperation, winch, however, 
was but partial; so that for some years 
subsequent he gave less attention than 
formerly to his law business, in order to 
secure more outdoor exercise. From 1875 
to 1878 he was president of the Cleveland 
Board of Underwriters. He has heen di- 
rector of four banks, and has been twice 
offered the presidency of a leading bank 
in Cleveland. His rare capacity and sterl- 
ing integrity have brought into his hands 
from the first a business, unusually im- 
portant in its character and responsibility, 
largely relating to corporations and bank- 
ing. A most important case — that of 
Brown, Bonnell & Compsiny, the great 
iron manufacturers of Yonngstown — was 
argued by him, by brief and orally, several 
times in the Supreme Court of the United 
Stated, involving the very successful issue 
of a million and a half of dollars. 

In 1884, on the organization of the 
circuit court, under the change in the con- 
stitution of Ohio, Mr. Baldwin was unani- 
mously presented by his county as their 
candidate. Of the 160 votes cast at the con- 
vention in ElyriaMr. Baldwin received 142; 
the next highest candidate nominated re- 
ceived but 105. He has since been reelected, 
and is now (1894) the presiding judge of 
that court. Mr. Baldwin lias been untiring 
in his attention to the duties of his office, 
though it has i)een impossible for him to 
relieve himself from finishing in the 



United States Courts a large amount of 
professional business of a high order. So 
well founded have been the most of his 
judicial decisions, that it is exceedingly 
rare for one to be reversed by the higher 
courts. Though a man ot specially tender 
susceptibilities, he has shown himself, to a 
remarkable degree, able to rise above his 
sympathies in defining the exact equities 
of the law. In one notable case, where 
the death of a beautiful little girl had been 
caused by a railroad train, though his feel- 
ings were so overcome that he completely 
broke down in giving his decision, yet 
it was clear that he did not suffer his 
sympathies to warp his sense of legal 
equity. 

The inherent activity of Judge Baldwin's 
nature, and the liberal education with 
which he lifgan his professional career, 
joined to natural tastes in that direction, 
have led him to do a largeamount of effect- 
ive work in promoting the general inter- 
ests of science, education and culture, both 
in Ohio and in the country at large. 
Especially effective has been his wc>rk 
in lines of historical and archaeological 
research. 

In 1866, while a vice-president of the 
Cleveland Library Association (now Case 
Library), Mr. Baldwin planned the West- 
ern Reserve Historical Society, which was 
first formed as a branch of the Case Library 
Association; but in 1892 was organized 
under a separate charter. Upon the death 
of Colonel Whittlesey, in 1886, Mr. Bald- 
win WHS chosen his successor as president 
of the Society. Through his personal so- 
licitations in 1892, sixty thousand dollars 
were raised to complete the purchase and 
remodelling of the fireproof building, upon 
the Public Square, in which the valuable 
historical library and archivologioal mu- 
seum of the Society are now stored. Mr. 
Baldwin's taste for history has been active, 
and in 1881 he published the " Baldwin 
Genealogy;" in 1882-83 the "Candeeand 
Allied Families," and later the " Baldwin 
Supplement." There have also been 



562 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



published from his pen some twenty-five 
addresses and magazine articles, among 
tliein Early Maps of Ohio and the West 
(the one on Indian Migrations being 
adopted with little change in Windsor's 
" Critical History of America"); an ad- 
dress at Youngstown on ''The Geographical 
History of Ohio; " at Norwalk, on " Man 
in Ohio;" at Oberlin, on "Columbus;" 
and at Mansfield, on "Early Indian Mi- 
gration in Ohio;" and a review of the 
"Margry Papers," published in Paris in 
the French language. He has been elected 
causa honoris a member of nine State or 
other historical societies, and in 1891 a 
fellow of the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science. Prof. G. F. 
Wright is free to say that but for the recog- 
nition and aid of Judge Baldwin, his own 
work in glacial antiquities would have 
come to an end with tlie survey of Penn- 
sylvania, and that it was largely through 
the advice and encouragement of Judge 
Baldwin that he was led to venture upon 
the publication of so elaborate and highly 
illustrated a work as his "Ice Age in 
Nortii America." For portions of several 
seasons Judge Baldwin has been in the 
field with Professor Wright in prosecuting 
glacial investigations. 

In LS92 Mr. Baldwin received the 
degree of Doctor of Laws from his Alma 
Mater. Among the many who united in 
nominating him for tliis honor was 
David J. BreM'er, of the United States 
Supreme Court, who sent the following 
letter: 

Sdprkme Codrt op the United States. 
Washington. 

April 6, 1892. 
to the faculty op western univbksity. 
Gentlemen: — 

Permit me to join with others in recom- 
mending the granting of an honorary LL. D. to 
.Judge Charles 0. Baldwin, of Cleveland, Ohio: I 
have known Judge Baldwin ever since college days. 
He is now the presiding judge of the Court of 
Appeals in Northern Ohio, and has a high rank as 
a lawyer and judge. He is a gentleman of high 
character, and especially loved and honored in the 
State in which he has made his home during his 
active life. He has won quite a name, too, outside 
of the law, by his researches into the early history 



of his State, both before and since its settlement by 
the whites. He is eminently worthy of any honor 
the University can confer upon him, and certainly 
a host of friends will be gratified by hearing that 
he has received an LL. D. from his Alma Mater. 
Yours very truly, 

David J. Brewer. 



DAVID CANDEE BALDWIN was 
born in Elyria, Ohio, September 23, 
, ' 1836. He was son of Seymour W. 

and Mary (Candee) Baldwin, the 
latter of whom was a daughter of David 
and Hannah (Catlin) Candee, of Oxford, 
Conn. The Caiidees were French Huo-ue- 
nots. 

The Catlins had among their ancestors 
Capt. Joseph Wadsworth, who hid the 
Connecticut Charter in the Charter Oak, 
and Matthew and John Allyn, two of the 
grantees named in that saineCharter. John 
Allyn was for thirty years secretary of Con- 
necticut, and during some of the time was 
practical governor, the then Connecticut 
constitution requiring a change of gov- 
ernor every year; but the secretary of 
State was more constant. The father of 
Mrs. Heman Ely, Thomas Day, was for 
twenty-five years secretary of the same 
Commonwealth. 

Hannah Catlin had also amono' her an- 
cestors William Pynchon, the treasurer of 
the Massachusetts Colony before the emi- 
gration, a member of the council, the 
founder of Springfield, and high in in- 
fluence until he wrote a Unitarian book, 
one hundred and fifty years too soon. The 
book was burned on Boston Common, and 
Mr. Pynchon returned to England, where 
he could enjoy religious liberty — "fearing," 
says Judge Savage, "that he would be 
treated as was his book." The State of 
Massachusetts at the Chicago Exposition 
exhibited in its State Buildincr most con- 
spicuously his portrait. Mr. Pynchon is the 
hero of Holland's "Bay Path." 

When Mr. Baldwin was but five days 
old his mother died, and his father was 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



563 



left with the care of two infants, for tlie 
older son was not yet two years old. 
David was at lirst cared for by Mrs. Sarah 
Goodwin, who had a son of the same age. 
Seymour W. Baldwin's second wife, Fide- 
lia Hall, as gentle and conscientious as any 
mother could be, came into the care of 
these two small children. She survived 
until 1886, in Elyria, having two children 
of her own. She was many years in ill 
health, a feeble, tender woman, strong in 
her past life, and in her character. Iler 
own children were far away, one in Minne- 
sota and one in New York City, and no 
own son conld have been more attentive, 
thoughtful and kind than was the stepson 
who lost his own mother when five days 
old. She should certainly have loved him 
as tenderly as if he was her own, and she 
did. 

AVhen our subject was ten years old his 
father revisited his old home in Connecti- 
cut, returning to Elyria in 1856. David 
was educated at the best schools to be 
found, first in Meriden with Hon. David 
N. Camp, afterward distinguished in Con- 
necticut, and Hon. H. D. Smith, also a 
leader; next with D. H. Chase, LL. D., 
of Middletown, all still living and all 
honored. He closed his education at 
Wilbraham Academy under Dr. Ray- 
mond, now president of the University at 
Middletown. 

His father had high hopes of his practi- 
cal business qualities, and he went at once 
into a store at Meriden, in which his father 
was partner. On the return to Elyria he 
went into the store there of Baldwin, 
Laundon & Nelson. Through his father 
he had an interest in the business, and he 
contributed in a large degree to the emi- 
nent success of the firm, the business of 
which is described in the sketch of S. W. 
Baldwin. His excellent sense and judg- 
ment, his easy tact, graceful manners and 
strict and high integrity made him an ex- 
cellent salesman and an early favorite with 
the public. On the reorganization of that 
firm iu 1872, it became D. C. Baldwin & 



Company, composed of his father, himself 
and Mr. John Lersch, he having principal 
charge of the very large business of the 
firm. The then leading wholesale merchant 
of Cleveland once said to the writer that 
no better merchant entered his store than 
Mr. Baldwin. In time the firm became 
Baldwin, Lersch & Co., composed of the 
same partners, and later by the death of 
Mr. S. W. Baldwin, Mr. Lersch taking 
gradually a more responsible part in ac- 
cordance with his own and the wishes of 
David. Mr. Baldwin has a fine skill and 
judgmeut in mechanics, and it is easy to 
see that with his business ability, if he 
had remained in Meriden, he would prob- 
ably have engaged in manufacturing, as 
was indeed his first taste, and he would 
have become eminent. He has an excel- 
lent library, which is especially rich in 
archasology — a science which at the iireseut 
time, especially, needs good judgment, and 
his opinions are much respected. He gave 
some months and considerable expense to 
the exhibit of Man and the Clacial period 
under the name of Prof. (t. F. Wright and 
himself in the Anthropological Building 
at the Columbian Exj)osition. He has 
been very generous to the Western Reserve 
Historical Society of Cleveland, of which 
his brother is president, having aided hand- 
somely in the purchase of its building, and 
still more handsomely in the objects of the 
Society. Tiie D. C. Baldwin Collection 
was the first extensive collection of arcluvol- 
ogy donated to the Society, and it is prob- 
ably unexcelled by any collection of the 
same size in the United States. 

On the reorgatiization of that very suc- 
cessful Society in 1892, Mr. Baldwin was 
one of its incorporators; he is also a patron 
and an honored adviser. AVith no wish 
for wealth for its own sake, and with more 
than means to gratify his wants, no one 
person knows his generosity. Whether as 
lieutenant in the Civil war, or bank director 
or holding other office, he has simjjly taken 
what was in the plain line of duty, with 
no shrinking from care, but with no desire 



564 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



for place beside. He has well in his heart 
the idea of the Moravian prayer — "Pre- 
serve us from the unhappy desire of be- 
coming great." 

Not long since a gentleman, who has 
been most intimately associated with a 
public man of distingjuislied and constant 
success, told the writer that in the pleni- 
tude of his distinction, this man said: 
•'My life has been a failure." Who 
can say that, when his success is his 
character? 

Mr. Baldwin married. May 1, 1878, 
Miss Josephine Staub, daughter of Rev. 
Henry Staub, a clerjryman of the Method- 
ist Ejiiscopal Church. She is a person of 
tine education, with a very active mind 
and much intellectual strength. They are 
both addicted to reading (which brings the 
best of company of this and other ages) 
and to travel. They have journeyed abroad 
thrice, as well as extensively in this coun- 
try. Mr. Baldwin's life has been quite 
without such incident as is usually men- 
tioned in a biography. He did not ad- 
venture himself as a pioneer in a new 
country, or start business in a new place, 
or hold conspicuous office. To those who 
know him it is evident he would have been 
successful in any line of life he chose, as 
he has been in that he has chosen. He 
has been a prominent citizen, and especially 
a le;ider in such good deeds as need sym- 
pathy, active work and a benevolent con- 
tribution. Few men have that even poise 
of character that they are not carried away 
by the world, by the desire of wealth, of 
power or of political position. Mr. Bald- 
win's distinction is, as was his father's be- 
fore him, his character — successful in 
everything he has ever tried, of ample for- 
tune, but not desiring large wealth, de- 
clining the prospect of prominent station 
whenever offered; well educated by school- 
ing, reading, by travel and by experience; 
well married, happy in society, in his own 
home and abroad; hospitable, thoroughly 
appreciated by all who know him; intelli- 
gent, with tact and generosity; having a 



most charming home, with such reason- 
able hobbies as occupy his mind; liappily 
contented, independent in his own pur- 
suits, and able to gratify every wish of 
himself or his appreciative wife — who can 
but feel that that is a life to be envied, 
and who in the county will not think that, 
if any one deserves it, "Dave Baldwin" 
does? 




\ICHAED BAKEE. The subject 
^ of this sketch was born at Harjiole, 
\v^ near Northampton, Etigland, Feb- 
ruary 8, 1818. His ancestors were 
Freeholders — yeomen, owners and 
occupiers of land for many generations, 
both on his father's and mother's side. 

Up to twelve years of age our subject 
was kept closely to the country school, and 
was then sent to a first-class boarding- 
school, one of the leading business educa- 
tional institutions of that day. At the 
age of sixteen years he left school, and 
assisted his father in the management of 
" Spratton Grange Farm," which he occu- 
pied for many years. From a young boy 
he was very fond of live-stock, especially 
cattle, and his father being a large breeder 
and feeder, he had great advantages, be- 
coming an expert in judging, managing 
and handlincj cattle. 

While yet in his minority young Richard 
succeeded in gathering and establishing a 
herd of Shorthorns, that in after years was 
successful in the show-ring. He has been 
an admirer of Shorthorns all his life, but 
never entertained any prejudice against 
other useful breeds. Having in those early 
years handled so many Hereford, Aber- 
deen, Sussex and Norfolk grades, he knew 
their oood qualities, and has ever been 
ready to acknowledge their merits. He 
has been called upon to serve as "Expert 
Judge" on the "Beef Breeds" of cattle at 
several different States, and many other 
large, exhibitions, his decisions being 
generally satisfactory. 




f^L 'c^UecfL^c^^cU^^^^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



567 



In 1S52 Mr. Baker, accoinpaiiied hy his 
wife and family of eight chil(h'en, immi- 
grated to this country, settling in Lorain 
county, where he lias since been engaged 
in farming and stock raisini;. In ISSC) he 
commenced breeding Siiortliorns, and in 
1871 he purchased the " Cliff Grange 
Farm " of 200 acres, near Elyria. 

The subject of this sketch was married, 
in England, to Sarah, sixth daughter of 
Jeremiah and Martha Gaudern, of Cottes- 
brook, Northamptonshire. England. Mr. 
Gaudern was a large grazier and feeder of 
cattle; his wife, Martha, the mother of 
Mrs. Baker, was a Miss Eaton, of same 
county, her ancestors had been prominent 
agriculturists for many generations. Sev- 
eral of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Baker 
died in their infancy, and two sons and 
one daughter — George Edward, Sai-ah Ann 
and Alfred M. — passed away in maturer 
years. Alfred M. died at Fort Collins, 
Colo., May 18, 1893. In 1874 he went 
out to Colorado, purchased 160 acres of 
land, improved it, and made himself a 
pleasant and substantial home, including a 
good brick house and all necessary out- 
buildings. In 1881 he married Ada, 
daucrhter of John Bichardson, of Norwalk, 
Huron Co., Ohio. He added to his farm, 
and at the time of his death owned 400 
acres of land, well stocked, together with 
other property. He left a loving wife and 
a daughter, Edna. In 1890 he had •' La 
Grippe," which never qnite left him, and 
at the above date died of quick consump- 
tion. Gordon W., the eldest son of Richard 
Baker, is in business in Elyria. He mar- 
ried Charlotte Alice, the fonrth daughter 
of William Linnell, a farmer, of Sulby, 
Northamptonshire, England ; has two 
daughters: Alice Maud Mary and Annie 
Louise. B'red Richard is at Fort (Collins, 
Colo., where he has a large farm, which he 
rents to a good farmer, and lives in the 
city. He is a director of the First Na- 
tional Bank, and was county commissioner 
one term. He was a member (from Lo- 
rain county) of the " Union Light Gnards," 

31 



composed of young men, one from each 
county in Ohio, sent to Washington by 
Gov. Tod, of Ohio, as an escort to Presi- 
dent Lincoln during the war of the Rebel- 
lion. In 187(1 he was married to Elnora, 
daughter of Mr. James Jackson, of Am- 
herst, Lorain Co., Ohio, and their only 
son, Edward Richard, is the only grand- 
son to bear the name of this branch of the 
Baker family. The youngest living daugh- 
ter, Lizzie C., is at home, having the whole 
care of the household, her mother having 
been an invalid for several years past. 

Mr. Baker has held several offices. In 
1858 he was elected a director of Lorain 
County Agri.-ultural Society, and was its 
presideiit at different times up to 1883. 
In 1860 he started a county " Farmers 
Club," which was in useful existence for 
many years. He wrote up the History of 
the County Agricultural Society, published 
by AVilliams in 1879. In 1888 he was 
appointed County Centennial Commission- 
er, and also elected president of the Coun- 
ty Centennial Association. In 1879 he 
was elected a member of the Ohio State 
Board of Agriculture; re-elected in 1881; 
elected president of the Board in 1882; 
participated in establishing the " new 
work " of the Board; the system of gather- 
ing crop reports; analyzation of fertilizers; 
strongly advocated the Ohio farmers 
"County Institutes"; opposed premiums 
on wines at the State Fair. He was a de- 
legate to the convention of agricultural 
and college boards, at Washitif^ton, called 
by Commissioner Loring in 1882; read a 
paper at that meeting on " Best Breeds of 
Cattle for Farmers of the Western States," 
which elicited lengthy discussion; was ap- 
pointed one of a committee of five, at that 
convention, to urge u[)on Congress the 
necessity and importance of the •' Hatch 
Bill." He assisted in organizing the Lo- 
rain County Farmers Institute, and was its 
first president; has prepared many papers 
and read them at the Insritute meetings; 
is secretary of this organization at the 
present time (1894). In 1862 he was ap- 



568 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



pointed by the first commissioner of Agri- 
culture (Newton) as principal correspond- 
ent and reporter of condition of crops and 
farm stock for Lorain county, Ohio, and 
lias held that office up to the present time, 
under Secretaries Coleman and Rusk and 
the present secretary, Morton. He has a 
complete set of the Annual Reports of the 
Department of Agriculture. 

The following is taken from the Ohio 
Farjner: "Mr. Baker became acquainted 
with Thomas Brown of the Farmer in 
1853, and has been a subscriber, reader 
and occasional contributor ever since. He 
has always been a firm friend to this jour- 
nal, and has done some nol)le work for it. 
His tirst communication to it was on tlie 
importance of ' Farmers Clubs.' He is a 
thorough American in thought and prin- 
ciple, has done his duty wherever it has 
been made known, honestly, conscientiously 
and fearlessly. Mr. Baker was one of the 
men who earnestly advocated the Board of 
Agriculture owning its own grounds for 
State Fail- purposes, and for some time 
stood alone in this position; but he has 
lived to see his plan carried into successful 
completion. All honor to the pioneers of 
progressive Agriculture in Ohio." He has 
been a true friend to the farmers not only 
of Lorain county, but of the entire State, 
never grudging his time, and he has been 
the leading spirit of the Agricultural 
Society. 

In politics the subject of this sketch 
has been a thorough Republican, from the 
organization of that party, and most 
heartily endorses the McKinley protec- 
tive Bill. 

His father was the fourth son of George 
Baker, a large farmer of Harpole, North- 
amptonshire. His mother was third 
daughter of Thomas Marriot, Floore, 
same county. George Baker was the second 
son of John Baker, who was a son of 
William Baker, all large farmers. A 
nephew of George Baker was a noted 
writer of his day. He published the "His- 
tory of Northamptonshire." [George 



Washington's ancestors were from that 
county.] He possessed the most complete 
library in the county. The Baker and 
Marriot families are Saxon on both sides, 
all along the line. They have been '• Free- 
holders," and always eligible to vote for 
member of the House of Commons. 



D 



S. CUMMINGS (deceased) was a 
son of Archibald Cummings, who 
was born in Billingscake, County 
Down, Leland, in March, 1781. 
Archibald Cummings came to America 
in 1791. and remained in New York State 
until 1834, in which year he came to Sul- 
livan (then in Lorain, now in Ashland 
county), Ohio. In 1813 he married Eliza- 
beth Anderson, and ten children were born 
to them, as follows: (1) Sarah Ann, mar- 
ried Rev. Joel Talcott, who died in 1871; 
Sarah Ann died in 1891. (2) John P., 
deceased in 1868. (3) D. S., subject of 
sketch, died April 3, 1881. (4) Thomas 
S., deceased October 19, 1893, in Overton 
county, Tenn. (5) Elizabeth, married to 
Dr. William Stilson, who died in Clyde, 
Ohio; Elizabeth is now living in Kansas. 
(6) Margaret, deceased in 1856. (7) Har- 
riet, deceased in 1873. (8) James Ander- 
son, who lives in Milan, Ohio, and has 
three children. (9) Archibald, who died 
in St. Louis, Mo., in 1856. (10) Andrew, 
married, and residing in Missouri. 

D. S. Cummings was reared to agri- 
cultural pursuits, and educated at the sub- 
scription schools of the period. He re- 
mained with his parents until he was 
twenty-four years of age, at which time he 
came to Rochester township, Lorain county, 
where he hired out to C. W. Conaut. After 
his marriage in 1844 Mr. Cummings rented 
land for two years, at the expiration of 
which time, by assiduous industry and 
judicious thrift, he was enabled to pur- 
chase one hundred acres of land in Roch- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



569 



ester towiisliip at eight dollars per acre, 
paying ca>h for oiie-fourtli of the amount, 
ami triviiiir notes for tlie balance. This 
was all uncleared land, with the exception 
of about tifteeu acres, which could be called 
tillable. In about six years from that time 
seven acres were added, making a total of 
107 acres, which is now the liomestead of 
his widow, all being accumulated by their 
joint efforts. 

On April 13, 1844, Mr. Curamings was 
married, in Sullivan (then Lorain, now 
Ashland county), to Miss Elizabeth Close, 
daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Gale) 
Close, who were the parents of sixteen 
children, as follows: Miranda, Alonson, 
Deborah Ann, one that died in infancy, 
Alvira, Nathaniel, llebecea, Amy, Eliza- 
beth, Samuel, Lockwood, Sacah, Diana, 
Annis, Lucy and Reuben. 

Benjamin Close was born in Greenwich, 
Conn., a son of Benjamin Close, Sr., wdio 
was of Scotch descent, and was wounded 
in the Revolutionary war. These two, 
father and son, when the latter was about 
ten years old, moved to Genoa, N. Y. 
When ^rown to manhood, Benjamin, Jr., 
with his wife and two children, and accom- 
lianied by his elder brother, Henry, started 
for Ohio in June, 1S17. He left his fam- 
ily in Painesville, and along with Henry 
came on to Sullivan township, then in Me- 
dina county, afterward in Lorain, now in 
Ashland. Of an old acquaintance living 
in Harrisville, thirteen miles from Sulli- 
van, Mr. Close borrowed some corn and po- 
tatoes, and he had not a dollar to pay on his 
land, even his last tavern bill having to be 
settled in cloth Mrs. Close had made before 
leaving Genoa. They built the first house 
of logs in Sullivan township, and cut their 
road through the dense forest, as they 
moved onward with their ox-team from 
Harrisville to Sullivan. As soon as Mr. 
Close could clear a piece of land, he planted 
some apple seeds, thus startinjj an orchard, 
and until fruit was gathered from it the 
family, from the time they came into the 
township, eat only two apples. For tea, 



medicine, etc., he had to go on foot to 
Elyria, twenty-five miles north, there being 
no road for oxen, and at that time he had 
no horse. On one occasion he lost his way, 
coming homeward, it being so cloudy he 
could not see the sun, and his compass he 
had left behind. After wandering about 
some time, he struck a small stream which 
proved to be a tributary of Black river, in 
what is now Rochester township, then un- 
itdiabited save by roving Indians and wild 
animals. On the bank of this stream he 
spied a wolf watching him, and then our 
adventurer wished he had brought his gun; 
but his faithful dog, that had accompanied 
him, ''tackled" the brute, and after a des- 
perate struggle got him by the throat, which 
80 weakened the wolf that Mr. Close was 
able to give him a blow on the back with 
a hickory club he had cut for the purpose, 
and the dog then easily finished him. Mr. 
Close reached home at last, but not before 
darkness had set in. 

Mr. Close succeeded eventually in pay- 
ing for 200 acres of land. The home was 
a regular manufacturing establishment; for 
there was tailoring, dressmaking, millinery 
work and shoemaking going on nearly all 
the time. Wool was spun and woven, and 
the cloth colored, all at home; yet with all 
this work the family found time to close 
their labor on Saturday night, ready for 
rest on the Sabbath — sweet rest, indeed! 
The family library consisted of Bible, 
Catechism, " History of Henry Obookiah," 
" Life of God in the Soul of Man " (the 
latter volume published in England in 
1020) and the " Missionary Herald," pub- 
lished in the interest of the missions in the 
Sandwich Islands. This pioneer home was 
always open to ministers and school teacli- 
ers, of whom those in the neighborhood 
had much to do with the education of the 
larce family growint; to manhood and 
womanhood. Mr. Close was protected 
through many dangers by a kind Provi- 
dence; at last, on August 10, 1852, when 
at the age of sixty-four years, he wasdriv- 
ing a span of young horses that took fright 



570 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



and ran away, throwing him from the 
wagon and killing him, wlien but a short 
distance from his home. His widow died 
in 1868. 

D. S. Cummings died April 3, 1881, 
leaving a widow but no children, as the 
three born to them died young, namely: 
Francis E., died when five years and eight 
months old; one died in infancy, un- 
named; and Wallace A. died at the age of 
five years. Mr. Cummings in his political 
sympathies was a Whig, afterward a Re- 
publican, and he was repeatedly called 
upon to till (itiices of trust in his township, 
which he did with characteristic fidelity 
and acknowledged ability. In Church 
work he was very energetic and helpful, 
was a deacon in the Congregational Church 
many years, and took particular interest in 
educational work. His highly respected 
■widow is regarded in the community as a 
woman of high morality, and is admired 
for her many virtues. At the present time 
she is living on the old homestead with 
an adopted son. 

In 1848 there was a long and tedious 
lawsuit commenced by some Connecticut 
people against the farmers in the section 
where Mr. Cummings had settled. It ap- 
pears that this tract of land was many 
years ago ceded to Ohio by same Connecti- 
cut people who afterward claimed to have 
never signed away their right and title to 
it. The suit was finally decided in favor 
of the farmers (of whom Mr. Cummings 
was one), but the cost of contesting it was 
about equivalent to paying tor the land 
twice over, and fell the more heavily on the 
occupants, as the soil, being new, was 
yielding but a very small revenue. 

In the fall of 1843 the women of 
Rochester formed a Temperance Society, 
as they found liquor was being sold in the 
town, doing an inestimable amount of 
harm. The leaders among the women were 
Mrs. H. M. Tracy (afterward Mrs. Cutler), 
now living in California, and Mrs. Mary 
Bell, now living in Kansas. They ap- 
pointed the following named as a commit- 



tee to talk to the party selling the liquor: 
Mrs. Orpha Conant, Mrs. Ilumiston and 
Mrs. Lucretia Stevens. The liquor dealer 
promised to stop the sale, but nevertheless 
continued the traffic, though- more cau- 
tiously, and the women then took the case 
before tlie county court, where the man 
was fined ten dollars and costs. In 1844 
Mrs. Tracy edited a paper called The Fal- 
ladium, the temperance meetings being 
continued, and this lady also delivered 
some good temperance lectures. Some of 
the best citizens came with their wives to 
hear her, and soon afterward she was in- 
vited to deliver the lectures in public. 
Thus meetings continued for two or three 
years. Mrs. Tracy left the town, how- 
ever, for more extended work, and Miss 
Anvilla Huraiston then edited l'/>e Pal- 
ladium, and Mrs. Eliza Conant became 
president. Later Miss Ilumiston also left 
town for another field of usefulness, after 
which Mrs. E. C. Cummings edited The 
I'lilladium. The meetings still continued 
till public sentiment was sufficiently 
aroused to induce those best men to en- 
couray-e the women in the good work. The 
liquor element succumbed, and as a na- 
tural result the morals and status of the 
community greatly improved. As far as 
known, this was the first Woman's Tem- 
perance Society formed in tlie State of Ohio. 



JOHN I. MASTEN (deceased), who 
w I in his lifetime was one of the most 
}^j) industrious and deservedly successful 
agriculturists of Rochester township, 
was a native of New York State, born 
March 8, 1812, in Dutchess county, a son 
of James Masten. 

Our subject received a liberal education, 
for his early time, at the subscription 
schools of the vicinity of his native ])lace. 
He was reared to farm work, and being a 
natural mechanic was capable of following 
the trades of turner and shoemaker. On 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



571 



October 7, 1835, be was united in raarriacre 
with Miss Rosalia Loomis, wbo was born 
August 17, 1813, in the town of Steuben, 
Oneida Co., N. Y., daughter of Martin and 
Laura (^Hianchard) Loomis. In the fol- 
lowing spring the younuj couple came to 
Oiiio, via canal and lake to Cleveland, 
thence by wagon to Rochester township, 
Lorain county. Mr. Masten, the previous 
winter, had visited this locality, and pur- 
chased a piece of timber-covered land in 
Rocliester township, where wild animals — 
such as deer, turkeys, hogs, etc. — were 
almost as "plentiful as blackberries." This 
farm, comprising tifty acres of primeval 
forest, he paid four dollars and fifty cents 
per acre for, and the first dwelling of these 
honored pioneers was of a most jiriniitive 
description — the floor being made of pun- 
cheon and the roof of beech bark, while a 
quilt nailed over the entrance served the 
plac4 of a door. Here during his long 
residence he followed general farming, in- 
cludincr the rearing of and extensive deal- 
ing in live stock, of which he was an 
excellent judge. It should here be men- 
tioned that to the original tract of wood- 
land he from time to time added until at 
his death he was the owner of 236 acres 
of prime farming land. For seven and 
one-half years he lived in the village of 
Rochester, at the end of which time he re- 
turned to his farm and, later, moved a 
short distance to where his long and busy 
life came to a close March 16, 1893. His 
remai ns repose in the cemetery at Rochester. 
In his political affiliations Mr. Masten 
was a Whig until the organization of the 
Republican party, when he enlisted under 
the new banner, and up to the close of his 
life was loyal to the cause. He was an ex- 
emplary member, as is his aged widow, of 
the Free-will Baptist Church, in which he 
held office many years. Mrs. Masten is 
now passing the evening of her honored 
life at the old homestead, calmly and hope- 
fully awaiting the summons that shall call 
her hence. The farm is now at)ly con- 
ducted by her son Frank L., whose filial 



care is a blessing to his loving mother. 
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. John 
I. Masten were as follows: Decalia B., 
who served in the Civil war, and afterward 
located in Dayton, Ohio, where he died; 
Amelia C, who married C. 0. Boney and 
died in Lorain, Ohio; Mortimer C, of 
Charlotte, Mich.; Celia, now a widow, of 
Manchester, Ohio; Delia, Mrs. J. H. Bis- 
sell, of Rochester. Ohio; Nina, Mrs. A. J. 
Irish, of Lorain, Ohio; John D., of Char- 
lotte, Mich.; and Frank L., in charge of 
the home farm. 



ory. 



CEDIAH BOWEN (deceased) was 
in his lifetime a well-known pros- 
perous citizen of Elyria, where 
stands, as a monument to his mem- 
the " Bowen Block," on Cheapside, 
erected by him not long before his death. 
Mr. Bowen was born June 26, 1818, in 
the town of Roxbury, Delaware Co., N.Y., 
and was reared on a farm till about the 
ai^e of eighteen years. He then com- 
menced to learn the trade of merchant 
tailor, in Waynesburg, Ohio, whither he 
had come when sixteen years old, and 
where he followed the business about ten 
years. For ten or twelve years he was ex- 
press and ticket agent for the Lake Shore 
Railroad Company, after which he em- 
barked in the manufacture of and dealing 
in Babbitt metal. During the later years 
of his life he was retired from active work, 
living upon the interest of his hard-earned 
accumulations. He was a typical self- 
made man, shrewd and calculating. At 
the time of his marriage he had but 
seventy-five cents in cash, but he was very 
successful in all his business transactions, 
and when he died he left a considerable 
amount of property. On April 11, 1839, 
Mr. Bowen married Miss Diantha A. Pren- 
ti.ss, of whom special mention will be pre- 
sently made. In August, 1857, Mr. and 



572 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Mrs. Boweu came to Elyria, where he 
passed from earth December 11, 1887. He 
was a stanch Republican, casting his first 
vote for W. H. Harrison, and his last vote 
for Benjamin Harrison. In religion he 
was a member of the M. E. Church, as has 
been his widow since 1832. For thirty 
years he was a member of the I. O. O. F., 
aud was buried by the Order. 

Mrs. Obediali Bowen was born Novem- 
ber 17, 1816, in Lowville, Lewis Co., 
N. Y., and in June, 1836, moved west with 
her parents to Lorain county, the family 
coming at that time as pioneers into a wild 
and unbroken forest, and making a settle- 
ment about one mile from the center of 
what is now Camden township. She is a 
daughter of William and Sarah (Bates) 
Prentiss, the former of whom passed away 
in 1819, the latter (who was born in North- 
ampton, Mass.) dying at the age of ninety- 
two years. Mrs. Bowen's grandmother 
died January 7, 1837, at the patriarchal 
age of ninety-five years, less nearly four 
months. 



W. ROWLAND. The family, of 
which this gentleman is a worthy 
member, is well known and highly 
esteemed in both Huron and Lorain 
counties. 

He is a son of Aaron Rowland, who was 
born in a military camp at Danbury, 
Conn., during the Revolutionary war, a 
son of Hezekiah Rowland, who served all 
through that struggle, the exact period of 
his service being seven years, eleven 
mouths and seven days. By trade he was 
a blacksmith. Aaron Rowland was a 
miller, and operated flour and saw mills 
along the Croton river. Seven children, 
as follows, were born to him in New York 
State: Ezra, deceased in Clarkslield town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio; Anna, deceased in 
infancy; Jemima, who married Linues 
Palmer, and died in Fitchville township, 
Huron county; William, a farrier by trade, 



who died in New York City; Samuel W., 
a retired farmer of Oberlin, Ohio; Tama- 
zon, who first married Samuel H'lsted, 
and is now the widow of Martin Pulver, 
of Clarksfield township, Huron county; 
and Betsy Ann, who first married Joseph 
Stiles, and is now the wife of Thomas 
Pelton, of Berlinville, Erie Co., Ohio. 
In the fall of 1818 the family set out on 
a journey to Ohio with two yoke of oxen 
and one horse, the trip as far as Cleveland 
occupying six or seven weeks. When 
they arrived at that now large and elegant 
city they found but one house on the 
" West Side," and that was occupied by 
the ferryman who rowed travelers across 
the Cuyahoga river. Coming yet farther 
west, the family halted at Clarksfield Hol- 
low, in Huron county, where Aaron Row- 
land secured work in a new mill owned by 
Capt. Samuel Husted, and he and his 
family occupied the log cabin home of 
Capt. Husted, along with his family. In 
course of time Aaron bought a small farm 
north of Clarksfield Hollow, and during 
the summer season, when water in the 
streams was too low to drive the mill, he 
would work on this farm. He was also in 
charge of a mill east of the " Hollow," later 
owning a share in same, and he followed 
the business several years. When he came 
into what is now Clarksfield tow7iship, it 
contained but eight other families, the 
several heads of which were Samuel Hus- 
ted, Smith Starr, Benjamin Benson, 

Seger, Benjamin Stiles, Asa Wheeler, 
Simeon Hoyt, and Ezra Wood. After 
coming to Ohio the following children 
were born to Aaron Rowland: Charles 
(the third child born in Clarksfield town- 
ship, Lavina, daughter of Asa Wheeler, 
and Samuel Stiles having been the first 
and second, respectively), and Daniel. 
After a married life of sixty-si.\ years less 
a few days the parents were called from 
earth, the mother dying in 1866, the father 
in 1868, and they now sleep their last 
sleep in the cemetery at Clarksfield. Po- 
litically he was first a Whig, afterward, on 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



573 



the organization of tiie party, a Republi- 
can. He was a pioneer in the milling in- 
dustry, in those days the leading one next 
to farming, and was a man of prominence, 
well known and universally esteemed. 

S. W. Rowland, the subject proper of 
this memoir, was born July 5. 1810, in 
Putnam county, N. Y., and in early life 
learned the trade of axe-handle maker, but 

feneral farming has been his life work. 
[e was eight years old when the family 
came to Ohio, and he distinctly remembers 
the journey. At the primitive subscription 
schools of the locality where his father 
had settled, in Huron county, he gleaned 
a comparatively meager education, whicli, 
however, he vastly improved by reading 
and study in his spare moments. 

On Christmas Day, 1834, Mr. Rowland 
was married to Harmony Blair, who was 
born June 25, 1814, at Becket, Mass., 
dautrhter of Luther Blair, who came in 
the fall of 1832, to Rochester, Lorain Co , 
Ohio, at that time on the frontier of the 
" Far West." The young couple began 
married life in a log cabin in Clarkstield 
township, Huron county. In 1830 they 
removed to Rochester township, Lorain 
county, where he bought land at three 
dollars per acre, which he improved and 
cultivated with his own hands till 1868, 
in which year he removed to Oberlin, same 
county, where he has since resided, living 
a retired life. Children as follows have 
been born to this honored pioneer and his 
faithful wife: Mary, now Mrs. Alonzo 
Welcher, of Iowa; William, deceased; 
Caroline, wife of H. A. Doming, of Kip- 
ton, Ohio; Edmund, a farmer of Rochester 
township, who also manages the home 
farm; Evaline, Mrs. J. A. Flower, of 
Elyria, Ohio; and Thaddeus, a druggist at 
Oberlin, Ohio. 

On Christmas Day, 1884, Mr. and Mrs. 
Rowland celebrated their golden wedding, 
members of the family, only, being pres- 
ent, and last Christmas (1893) being the 
fifty-ninth anniversary of their marriage, 
their children and grandchildren came 



home to celebrate the occasion in an ap- 
propriate manner, wishing the old couple 
" many happy returns." Mr. Rowland 
owns a fine farm of 185 acres in Rochester 
township, and a pleasant home in Oberlin. 
Politically he is a Republican, originally 
a Whig. Mrs. Rowland is a member of 
the Congregational Church. 



^r^^ EV. WILLIAM BENTON CHAM- 
l^ BERLAIN, A. M., professor of 
I ^ elocution and rhetoric, Oberlin Col- 
JJ lege, comes of an old Connecticut 

family, his paternal grandfather 
having been a native of that State, but 
passed a considerable portion of his life in 
Ohio. Joshua Chamberlain, great-grand- 
father of our subject, was a captain in the 
Revolutionary war. 

The gentleman under our present con- 
sideration was born at (rustavus, Trumbull 
Co., Ohio, September 1, 1847, a son of Rev. 
E. B. and Mary Ann (Cowles) Chamber- 
lain, the former of whom was a native of 
western New York, the latter a sister of 
John P. Cowles. of Ipswich, Mass., and of 
Prof. Henry Cowles, D. D., of Oberlin 
College; she died in 1874, aged fifty-seven 
years. Rev. E. B. Chamberlain graduated 
from the second class at Oberlin College, 
1S3S, and after being licensed preached in 
Ohio for the greater part of his ministerial 
life, and later in western Pennsylvania, in 
which locality he died in 1882 at the age 
of seventy-two years. Of their five chil- 
dren William B. is the youngest. He en- 
tered Oberlin College in 1871, and gradu- 
ated from the classical course in 1875. 
Proceeding to Philadelphia, he studied 
music there from 1876 to 1878. Return- 
intf to Oberlin, he entered the Theological 
Seminary, graduating from there in 1881. 
From 1878 to 1883 he taught vocal music 
in Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a por- 
tion of the time giving lessons in elocu- 



574 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



tion, having been appointed instructor of 
that art in 1881; in 1884 he was appointed 
to his present incumbency, of professor of 
elocution and rhetoric. Mr. Chamberlain 
is a master of vocal expression, and last 
year he published a work entitled '■ Rhe- 
toric of Vocal Expression." He has thor- 
oughly adopted what is recognized as the 
" Oberlin Ideal " of things, and although 
he has been offered more remunerative 
positions elsewhere has invariably refused 
them, preferring to labor in the interests 
of Oberlin. Mr. Chamberlain is a Con- 
gregationalist, and has filled various pul- 
pits at different times, rot as regular 
pastor, however, as his time is t'nlly oc- 
cupied with teaching. Prior to making his 
home in Oberlin he taught common schools 
in Erie county, Ohio. 

In 1875 Kev. AV. B. Chamberlain and 
Miss Emma E. Peck were united in mar- 
riage, and the following named six chil- 
dren have been born to them: Fred W., 
John F., Ernest E., Harold, F. P. and 
Mary E. In his political preferences our 
subject is a Prohibitionist, but of that 
practical class that is willing to work for 
any measure that promises to eliminate or 
curtail the liquor traific. 



ffJfON. E. G. JOHNSON was born in 
Is^ LaGrange, Lorain Co., Ohio, No- 
I li vember 24, 1836. His father, Hon. 
J) Nathan P. Johnson, removed from 

Jefferson county, N. Y., to La- 
Grange in 18.33. The township was then 
sparsely settled with pioneers, mostly from 
the same State, living in rudely con.^tructed 
log cabins, and diligently engaged in clear- 
ing away the primeval forest that sur- 
rounded their hospitable dwellings. Here 
he labored with ceaseless enei-gy to trans- 
form the wild woods into fruitful fields, 
and with undaunted courage met the many 
vicissitudes incident to a pioneer's life. 



His intelligence, high sense of honor, and 
zeal in all good works won the highest re- 
gard of all who knew him, atid called him 
to occupy places of trust and honor in 
after years. He was three times elected to 
represent his county and district in the 
General Assembly, serving two years in 
the House of Representatives and two in 
the Senate. He died in 1874, and the 
memory of his noble character will long be 
cherished. 

It was surrounded by such influences and 
under such salutary home instruction that 
the son E. G. grew up to manhood before 
leaving the parental roof. In early boy- 
hood he began to display the diligence and 
application that have characterized his sub- 
sequent life, and all his leisure moments 
were spent in willing efforts to aid his 
honored parents in bearing the burden of 
founding a home for the family, with no 
means except their strong arms. These 
efforts were not relaxed as years added to 
his strength and the desire for study 
trenched upon his hours for labor. In those 
pioneer days schools were not what they 
now are, and boys of sufficient age to per- 
form farm labor were often deprived of 
the poor facilities afforded for instruction. 
Not so with the children of pioneer John- 
son. He not only labored extra hours to 
enable his two sons to attend the winter 
school, but taught them at his own log 
cabin fireside the rudiments of the com- 
mon branches and the sterling virtues that 
form the basis of a well-ordered life. Al- 
though hampered by the want of better 
opportunities, the young lad early mani- 
fested a desire to acquire more of the hid- 
den treasures found in the books, and was 
granted the privilege of attending the win- 
ter school at Oberlin, a few terms, which 
he improved with willing ardor. Thus, 
between hard labor udou the farm and dili- 
gent use of leisure hours in study, he ac- 
quired sufficient knowledge to become a 
teacher before he attained his majority. 

When of legal age he did not lose his 
love for this employment of his youth, nor 





vy/ 






LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



577 



his affection for his parents whose welfare 
was ever his earnest desire, but spent some 
time alternately engaged in farm labor, 
study and teaching. Durinu; this time he 
commenced the study of law under the 
tutelage of L. A. Slieldon, Esq., who was 
his townsman, and who subsequently 
distinguished himself as a General in 
the Union Army, Member of Congress 
from Louisiana, and Governor of \New 
Mexico. In due time he received a cer- 
tificate of admission to the bar, in Colum- 
bus, and opened an office in his native 
town. 

At the age of twenty -one years he was 
elected justice of the peace, and held that 
office with entire ap])robation of the peo- 
ple for ten consecutive years. Devoting 
all his leisure time to mental rather than 
pecuniary gain, he had but little oppor- 
tunity in the quiet township of LaG range 
to lay by a store for the increasing wants 
of his family, and in 1868, on the petition 
of nearly all the voters in the township, 
regardless of party affiliation, he consented 
to stand for the office of county auditor. 
He was nominated at the convention that 
soon followed, receiving twenty-eight ma- 
jority on the first ballot, against a strong 
opponent. He was elected with great un- 
animity for four successive terms, but in 
1876 he resigned, and has since devoted 
his energies to his professional duties with 
ever-increasing success and popularity. 
During his successive terms as auditor he 
was brought into official relations with 
nearly every adult person in the county, 
and by his courtesy, ability, unquestioned 
character and integrity, he gained the 
confidence of the people, which confi- 
dence, so well merited, he has ever since 
retained. 

Mr. Johnson has found time during the 
busy years of his professional life to ably 
serve other interests besides that of the 
law. Wedded in youth to the pursuit of 
agriculture, he has never lost his desire for 
the welfare of those who cultivate the soil. 
He has been an active member of the Lo- 



rain County Agricultural Society for more 
than thirty years, and for thirteen years 
was its popular and efficient secretary. 
For twelve years he also served as chair- 
man of the Republican Executive Com- 
mittee, during which period he displayed 
great energy in promoting the Republican 
cause. He was a delegate to the Repub- 
lican National Convention at Chicago in 
1884, and was the Republican candidate 
for Congress from the fourteenth District 
of Ohio in 1892, but was defeated. His 

eatriotic ardor was early enlisted in the 
nion cause. He was among the first 
citizens of LaGrange who answered the 
call of President Lincoln in 1861, and en- 
listed in Company A, afterward Company 
I, Eighth O. V. L,for three months. He 
went out as first lieutenant, but was pro- 
moted to the rank of captain. He re-en- 
listed with the major part of his company 
for three years, while in Camp Denriison, 
but was rejected by the surgeon who de- 
clared him to be physically unable to per- 
form military duty. He received an honor- 
able discharge from the service, and it was 
several years after his return before he 
fully recovered his health. 

Mr. Johnson's career at the bar has 
been one of unsullied honor and rapid ad- 
vancement, lie at once took a position at 
the head of the bar in Lorain county, and 
now ranks among the foremost in the list 
of able attorneys in Northern Ohio. He 
has been engaged in many important capi- 
tal criminal cases, notably his defense of 
John Coughlin at Ravenna, who, with the 
notorious "Blinkey" Morgan (who was 
convicted and executed), was charged with 
the murder of detective Ilulligan. Samuel 
Eddy, at tiiat time one of the ablest law- 
yers of Ohio, was associated with Mr. 
Johnson. Coughlin, though at first con- 
victed, secured a new trial, and was finally 
acquitted. In more than a dozen other 
capital cases Mr. Johnson has w-on a wide 
reputation as a successful criminal lawyer. 
He is a man of strong convictions, form- 
ing his opinions only after thorough in- 



578 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



vestigation, and is fearless iu expressing 
them when once formed. In combating 
the illogical theories and " isms " of those 
who defy reason and the law of nature in 
their attempt to correct political and social 
evils, he has incurred the displeasure of a 
few self-constituted modern reformers, as 
all men do who have the courage of their 
convictions. He has \o\\^ been an active 
leader in social and political reforms, and 
now stands in the front ranks of the great 
army of true progress. His whole life has 
been characterized by an open-hearted 
honesty in dealing with his fellow men, 
and a supreme hatred of hypocrisy and 
double dealing. 

Mr. Johnson has always retained his 
love for his early home life and the friends 
and acquaintances of his boyhood. In 
1886, in company with Hon. E. H. Hin- 
man, he made a trip to Europe, visiting 
many of the places of interest both in 
Great Britain and upon the continent. 
Among others he visited the famous Lean- 
ing Tower at Pisa, from which point he 
wrote Hon. George G.Washburn, late editor 
of the Elyria Republican, a letter in which 
he recalls the memory of his boyhood home, 
as follows: 

After breakfast we took our guide book and 
started for the leaning tower. It was liut a short 
walk, and yet it seemed a mile, so greatly had our 
expectations been e.xcited. It seemed im|)ossil)le 
that we were to set our eyes upon that famous col- 
umn. I remember of hearing my mother describe 
it, as we sat around the fire of a long winter even- 
ing in tlie old log house, which, with her, long ago 
crumbled into dust. Oh how times and circum- 
stances do change. Then as she told me the story, 
I thought life would be a failure unless my eyes 
should behold it, and I resolved that some day I 
would go and see it and come back and tell her of 
my journey. Here I am at the tower, but where is 
she y and where is that happy circle then complete, 
and those happy days which then seemed eternal? 
Memory hoUls them— all else is gone. 

In 1887 Mr. Johnson made a trip through 
the West, visiting among other places the 
National Park, which he reached by stage 
from Beaver Caiion on the Utah Central 
Railroad. It is just one hundred miles 
from that point to the Park, through 
a wilderness. From his stopping place 



on Snake river he wrote to Mr. Washburn 

a letter from which is made the following 

extract: 

I am stopping to-night on the banks of Snake 
river, and now sitting by a stove in a log house 
which, if it had a big fireplace across one end, 
would be almost a copy of the one where tilty years 
ago I first saw the sun-light, and where, though 
brief were the years passed beneath its roof, that 
siin-light began to fade. Out of the door I can see 
the same waving forests, only that was of beech 
and maple and whitewood and oak, while this is of 
spruce and pine. This house is i)ut just erected, 
and will long years defy the ravages of rain and 
frost, while that house is only one of memory's 
treasures. The voices of the good people who 
have opened the doors to give us welcome greet 
my ears, while along the tender chords of memory 
come the sweet voices that when the days were 
young made that old house the home of mirth and 
happiness. As I sit here alone, fancy brings that 
old log structure back out of the dust, peoples it 
with the same happy throng that gathered at the 
family altar and at the same table ; but it is only for 
a moment, for faitliful memory will not let me for- 
get that half of those who gathered there lie in 
graves which 

"Are eevered far and wide, by mount and stream and sea.'' 

Mr. Johnson's unselfish generosity and 
kindness of heart are proverbial wherever 
he is known, and none appeal to him for 
aid in a worthy cause without receiving his 
inite according to his means, regardless of 
color, sect or nationality. He has always 
been a liberitl contributor to the support of 
the M. E. Church: and on one occasion 
not long ago its worthy pastor, by his in- 
vitation, accompanied him on a vacation 
trip to the Rocky Mountain region, at his 
expense. Many instances might be cited 
of like acts of kindness, showing his char- 
acteristic regard for the happiness of others 
with whom he only sustains the relation 
of neiglil)or and friend. His great in- 
dustry, unquestioned integrity and unim- 
peachable moral character have won the 
regard of his host of friends, who stand 
hii;h in social and religious circles. 

On January 1, 1859, Mr. Johnson was 
married to Lydia D. Gott, also a native of 
LaGrange, Ohio. Mrs. Johnson is a woman 
highly respected and esteemed wherever 
she is known for her many womanly vir- 
tues. Mr. Johnson is yet in the prime of 
his usefulness, and few men have more de- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



579 



voted friends to wish him snccess in all 
his undertakings. [This sketch for the 
most part is from tlie able pen of Hon. 
George G. Washburn, late editor of the 
Elyria Republican. — Ed. 



DAVID D. 
who in hif 
prominent 



JOHNSON (deceased), 
lis lifetime was one of the 
It and well-known citizens 
of Elyria township, was a native of 
England, l)orn December 2, 1S29. 

When an infant of nine months his 
parents set sail for the New World, bnt on 
tlie voyage the father died, and found a 
grave in the broad Atlantic, there to lie 
'•till the sea shall give up its dead." The 
widowed mother continued on with her 
little family to Lorain county, Ohio, 
making a settlement in Avon township, 
where our subject was reared and educated. 
He followed farming pursuits all his life, 
and was prosperous. On January 11, 1887, 
he passed from earth in his fifty- eiglith 
year. 

On November 15, 1860, Mr. Johnson 
married Mary E. Fowls, who was born, 
reared and educated in Amherst township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio. After marriage they 
resided in Elyria township, same county, 
several years, and then came to Elyria, 
where they owned a good farm of seventy- 
five acres, highly cultivated land. Mr. 
Johnson spent seven years in the West. 
He was an ardent Republican. Upright 
in character and of sound integrity, he was 
honored and respected by all. He had one 
son, M. B. Johnson, who was educated in 
Elyria and at Oberlin College, Ohio, from 
which latter he returned to Elyria, at the 
high school of which city he graduated. 
He then read law under Metcalf & Web- 
ber, and in 1884 was admitted to the bar, 
after which he located in Cleveland, where 
he has since enjoyed a lucrative practice. 
He married Miss Mary E. Laundon, of 



Elyria, Ohio, and two children — David 
Laundon and Arthur Earnest — have been 
born to them. 

After leaving Oberlin Female Seminary, 
where she had finished her education, Mrs. 
Mary E. Johnson taught school in Lorain 
county (Black River township), afterward 
in Angola, Steuben Co., Ind., and in Men- 
don, St. Joseph Co., Mich., both in private 
and public schools. She is a daughter of 
Godfrey and Sarah (Gardiner) Fowls, who 
wei'e natives of Germany, where they were 
married. In 1828 they came to the United 
States and to Ohio, locating in what is now 
the very center of the city of Cleveland, 
and afterward comintj to Amlierst town- 
ship, Lorain county, where they passed 
the remainder of their busy lives on their 
farm, the father dying at the age of eicjhty- 
eight years, the mother at the age of sixty- 
nine. They were the parents of ten cliil- 
dren, all of whom grew to maturity. 



f OHN H. JOHNSON (deceased), a 
k. I typical self-made man, one who iias 
\^J) left behind a record worthy of emu- 
lation, was born August 11, 1815, in 
Canal township, Venango Co., Penn., a son 
of James Johnson, a native of Ireland, 
born May 6, 1785. 

When yet a lad James Johnson came to 
the United States, presumably to seek his 
fortune in the New World. After landing 
he made his way westward to Venango 
county, Penn., wherein Canal township he 
settled down to agricultural pursuits on a 
farm of 200 acres, on which in later years, 
long after his death, oil was discovered, 
lie died in Pennsylvania, a Democrat in 
politics, and in Church relationship an Old- 
school Presbyterian. On September 22, 
1814, he married, in Venango county, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Cousins (a widow), nee Sutley, 
born April 5, 1791, in that county, who 
bore him cliildren as follows: John H.; 



580 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



Sarah A., born March 24, 1821, who mar- 
ried John Sinojleton; Robert H., born De- 
cember IS, 1823, died in Fulton county, 
Ohio; Harrison E., born May 18. 1825, 
died in Nashville, Tenn., where he was 
principal of schools (he was a graduate of 
Ashtabula College, Ashtabula, Ohio); and 
Hugh, born June 23, 1828, a blacksmith 
by trade, who died of smallpox while on 
a visit at his niotiier's house. The mother 
of tliese, after the death of the father, mar- 
ried Sylvester Knowlton, and in course of 
time moved to Huron county, where she 
passed from earth; she was interred in Rip- 
ley Methodist cemetery. 

John H. Johnson received such educa- 
tion as the early schools of his boyhood 
days afforded. He was reared on a farm 
up to the age of eighteen j'ears, and then 
learned the trade of blacksmith. After 
completing his apprenticeship he went to 
Buffalo, N. Y., working there as a jour- 
neyman until 1841, and then locating in 
"Warren, Penn., where in partnership with 
a half brother, William Cousins, he siic- 
cessfuUv followed his trade. Here he mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth P. Snyder, born June 
1, 1823, in Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y^, a 
daughter of John and Eliza (Pierce) Sny- 
der, natives of Columbia and Onondaga 
counties, N. Y.. respectively, and who af- 
ter marriage settled in Elk township, War- 
ren Co., Penn. In June, 1845, Mr. and 
Mrs. Johnson came to Ohio, to Richland 
county, leaving their only child, Theodosia, 
then two years old, in care of its grand- 
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Snyder (a son, 
Alston, had died at the age of three 
months). Their trip to Ohio was made in 
order to " spy out the land," and being sat- 
isfied with it they returned to Pennsylvania 
for their household effects and his black- 
smithing tools. The journeys were made 
entirely by M^agon, the trips occupying six 
days each way. In Bloominggrove town- 
ship, Richland county, Mr. Johnson 
bought three town lots, on which he built 
a shop and residence. Here for a time 
business with him was very poor, and to 



add to other causes the memorable frost of 
June 1, that year, damaged the wheat crop 
to such an extent that the price of it ran 
up to three dollars per bushel. Later, 
however, business improved, and money 
became more plentiful. For six years they 
resided at Rome, Ashtabula county, and 
from Rome moved to Ripley township, 
Huron county, where Mr. Johnson pur- 
chased a tifty-acre farm, erecting thereon 
a "smithy,'" in connection with his dwell- 
ing, and. hiring a hand to work his farm, 
personally conducted his shop, at which 
time he was kept quite busy; at that time 
horse shoes were split from wagon tires, 
and nails were made from lighter material, 
all of which combined to make work for 
the blacksmith much more onerous than 
at the present day. He at all times, how- 
ever, had one or more apprentices working 
for him, which materially lessened his la- 
bor. Selling out his business in Ripley, 
he moved with his family to Greenwich 
township, having purchased seventy-four 
acres of land, and moving his shop to this 
farm here continued his trade until the 
spring of 1860, when he came to Brighton 
townsiiip and located on the farm now oc- 
cupied !)y his son A. C. On this he 
erected another shop, and continued w-ork- 
ing at his trade till within ten days of his 
death, which occurred February 25, 1864, 
after a ten-days' illness from typhoid- 
pnenmonia; his remains were interred in 
Brighton cemetery. He was a stanch 
Democrat, but during the later years of his 
life did not vote, averring that he was of 
the opinioti his party had changed their 
principles; in matters of religion he was a 
strict Presbyterian. Since his death, his 
widow has continued to live at the old 
homestead in Brighton township, a highly 
respected lady, and a devout member of 
the Congregational Church. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. John 
H. Johnson were as follows — born in 
Rome, Richland county: Madora, now 
the wife of A. S. Gilson, a photographer of 
Nor walk, Ohio; Orestes, of Nor walk, in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



581 



the employ of the A. B. Chase Co. ; and 
Adelbert C, sketcli uf whom follows. Born 
in Ripley township: Frank U., and Em- 
ma O., wife of Charles A. Finley, of Kip- 
ton, Ohio. Born in Greenwich township: 
Aravilla. widow of George Harris, and Al- 
bert, fireman on the Lake Erie & Wheel- 
ing Eailway, at Norwalk, Ohio. Born in 
Brighton township: Ada, who died at the 
age of seven years; Charley S., in tiie saw- 
milling business at Rochester, Lorain 
county; and Eva, deceased at the age of 
three months. The eldest daughter, Theo- 
dosia, married William Callin,and lives in 
Brighton township. 

Adelbert C. Johnson, a member of the 
firm of Laundon, VVindecker & Co., manu- 
facturers of cheese, is a native of Rome, 
Ohio, born March 27, 1850, the fifth child 
and third son of John H. and Elizabeth 
P. (Snyder) Johnson. 

When his parents removed to Green- 
wich township, Huron county, our subject 
was but an infant, and he was tliere reared 
on the iiome farm. With the exception 
of one year during which he was fireman 
on the Atlantic & Great Western Railway, 
lie was never absent from the parental 
home till his marriage, after wliich he 
moved to Wood county, Ohio, and com- 
menced farming on a piece of land be- 
longing to his father-in-law. There he 
resided four years, and then returned to 
Brigliton township, and for four years car- 
ried on agriculture; then went to Clarks- 
field, Huron county, and worked in a 
cheese factory for John Emmons, where 
his first idea of the cheese business was 
obtained. After about a year he came to 
Brighton and emliarked in the manufac- 
turintr of cheese, at which he has ever 
since been engaged as a member of the 
firm of Laundon, Windecker & Co., and 
he is superintendent and manager of the 
"Goss Factory." On May 30, 1874, Mr. 
Johnson was mairied to Julia A. Emmons, 
who was born in Brighton township, Lo- 
rain Co., Ohio, a daughter of John and 
Julia Emmons, and two children, Pearlie 



and Lillie, have been born to them. Our 
subject is an ardent RepuijJican, has held 
township offices in Brighton e\er since his 
return from Wood county, Ohio, and has 
served three terms as trustee; he is now 
superintendent of the Lorain County In- 
firmary, which position he has occupied 
since November 1, 1893. He has an 
extensive acquaintance and considerable 
political infiuence. Socially he is a mem- 
ber of the F. & A. M., at Wellington, Lo- 
rain county. 



q GEORGE E. NICHOLS, dealer in 
w, real estate and insurance, is a na- 
il tive of New Hampshire, born in 
L Londonderry, October 7, 1819. 

His father, Reuben Nichols, was 
born in Londonderry, N. H., in 1787, and 
in 1811 was married to Miss Asenath 
Senter of the same town. He was the 
son of Jacob and Sally George Nichols, 
natives of Massachusetts, who removed to 
Londonderry, N. IL, where they died. 
They had twelve children — seven sons and 
five daughters — of whom Reuben was the 
youngest, and they all lived to be from 
eighty-four to ninety-si.x years of age ex- 
cept one who died young from the effects 
ot an injury. 

\i\ October, 1827, Reuben Nichols, 
father of George E. Nichols, left New 
Hampshire with his family, and started 
for the wilds of the West, to seek a home. 
On reaching Pike Hollow, Allegany Co., 
N. Y., the family made a halt while the 
father proceeded to Lorain county, Ohio, 
on iiorseback, where he secured a farm six 
miles south of Elyria. He then returned 
to his family, and they set out for their 
new home, reaching Elyria March 28, 
1828. They first located at Butternut 
Ridge, then almost a dense wilderness, re- 
maining there nearly two years, and then 
removed to Elyria, where in 1830 Reuben 
Nichols purchased the " Old Eagle Hotel." 



582 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 
I 



In 1832 he commenced building the new- 
hotel called the " Mansion House," and 
this he kept until 1839, when he sold it. 
At that time it was one of the finest hotels 
west of Buffalo, N. Y. While keeping 
this hotel, he hitched four horses to a lum- 
ber wagon, and conveyed John J. Ship- 
herd and others to the present site of 
Oberlin, their first trip to that locality, to 
found a school. After selling out the 
" Mansion House " he moved his family 
to Oberlin in order to have his children 
educated. In 1842 he returned to Elyria, 
where he passed the remainder of his 
days, making business cliangesin property 
from time to time. He died in 1871, hav- 
ing lived eighty-four years, an honest, up- 
right and just man; a lifelong Democrat in 
politics. His wife died in November, 1870. 

George E. Nichols, the subject proper 
of this sketch, after receiving a good edu- 
cation settled in the mercantile business 
in Elyria, where he remained for a number 
of years. In 1852, under Franklin 
Pierce's administration, he was appointed 
postmaster at Elyria, and after serving 
four years resigned March 5, 1856, for 
political reasons. During this period 
(185-i) he was appointed one of a commit- 
tee to proceed to Nebraska to try and have 
it become a Democratic State. He had a 
land ofhce at Washington, D. C, and a 
lartre amount of land under his control; 
and though he made many trips to Ne- 
braska, he did his chief land office work at 
Washington. This he continueil in sev- 
'eral years, having influential friends and 
finding good opportunities wliich he im- 
proved. He was interested' in bringing 
the first printing press to Omaha, and as- 
sisted in the establishment of a paper 
there. Of recent years Mr. Nichols has 
given his attention mainly to the real-es- 
tate business, with his home and office in 
Elyria, Lorain county, and has met with 
marked success. 

In November, 1843, he was married to 
Miss Angeline D. Elliott, daughter of 
Rev. Joseph Elliott, Baptist clergyman, 



and two children have been born to them: 
Ella Gertrude, wife of William Mills- 
paugh, of Middletown, N. Y., and Lelia 
May, wife of Seymour Cromwell Prentiss, 
of Detroit, Mich. They have four grand- 
children — George Marcus Millspaugh and 
William L. Millspaugh, of Middletown, 
and Marion Louise Prentiss and Edith 
Rouse Prentiss, of Detroit, Mich. — and 
two great-grandchildren. On November 
22, 1893, Mr. aiid Mrs. George E. Nichols 
celebrated their Golden Wedding at the 
home of their daughter, Ella Millspaugh, 
in Middletown, Orange Co., N. Y., refer- 
ring to which interesting event a Middle- 
town (N. Y.) paper of same date contains 
the following: 

Fifty years ago to-day, Mr. and Mrs. George E. 
Nicbols, of Elyria, Obio, were uoited in marriage. 
They are spending the winter at the residence of 
their daughter, Mrs. William Millspaugh, on Or- 
chard street in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Millspaugh 
do not propose to let so important an event pass 
without proper recognition, and accordingly have 
invited a number of intimate friends of the family 
and the acquaintances Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have 
made during their visits to this city, to join with 
them in celebrating, in a quiet way, the golden an- 
niversary of Mr. and Mrs. Nichols' marriage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have been singularly 
blessed during their half-century of married life. 
They have been permitted to enjoy a reasonable 
measure of worldly prosperity, and have reached 
the allotted age of man in good physical and men- 
tal health. Two children have blessed their union 
— Mrs. Millspaugh, of this city, and Mrs. Prentiss, 
of Detroit; they liave four grandchildren and two 
great-grandchildren, and there has never been a 
death in their family, nor in those ol their children. 
There are few who are permitted to look back over 
fifty years of married life, and fewer still who can 
survey the past with greater reason of thankfulness. 
The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Nichols in this city 
and elsewhere will wish them many happy returns 
of their wedding anniversary. 



USSEL B. WEBSTER. A bio- 
graphical record of Lorain county 
V^ would indeed be incomjjete were 
mention not made of this gentle- 
man, who was one of the pioneer 
settlers of Wellington township, and who 
bore an honorable and influential part iu 
the early history of the county. 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



583 



Ilussel B. Webster was born in Otis, 
Mass., April 25, 1799. He came to Ohio 
in 1820 in search of a honie, carrying sev- 
enty pounds of baggage upon Jiis back. 
He located a farm in Wellington, and re- 
turned to Otis, Mass., wliere he married 
Orpha Hunter, and, returning to his foi'est 
home with his bride, brought all their 
possessions in a wagon drawn by a yoke 
of oxen. To Russcl and Orpha Webster 
were born the following named children: 
Samuel H, now a retired merchant in 
Shelbyville, 111.; Bidwell, a civil engin- 
eer, who died in Wellington, Ohio, Sep- 
tember 7, 1856; Leander, who commanded 
a company in the Fourteenth Illinois Cav- 
alry duritig the Civil war, and who now 
resides in Castalia, Iowa; David Philan- 
der, who died in infancy; Philander P., 
who commanded a company in an Illinois 
regiment during its term of service, and 
who died in Shelbyville, 111., April 14, 
1884; William W., who emigrated to 
Colorado in 1859, and was for tour years 
president of the Upper House of Colorado 
Territory, and now resides in Pasadena, 
(Jal.; Loret, who died at the age of about 
three years as the result of a fall; Edward 
F., who, after four years of service dui'ing 
the Civil war, returned to Wellington, 
where he has since been actively engaged 
in business, and Leveret F., who died Jan- 
uary 29. 1861, as the result of an accident. 

Mr. Webster was a perfect type of the 
good old Massachusetts Puritan stock. He 
was a man of remarkable ph^'sical powers 
and endurance, and was endowed with in- 
tellectual powers and a mental vigor no less 
remarkable. He joined the Congregational 
Church during his early residence in Wel- 
lington, and during a long and useful life 
was an earnest, active Christian worker. 
He was thoroughly devoted to all that was 
good, and sternly opposed to all that he 
considered wrong. He went beyond the 
requirements of the '' golden rule "' and 
throughout his life was constantly doing 
for others far more than he would have 
asked others to do for him under similar 



circumstances. In the early pioneer days, 
when the struggle for existence was so 
hard, and the opportunities for "lending 
a helping hand" were so numerous, he 
often taxed his physical powers to their 
utmost in assisting neighbors and friends, 
and never hesitated to contribute his last 
dollar in case of urgent need. He was 
active and indefatigable in every good 
work, and contributed his full share toward 
laying broad and deep the foundations of 
religious order, good morals and good 
society that have given to Lorain county its 
honorable history. In the early days, Mr. 
Webster commanded a militia company, 
and thereafter was known as " Capt. Web- 
ster." In politics he was an ardent AVhig, 
while that party existed, and was con- 
sidered one of the " wheel horses " of the 
party in the county. He joined the Re- 
publican party upon its organization, and 
remained steadfast in his loyalty to it dur- 
ing the remainder of his life. He died in 
Wellington January 81, 1881, honored by 
all who knew him. His wife, Orpha Web- 
ster, survived him about one year. 

To the life, work and example of the 
class of pioneers to which Russel and 
Orpha Webster belonged, .Lorain county 
owes an inextinguishable debt of gratitude. 



ONE AD HAGEMANN, one of the 

most prominent and enterprisino- 
agriculturists nf Black River town- 
ship, was born in liessia, Germany, 
October 10, 1831, a son of John and Mar- 
tha (Heussnef) Hagemann. 

The family emigrated to the United 
States and toOhio, settling, in 1847, in Am- 
herst township, Loraiii county, where they 
followed farming. The fatlier was born 
about the year 1800, and died in North 
Amherst in 1877; the mother passed away 
in 1869 when aged about seventy-two 
years. They were sturdy, hard-working 
people, whe strove well to bring up tlieir 
family to usefulness and good citizenship; 



584 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



they were both members of the German 
Reformed Church. They liad a family of 
eight children, as follows: John, a cabinet 
maker by trade, died in North Amherst, 
Ohio; Adam is a farmer in Black River 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio; Henry is a 
cabinet makdr in Lorain, Ohio (he was a 
soldier in the Mexican war); George died 
in Lon is villa, Ky.; Conrad is the subject 
of this sketch; Antone now lives in Lide- 
pendence, Iowa; Catherine is the wife of 
Valentine Klotzbach; Matthew was a sol- 
dier, when twenty-three years old, in the 
Civil war, and died in hospital in 1862. 
Two of the above-named children — Henry 
and Adam — had preceded tlie rest of the 
family to America in 1845. 

The subject of this sketch attended 
sch-ool two winters after comine to Lorain 
county, and spent tiie earlier years of his 
life working on the farm and driving team. 
Before reaching his majority he went to 
Iowa for the purpose of buying land, but 
remained there only one year, when he 
was obliged to I'eturn home to take care of 
his parents, who were becoming advanced 
in years and needed his assistance. With 
true filial piety he stayed by them till 
their death. Mr. Hagemann purchased 
his present farm of 118 acres of prime 
land in Black River township the year 
after bis marriage, and has lived on it 
ever since. 

On September 16, 1S55, our subject was 
united in marriage with Miss Catharine 
Claus, daughter of Henry and Martha 
(Hildebrand) Claus, and they have had a 
family of fourteen children, namely: Two 
died in infancy; Anna is the wife of 
Michael Gegenheimer, and they now live 
in Vermillion, Ohio (they liave three chil- 
dren: Albert, Franklin and Raipii); Eliza- 
beth is the wife of John Beller. of North 
Amherst, and they have four children: 
• Anna, William. Edna and Helen; Paulina 
married Henry Kolbe. and died leaving 
four ciiiUli-en: Frank, August, George and 
Henry; Edna is the wife of Martin Trin- 
ter, and they have five children: Philip, 



Elmer, Lydia, Edna and William; Philip 
(unmarried) runs a fishing tug at Lorain; 
August carries on a brickyard in Lorain; 
Martha resides at home; AlL>ert attended 
the business college at Oberliu, and is now 
a bookkeeper; Robert, who also attended 
business college, is living at home; Walter 
is going to school; Herman is at school; 
Elmer (yet a boy) is under the paternal 
roof. Mr. Hagemann and ail his grown-up 
sons vote the Republican ticket, his first 
vote being cast in 1852 for Gen. Scott. 
The family are associated with the Re- 
formed Church at Amherst. 



I C. HILL, president of the Savings 
K- I Deposit Bank Company ot Elyria, was 
\^/ born in Erie county, Ohio, October 
27, 1837, a son of E. P. and Sarah 
Hill, natives of Connecticut. His educa- 
tion was received in his native State, first 
at the high school in Berlin Heights, Erie 
county, and afterward in Antioch College 
at Yellow Springs, Greenecounty, at which 
latter institution he was under the pre- 
ceptorship of Horace Mann. His father 
and grandfather were prominent pioneers 
of Berlin Heights, and the former was a 
member of the (Jhio State Senate from 
Erie county, in 1852 and 1853. 

J. C. Hill after leaving collea'e studied 
law in Cleveland, and from the law college 
in that city tfiok his degree of LL. B. in 
June, 1861, his A. B. having been re- 
ceived at the literary college in 1860. He 
then practiced law one year in Elyria in 
company with Judge J. C. Hale, they 
having come to the then village from 
Cleveland at the same time. Mr. Hill, at 
the expiration of the year, practiced same 
length of time alone, and then formed a 
second partner.ship with Judge Hale, which 
continued until 1864, when it was dis- 
solved. In that year our subject and W. A. 
Braman entered into a copartnership in 
live-stock dealing, which continued for 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



587 



three years, and was a success financially. 
For several years after this he was engaged 
ill the nursery business, doing an extensive 
trade, botli wliolesale and retail. On No- 
vember 1, 1872, Mr. Hill, in company 
withT. L. Nelson, organized and started a 
private banking compatiy, with unlimited 
liability of stockholders, and at the end of 
the second year tiiere were twelve mem- 
bers in the company representing a re- 
sponsibility in the bank of half a million. 
This secured for the institution the un- 
bounded cunfideiice of the public, and as a 
result the bank was soon enabled to double 
its capital from its own earnings, besides 
paying regular dividends. It was known 
as "The Savings Deposit Bank of Elyria,'" 
and without doubt was one of the most 
flourishing and safe institutions of the 
kind in the State. In 1890 it was reorgan- 

o 

ized and incorporated as a regular stock 
batdv with a paid-up capital of two hun- 
dred thousand dollars, and surplus amount- 
ing to twelve thousand dollars. In March, 
1893, the bank carried loans to the extent 
of over one million dollars, and had deposit 
accounts aggreijating nine hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Hill was the first 
cashier and nianager, and, at the death in 
1890 of Mr. T. L. Nelson, the president, 
he succeeded to the presidency, retaining 
the managership. At the time of the re- 
organization, fifteen new directors were 
elected, w'lio meet twice a year, and a 
finance committee which meets once each 
week. 

On January 2, 1861, Mr. I^ill was mar- 
ried to Miss Etta M. Wi,lsori, of Elizabeth, 
N. J., whom he first met as a schoolmate 
under Horace Mann, and who lacked only 
one year of graduation at Antioch College. 
Five children have been born to this union, 
of whom the followino; three are still liv- 
ing: Ralph W., head bookkeeper in the 
bank already referred to; Arthur E., 
superintendent of the Independence Horse 
and Cattle Company, North Park, Colo., 
and Editha L., at present attending school 
in Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Hill is a 



Republican in politics; socially he is a 
Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the 
Royal Arcanum. Since 1S79 he has been 
a member of the school board of Elyria, 
and president of same since 1888. He is 
the leading stockholder in the Independ- 
ence Horse and Cattle Company of North 
Park, Colo., which company owns a large 
tract of valual)le land within twelve miles 
of the snow line in that State, and about 
eight hundred high-grade Hereford cattle. 

Mr. Hill is a man of broad views, keen, 
quick perceptions, sterling integrity and a 
spotless reputation — qualities which have 
secured him the unlimited confidence of 
the people with whom he has come in con- 
tact. In addition to his duties as manager 
of the largest moneyed institution in the, 
county, he has, as executor, settled several 
large estates, discharging his duties witii 
characteristic fidelity. An honorable, up- 
right life, guided liy rare mental endow- 
ments, and a delicately adjusted mental 
balance, rarely fails to achieve success. 
Success in this case has not been to the 
possessor of these gifts alone. His equip- 
ment and business sagacity ha,ve not only 
been turned to good account by his associ- 
ates in business, but the public has been 
a generous beneficiary of his excellent 
common sense and sound, mature judg- 
ment. 

Mr. Hill having but slightly passed the 
noon mark of a useful- cai-eer, with a lovely 
honi,e, and pleasant fanaily and social sur- 
roundings, may well take pride in the 
gathered fruits of his well-ordered and 
correct life. 




G. BALLANTINE, D. D., LL. D., 

president of Oberlin College, was 
born in tiie City of "Washing- 
ton, D. C, December 7, 18-48, a 
son of Elisha and Betsey A. fWatkins) Bal- 
lantine. The name is Scotcii, and the first 
of the family emigrated to America about 
the year 1648, locating in Boston, where 



588 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



tliej and their descendants lived for some 
generations. The iirst Ballantine gradu- 
ated from Harvard College in 1G94:. 

Rev. Elisha Ballantine, LL. D., father 
of subject, M'as born in the State of 
New York, and received his literary and 
classical education at the University of 
Athens, Ohio. For many years he vras 
professor of" Greek in the University of 
Indiana. He died in 1886 at an advanced 
age. His wife, who was Miss Betsey A. 
Watkins, was born in Prince Edward 
county, Va., and died in 1873, the mother 
of a large family of children, of whom the 
subject of this sketch is the seventh. 

Bres. Ballantine received his elementary 
education mostly at home. He took the 
Freshman and Sophomore years at Wabash 
(Indiana) College; in 1866 he entered the 
junior class at Marietta (Ohio) College, 
graduating in 1868 A. B. While yet a 
student and after graduation he followed 
civil engineering, and in 1869 became a 
member of the Ohio State Geological Sur- 
vey. Subsequently he entered Union 
Seminary, New York, and there, under 
the preceptorship of Dr. Henry B. Smith, 
st\idied theology, graduating in 1872. In 
that same year, desiring to drink still deeper 
of the Pierian Spring, he proceeded to 
Leipsic, Germany, for the purpose of study- 
ing Hebrew under Delitzsch. In 1873, 
as a n)ember of the American Palestine 
Exploring E.xpedition, he traveled through- 
out the Holy Land for about six months, the 
teriitory east of the Joi'dan being the por- 
tion chiefly visited by the expedition. On 
his return to the United States he was ap- 
pointed to a professorship in Ripon (Wis.) 
College, occupying the Chair of Chemis- 
try and Natural Science from 1874 to 
1876; was assistant professor of Greek in 
Indiana University from 1876 to 1878, and 
was professor of Greek and Hebrew Exe- 
gesis in Oberlin (Ohio) Theological Semi- 
nary from 1878 to 1880. From 1880 to 
1891 he was Professor of Old Testament 
Language and Literature in the same in- 
stitution. For some time the Professor 



was one of the editors of tlie "Bibliotheca 
Sacra." In 1880 he was ordained to the 
Congregational ministry; in 1885 he re- 
ceived the honorary degree of D. D. from 
Marietta College, and in 1891 the degree 
of LL. I), from Western Reserve Univer- 
sity. On January 28, 1891, he was elected 
president of Oberlin College. It will thus 
be seen that Prof. Ballantine's reading, 
study and teaching, Iiave been of a remark- 
ably versatile nature, and his breadth of 
knowledge and executive ability are too 
well known to here require any comment. 
In 1875 Prof. W. G. Ballantine was 
married in Waupun, AVis., to Miss Emma 
F. Atwood, and four children have been 
born to them, namely: Henry W., Arthur 
A., Edward and Mary F. 




EV. JOHN MILLOTT ELLIS, 
A.M., professor of mental and 
moral philosophy. Stone professor- 
shi]), Oberlin College, is a native 
of New Hampshire, born in Jaf- 
frey, March 27, 1831, a son of Seth B. and 
Lucy (Joslin) Ellis. 

The father of subject was born in Keene, 
N. II., where he was reared and educated. 
At the age of fifty he came west to Ohio, 
locating in Oberlin, where he carried on a 
planing mill and lumber yard. He died 
in 1865, at the age of seventy- five years, 
his wife when seventy -seven years old, the 
mother of ten children, nine of whom came 
with their parents to Oberlin. Timothy 
Ellis, great-grandfather of subject, was a 
colonel in the Revolution, and participated 
in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga; he 
was ninety years old at the time of his 
death, which occurred in Keene, N. H. 

The subject of this memoir received his 
elementary education at the common 
schools of his boyhood days, after which, at 
the age of sixteen, he entered Oberlin Col- 
lege, where he graduated in 1851. He 
then taught school for a time, was also 
professor in Mississippi College, Clinton, 



LORAIN COUJUITY, OHIO. 



589 



Miss., three years. In 1857 lie was ap- 

f»ointed to a Greek professorship in Ober- 
in College, which he filled for nine years; 
after this he occupied the Chair of piii- 
losophy, rhetoric and composition, etc., and 
more recently that of mental and moral 
philosopliy. During life he has been active, 
for many years in ministerial work as pas- 
tor of the Second Congrecjational Church 
at Oberlin, and supplyincj churches in 
Cleveland, and other neighboring towns. 
In 1862 Prof. Ellis was married to Miss 
Minerva Emeline Tenney, and four chil- 
dren have been born to them, all sons, viz.: 
Albert H., Theodore H., John T. and 
Luman M. Mrs. Ellis is a graduate of the 
literary course of Oberlin College, class of 
1858. Her grandfather, Judge Harris, 
was a pioneer of Lorain county, and her 
father. Dr. Luman Tenney, was a native 
of Vermont. 



q George fredeeick weight, 
r, D. 1)., LL. D., F. G. S. A., profes- 
I sor of the Harmony of Science and 
U Eevelation in Oberlin Theological 
Seminary. 
Concerning tjiis learned gentleman, we 
excerpt from an article in a recent num- 
ber of the " Popular Science Monthly " 
the following: " Prof. George Frederick 
Wright has come within a few years to a 
foremost position among authorities in 
geology and the antiquity of man. His 
studies of glacial action have been thor- 
ough, extended, comprehensive, and fruit- 
ful of results be3'ond those of almost any 
other single observer, and make singularly 
fitting the curious designation given him 
by Judge Baldwin, secretary of the West- 
ern Reserve Historical Society, as ' the 
apostle of the Ice Age and Early Man.' " 
Prof. Wright was born at Whitehall, N. 
Y., January 22, 1838, a son of Walter and 
Mary (Peabody) Wright — he a native of 
New York State, she of New Brunswick. 
N. J., and both descended from New Eng- 
land families. " They were plain people, 



in moderate circumstances, not exempt 
from the necessity of labor, who, parti- 
cipating in the sentiment which that in- 
stitution then represented, sent their .son 
to Oberlin College, five hundred miles 
away." Here in 1859 he graduated in the 
classical course, and in 1862 from the 
Theological Seminary. While taking his 
Theological course he served as a private in 
Company 0, Seventh O. V. I., in which he 
had enlisted on the first call of President 
Lincoln for troops; hut a severe sickness 
led to his discharge after iive months en- 
rollment. In the fall of 1862 he became 
pastor of the Congregational Church at 
Bakersfield, Vt., an incumbency he en- 
joyed for about ten years, at the end of 
which time (1872) he accepted a call to 
one of the Congregational Chni-ches of 
Andover, Mass. From the magazine al- 
ready quoted from we glean the following, 
illustrative of Prof. Wright's multifarious 
labors: " Besides attending to his pastoral 
duties, and engaging actively in revival 
work in his own church and in the sur- 
rounding towns, he entered vigorously 
into educational movements; started and 
presided over a vigorous farmers' club; 
studied the local geology and wrote articles 
for the country papers on the glacial 
phenomena of the region; read his He- 
orevv Bible through, and translated 'Kant's 
Critique of Pure Eeason,' besides several 
of Plato's philosophical works." 

While in the discharge of his ministerial 
duties in Andover, Mass., he enjoyed the 
friendship of the professors in the Theolog- 
ical Sen^inary, made the acquaintance of 
Prof. Asa Gray, of Harvard, and com- 
menced . an active literary career. His 
special attention was directed to the gla- 
cial phenomena of the region, and as early 
as 1876 his observations ware volumi- 
nously reported in the " Proceedings of the 
Boston Society of Natural Philosophy." 
After making himself familiar witli the 
glacial phenomena of New England, " he 
was invited in 1881, by Prof. Lesley, to 
survey, in company with the late Prof. 



590 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



H. Carvill Lewis, the boundary of the 
glaciated area across Pennsylvania to the 
border of Ohio." 

DuriiiK his pastorate at Andover he 
also published a number of articles in the 
" Bibliotheca Sacra," notably one on the 
tlieology of President Finney, and four on 
Darwinism. Kumerous articles from his 
pen also appeared in various other serials, 
and in 1880 he published his book en- 
titled "The Logic of Christian Evidences." 
"Studies in Science and Religion," "The 
Relation of Death to Probation," and " The 
Divine Authority of the Bible," rapidly 
followed each other, and showed to the 
Christian public that a calm, clear, fear- 
less yet fair advocate of Revealed Chris- 
tianity was coming to tlie front. 

In 1881 he was called to the Chair of 
New Testament Exegesis in Oberlin The- 
ological Seminary, and almost the iirst 
question he askpd after his arrival in Ober- 
lin was a geological one: " What is the 
age of the cailon of Plum Creek?" This 
stream is modest enough in its meander- 
in^s, " but Prof. Wright made it and its 
work in denudation, in his 'Ice Age in 
North America,' the basis of an important 
and interesting calculation concerning the 
antiquity of the Great Ice Age." During 
the summers of 1882-83 he continued his 
geological survey across Ohio, Indiana and 
a part of Illinois, the result of which work 
was published by the Western Reserve 
Jlistorical Society under the title of " The 
Glacial Boundary in Ohio, Indiana and 
Kentucky," which attracted wide atten- 
tion. The two summer vacations pf 1884- 
85 were spent by Prof. Wright under the 
auspices of the United States Government 
in tracing the terminal moraine across the 
western States to the Mississippi; in re- 
viewing the field of Ohio and western 
Pennsylvania, and in verifying his previous 
work. Later he spent a summer in Alaska, 
camping for a month beside the great 
Mnir glacier. In 1887 he was invited to 
give a course of eight Lowell Institute 
Lectures at Boston, which were afterward 



repeated in Baltimore, Md.,aiid Brooklyn, 
N. y.. and were enlarged into his volume 
on '• The Ice Age in North America." 

The summer of 1890 Prof. Wright spent 
in the lava iields of the West, where he 
obtained additional and exceedingly valu- 
able evidence of the existence of man in 
Idaho and California prior to the lava out- 
pour. The summer of 1891 he passed in 
Europe, where he was warmly greeted by 
the glacialists of England, his fame as a 
specialist in glacial geology having pre- 
ceded him there. In the winter of 1891- 
92 he gave a second course of lectures in 
the Lowell Institute, Boston, to uniformly 
large audiences. Besides his geological 
and theological publications already enu- 
merated, numerous articles from his pen 
have appeared in various serials. His 
book entitled " Logic of Christian Evi- 
dences," already referred to, at once at- 
tained a wide circulation, and is used in 
several schools as a text book. 

In 1862 Prof. G. F. Wright was 
united in marriage in Sheffield township, 
Lorain county, with Miss Hulda M. Day, 
daughter of William Day, and four chil- 
dren have been born to them, named, re- 
spectively, Mary A., Ett^ M., Frederick 
B. and Helen M. 




B. EVERITT, M. D., a successful 
medical practitioner of Lorain coun- 
ty, having his residence in Kipton, 
Camden township, claims descent 
from a "Mayflower family." 
lie was born in Litchfield township, 
Medina Co., Ohio, September 24, 1846, a 
spu of Abner Everitt. a native of Con- 
necticut, t|Orn in Litchfield, April 15, 
1798, a son of Abner Everitt, who was 
born May 12, 1764, and whose father, 
Daniel, was born in Connecticut in 1715. 
Abner, father of subject, was mai-ried in 
the "Nutmeg State," February 20, 1828, 
to Hannah Mallory, who was born in 
Litchfield county, May 7, 1809. He was 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



591 



by occupation a tanner, and was proprietorof 
a grist and saw mill. About 1834 he and 
his family came to Genesee county, N. Y., 
and from tiiere in 1836 to Ohio, making 
the journey l)v ox-team. They located in 
Litchtieldtownship, where the fatlier bought 
land, totally wild and unimproved. Here 
they had to blaze the trees to mark out the 
roads, etc., and in the midst of tlie somber 
forest they built them a log house of a 
very primitive style of architecture, but 
comfortable and commodious enough. Here 
the parents passed the remainder of their 
pioneer days, the father dying April 2, 
1857, the mother December 25, 1888, and 
they rest from their labors in Litchfield 
cemetery. They were members of the M. 
E. Church. Politically Mr. Everitt was 
for a long time an Old-line Whig, in later 
years a Republican. In Connecticut chil- 
dren were born to them as follows: Nnra- 
nia E., born September 24, 1829, widow of 
Hanson Cole, to whom she was married 
March 14, 1858. in Medina county, Ohio 
(she now lives in Fulton connty); Jedidah, 
born April 29, 1831, deceased August 16, 
1834; Augnsta M., born Noveml)er 17, 
1834, died August 15, 1866. In Litchfield 
township, Medina county, the following 
were born : A son born February 6. 1837, 
died February 22, 1837; Jedidah H., born 
May 10, 1838, died December 19, 1860; 
Aaron M., born March 7, 1841, died July 
30, 1842; Ambrose M., born Noveml)er 
14, 1843, enlisted September 15, 1862, at 
Cleveland, in Company B, One Hundred 
and Twenty-fourth Regiment O. V. I., was 
wounded May 15, 1864, at Resaca, Ga., 
and died June 8, 1864, in the hospital at 
Chattanooga, Tenn., and was buried in the 
Soldiers' cemetery (he served under Capt. 
G. W. Lewis, of Medina, Ohio, and took 
part in the following engagements: Spring 
Hill, Chickamauga, Brown's Ferry, Or- 
chard Ridge, Rock Face Ridge and Res- 
aca); Abner H., subject of this sketch; 
and Daniel Quincy, born August 26, 1849, 
died on the home farm July 5, 1872 (he 
was a school teacher). 



From history written by Thirza J. 
Strong; aunt of our subject on his father's 
side, the following is taken: "My grand- 
parents on my mother's side emigrated to 
this country in the early part of the seven- 
teenth century, to enjoy religious freedom. 
In England they of my grandmother's 
family were some of the families of the 
Lords or Earls, selling all of their landed 
possessions, reserving only their silver 
service and jewels with their money. Set- 
tled in Massachusetts; four daughters only 
of the family. The oldest married Col. 
Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame. The 
second married Abraham Brownson, who 
was my grandfather. He was killed by 
being Hung from a horse in the year 1785, 
My grandmother died at my father's in 
the year 1815, being between eighty and 
ninety years of age; Abigal Brownson by 
name. By this marriage there were three 
sons and two daughters, my mother being 
the oldest of the family. Her sister mar- 
ried Elias Merwin, and moved to the far 
west. Livona, in York State. She soon 
after died. My uncles were Deacon Myers 
Brownson, Abraham and Israel. None but 
Israel had any family. Three brothers 
Brownson came from England and bought 
a large tract of land in the town of Rox- 
bury. Conn. Two of the brothers died, 
leaving my grandfather alone. Then he 
sold and iTioved to Bethlehem, Litchfield 
county, Connecticut, where my parents 
were married." 

A. B. Everitt, whose name opens this 
sketch, was reared a farmer boy, and re- 
ceived his elementary education at the 
common schools and in those of the 
"Nevins District," which well prepared 
him for taking up the profession of school 
teaching. He taught in Seneca, Sandusky 
and ]\Iedina counties. Later be attended 
Oberlin College for about three terms, but 
prior to this he had been reading medicine 
at home, simply to gratify a natural desire 
he entertains for knowledge of that nature. 
These studies he continued under Dr. R. 
V. Gamble, of Liverpool, Ohio, and in 



592 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



February, 1884, lie received his diploma 
from Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, 
and in the first class after the consolidation 
of the Wooster and Adelbert Colleges. 
In 1880 he left the home farm, where he 
had hitherto lived, and which had come 
into his possession, and made his residence 
in the village of Litchfield until 1889, in 
which year he came to Kipton, and has 
here since resided. During his stay at 
Litchfield he practiced medicine, and he 
has been very successful since coming to 
Kipton. 

in March, 1880, Dr. Everitt was united 
in marriage with Miss Frankie A. Plank, 
who was born in Castorland, Lewis Co., 
N. Y., a daughter of Jacob Plank, a 
farmer. She was on a visit to relatives in 
Medina county, Ohio, when she and the 
Doctor " met by chance, the usual way." 
To Dr. A. E. and Frankie A. Everitt was 
l)orn November 19, 1885, a daughter, 
Mary H. Our suliject and wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church, and in poli- 
tics Dr. Everitt is a straight Republican. 
He is a member of Lodge No. 381, F. & 
A. M., at Litchfield, Ohio; of Wellington 
Lodge No. 44, K. of P., and of Tent No. 
92, K. O. T. M., Kipton. 



djAMES W. CHAPMAN, 
and secretary of the Ohio Co-oper- 
' ative Shear Company, Elyria, was 
born in Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
July 5, 1846, the only child of Amasa and 
Catharine (^Wood) Chapman. 

The parents of our subject were both of 
English descent, and the father was born 
in Ashford, Conn., December 3, 1813, the 
mother in Chester, Mass., January 22, 
1810. The maiden name of tlie grand- 
mother of James "W. Chapman, on the 
mother's side, was Betsey Brewster, and 
she was a direct descendant of William 
Elder Brewster, who came over in the 
" Mayflower." 

The subject of this sketch was a boy of 
six when his father died. When he was 



eleven years old, his mother having re- 
married, the family removed to Castile, 
N. Y., where he remained until he was 
of age, when he returned to Ohio and 
settled in Eljria. Here he was engaged 
in loaning money, and attending to his 
property interests until 1882, at which 
time the Ohio Shear Company was organ- 
ized, and he was elected to the manager- 
ship, which position he held until the 
company was dissolved and the Ohio Co- 
operative Shear Company organized. He 
was then chosen manager of tin's company, 
and continued in that incumbency until 
January, 1890, when he was chosen 
manager and secretary of the company, 
which position he occupies at the present 
time. In politics he is a strong protec- 
tionist and a stanch Republican. 

On July 25, 1867, Mr. Chapman was 
married to Margaret A. Darling, daughter 
of Joshua H. Darling, ])resident of the 
First National Bank of Warsaw, N. Y., 
who was the son of Judge Joshua Darling, 
of Llenniker, N. H. Five children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, viz.: 
Robert Mosher, William Brewster, (xrace 
Darling, Arthur Wood and Alice Darling. 
The family are members of the First Con- 
gregational Church of Elyria, and are 
active workers in that organization. 

The works of the Onio Co-operative 
Shkar Company are situated in the west 
part of the town of Elyria, on the Cleveland, 
Lorain & Wheeling tracks near their junc- 
tion with the Lake Shore & Michigan South- 
ern R. R. The buildings consist of three 
large structures, in addition to the boiler 
and engine rooms, the whole covering an 
area of some ten thousand feet, and the 
works are divided into ten departments. 
The main building is two and a half 
stories, with a frontage of fifty feet, run- 
ning back one hundred and fifty feet, the 
rear part of the building being one story 
hicrh. The engine room is eighteen feet 
square, containing a seventy-five-horse 
power engine and boiler. There are two 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



593 



other buikliiigs, one 16 x 30, the other 
20 X 40, it) wLicli are kept the raw mate- 
rials from which the shears and scissors 
are manufactured. The present company 
was organized seven years ago, and started 
with al>out forty employes. The business 
has so inci'eased that now there are seventy- 
five employes with a monthly pay roll of 
over twenty-five hundred dollars. 



llOHN SCOTT. In the land of the 
w I Scots, of which the poets have so 
}^) often sung, the " land of the mountain 
and the Hood," and in the county of 
Dumfries, was born April 8, 1819, the 
gentleman whose name here appears. 

He is a son of Walter Scott, also a native 
of Dumfriesshire, born in 1780, a son of 
John Scott, who lived to be over ninety- 
seven years of age, and who was a shep- 
herd, on the muirs and hills of Scotland. 
Walter Scott married Miss Mary Burton, 
of the same county, a daugliter of Plenry 
Burton, and the children of this union, all 
born in Scotland, were Helen, deceased in 
Scotland; Jane, widow of Robert Brannan, 
of Ionia, Mich.; Henry, of Kipton, Lorain 
county; John, subject of this sketch; Wal- 
ter G., of Kipton; and William, who died 
in his native country. The father was by 
trade a stonemason, wliich he followed for 
several years in his native land, and he was 
also a " carrier," doing errands, principally 
of a commercial character, buying, carting, 
delivering and marketing goods for the 
people along his particular route. In 1826 
he came alone to the United States, land- 
ing in New York with but three half-pence 
(three cents) in his pocket. He at once 
obtained work, however, at his trade, but 
later he hired out as a hostler for a country 
tavern, aud managed to save some money. 
Having now three hundred dollars, he de- 
cided to send for his wife and family, and 
accordingly proceeded to New York in 
order to secure their passage, but failing 
in with a bogus " captain," the latter 
swindled him out of every cent of his sav- 



ings. He had no recourse now except to 
go to work as before, which he did, saving 
his money until he had another sum of 
three hundred dollars laid by. In 1830 he 
returned to Scotland, and in April set sail 
with the family, arriving in Quebec after 
a passage of six weeks on the " Mary Ann." 
From Quebec they moved westward to 
Montreal, thence to St. John's, near that 
city, and from there by Lake Champlain 
to Ontario county, N. Y., near the foot of 
Seneca Lake, and here the entire family, 
except our subject, were seized with fever 
and ague. In the spring of 1834 they set 
out for Ohio via Erie Canal and Lake Erie 
to Huron, Ohio. In Camden township, 
Lorain county, Walter Scott bought fifty 
acres of wild land for two dollars per acre, 
aud here erected a temporary shelter, very 
rough and primitive, which was succeeded 
by a more pretentious cabin in which they 
passed their first winter in these parts. 
Thisstoodon thesiteof oursubject's present 
home, and here the parents died, the father 
in January, 1877, the mother in Novem- 
ber, 1847, aud they lie buried in Camden 
cemetery. They were Presbyterians, aud 
in politics he was a Democrat. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on 
a farm, and received the greater part of his 
education in his native country. At the 
age of twenty-one he expressed a desire to 
leave home, but his father prevailed ou 
him to remain, which he did, and with 
true filial piety cared for his parents in 
their declining years, at his father's death 
falling heir to the home farm of fifty acres. 
This he has since increased to 120 acres, 
and has in all his labor made a success. 

On December 22, 1842, Mr. Scott was 
united in marriage with Climena J, AVhit- 
ney, who bore him five children, viz.: 
Mary L., Mrs. Charles Buckley, of Hen- 
rietta township; Jane, deceased; Helen, 
Mrs. Charles Arnold, of Denver, Colo.; 
Frances, Mrs. Leando Bates, of Colorado 
Springs, Colo.; and John H., of Cleve- 
land, Ohio. On August 27, 1854, the 
mother of these died, and she now reposes 



594 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



in Camden cemetery. For his second wife 
Mr. Scott married, in 1855, Sarah A. 
Sbattiic, who died in September, 1880, 
and in 1881 he was wedded to his present 
wife, Hannah E. (Brumby). In politics 
our subject is a Democrat, and he has held 
various township offices. He is a member 
of the Methodist Church, of which he is 
steward, and enjoys tlie respect of the en- 
tire community. Mr. Scott is remarkable 
for his kind-heartedness and generosity, 
has never had a lawsuit, never sued anyone, 
and has never been sued. 




^M. A. BEAM AN, a leading and 
progressive citizen of Lorain 
county, is a native of the same, 
born in Carlisle township Octo- 
ber 4, 1836. His grandparents, on his 
father's side, had come from Genesee 
county, N. Y., to Avon township, Lorain 
county, in 1822. 

Anson Braman, father of subject, was 
born May 30, 1811, in Genesee county, 
N. Y., whence in 1822 he removed to 
Avon township, Lorain county, and from 
there to Carlisle township, where he fol- 
lowed the vocation of farmer and nursery- 
man. In 1855 he came to Elyria, same 
county, and here carried on the nursery 
business until 1872, when he moved to 
Northport, Mich. In 1835, at Carlisle, 
Lorain county, he married Miss Emeline 
Vincent, a native of Massachusetts, born 
October 10, 1818, at Mt. Washington, 
Berkshire county, removing witli her par- 
ents to Carlisle, Lorain Co., Ohio, in 1834. 
Their eldest child is the subject of these 
lines. 

W. A. Braman passed the lirsttwenty- 
one years of his life on the home farm, at 
intervals attending the schools of the 
neighborhood, and then, being desirous of 
securing better education, he worked by 
the month on other farms; teaching school 
during the winter gave him the necessary 
funds with which to gratify his desires, 



and thus glided past six more years of his 
life. In 1864 he commenced the business 
of live-stock dealing, which he followed 
until 1S70, in partnership with J. E. 
Boynton and J. C. Hill; then with J. E. 
Boynton was engaged in the purchase and 
sale of cheese. During the spring of 1874 
was founded the firm of Braman, Ilorr & 
Warner, for the manufacture of and gen- 
eral dealing in butter and cheese, which 
firm became one of the largest in nortl^rn 
Ohio. 

On April 27, 1865, Mr. Braman was 
united in marriage with Miss Sophia E. 
Patterson, then twenty-one years of age, 
daughter of Hiram Patterson, and children 
as follows have been born to them: Theo- 
dore W., in 1867; Charles M., in 1869 (he 
is cashier of the Savings Bank at Medina); 
and Belle Louise, in 1872. This union has 
proved a most fortunate and happy one. 
Mrs. Braman, a most estimable woman, 
has done well her part in contributing 
to the happiness of their pleasant home. 

Mr. Braman has earned success by his 
enterprise, natural shrewdness and well- 
established reputation for integrity. He 
stands prominently among the foremost 
business men of the county, and the sev- 
eral institutions with which he has been 
closely in touch attest his eminent quali- 
ties as a counselor and financier in their 
unbroken line of successes. He enjoys a 
very wide acquaintance throughout the 
coimty, and has hosts of friends who have 
shown their appreciation of his qualifica- 
tions for ofScial positions by electing him 
from time to time to various offices of 
trust in Lorain county, among which may 
be mentioned: County commissioner, one 
term; county treasurer, four years from 
1876; township trustee and city council- 
man for several years; has been president 
of the Lorain County Agricultural Society 
seven years, and for a much longer period 
one of its officers; is present president of 
the Farmers' Institute of Lorain County; 
for twenty years was a director in the 
Elyria Savings Deposit Bank Co., of 



^:r 







fss. 




^,a. 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



597 



which lie was one of the founders, has 
been a member of the finance coniinittee 
from its organization, and is now vice- 
president; has been a member of the Union 
Schuol board nineteen years, and president 
of same a considerable time. In the 
House of Representatives he served four 
years (1887-91), tiiroughout which entire 
period he was on the finance committee, 
and during iiis service in the Sixty-eighth 
General Assembly many bills of impor- 
tance were introduced and passed, includ- 
ing laws affecting Temperaijce and Sunday 
observance, largely through his influence, 
as of such matters he is a pronounced 
champion. Mr. Braman is what may be 
termed a Temperance Republican, taking 
an active interest in all moral questions. 
Since September 1, 1891, he has been 
president of the Republican Printing Co., 
• and editor of the Elyria Republican, the 
oldest newspaper in the county, and en- 
joying the largest circulation, which, as 
well as its general business, has i-apidly 
increased during the last few years of its 
existence. 

Mr. Braman has dealt largely in real 
estate, and has been very active in all 
business matters. But few men have 
come more directly in contact with the 
financial interests of Lorain county, and 
none have commanded more completely 
the respect and confidence of the commu- 
nity at large. He has risen by his own 
individual efforts and may justly be styled 
"a self-made man." His wide circle of 
friends and ac(^uaintances confidently be 
speak for him a long-continued active 
career. 



LVIN PELTON, one of the leading 
l\ and most liighly esteemed farmer 
^ citizens of Russia township, is a na- 
tive of Trumbull county, Ohio, 
born in the town of (lustavus De- 
cember 1, 1819. 

Harvey Pelton, father of subject, was 
boru in Connecticut, and was twelve years 




old when his fatlier, Josiah, brouijht him 
to Trumbull county, they being among the 
first settlers there. He was reared to farm- 
ing, and learned the trade of chair maker. 
In Ohio he was married to Miss Mary 
Bailey, who was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., 
where her parents had tarried while en 
route to Ohio. After marriage the young 
couple located on the old homestead farm, 
which the husband worked on, at same time 
occasionally following his trade. The chil- 
dren born to them were as follows: Seth. in 
Cheboygan, AYis.; Alvin, subject proper of 
sketch; Russell, a retired farmer of Wau- 
paca, Wis.; Miranda, widow of W. F. 
Lawrence, of Sioux City, Minn.; Mary B., 
Mrs. John Cisson, of Minnesota; Abi- 
gail E., who married Henry Wilbur, died 
in Michigan; Samuel N., a harness maker 
of Pomona, Cal. ; Martha, Mrs. J. B. Lake, 
of St. Louis. Mo.; and Lydia A., who died 
at the age of eighteen. The father died 
May 10, 1837, of rapid consumption, al- 
though he had been in feeble health for 
many years, and was buried at Russell, 
Geauga Co., Ohio, whither he had moved 
in the fall of 1833, and bought a piece of 
new land, wliich was being cleared up. 

The subject of this sketch received a 
common-school education, and was reared 
a farmer boy. As he was but a youth 
when his father died, and next the eldest in 
the family, he went to work pretty early 
in life, in order to provide for his younger 
brothers and sisters, and his widowed 
mother. He found plenty to do in assist- 
ing to clear the land of timber and brush, 
chopping down trees, etc., for which he re- 
ceived twenty-five cents per day. Thus he 
remained at the old home until he was 
married, after which he located on fifty 
acres left for his mother, who went west (o 
Cheboygan, Wis., where she died in 1858, 
and was there bnried. In the spring of 
1855 our subject sold his farm in Geauga 
county, Ohio, and moved to Russia town- 
ship, Lorain county, where he bought his 
present valuable farm of ninety-four and a 
half acres. Here lie has since resided, with 



598 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



the exception of three and one half years 
lie lived in Oberlin, same county, while 
having his younger daughter educated at 
the college there. For the past eighteen 
years he has been engaged in the manufac- 
ture of cheese, and has met with every 
success in both that and his general farm- 
ing operations. , 

On April 3, 1851, Mr. Pelton was mar- 
ried in Geauga county, Ohio, to Caroline 
McFarland, daughter of Abel and Olive 
(Randall) McFarland, natives, the father 
of Massachusetts, the mother of New 
York State. The latter died when her 
daughter Caroline was fifteen years old, 
and the orphan girl afterward made her 
home with some of her sisters. The fol- 
lowing named children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Pelton: Clarence H., 
a farmer of Russia township; Flora, who 
was married to Milliard Franks, and died 
in Michigan; and Carrie M., now Mrs. 
Harry Cook, of Oberlin, Ohio. Mr. Pel- 
ton is a Republican, and invariably de- 
clines political preferment. Mrs. Pelton 
is a member of the Methodist Church. 



/ 



MRS. ELIZABETH W. (RUS- 
SELL) LORD, assistant princi- 
pal of the Woman's Department, 
Oberlin (Ohio) College, was born 
at Kirtland, Ohio, April 28, 1819, 
the eldest child of Alphens C. and Eliza- 
beth (Conant) Russell, natives of Massa- 
chusetts, the father of Hampshire county, 
the mother of Berkshire county. 

The subject of this memoir received her 
elementary education in the public schools, 
after which she became the pupil of Rev. 
Truman Coe, pastor of the Congregational 
Church at Kirtland, Ohio. In 1838 she 
came to Olterlin, Lorain county, and at the 
college located there finished her educa- 
tion. On July 21, 1842, she was married 
to Dr. Asa D. Lord, and they returned to 
Kirtland, where she assisted him in his 
work in the Western Reserve Teachers' 



Seminary at that place. In 1847 they 
moved to Columbus, Ohio, in order to es- 
tablish in that city a system of graded pub- 
lic schools, the first of the kind in the 
State. When the high school opened, 
Mrs. Lord became the first principal, and 
she and her husband remained in connec- 
tion with the public schools until 1856, 
when Dr. Lord was given charge of the 
Institution for the Blind there, in which 
labor Mrs. Lord assisted him till 1868, 
when he left that institution to organize 
the new State Institution for the Blind at 
Batavia, N. Y. With this last named 
they were connected till 1875, the year of 
his death, he as superintendent and she as 
teacher, and Mrs. Lord then succeeded him 
as superintendent. Mrs. Lord performed 
the duties of that important office until 
the fall of 1877, when she no longer 
deemed it best to act as superintendent. 
Her resignation was reluctantly accepted, 
on condition that she remain in the insti- 
tution. In this connection we here rfive 
an extract from the superintendent's report 
to the trustees of the New York State In- 
stitution for the Blind, showing in a meas- 
ure the high esteem in which Mrs. Lord 
was held by all concerned, the several reso- 
lutions being adopted and printed as a part 
of the regular report: 

'"■Resolved, That in the judgment of 
this board, the connection of Mrs. Asa D. 
Lord with this institution for the last nine 
years, first as teacher and afterward as 
superintendent, has contributed largely to 
its success, and by her wise administration 
of its interests she has shown herself emi- 
nently fitted to conduct the education of 
the blind. 

'■'■Resolved, That in voluntarily with- 
drawing from the institution she bears 
with her the high esteem of this board as 
a conscientious and accomplished Christian 
lady, and their best wishes for her in any 
station of usefulness in which she may 
hereafter be placed. Permit me to place 
on record along with these resolutions a 
fact which recently came to my knowledge. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



599 



viz.: that Mrs. Lord lias certainly taught 
more blind persons to read than any other 
single teacher of the blind in this land, 
and probably more than any other in the 
world." 

After a few months with her only child, 
Mrs. Henry P^isk Tarbox, of Batavia, N. 
Y., Mrs. Lord returned to the institution, 
and spent five more years in labors for the 
blind. In 1884 she was appointed to her 
present position of assistant principal of 
the Woman's Department of Oherlin Col- 
lege, a position in which she gives eminent 
satisfaction. In 1890 she gave eleven 
thousand dollars toward the building of 
Lord Cottage at Oherlin. Mrs. Lord is a 
member of the Second Congregational 
Church. 

Dr. Asa D. Lord was born in Madrid, 
St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 17, 1816, 
and the early years of his life were spent 
on the farm, and in attending the district 
school. The death of his father, when he 
was but two years of age, left the direction 
of his education to his mother — a gifted 
woman and an experienced teacher. At 
the age of seventeen he taug-ht his first 
school, and subsequently pursued a course 
of study at Potsdam (N. Y.) Academy. 
In 1837 he moved to Ohio, and in the vil- 
lage of Willoughbv opened a private school, 
and the following year entered the Sopho- 
more class in Western Reserve College. 
In 1839 he was chosen principal of the 
Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary, at 
Kirtland, Ohio, a position he tilled for 
eight years with characteristic ability and 
skill. In 18-13 he formed a teachers' class, 
composed of teachers in the vicinity, and 
pupils in the seminaiy who intended to 
teach. This was the first teachers' insti- 
tute in Ohio, and one of the first itl the 
country. Three years later he attended 
and assisted in conducting the first teach- 
ers' institute in Jackson county, Mich. 
While principal of the Western Reserve 
Teachers' Seminary he studied medicine, 
attending lectures at the Willoughby Medi- 
cal College, from which he received a 



diploma; but he never entered upon regu- 
lar practice. In 1846 he gave t" life the 
"Ohio School Journal," publishing the 
first volume in Kirtland, and continuing 
it in Columbus. He remained in journal- 
istic work in the cause of education for ten 
years— from 1846 to 1856— editing in the 
meantime other journals of a kindred 
nature. But his editorial labors did not 
engross the whole of his time. In 1847 
he accepted the position of superintendent 
of public schools of Columbus, lie was 
an instructor and lecturer in the first In- 
stitutes held in the State of Ohio, and was 
one of the organizers of the Ohio Teachers' 
Association. At the close of 1853 he re- 
signed the superintendency of the Colum- 
bus schools to accept the position of agent 
for the State Teachers' Association, but in 
1855 was again elected superintendent. 
In 1856 he once more resigned to accept 
the position of superintendent of the Ohio 
Institution for the Blind, which under his 
able direction soon took rank among the 
first of its kind in the land. While con- 
nected with that institution he studied 
theology, and in 1863 was licensed to 
preach by the Presbytery of Franklin. 
After over twelve years' experience as an 
instructor of the blind in Ohio, Dr. Lord 
was given charge of the new State Institu- 
tion for the Blind at Batavia, N. Y., where 
he remained its zealous, kind-hearted, 
philanthropic superintendent and instruct- 
or up to the time of his death, which 
occurred March 7, 1875. He died liieloved 
and esteemed by all, and the world will 
truly be better because it has once felt the 
inspiration of his life and presence. 



1?]^ EV. CHARLES II. CHURCHILL, 
Y^^ A. M., Professor of Physics and 
I V Astronomy, and occupying the Jas. 

J) F. Clark professorship in Oherlin 

College, was born in Lynie, N. H., 

August 21, 1824, a son of David C. and 

Polly (Franklin) Churchill. 



600 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



His grandfather, Francis Churchill, was 
a carpenter, and a soldier of the Revolu- 
tionary war, who tirst saw the light in 
1758, at Plymouth, Mass., where his an- 
cestors for three generations had also been 
born. The grandfather Franklin, born in 
1750, was a blacksmith. He, too, served 
in the Revolution. These all were God- 
fearing, faithful, loyal and valued citizens. 
David C. Churchill, the father, was an as- 
sociate judge in Grafton county, N. H., 
for nearly twenty years. All his twelve 
brothersand sisters, children of one mother, 
were married and had large families. 

The subject of this memoir received his 
elementary education in the public schools 
of his native town, fitting for college at 
Meriden Academy. He entered Dart- 
mouth College in 1841, and graduated in 
1845. He has since been made a member 
of the Pi Beta Piii, an honorary Society of 
Alumni. For the following five years he 
was Principal of the Academy of Brooklyn 
Center, near Cleveland, Ohio, and of the 
first High School in what is now West 
Cleveland. Here he was married and hisfirst 
child was born. Then entering the Seminary 
at Oberlin, he studied theology under Drs. 
Mahan, Morgan and Finney; supporting 
himself and family by teaching music, 
drawing and languages. Graduating from 
Theology in 1853, he was appointed Pro- 
fessor of Greek and French in what soon 
after became Hillsdale College, occupying 
this Chair from 1853 to 1859. From his 
marriage to Mary J. Turner, daughter of 
Dea. T. P. Turner, of Oberlin, were born 
Ciiarles C. Churchill, at Cleveland, in 
1847; Franklin H., at Oberlin, in 1852; 
Frederick A., at Hillsdale, in 1856, and 
Mary Lucretia, at Hillsdale, in 1858. 
During that year Mrs. Churchill died, and 
the bereaved husband was called to the 
Chair made vacant in Oberlin College by 
the transfer of James H. Fairchild to the 
Theological department. To the duties of 
his professorship Mr. Churchill joined the 
training of the free class in vocal music 
sustained by the college, and the leadership 



of the great choir of the church, then the 
only one in the place, upon which also de- 
volved the work of supplying the music for 
commencement occasions. After the found- 
ing of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 
Professor Churchill resigned that portion 
of his labors, and, as he had always done 
while in Michigan, gave himself to preach- 
ing on the Sabbath wherever the oppor- 
tunity offered. At one time for several 
months he ministered regularly to the 
2d Congregational Church in Oberlin; has 
preached often at the 1st Church, and often 
in "Wellington, Elyria, Cleveland, Brown- 
liehn, Wakeman, Pittstield, Sandusky, 
Toledo and many other towns. For two 
years he preached regularly to the Congre- 
gational Church in New London, Ohio- 

In the fall of 1859 Mr. Churchill was 
united in marriage to Miss Henrietta 
Vance, of Lima, Ind., a daughter of Lewis 
and Henrietta Vance. The fruit of that 
mai-riage has been four sons and one 
daughter, all born in Oberlin: Edward P., 
who graduated in 1881, is now a busi- 
ness man in Weeping Water, Neb.; Alfred 
v., who left college to pursue art studies 
in Europe three years, is now a teacher 
of art in St. Louis, Mo.; Nelson, who en- 
tered Oberlin College in the class of '92, 
died in his Freshman year, at twenty years 
of age; Mary has recently graduated from 
the Kindergarten Normal Training class, 
Armour Institute, Chicago, and from the 
Post-Graduate class; Carroll, the young- 
est, is a member of the class of '97, Ober- 
lin College. Of the children by the tirst 
marriage Charles C. graduated from col- 
lege in 1867, entered soon upon the work of 
civil engineering, and married Miss Ella 
Durand, who bore him a daughter, Grace 
(he rtted at the age of twenty-four); Frank- 
lin H. left school to engage in business, 
and married Miss Hattie Reddington, by 
whom he has three daughters (he is now 
a salesman in the music store of Lyon &, 
Potter, of Chicago); Frederick A., gradu- 
ating from college in 1878 and from the 
Chicago Homeopathic Medical College in 



LORAiyf COUNTY, OHIO. 



601 



1S83, married Miss JMartha Blanke, by 
wliom he has two ciiildren (he is now 
a practising physician in Seattle, Wash- 
inirtonV 

I'rofessor Churchill is widely known in 
Ohio as a lecturer on Astronomy and 
other scientific subjects; has held Teach- 
ers' Institutes in a large number of coun- 
ties, and in some of them many times. 
He has been at different times and for 
years president of the Congregational 
Society of the 1st Church at Oberlin; 
member of the common council, and presi- 
dent of the school board. He is now one 
of the very few survivors of the earlier 
members of the Faculty of the college. 



llOHN WELLER (deceased). This 
k. I gentleman, who has left as perma- 
\y/ nent monuinents to his memory not 
a few trophies of his architectural 
genius, was a native of England, born in 
the county of Susse.x, May 8, 1833, and 
died in Eiyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, October 
11, 1890. 

When about seventeen years of age he 
came to America, and in Ohio learned the 
trade of stone mason, at which he worked 
by the day and job till 1857, when he com- 
menced business as a stone contractor. 
Among the evidences of his handiwork 
may be mentioned the water-tower at Eiy- 
ria; the east and west viaducts for the 
Public Highway at the same place, the east 
viaduct being said by civil engineers and 
architects to be next to the largest stone 
arch in the world, of its height. He built 
also the Episcopal Church at Eiyria, which 
is a model of rustic architecture, and he 
did a great deal of other similar work in 
various parts of Ohio. His death was la- 
mented by a iiost of citizens besides the 
members of liis family. In 1857 he was 
married to Miss Mary McCollum, born in 
Steuben county, N. Y., and live children, 
as follows, were born to them: May E., 
wife of Alexander Lamberton, of Eiyria, 



Ohio, who has five children — George A., 
Robert Wesley, Edith, Harold and Lucile; 
George L. (superintendent of the Eiyria 
Water Works, sketch of whom immedi- 
ately follows); and Wesley, Alice and 
John, at iiome. The childi'en are all 
marked for their intelligence, natural acu- 
men and industrious habits. The boys 
have inherited the mechanical genius of 
their father, and are following, to a certain 
degroe, in his footsteps. Tiiey are stanch 
Republicans, as was their father before 
theni, and believe in the protection of 
American labor. 

Mrs. Weller, who is now residing with 
her three youngest children in the vicinity 
of Eiyria, is a daughter of Alexander and 
Mary (Gilchrist) McCollum, both natives 
of A"rgyle, N. Y., the father born in 1793. 
the latter on December 3, 1801. They 
lived in Steuben county, N. Y'., till about 
forty years ago, when they came to Lorain 
county, Ohio, locating in Eiyria, where 
Mr. McCollum followed his trade, that of 
miller, and died in April, 1870. He and 
many of his immediate relatives took an 
active part in the war of 1812, he beincr 
but a youth of nineteen when engaged at 
the battle of Plattsburg, on Lake Cham- 
plain. His mother's people, McDougalls 
of Argyle, took an equally active part in 
all those troublous scenes of the early Co- 
lonial warfare; and it is recorded that they 
did much and appreciated work at th^forts 
along the Hudson and many other places. 
Both of Mrs. Weller's great-grandfathers 
were born in Scotland, and the McCollums 
were among the early colonists of Argyle 
township, Washington Co., N. Y., it hav- 
ing been given by the Duke of Argyle to 
a certain number of Scotch families. Her 
great-grandfather. Col. Gilchrist, came to 
America with Gen. Abercrombie. and 
served under him at the battle of Ticonder- 
oga in 1758; he was related to the brave 
Gen. Duncan Campbell, who was killed in 
that engagement. After the war Col. Gil- 
christ settled at Fort Edward, N. Y., 
where he died. 



602 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



George L. Wellee, superintendent and 
engineer of the Elyria Water- Works, and 
niacliinist for the Mussey Stone Co., is a 
native of Lorain county, born in the city 
of Elyria March 28, 1864. 

From early boyhood he worked with 
his father, attending at the same time the 
public schools of Elyria, after which he 
took a business course at Oherliu College, 
and one in penmanshij) at Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y. He then learned the trade of stone- 
mason with his father, which he followed 
till four years ago, having done work on 
all, or nearly all, the large stone contracts 
in Elyria and surrounding country. In 
1889 he was appointed to his present posi- 
tion at the Elyria Water- Works, which he 
is eminently qualified to till, and in addi- 
tion to his duties there does all the woi-k 
in his line for the Mussey Stone Co. 

Mr. Weller was married July 19, 1893, 
to Miss Ida Alma Black, of Vermillion, 
Ohio, an accouiplished young lady in 
music and the art of home making. Mr. 
Weller is a Republican, but has no time to 
devote actively to polities, having kept 
close to business all his life. He has in- 
vented a rock-drillincr tool which he has 
assigned to others, and which, it is claimed, 
saves one-third of the cost of quarrying 
rock. He has also recently invented a 
rock-drilling engine, which is proving a 
very successful machine for quarry work. 



ffffENEY BASSETT (deceased) was in 
I^H his lifetime one of the best known 
I 1 and most highly respected of the 
^ farmer citizens of Lorain county, 

iiavincr been a resident of Eaton 
township for nearly si.xty years. 

Mr. Bassett was born in Seneca county, 
N. Y., in 18l4r, a son of Daniel and Phebe 
(Covert) Bassett, natives of the same 
county, where they were married, and 
whence, in 1834:, they came with their 
family to Lorain county, Ohio, making a 
settlement in Eaton township. The father 



died at LaPorte ir^ 1846, the mother in 
Eaton township at the age of eighty- two. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
New York State, and was twenty years old 
when he came with his parents to Eaton 
township. Here he followed farming all 
his life. On November 5, 1835, he was 
married in Carlisle township, Lorain 
county, to Miss Betsy E. Slauter, who was 
born in 1818, in Luzerne county, Penn., a 
daughter of Jared and Sarah (Curtis) 
Slauter, natives of Stockbridge, Mass., 
where they married, and whence in an 
early day they came (vest to Luzerne 
county, Penn., and in 1826 to Carlisle 
township, Lorain county, by team, Mrs. 
Bassett, then eight years old, walking the 
greater part of the way. Here Mr. and 
Mrs. Slauter passed the rest of their days, 
he dying some eight years after his wife. 
They had born to them a family of ten 
children, viz.: Ephraim, who went to Wis- 
consin, where he died; Lydia, deceased 
wife of Everett Stoddard, an early settler 
of Eaton township; Mary Ann, deceased; 
Sarah, wife of Henry Warner, who moved 
to Whitehall, Wis.; Betsy E., widow of 
Henry Bassett; Henry, who died in Wis- 
consin; Jared, who died in Carlisle town- 
ship, Lorain county; Jane, wife of D. L. 
Gil)bs. of Carlisle township; Olive, wife 
of R. Gibbs, also of Carlisle township; and 
Hiram, a resident of LaPorte, Lorain 
county, Ohio. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Bassett were born 
thirteen children, all of whom grew to 
maturity, and of whom the following is a 
brief record: (1) Charlotte is the wife of 
Anson Lines, of Grafton township; they 
have two children — Julia and Mina. (2) 
Caroline is the wife of John Hart, of 
Elyria. (3) Sarah is the wife of Sylvester 
Tompkins. (4) Charley died in 1879. 
(5) Daniel is married, and resides in De- 
fiance county, Ohio. (6) OIlie, who was 
married to Lemuel fiarlow, died in Lorain 
county. (7) Frankie is married to Na- 
thaniel Benedict, of Michigan. (8) Julia 
is the wife of Marion Sutliff, of Elyria. 



LOKAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



603 



(9) Edwin is married, and resides in Eaton 
township. [\0) George, who married 
Adelpha Pemher, resides near the old 
home. (11) Cerepta was first married to 
P. Croweil, and after his decease to Edwin 
Welton; they reside in Elyria. (12) Clara 
is the wife of Charley Morse, of Elyria. 
(13) Alice is the wife of Frank Jackson, 
of Eaton township. 

Mr. Bassett departed this life in 1891, 
a lifelong, energetic and active Republican, 
one who held many offices of trust in his 
township. Mrs. Bassett taught the second 
school in Eaton township, and is widely 
known and respected. She has lived to see 
seventeen great-grandchildren. 



DG. WILDER, M. D., a well-known 
member of the medical profession 
' in Oberlin, was born December 15, 

1846, in Oneida county, N. Y., 
son of Dr. David and E. A. (Williams) 
Wilder. The father, who was also a phy- 
sician, was a native of New York, and 
died in 1850, in Chenango county, same 
State. The mother, who is a native of 
England, is now living in Madison county, 
]SJ. Y. The Wilder family were originally 
natives of Massachusetts. 

D. G. Wilder, subject of this memoir, 
was brought to De Ruyter, Madison Co., 
N. Y., at the age of six years, and resided 
there until he reached the aye of nineteen. 
He i-eceived his primary education in the 
common schools of that place, and in 1866 
entered the Preparatory department of 
Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, where he 
remained for three years. He then studied 
medicine for one year, and in 1870 en- 
tered Hillsdale College, where he took a 
scientific course, eradnating with the class 
of 1872. He next went to Cleveland, 
wliere he continued the study of medicine 
in the office of Drs. Boynton and Van- 
Norman, until February, 1S73, when he 
graduated from the Homeopathic Medical 
College, Cleveland. He commenced the 
practice of his chosen profession in Cuya- 



hoga county, and after residing for three 
years in Bedford removed to Fremont, 
Ohio, thence to Cleveland, where he prac- 
ticed in the Western Reserve for nearly 
twenty years. In September, 1888, he 
came to Oberlin, Lorain county, wliere he 
has since been actively engao-ed in the 
duties of his profession with marked 
success. 

On August 25, 1874, the Doctor was 
married, in Cleveland, to Miss Alma 
Hickox, a native of Columbia township, 
Lorain county, wlio graduated from Bald- 
win University, Berea, Oliio. Her par- 
ents, Eri and Alma (Hoadley) Hickox, 
were natives of Connecticut, and in a very 
early day migrated westward to Columbia 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where they 
passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. 
Hickox followed farmiiiu-, and served for 
many years as justice of the peace; in re- 
ligion he and his wife were both Method- 
ists. Mrs. Wilder's maternal grandfather, 
Hoadley, erected the first frame house ia 
Columbia township. To Dr. and Mrs. 
Wilder have been born three children, 
namely: David Horace, now attending 
Oberlin Academy; Jennie Elizabeth, also 
attending Oberlin Academy; and Witt 
Hoadley. Socially our suliject is a mem- 
ber of Oberlin Lodge No. 678, 1. O. O. F., 
and also of Oberlin Tent No. Ill, K. O. 
T. M., and is at present commander of the 
Tent and Medical Examiner. He is also 
an examiner for the N. E. Mutual Life 
Insurance Co., and the State Mutual of 
Won^ester, Mass. In politics he is a 
Prohibitionist. The Doctor and his family 
are members of the First M. E. Church of 
Oberlin. 

HARLES E. SUTLIFF, dealer in 
coal, contractor and owner of several 
teams for lieavy hauling, etc., is one 
of Wellington's (Lorain county) 
most energetic and wideawake enterpris- 
ing business men. He was born in Ionia, 
Mich., February 16, 1845, a son of Will- 
iam H. H. and Phajbe D. (Gott) Sutliflf. 



604 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Our subject attended the district schools 
of Ills native place and Wellington town- 
siiip, Lorain county, and was reared on a 
farm. For some years he cai-ried on gen- 
eral agriculture, including dairying, in all 
of which he was very successful, and mov- 
ing itito the town of Wellington, he here 
embarked in his present businesses, the 
first of many experimenters in the coal line 
to make a permanent success. Although 
he has had many competitors in that 
branch, yet they have all succumbed to his 
superior business attainments, and he now 
controls the entire coal trade in Welling- 
ton and vicinity, liaving by his correct 
business methods won the confidence of 
the citizens. 

In 1868 Mr. Sutliff was married to Miss 
Mary Jane liofftnan, a native of New Lon- 
don, Huron Co., Ohio, and two children 
have come to brighten their home, viz.: 
May E. and Floyd E. Politically our 
subject is a Kepublican, and although his 
many business interests will not permit 
him to participate much in his party's 
campaigns, yet he is looked upon as a 
strong man on the Republican ticket should 
he consent to nomination for office, or 
otherwise. He and his wife are members 
of the M. E. Church, and their deeds of 
ciiarity to the poor and needy are too well 
known to require comment. 



BAVID J. N 
of Commoi 
embracing 



NYE, Judge of the Court 
(imon Pleas, of the District 
Lorain, Medina and 
Summit counties, Ohio, is a son of 
Curtis F. and Jerusha (Walkup) Nye, na- 
tives of Vermont. 

The parents of Judge Nye were married 
at Otto, N. Y., April 12, 1841, and first 
settled upon a farm in Chautauqua county, 
whence they removed to Cattaraugus 
county, and settled upon the farm where 
tliey remained until their death. They 
liad four cliildren: Webster Kimball Nye, 
born October 13, 1842; David J. Nye, 



born December 8, 1843; Sidney P. Nye, 
born November 22, 184f5; and AYilliam 
Curtis Nye, born February 28, 1851. 
Webster Iv. Nye and Sidney P. Nye both 
volunteered their service in the war of the 
Rebellion. Webster K. enlisted in the 
Second Ohio Cavalry, and was afterward 
transferred to the Twenty-fifth Ohio Bat- 
tery, remaining until the close of the war, 
when he settled in Bradford, Penn., where 
he now lives. Sidney P. was a member of 
the Sixteenth New York Cavalry, and died 
while in the service at Alexandria, Va., 
July 21, 1864. William Curtis Nye now 
lives in Texas. 

David J. Nye, the subject of this sketch, 
was born at Ellicott, Chautauqua Co., N. 
Y. He was raised upon a farm, and when 
seventeen years of age enlisted in the first 
military company that went out from his 
town in 1861; but owing to the objection 
of his parents, his elder brother being 
then in the army, the officer refused to 
muster him into service, and he returned 
home. 

Up to the year 1862 he attended the dis- 
trict school at his home, during the winter 
terms, and worked upon the farm in the 
summer; but in the winter of that year he 
decided to secure other and better advan- 
tages. In pursuance of that purpose, he 
entered, in the spring of that year, the 
academy at Randolph, N. Y., where he 
remained until his money, which he had 
earned and saved for that purpose, was ex- 
pended; then went back to tlie farm, and 
worked during the summer in haying 
and harvesting, returning to Randolph in 
the fall. 

The following winter, 1862-63, he 
taught school in one of the districts of his 
neighborhood, while the next spring and 
summer again found him engao-eil in work 
on the farm. In the fall of 1863 he re- 
turned to Randolph Academy, and in the 
winter of 1863-64 he taught school near 
Randolph. Coming to Ohio in 1864, he 
immediately engaged in teaching in Cuya- 
lioga county. After closing his school, he 





/r\ 



^zy 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



607 



returned to New York State, where lie re- 
mained bnt a short time, when he returned 
to Ohio, and again took a school at Boston, 
Summit county, teaching here during the 
winter of 1865-00. In February of ISGO 
lie entered the Preparatory Department of 
Oherlin College. Teaching winters, and 
pursuing liis studies summers, he was able 
to enter Oberlin College in 1867. lie 
taught school every winter, excejjt one, 
from 1862 to 1870. 

In 1870 Judge Nye accepted the posi- 
tion of superintendent of the Public School 
at Milan, Ohio, where with his labors he 
found time to study, and graduated with 
his class at Oberlin in August, 1871. In 
the Milan schools he continued another 
year, and in addition to his work there 
took up the study of law, which he had 
early cliosen as his life's profession, and 
was admitted to the Bar at Elyria, Ohio, 
in August, 1872. As before stated, he 
was graduated at Oberlin College in 1871, 
receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, 
and in July, 1883, the College conferred 
upon liiin the degree of Master of Arts. 

From tile time that Judge Nye entered 
Randolph Academy until he was admitted 
to the Bar, he paid his way with the fruits 
of his own labors, receiving no financial 
aid from any other source. In October, 
1872. he went to Emporia, Kans., and 
opened a law office, reiuaining thei-e until 
March, 1S73, when he returned to Elyria, 
Ohio, and went into the office of Hon. 
John C. Hale, where he remained a year, 
pursuing his legal studies and doing such 

Srofessional business as came to hin^. In 
tarch, 1874, he opened a law office in the 
Ely Block, and from that time on until he 
went upon the Bench in 1892, he was in 
the constant practice of his profession, 
building up a go,od practice, his clients 
being an^ong Ll:^e best citizens of Lorain 
county. 

In 1873 he was appointed county-school 
examiner, a position he held four years. 
He was a member of the council of the 
village of Elyria four years. In 1881 he 



33 



was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Lorain 
county, which office he held one term. In 
April, 1890, he was elected a member of 
the Board of Education, in which capacity 
he served until ho went upon the Bench. 
In January, 1891, at a meeting of the 
members of the Bar of Lorain county, he 
was selected, as the choice of the members 
of the legal profession of his own county, 
as their candidate for Judge of the Court 
of Common Pleas. In July following he 
was nominated for that office at Medina, 
was elected in November, and entered 
upon the discharge of his duties February 
9, 1892. 

On the fifteenth of September, 1880, 
Judge Nye was united in marriage to Miss 
Luna Fisher, at Cleveland, (])hio. Mrs. 
Nye was a daughter of the late Alfred 
Fisher, one of the early pioneers of Cuya- 
hoga county, who emigrated froni Ver- 
mont in 1817. Mrs. Nye is a true and 
faithful wife and a devoted mother. Two 
children, David F., born October 27, 1882, 
and Horace H., born Angust4, 1884, have 
come to brighten their home. 

Judge Nye always has a word of en- 
couragement for the young, and in his own 
family he is affectionate and indulgent. 
He is e.xtremely fond of children, and his 
two boys are his constant companions when 
they are out of school and at home. 

Early in life, when Judge Nye was only 
a boy, he became impressed with the 
principles of Freemasonry, and conceived 
the idea of becoming a member of that 
Order. At the early age of twenty-one 
years he made application to, and joined, 
the Lodge nearest his iiome in New York. 

Since locating in Elyria he has taken 
the advanced degrees in that Order. He 
is now a member of the Lodge and Chap- 
ter at Elyria, a metpber of Oriental Com- 
mandory of Knights Templar of Cleve- 
land, and of the Order of Ancient and Ac- 
cepted Scottish Rites of the same city. 

In politics he has always been a faithful 
and consistent Republican, and from his 
early manhood till the present time he has 



608 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



advocated the cause and principles to Re- 
publicanism. In this, he has been con- 
sistent and straightforward, believing that 
the success of that party was for the best 
interests of the country. Although he is 
misvverving in his devotion to his political 
principles, the Judge is too broad and 
liberal minded to let party affiliations bias 
his judgment or interfere with personal re- 
lations. Some of his warmest and most 
earnest personal friends are found in the 
ranks of other political parties. 

Judge Nye lias now been iipon the bench 
only two years, and during that time he 
has presided at the trials of very many 
difficult and closely-contested cases. He 
has shown by his administration that he 
is peculiarly adapted to the position which 
he now occupies. He is entirely unassum- 
ing in his manner upon the bench, and 
seldom interferes with the attorneys dur- 
ing tlie trial of their causes. He has been 
heard to say that he did not propose to try 
either side of a case. He makes himself 
thoroughly familiar with the law of every 
ease that is tried before him. The at- 
torneys are always treated with kindness 
and courtesy, and their arguments are 
listened to aTid considered by him with 
patience and attention. In his decisions 
he is open and frank, but he is always 
careful not to irritate or offend the persons 
against whom he decides. He has a mild 
and gentle expression, and is always con- 
siderate of the feelings of others. There 
is an open candor about his decisions that 
impresses the listetier with the sincerity of 
his convictions. He is thoroughly honest, 
and every decision made by him is the 
fruit of his best judgment and careful con- 
sideration. 

In the trial of Jury cases he is especi- 
ally careful in all his rulings and conduct 
not to intimate to the jury, or allow them 
to know, what he thinks about the case. In 
his charges he gives the law to the jury in 
a plain, clear manner, but leaves them to 
determine the facts. He never attempts 
to control their decision, but rather tries 



to conceal his opinion from them; and 
when the verdict is rendered, the parties 
and attorneys feel that they have had a 
fair and impartial trial. Comparatively 
few of the cases that are tried before him 
are taken up to a reviewing Court. His 
decisions liave seldom been reversed when 
so reviewed. 

Although Judge Nye had made a suc- 
cess at the practice of his profession, and 
was thoroughly familiar with the law, he 
had many misgivings of his own fitness 
and adaptability for the Bench. But his 
brief term as a judge, his patience, candor, 
and painstaking manner, have given the 
members of the Bar and the people con- 
fidence in his ability and integrity. His 
prospects for the future in his new calling 
seem very bright. His industrious habits 
and untiring energy are indications of a 
prosperous career. 

Judge Nye is a man of gentlemanly 
demeanor, always meeting his associates, 
both in the social circle and in business 
pursuits, with a cordial and friendly bear- 
ing, which has won for liim the respect 
and friendship of every one who knows 
him. As a servant of the Public, he has 
discharged the duties of every position in 
which he has been placed with a pains- 
taking fidelity that has secured for him 
the unlimited confidence and respect of 
the people whom he has faithfully served. 



JB. SMITH, editor and proprietor 
of the Wellington (Lorain county) 
Enterpvhe^ is a native of Ohio, 
born in Cardington township, Morrow 
county, January 1, 1845. 

William Smith, fatherof subject, was born 
in Berks county, Penn., September 4, 1809, 
and was reared in Guernsey county, Ohio, 
whither his parents brought him in 1811. 
In 1831 he married Miss Elizabeth Speck, 
a native of Guernsey county, born there 
October 8, 1813, and in 1839 they 
moved to Morrow county, same State,, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



609 



where the father died August 10, 1884. 
He was a 8troni>; Abolitionist, and iti reli- 
gion originally a member of the Friends, 
but having married outside of the Society 
lie forfeited tnembership. They were the 
parents of twelve children, as follows: 
Cynthia, wife of C Farlee; Finley, a car- 
penter by trade, in Dakota; Thomas and 
Sarah, both deceased; Mary Frances; Julia 
J. B., subject of this sketch; Augustus 
deceased; Emily, wife of Elmer Kingman 
Leander, a pharmacist, of Syracuse, N. Y. 
Henry C, a farmer of Cardington, Ohio 
and Ollie, wife of E. M. James. 

J. B. Smith, the subject proper of this 
sketch, was reared and educated in his na- 
tive county, and his first start in life was 
as telegraph operatorat Greenwich, Huron 
Co., Ohio. In 1883, in the same town, he 
embarked in the newspaper business, in 
wliich he remained till 1885, when he 
came to Wellino'ton and bought out the 
Enterprise, which is a strictly party paper, 
radically Republican in its views, newsy 
and well edited. 

In 187-t Mr. Smith was united in mar- 
riage in Huron county, Ohio, with Miss 
Adelaide L. Barker, of Fairfield township, 
Huron county, and two children— Irma 
and Fern — have been born to them. So- 
cially, our subject is a F. & A. M., and a 
member of the Congregational Church. 
On his father's side he is of Encrlish Penn- 
sylvania stock, and on his mother's he is 
descended from German ancestry. 



CHAPMAN M. WAUGH. Promin- 
ent among the pioneers of Henri- 
etta township is to be found this 
gentleman, a well known and pro- 
gressive agriculturist. 

Ezra Waugh was one of the three broth- 
ers who early in the history of America 
emigrated from Enirland, their mother 
country, to America. Two of them located 
in Connecticut, while one soiii'lit his for- 
tunes amid the hills of Vermont. This 



latter one was Ezra, the grandfatlier of the 
subject of this sketch. Ho subsequently 
removed to the State of New York, where 
he engaged in farming, and there the 
balance of his life was spent. 

Gideon AVaugli, son of Ezra, was born 
in New York State, and was there reared 
upon the farm of his father, which was 
small and afforded a mere existence for 
the rather large family. His parents dy- 
ing when he was but a child, he was early 
thrown upon his own resources, and also 
was entrusted with the care of those of the 
family younger than himself. His services 
were engaged by various farmers through- 
out the neighborhood, and by careful 
management he was enabled to save a 
small amount from his earnings, with 
which, after his marriage, and after the 
younger children were provided for com- 
fortably, he bought a small farm in Oswego, 
county, N. Y., upon which there were no. 
improvements. He married Miss Mi- 
nerva Miner, a native of the State of New 
York, and to them were born the following 
ciiildren: Gideon, Jr., Minerva, Chapman 
M., Lansing and .fames. In 1833 the 
family removed to Lorain county, Ohio, 
locating upon seventy-seven acres of wild, 
unimproved land in Camden township. In 
the fall of the same year the mother died, 
our subject then being but nine years old. 
In 1834 Gideon Waugh, Sr., married 
Mindwell Shepai-d, by which union was 
born one child; Minerva Waugh is now 
living and is the wife of Silas French, of 
Wakeman township, Huron county, a very 
industrious farmer, who has made some 
valuable improvements. They have a very 
nice family of six children — three sons 
and three daughters. 

The circumstances of the family were 
very limited, and they were much in debt 
for the land which had been purchased by 
them, which was at the rate of two dollars 
and fifty cents per acre. By the practice 
of rigid economy and careful management, 
however, the indebtedness was in a few 
years paid oflf, and at the death of the 



610 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



father, which occurred in 1869, the home 
was well improved. Gideon Wangh, Sr., 
the father of suhject, was a Whig, and one 
of the first members of the Baptitt Church 
of Camden township. For many years he 
was justice of the peace of the township. 
He was widely known, and universally es- 
teemed and respected. 

Chapman M. Waugh, whose name intro- 
duces this sketch, was born in Oswego 
county, N. Y., November 27, 1S23, and at 
the age of nine years came with his par- 
ents to Ohio as before recorded. The first 
few niglits after the family's arrival upon 
the ground of their future home they slept 
under the wagons, while a great fire made 
of brush and wood served to keep off the 
animals which then abounded. During 
the first few days, in the clearing of a 
space sufficient to admit the building of a 
log cabin 16 x 20 feet, the father severely 
cut himself upon the hand, an accident 
which rendered him comparatively help- 
less so far as immediate assistance was 
concerned. The log cabin was soon 
erected, however, finished with a puncheon 
floor, and furnished with stools, etc. 
While the house was in course of erection 
a tree fell upon it, but so strong was the 
frame that the tree was broken and the 
frame remained uninjured. The original 
farm just spoken of was at last sold, and 
the family bought another near Wakeman, 
Huron county, upon which they resided 
for some six years, when it was sold, the 
family returning to Lorain county, and 
buj'ing a farm in Carlisle township near 
Elyria. Our subject then bought with 
his savings the farm of sixty-seven acres 
where he now resides, and on wliicli tliere 
were some improvements. 

In 1843 he married Miss Roxey Cook, 
of Oswego county, N. Y., and three chil- 
dren were born to them, as follows: 
Newell, Judson and Nancy, the last 
iinmed being now deceased. Newell is a 
resident of Camden township, Lorain 
county; Judson is a successful merchant 
of Lima, Ohio. Tlie mother of these died 



in 1855, and in 1856 Mr. Waugh married 
Mrs. Polly Cable, a widow, daughter of 
Eli and Lucy AVaterhouse, natives of Ver- 
mont. Her father, who was a cooper and 
farmer by occupation, came to Lorain 
county among the first settlers. To this 
union one child, Emma Dora, was born, 
but died in infancy. Politically Mr. 
Waugh is a Republican, and has held 
minor offices of trust. In 1873 he built 
the handsome residence in which he now 
resides, upon his farm of one hundred 
acres in Henrietta township. One great 
fact is apparent, and that is that Mr. 
Waugh's success and prosperity have been 
accomplished by dint of hard, earnest labor 
good management and care, which proper- 
ties are characteristic of him. Both he 
and his wife are Baptists in principle; 
their many Christian acts are well known 
and will exist in memory long after they 
have joined the array upon the other i-hore. 



Li 



YMAN BECKLEY, who for nearly 
his entire life has been a resident of 
Lorain county, was born April 5, 
1827, in Stow town.ship, Summit 
Co., Ohio, a grandson of Selah Beckley, 
who was born in Connecticut in 1767, 
and came to Ohio in 1812, locating in 
Summit count}'. Li 1787 he had married 
Miss Caroline Beckley, who was born 
in 1768, and children as follows were 
born to them: Hepzibah (1), Noel, 
Lotan, Hepzibah (2), Kowena, Elnathan 
S., Lois, Edwin, Aliira and Sally. The 
father of these, by trade a blacksmith, 
died in 1817, in Stow township, Summit 
count}', and is there buried. 

Elnathan S. Beckley, father of Lyman, 
was born in Berlin, Conn., April 2, 1801, 
and was eleven years old when the family 
"came to Ohio. He was reared to agricul- 
tural pursuits, and was a farmer all his life. 
On June 1, 1825, he married Miss Polly 
Wilcox, who was born in Berlin, Conn., in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



611 



1805, and by lier had two children: Ly- 
man, and Eloise, now Mrs. Madison An- 
drews, of lliintinjj;t()n townsiiip, Lorain 
county. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Elnathan S. Beckiey lived near Cuyahoga 
Falls, Ohio, and then, in 1842, came to 
Huntington township, Lorain county, mak- 
ing their home for some years in the 
southwest part of the township. In 1863 
they moved to Rochester township, same 
county, where Elnathan died in Decem- 
ber, 1872, and was buried in Huntington; 
his widow subsequently made her home 
with her son Lyman, dying in May, 1890. 
She and her husband were members of the 
Universalist Church; in politics he was a 
J)eniocrat. 

Lyman Beckiey, the only son of this pio- 
neer couple, received a liberal education at 
the district schools, and when tiftecu years 
old came with liis parents to Lorain county. 
They stopped for a few weeks with an un- 
cle's family who lived in a single roomed 
cabin of the primitive style, with shake 
roof, puncheon tloor, stick chimney and no 
window, till tiiey could clear away the for- 
est from a portion of the wild land they 
had selected for their future home, and 
build a shelter of their own. His father 
being in poor health, he had a grand op- 
portunity to finish his education with an 
axe in the woods by day, and burning logs 
for evening recreation. (3n October 26, 
184S, he married Miss Mary J. Sage, born 
in Huntington township, Lorain county, 
October 6, 1831, a daughter of H. P. and 
Susan (Mallory) Sage, who came from New 
Haven, Conn., to Ohio about the year 
1825. Mr. Sage was a valuable addition 
to this new settlement, being a man of cul- 
ture and refinement. He taught their 
public schools and music classes; gave 
lessons in the higher mathematics and 
other branches, including theology in his 
home. He gave but little attention to 
party politics, yet was honored with several 
ofiices of trust. He gathered the people 
together on the Sabbath for j)ul)lic wor- 
ship, as he was a pioneer minister of the 



Universalist. faith, formerly an Episcopa- 
lian. He died in Ilnntiniiton in 1887, his 
wife in 1870, and they are are buried in 
that township. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lyman 
Beckiey settled on the farm he had toiled 
to improve. In 1^63 they moved to 
Rochester, where he gave special atten- 
tion to dairying, and in 1869, in partner- 
ship witii a neighbor, built what is still 
known as the Beckiey Cheese Factory. In 
1876 he sold his Rochester farm to his 
oldest son and bought, of D. T. Bush, a 
farm adjoining his first location in Hunt- 
ington where he still resides. The chil- 
dren, four in number, of Mr. and Mrs. 
Lyman Beckiey were Alma R., born Sep- 
teraiier 13, 1849, died at the age of four- 
teen months; Harley O., sketch of whom 
follows; Ellis S., born in 1858, died in the 
latter part part of 1N61, and I). I., born 
May 26, 1861, a farmer in Rochester town- 
ship, Lorain county. The parents are 
members of the Universalist Church, and 
in his political sympathies he is a stanch 
Democrat. He is a well-kncnvn, highly 
respected citizen, a practical dairy farmer, 
and by industry and perseverance has 
earned a comfortable competence. 

Harlet O. Beckley was horn June 6, 
1851, in Huntington township, Lorain 
county, and received his elementary 
education at the common schools of 
the district, afterward attending ^Yel- 
lington (Ohio) high school a couple of 
terms. Up to the age of eighteen he 
worked more or less on liis father's 
farm, chiefly in the dairying department, 
and then entered the Beckiey Cheese 
Factory under George Bush, which was 
located near his home, but after two 
years returned to his first occupation. On 
October 4, 1871, he married Miss Mary A. 
Peet, a native of the county, born in 
Rochester township, a daughter of Homer 
and Charlotte (Kelsey) Peet. The young 
couple then commence<l housekeeping in a 
small residence on his father's farm, rent- 
ing same, but which Harley subsequently 



012 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



bought. One child has coine to bless 
this union — Chloe A., at home with her 
parents. 

In 1876 Mr. Beckley came to his pres- 
ent farm in Rochester township, where he 
has been extensively engaged in the dairy- 
ing business in connection with general 
agriculture, and has met with more than 
average success. In 1892, at a cost of two 
thousand dollars, he built one of the most 
substantial barns to be found in the soutli- 
ern portion of Lorain county, and by far 
the best one in Rochester township. In his 
political predilections our subject is a 
Democrat, taking active interest in ihe af- 
fairs of his party. Pie and his wife are 
prominent members of the Universalist 
Church, in which he is trustee, and tor 
some time he was superintendent of the 
Sunday-school. 



^SCAR HERRICK. In the county 
auditor of Lorain county we find a 
typical representative of New Eng- 
land. The Ilerrick family, of 
which the subject of this sketch is a worthy 
member, comes of English ancestry who in 
early Colonial days immigrated to the 
New World, making their first cis-Atlantic 
home in Massachusetts, afterward remov- 
ing to New York State. 

Harlow Herrick, father of the subject 
of this sketch, was born July 21, 1801, iu 
New York State, where he received the 
limited education afforded by the schools 
of the neighborhood of his home, and was 
reared to the occupation of a farmer. 
While a young man he moved to Ohio, tak- 
ing up a farm in Medina county, where he 
made his lionie a few years, and then came 
to Lorain county, vrhere the remainder of 
his usefullife was spent. In Medina county 
he married Miss Laura Ann Briggs, a native 
of Massachusetts, and to this union chil- 
dren as follows were born : Helen (Mrs. 
S. W. Gott) and Rollin, both living in 
Michigan, the latter in the town of Ed- 



more; Harriet, widow of Arad Lindsley, 
who was killed at the battle of Ball's 
Bluff during the war of the Rebellion (she 
is now a resident of Carson City, Mich.); 
Daniel, who died in Lowell, Mich., in 
1870; Oscar, subject of sketch; Ann, re- 
siding in Pueb'.o, Colo., widow of Andrew 
Schnur, who died in 1862 while in the 
Union army; Byron, who died in 1862 at 
New Creek, Va., while in the service; 
Henry and Eliza, both deceased, at the 
ages respectively of one and one half years 
and three weeks; and Jane (Mrs. Walter 
Yeamans), in Ionia, Mich. The father of 
this family died in Michigan May 31, 
1891; the mother is living in Ionia, that 
State. Politically, Harlow Herrick was 
originally a Whig, and on the organization 
of the Republican party became a loyal 
member and earnest supporter of same. 

Oscar Herrick, whose name introduces 
this biographical notice, was born in Pen- 
field, Lorain Co., Ohio, April 20, 1838. 
His boyhood and youth were passed on the 
home farm, a few months in the winter 
seasons beino- devoted to attending the 
schools of the neighborhood, where he ob- 
tained his rudimentary instruction — the 
solid substratum of his after study. In 
earl}' manhood he became interested in 
watchmaking and the jewelry business, 
and entering a store in Medina in that 
line, learned the trade in all its details. 
Having thoroughly prepared himself for 
journeyman work, he set oat into the 
world with buoyant hopes and sanguine 
expectations, destined to be well realized. 
He worked in Medina, Cleveland, and 
Wellington (Lorain county), at which latter 
place he opened a jewelry establishment, 
conducting same some twenty years. 

In 1862 Mr. Herrick was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Victoria C. Bowers, a 
model wife, one whose Christian spirit 
and amiable demeanor endeared her to a 
large circle of friends. She was born and 
reared in AVellino-ton, where she held an 
honored place in society. In 1892, on the 
sixth day of July, her pure spirit took its 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



613 



flight, and all that was mortal of her was 
laid to rest in the quiet cemetery at Well- 
ington. 

Sylvester Bowers, father of the late Mrs. 
Oscar Herrick, wa? born October 1, 1805, 
in Massachusetts, where he was reared and 
educated. He married Miss Esther Cheney, 
also a native of Massachusetts, born in 
1804, and a brief record of the children 
born to them is as follows: Henry was 
killed at the battle of Kuo.\;ville, Tenn., 
durino- the Civil war, while in the Union 
service; Charles H. married Miss Emma 
J. Webster, and they reside in Wellington, 
Lorain county; Victoria C. was the wife of 
Oscar Herrick; Hattie I. islivincrat home 
with her aged father, who came to Well- 
ington township about the year 1886. 
where he engaged in farming. Originally 
a Whig, he has of late years been a Re- 
publican. He is a member of the Con- 
gregational Church, has always been a lib- 
eral contributor to public enterprises, and 
is a true man. 

Mr. Herrick may be truly classed among 
the self-made men of Lorain county, and 
placed in the front rank of her business 
citizens. He has ever been a stanch Re- 
publican, at all times advocating and ad- 
vancing the interests of his party. In 
1886 the people of Lorain county, fully 
appreciating his well-known business 
qualitications, 'elected him to the auditor- 
ship of the county, which incumbency he 
is still filling with characteristic ability 
and fidelity. In public as in private life 
he is an exemplary citizen, holding an 
enviable position in the esteem and respect 
of all who know him. 



EORGE H. NORTON. This gen- 
tleman, who for over half a century 
has been prominently identified with 
the interests of Lorain county, and 
more particularly those of Penfield 
township, is a native of Allegany county, 
N. y., born December 18, 1824. 



His father, Hiram Norton, was born in 
1802 in Rutland county, Vt., son of Joel 
Norton, who in an early day removed to 
New York State, locating finally in Alle- 
gany county, where Hiraiu was reared. 
Here lie was married, when a young man, 
to Miss Lucy A. Greene, who was born in 
Sodus, N. Y., daughter of John Greene, 
and children were born to them, as fol- 
lows: George H., whose name opens this 
sketch; Edward J., a farmer of Michigan; 
Andrew J., of Clinton county, Mich.: and 
Clarissa M., now Mrs. William Christy, of 
Michigan. In the fall of 1836 the family 
came to Ohio, where Hiram had come sev- 
eral years previously on a visit to his par- 
ents, who resided in Cuyahoga county, 
where the mother died; the father passed 
away in Putnam county, Ohio. Hiram 
Norton brought his family west in a cov- 
ered wagon drawn by a team of two oxen, 
and after a journey of three weeks paused 
in Cuyahoga county, where an uncle of his 
resided. The roads were very poor, and 
assistance was found necessary in several 
places to pull the wagon along. Mr. Nor- 
ton rented a farm in Parma township, 
Cuyahoga county, whence, after a resi- 
dence of two years, he removed to Rich- 
field, Medina (now Summit) Co., Ohio, 
where he remained two and a half years. 
Then, in February, 1841, he removed to 
Penfield township, Lorain county, where 
he purchased (on credit) sixty acres of land 
at thirty dollars an acre, where he lived 
four years, and then came to the farm now 
owned and occupied by our subject, in 
partnership with whom he purchased 
sixty-four acres at six dollars and fifty 
cents per acre. A log house was erected 
on the site of the present dwelling, but the 
land was totally unimproved, not a tree 
liavin^ been cut, and here Mr. and Mrs. 
Norton passed the remainder of their 
lives, he dying in 1872, she on April 15, 
1887. They are both interred in Center 
cemetery, Penfield township. In politics 
he was originally a Democrat, but later, 
on the formation of the party, became a 



614 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Republican, and in religious faith he and 
his Mii'e were both members of the M. E. 
Churcl). While in New York heengafjed 
in chopping and other day labor, and also 
earned a livelihood by hunting, having in 
his day killed 1,000 deer, besides large 
numbers of turkeys and other game. Even 
after coming to Ohio he killed many deer, 
which he sliipped to Cleveland. 

Our subject received in his early yontii 
liut a limited education, and was twelve 
years old when he came with the rest of 
the family to Ohio. He has a very dis- 
tinct recollection of the trip, as well as the 
various towns they passed through en 
route, especially Cleveland, and he well 
remembers the strife between Ohio City 
(now the West Side, Cleveland) and the 
city proper. Locating with his parents in 
Cuyahoga county lie did such farm work 
as his age permitted, remaining under the 
parental roof till reaching his majority, 
when he hired out to Lathrup Penlield at 
eleven dollars per mouth. In the follow- 
ing winter (1844) he invested his savings, 
forty dollars, in a tract of land adjoining 
his present farm. On May 6, 1847, Mr. 
Norton was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary M. Houghton, wlio was born May 5, 
1825, in Genesee county, N. Y., daughter 
of Asa and Tamson (Bigelow) Houghton, 
who came in 183G to Bpencer township, 
Medina Co., Ohio, where the former con- 
ducted a sawmill. After Ijis marriage 
Mr. Norton rented a farm in Spencer 
township for one year, in the following 
year removing to Peniield township, Lorain 
county, on a small farm, living in a frame 
house which he had erected. After ex- 
changing land with his father, he came, in 
1853, to his present farm-, where he has 
since continuously resided He has been 
a lifelong farmer, and in connection with 
his agricultural operations has for years 
been engaged in dairying; he now owns 
one hundred acres of excellent land. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Norton have been born chil- 
dren as follows: Lucy M., Mrs. C. D. 
W^ilson; Mary, Mrs. Philo Peniield; and 



Frank M., a farmer, all three of Oceana 
county, Mich.; ElviraT., residing at home; 
and Edwin H., a school teaclier of Grand 
Rapids, Mich. The present residence of 
the family was erected in 1861, and the 
collection of buildings on the farm, all of 
which have been erected by Mr. Norton 
himself, would be a credit to any farmer. 
In his political preferences our suliject 
was a Rejuiblican until 1888; ^ince then 
he has been in the ranks of the Proliibition 
party; he has never used either tobacco or 
spirituous liquors. He takes an active 
part in public affairs, and has served four 
years as assessor, one term as township 
trustee, and for thirty-five years as justice 
of the peace. Both he and his wife are 
members of the M. E. CInirch, he for 
forty-eight years, she for over fifty years. 
For over thirty-three years he has been a 
local minister from tlie Cleveland district, 
and preached for years at Chatham Center, 
Medina county, prior to which time he 
served at Brighton, Wellington, Hunt- 
ington, and various other places in Lorain 
county. 



rAXON. In the year 1601 there was 
born in England one Thomas Faxon, 
_^ who immigrated to America some 
time prior to 1647, settling in 
Braintree (now Quincj), Mass., where he 
passed the rest of his days. He was mar- 
ried in England, and had three children, 
of whom one son, Richard, was born in 
that country al)out 1630, and died in 1674 
in Braintree, Massachusetts. 

This Richard Faxon had a son named 
Josiah, born in Braintree, September 8, 
1660, died in 1731; his sou, Tlioinas, born 
February 8, 1602, died Marcii 19, 1729- 
30; he had a son, Thomas, born in Brain- 
tree, February 19, 1724, married August 
24, 1749, Joanna Allen, who was the de- 
scendant of Samuel Allen the emigrant; 
also the granddaughter of Abigail Savil, 
the granddaughter of William Savil the 




/^ ' ^^ <f<>-^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



617 



einiOTant. Abigail Savil was connected 
through her motlier, Ilannali (Adams) 
Savil, witii the Adams family, from wlwm 
was descended Samuel Adams, the Signer 
of the Declaration of Independence, and 
John Adams, President of the United 
States. [ Vide Vinton Memorial.] 

This Thomas Faxon was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, and died in Deerfield, 
Mass., in June, 1792. Ho had a son, also 
named Thomas, born February 19, 1755, 
died January 3, 1827. lie had a son, 
Isaac Davis Fa.xon, born at Conway, Mass., 
November 16, 1791, who, at an early day, 
came west to Portage county, Ohio, where 
he followed agricultural pursuits, and 
died August 5, 1821. lie held several 
township offices, and served in the war of 
1812. Tliis Isaac Davis Faxon married 
September 13, 1814, Coritina Lewis, born 
in Farinington, Conn., December 23, 1789, 
daughter of Oliver and Lucinda (North) 
Lewis. 

John Hall Faxon, eldest son of this 
Isaac Davis Faxon, was born at Aurora, 
Portage Co., Ohio, June 6, 1815, and was 
bnt six years of age at his father's death. 
He was then taken to live with an uncle, 
Oliver H. Lewis, in the same county, 
whence they removed to Ridgeville, Lorain 
county, where the lad was reared, being 
brought np in the practical lessons of farm 
life, and received his primary education in 
the country schools of that early period. 
About the year 1837, John Hall Faxon 
proceeded to Utica, N. Y., and there, 
through the kindness of another uncle, 
Hon. Theodore S. Faxton (as he wr(jte his 
name), was enabled to attend an academy 
in that city for eighteen months, in which 
he pursued a course of study fitting him 
for his chosen pursuit of civil engineer- 
ing. In that capacity he was employed 
on the Erie ('anal, the Auburn & Syra- 
cuse Railroad, and subsequently the Atlan- 
tic & Great Western, and the Lake Shore 
& Michigan Southern Railroad in Ohio. 

On June 21, 1838, he was married to 
Esther Terrell, of Ridgeville, Lorain Co., 



Ohio, who survives him. Six children 
were born to them, four of whom are still 
living and are well known residents of 
Elyria. Mr. Faxon held many offices of 
trust and honor, in all of which he dis- 
chargeil his duties with ability and fidelity. 
He was appointed deputy sheriff in 18-40; 
was elected sheriff in 1844, re-elected in 
1846, serving four years. He was elected 
sergeant-at-arms of the Ohio Senate in 
1856, and served two years. He was ap- 
pointed canal collector at Cleveland, Ohio, 
by Gov. Chase, about 1857, and served two 
years. He also served a number of terms 
as county surveyor and city engineer. In 
1878 he was elected representative in the 
Sixty-first General Assembly, and was re- 
elected to the Sixty-second in 1875, where 
he became widely known as a faithful and 
efficient public servant. In 1875 he was 
admitted to the bar, by the Supreme Court 
of the State, but never engaged in active 
legal practice. Besides these official posi- 
tions he served for twenty-one consecutive 
years as justice of the peace, and for a few 
terms as mayor of Elyria village. He was 
for a number of years assistant assessor of 
Internal Revenue for Lorain county, Ohio. 

Mr. Faxon was a man of pronounced 
opinions and strong convictions, but his 
genial ways always made him a pleasant 
gentleman to meet. In his social inter- 
course his worthy traits of character gave 
him the esteem, high regard and support 
of his friends and neighbors, while his ex- 
ecutive ability and maidy vigor placed him 
high in public favor. His sterling'quali- 
ties as an honest, industrious citizen gave 
him the comforts of life for which his 
genial disposition was well suited; his 
whole life was one worthy of emulation. 
He was an old and honored member of the 
Fraternity of Odd Fellows. 

During the later years of his life he 
was president of the Flushing Coal Com- 
pany, their mines at Flushing, Ohio, being 
owned by him and his sons, Isaac I), and 
Theodore S. Mr. Faxon died July 4, 
1891. 



618 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Isaac Davis Faxon, eldest son of John 
H. Faxon, was born September 16, 1840, 
and received his education at the public 
schools of Elyria. He was connected for 
thirteen years, as bookkeeper, with the 
Cleveland Herald, and has held other 
positions of trust in Cleveland and else- 
wliere. He returned to Elyria in 1878, 
and until recently was engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits; he is secretary and 
treasurer of The Flashing Coal Company. 

Mr. Faxon married September 2, 1869, 
Miss Laura Margaretta Briggs, born De- 
cember 31, 1845, in Painesville, Ohio, 
daughter of Joseph William and Harmony 
(Gilmore) Briggs. Mr. Briggs was the 
son of Rufus Briggs, the eldest son of 
Allen Briggs, born April 27, 1756, in 
Cranston, Khode Island. Among the 
other children of Alien Briggs was George 
Nixon Briggs, born April 12, 1796, in 
South Adams, Mass., a distinguished 
statesman, governor of Massachusetts and 
member of Congress for many years. 
Joseph William Briggs, left an orphan at an 
early age, was brought up in the family of 
his uncle, Gov. Briggs, and having, in its 
infancy, becomean enthusiastic advocate of 
the Free Delivery Letter System, he re- 
ceived, unsolicited, in 1864, from Post- 
master-General Blair the appointment of 
superintendent of the free delivery system 
throughout the country. He entered upon 
his duties with the determination to make 
the system a success, and literally wore his 
life out in its service, dying February 
23, 1872. 

Theodore S. Faxon, son of John H. and 
Esther (Terrell) Faxon, was born in Ely- 
ria, Ohio, January 18, 1846. 

His education was obtained at the high 
schools of his native town, and at the age 
of eighteen he went to Cleveland, where he 
was employed as bookkeeper in a whole- 
sale business house up to the age of twenty- 
three years. He then returned to his na- 
tive town, and commenced the manufac- 
ture of furniture, subsequently embarking 
in the lumber business, having in connec- 



tion therewith a planing-mill. Selling 
out his interest in this business he became 
the secretary and treasurer of a number of 
coal companies, coutinuing as such for a 
period of three years, when in connection 
with others he organized the Flushing 
Coal Co., and also the Brock Hill Coal 
Co., and was elected as secretary and treas- 
urer of both companies, which positions he 
held for one year. At the end of that 
time, selling his interests in the Brock Hill 
Coal Co., he and his father and brother, 
Isaac D., became sole owners of the Flush- 
ing Coal Co., of whicli he became general 
mauager, and after the death of his father, 
in 1891, was elected president of the com- 
pany, which position he now occupies. 

T. S. Faxon and Miss Martha E. Bullock, 
a native of New York State, were united 
in marriage June 20, 1871, and live chil- 
dren have been born to them, as follows: 
Mary Belle, Theodore E., Catherine L., 
Isaac Davis and Kobert B. 

Our subject in politics is a Republican, 
and he is a member of the G. A. R. Dur- 
ing the war of the Rebellion he served 
with the One Hundred Days men, being 
about eighteen years old at the time. 



EiRNEST L. DISBRO, senior pro- 
prietor and editor of the Oberlin 
I Citizen, has been engaged in the 

newspaper business since 1880, a 
portion of the time as foreman on the 
Oberlin Neios. In 1883 he published the 
Moravia (Iowa) Tribune; for a time filled 
the position of foreman on the Citizen, 
of Centreville, Iowa, and in 1888 was for a 
time in charge of the New London (Huron 
county, Ohio) Record, on leaving which 
he returned to Oberlin, and four years 
later became one of the proprietors of the 
Oberlin Citizen, a lively newsy paper 
that in December, 1892, bought out the 
Exponent. 

Mr. Disbro was born in Elyria, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, October 15, 1860, third son of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



619 



Rev. Dr. AVilliani 1!. and Catherine M. 
(Ilntchins) Disbro, the former a native of 
France, the latter of Herkimer, N. Y. 
The other children are W. B., secretary 
and treasurer of the Woodward Lnniber 
Co., Atlanta, Ga. ; Delia, in Atlanta, Ga., 
and one deceased. When a boy the father 
came to this country, making his first 
home in the New World at Marietta, Ohio. 
He was educated in Cleveland, aiid gradu- 
ated from the Homeopathic College, after 
which he practiced his profession for sev- 
eral years in that city. In 1843 he en- 
tered the n)inistry of the M. E. Church, 
was appointed presiding elder in the San- 
dusky district, and afterward was trans- 
ferred to the Cleveland district, where he 
officiated in the same capacity, his resi- 
dence during tiie latter time being in 
Elyria, Lorain county. He died in 1865; 
his widow now resides in Atlanta, Georgia. 

The subject proper of this sketch passed 
his early boyhood in Berea, Ohio, and re- 
ceived the bulk of his education at Bald- 
win University, in that city, his father at 
that time being auditor of that institution. 
He then became identified witli journal- 
ism, as already recorded. He is a Re- 
publican in politics, though his paper, the 
Citizen, is independent in its views, and 
he is a member of the Republican Central 
Committee. Socially, Mr. Disbro is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. In 1885 he 
was united in marriage with Miss Eva E. 
Newell, a native of Pennsylvania, daugh- 
ter of Nelson and Fanny (^Mungar) New- 
ell, both natives of Vermont, who in 1805 
settled in Kipton, Lorain county, from 
Crawford county, Penn., where the father 
died in 1891; his widow is now passing 
her days in Pennsylvania. To this union 
there is one daughter, Marion. 

When the present management assumed 
charge of the Citizen it was a Prohibition 
organ, with scarcely any patronage and 
few subscribers. A strict adhei-enee to 
business principles on the one hand, and 
a constant endeavor to place before the 
public a model newspaper on the other, 



have gained for the Citizen a large circu- 
lation throughout the county, there not 
being a postoffice in the entire county to 
which a package of the papers is not 
mailed weekly. Independent, fearless 
and aggressive, the Citizen occupies a 
unique field in country journalism, and 
demonstrates the possibilities of energy, 
push, and purpose. By action of tiie coun- 
cil the Citizen has recently been selected 
as the official paper of the city. 



QEORGE E. SMITH, M. D., phy- 
, sician and surgeon, is a native of 
Lyme township, Huron county, 
, . Ohio, born in 1832. 

Dr. Charles Smith, father of sub- 
ject, was born in Westfield, Mass., and 
was married in New York to Miss Mehet- 
abel Seymour, a native of Otsego county, 
N. Y., born of a Puritan family of Con- 
necticut. In 1829 the young couple came 
to Huron county, Ohio, making a new 
home in Lyme township, on Strong's 
Ridge, where he practiced his profession, 
and cultivated a farm of twenty acres. 
He was a graduate of Yale Medical Col- 
lege, and before coming to Lyme township 
taught school for a time in Granville, 
Ohio. He became closely identified with 
the early history of the county, assisting 
in many ways in its development. Politi- 
cally lie was originally a Whig, afterward 
a Republican. As a Presliyterian, he was 
an active churchman, and tor years was at 
the head of the Sabbath-school, and was 
an Elder in the Church. He was a great 
temperance advocate, and organized the 
first Temperance Society in Huron county, 
which same was founded in Lyme town- 
ship, October 6, 1830. His home was the 
first one built in the township without 
the use of whisky. He was connected 
with the Firelands Society, and wrote tiie 
" History of Lyme Township." Dr. 
Charles Smith died .March 2, 1861, 
his wife in April, 1854. Simon Smith, 



620 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



paternal grandfather of subject, was a Revo- 
lutionary soldier from Connecticut, and 
later settled in Westfield, Mass. Jona- 
than Seymour, the maternal grandfather, 
was an ensign in the lievolutionary strug- 
gle, and in 1793 settled in Otsego county, 
N. Y., where he died in 1819. 

The subject proper of these lines was 
reared in Lyme township up to the age of 
fourteen years, and received his education 
at the schools of Lyme and Milan, after 
whicli, in 1851, he entered the Western 
Reserve College at Hudson, where he 
graduated A. B. with the class of 1855. 
He taught school some seven years — two 
years (1855-57) in Tennessee; had also 
charge of the Western Reserve Teachers' 
Seminary, at Kirtland, Ohio, and for two 
years was principal of the gi-ammar school 
at Circleville, same State. In 1858 he 
graduated A. M. from the Western Re- 
serve College. After leaving college he 
attended three courses of medical lectures 
at Cleveland, Ann Arbor, and the Medi- 
cal College of Ohio, where he graduated 
in 1862. In that year he commenced the 
practice of his profession at Willoughbv, 
Ohio. On December 23, 1862, lie was 
commissioned assistant-surgeon of the 
Seventy-sixth O. V. I., and joined his 
regiment at Arkansas Post January 14, 
1863. He was present at the seige of 
Vicksburg, where he was taken sick, and 
was confined in the Officers' Hospital at 
Memphis, Tenn. Obtaining leave of ab- 
sence, he returned to Ohio, and resigned 
his commission. He was then appointed 
on the Government contract service at 
Hillsdale, Mich., as e.xaniining physician 
and surgeon of Post Hillsdale. Here he 
remained from July, 1863, till March, 
1875, when he went to Fremont, San- 
dusky Co., Ohio, and after practicing his 
profession there some sixteen years, came, 
in June. 1891, to Oberlin, where he has 
since resided. 

In 1862 Dr. Smith was married at Ply- 
mouth, Richland Co., Ohio, to Miss Sarah 
Brinkerhoff, a native of New York, daugh- 



ter of Gen. Henry R. and Sarah (Swart- 
wout) Brinkerhoff, also of New Y^ork. 
Gen. Brinkerhoff served in the war of 
1812, was afterward commander-in-chief 
of the New Y^ork Militia, and received 
Gen. LaFayette at Auburn, N. Y. He 
was a member of the Legislature of New 
York, and member of Congress from Iln- 
ron county. Ohio, at the time of his death 
in 1846. To our subject and wife have 
been born four children, as follows: Isa- 
bella S., a teacher in the high school at 
Fremont, Ohio; Alice Gertrude, attending 
college; Josephine, attending high school, 
and Roelif B., assistant secretary Y. M. 
C. A., Detroit, Michigan. 

Dr. Smitli in politics is a Republican, 
and while in Hillsdale. Mich., he served 
as school inspector five or six years. He 
is a member of the G. A. R. Post at Ober- 
lin; of the Knights of Honor at Fremont; 
of the American Academy of Medicine, 
and was secretary of the Southern Michi- 
gan Medical Society two years. He and 
his wife are members of the First Congre- 
gational Church, in which he is deacon; 
while a resident of Fremont and Hillsdale 
he was superintendent of Sunday-school, 
and was president of the Hillsdale County 
Sunday-school Association at the time of 
his leaving that place. 




J\ B. FOLLANSBEE, a member of 
the firm of Lanndon, Windecker 
Ml' & Co., manufacturers of cheese, 
proprietors of the second largest 
factory in tiiat line in Wellington, Lorain 
county, is a native of Grafton, N. H., born 
April 25, 1830. John Follansbee, his 
father, who was of the same town, and a 
farmer by occupation, married Miss Eliza 
Potter, by whom he had four children: 
Offrinda, who died about twenty years 
ago; Daniel, residing at East Grafton, N. 
H.; John E., living in Oberlin, Ohio, and 
W. B., the subject of this memoir. The 
father died at the age of eighty-six years, 



LORAIN COUNTY ^ OHIO 



621 



tlie mother vvlieii aged feventy; tliey were 
both descended from New England families. 

Our subject received his education at 
tlie schools of Grafton, N. H., and before 
coming west had some experience as a 
traveling salesman. At the age of twenty 
years he came to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, 
where for some fourteen years he followed 
the meat market business and stock deal- 
ing. He then moved to Columbia town- 
ehip, Lorain county, where for a time he 
again engaged in stock dealing, as well as 
farming and the cheese business, after 
which became to Wellington, same county, 
where he now resides, engaged in the 
prosperous business alluded to at com- 
mencement of sketch. He is also a part- 
ner in the Wellington Brick and Tile 
Works, another of the leading industries 
of Wellington, and in addition to the 
cheese factory in that towti he operates 
eight to ten others in the county. 

In 1861 Mr. Follansbee married Miss 
Mary Adams, of Columbia township, 
Lorain county, and two children have 
come to cheer their home — William, a 
bright Ijoy, wlio graduated with honor at 
the Wellington schools, and Howard, who 
is still in scbool. In his political predilec- 
tions our subject is a stanch Democrat, and 
socially he is a member of the Royal 
Arcanum. 



'II.IRLES C. ENSIGN, sheriff of 
Ijorain county, is a native of the 
same, horn in 18(53, a son of Calvin 
and Deborah (Burdick) Ensign, both 
al.-o natives of Ohio, but whose parents 
wore from VeruKjut. Calvin Ensign was 
a farmer by occuj)atioii, and he served as 
sheriff of Lorain county two terms — 1883 
-1887. 

Charles C. Ensign, who was the eldest 
child and only son in a family of five chil- 
dren, received a liberal education in the 
liigh schools of Elyria. He served as 
deputy sheriff of the county for six years — 
two years under his father, and four years 



under his father's successor, during which 
latter period he did most of tlie bard work 
in the office. At the end of that time, at 
the ago of twenty-six, he was nominated 
for the office of sherifi'. and in the fall of 
1890 he was elected, taking office in .lanu- 
ary, 1891, the youngest sheriff in the State; 
he has since been reelected. His long ex- 
perience as deputy sheriff makes him 
eminently well qualified for his position, 
whilst his natural ability is unquestioned 
and his popularity unbounded. He is 
tall, stalwart, athletic and bi'ave, and as 
assiduous in his duties as he is loyal to his 
county, State and country. 

Mr. Ensign was united in marriage, 
March 30, 1886. with Miss Cora F. Hul- 
l)ert, of Elyria, a daughter of James and 
Nancy (Fish) llulbert, who are natives of 
Ohio; and two children — Mabel L. and 
Walter C. — have been born to them. 
Politically Sheriff Ensii^n is an ardent 
Ilepnhlican, and in church connection he 
and his family are Baptists. 



THOMAS G. CHAPMAN, editor and 
proprietor of the Lorain Tunes, was 
born in Lorain, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
November 8, 1866, a son of James 
and Elizabeth (Piurk) C!liapman. 
Mr. Ch;q)man received a liberal educa- 
tion at the public schools of his native 
town, graduating, and then took a course 
at Oberlin Business College, where he 
graduated in 1884. He then returned to 
Lorain, and for a tiirie was employed in 
the shipping department of the Lorain 
Brass Works, where he had worked for 
about a year prior to his enlistment. Con- 
cluding to enter the arena of journalism, 
he secured a position on the Lorain 
Times, which after a year he bouu-ht 
out, and since 1886 has been its editor and 
proprietor. The paper, a weekly, is Ro- 
pulilican in its views, liberal, bright and 
newsy, and Mr. Chapman has materially 
improved the facilities of the office by 
changing the old hand-press for a steam- 



622 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



power one. Our subject has held the 
office of township clerk four and one-half 
years, and in the spring of 1893 was elected 
Treasurer of the township. Heistlooked 
upon as one of the popular rising young 
men of his section of the county. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., and served a 
term as secretary of the Lodge. 

Mr. Chapman was united in marriage, 
December 2S, 1892, with Miss Millie 
Bruce, an estimable young lady, who was 
born at LaPorte, Lorain Co., Ohio, Octo- 
ber 29, 1872. 




J. CAHOOX, recorder of Lorain 
county, with residence in Eiyria, is 
a native of the same, born in Avon 
township, May 11, 1837. 

O. B. Cahoon, father of subject, 
was born in Harkness county, N. Y., May 
25, 1804, and when ten years old accom- 
panied liis father, Wilber Cahoon, to Lo- 
rain count}', Ohio, they being the first 
settlers in Avon township, where subject's 
grandfather followed farming the rest of 
his active life, dying tliere in 1856; he was 
born in 1772. On coming iiere he had to 
cut his way eight miles into tiie woods, 
and for a long time there was not a single 
settlement between his place and the town 
of Cleveland. lie was an Old-line Whig, 
and the first justice of the peace elected in 
Avon township, which office he was hold- 
ing at the time of his death. He was a 
native of Massachusetts, his wife, Prisciila 
(Sweet), of Rhode Island. Tliej had eight 
children, all of wliom lived to Toiddle life 
except one that died at the age of si.xteeu. 
O. B. Cahoon lived in Avon township on a 
portion of his father's old property. In 
jiolitics, until the agitati<in of the slavery 
question, which precipitated the Civil war, 
he was a solid Democrat, but his views 
changing, he became a Republican, and so 
remained the rest of his life. He died in 
18S1, aged seventy-seven years, the father 
of seven children, all of whom lived to 



maturity, namely: H. J., Melissa A., Jo- 
seph B., Wilber D., Ora B., Burritt E. 
and Charles S. 

The subject of these lines was educated 
in the public schools of his native town- 
ship, and reared on a farm. In 1862 he 
enlisted in Company E, Forty-second O. 
V. I. (Garfield's regiment), which was at- 
tached to the Southwestern army, most of 
the time operating on the Mississippi river. 
Mr. Cahoon participated in tiie siege of 
Vicksburg, but being seized with sickness 
he was sent to hospital at Jefferson Bar- 
racks, where he was detached and sent 
home, to resume peaceful labor on the 
farm. 

Mr. Cahoon was united in marriage, 
February 10, 1861, with Elizabeth Lucas, 
who was born in Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio; 
her parents, Jonathan and Ann Lucas, were 
born and reared in England. Five chil- 
dren came to bless the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Cahoon, named as follows: Carrie, 
Ella (wife of Don Johnson), Fred, Maud 
and Anna. Our subject is a Republican, 
and in 1891 he was elected to tiie office of 
recorder for a term of three years. He is 
ex-adjutant of John Harrison Post in 
Avon township, and is a member of the 
Baptist Church. 



d[ E. WILLARD, treasurer of Lorain 
I county, comes of New England peo- 
' pie and Revolutionary stock, his 
grandfather having served in the 
great American struggle for liberty, dying 
in 1858 at the acre of ninety-seven. 

S. R. Willard, father of subject, was a 
native of Vermont, and was a Baptist 
minister. When the son, J. E., was yet an 
infant, the parents came west to Ohio, first 
locating in Bedford, Cuyalioga county, 
thence, after a sojourn of some seven years, 
moving to Salem, Columbiana county, 
after which they lived in various other 
parts of the State, including Lorain county. 
In 1866 the father left the Baptists, and 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



623 



united himself with tiie Disciple Church, 
becoming a celrg>'maii in that denomina- 
tion. From La Grange, in Lorain county, 
the family proceeded to Wellington, in 
the same county, and thence to Minnesota, 
then back to Wellington, from there mov- 
ing to Summit county, same State, and 
then retiirninu; to Wellington. -for the last 
time as far as concerned the father, as he 
died there in 1878, at the age of seventy- 
seven years, having been born in 1801. 
In 1829 he married Miss Catherine 
Trotter, by which union were born five 
sons and two daughters, our subject being 
the third; there were also two daughters 
born to Mr. Willard by a former marriage. 
The motlier of J. E. Willard was called 
from earth in 1891, aged eighty-four 
years, dying in Elyria; she was of Scotch- 
Irish descent. 

J. E. Willard, subject proper of this 
memoir, was born August 25, 1836, in 
Ogdensburg, N. Y., and when young 
was brought by his parents to Lorain 
county, Ohio, wliere he received his edu- 
cation. He was reared on a farm, and 
lived thereon till he was twenty-two years 
old, when he entered a dry-goods store at 
La Grange, Lorain county, remaining there 
four years. In 1881 he received the ap- 
pointment as deputy treasurer of Lorain 
county, in which capacity he served be- 
tween five and six years, at the end of 
whicii time he was appointed deputy 
auditor, tilling the position one and one- 
half years. In 1888 he was elected on the 
Republican ticket to his present incum- 
bency — treasurer of the county, and he is 

now servintr his second term, with char- 
es ' 

acteristic fidelity and ability. 

Mr. Willard was married, June 5, 1856, 
to Delia A. Gott, a native of La Grange, 
Ohio, daughter of David and Emeline 
Gott, both of whom were born at Worces- 
ter, N. Y. To this union three children 
have been born, viz.: Minnie A.,Kittie M. 
and Archie M. In political sympathies Mr. 
Willard is a Republican, and socially he is 
a member of the K. O. T. M. and G. A. R. 



During the Civil war he enlisted, Septem- 
ber 26, 1862, in the One Hundred and 
Twenty-eighth O. V. I., which served on 
Johnson's Island, guarding prisoners there, 
and he was discharged June 9, 1865. Mr. 
Willard was a schoolmate of the lamented 
President Garfield, at Hiram, Ohio, and he 
subsequently had various business com- 
munications witli him, having yet in his 
possession several autograph letters of his. 



/ 



SOI 



of 



tyifOSES S. TENNANT (deceased) 
\rl was a well-known school teacher 
|| and agriculturist — at one time 
cultivating the plastic minds of 
the young, at another the ductile 
the eai-th. He was born May 22, 
1812, in Monroe county, N. Y., tiie eldest 
son of Seidell and Lydia (Allen) Tepnant. 
Selden Tennant, father of subject, was 
a native of Connecticut, born in 1787, and 
in 1793 came to Otsego county, N. Y., 
with his parents. When a young man he 
bought hind aear Buffalo, N. Y., but not 
long afterward he removed to Monroe 
county. In 1846 he came to Ohio and 
bought wild land in Camden township, 
Lorain county, where he became a well-to- 
do citizen, farming being his life vocation. 
In Otsego county lie had married Miss 
Lydia Allen, who bore him children as 
follows: Moses S.. subject of this memoir; 
Betsy, who married Charles Kingsbury, 
and died in Michigan; Allen, a resident of 
Kenton, Ohio; Lydia, married to David 
M. Tennant, died in Oberlin in 1892; 
David «R., farmer, of Camden township; 
and Hannah M., married to Moses Hol- 
comb, now of Cass county, Iowa. The 
mother died in 1835 in New York State, 
the father on his farm in (/amden town- 
ship, Lorain county, in 1871. Politically 
he was first an ardent Whig, afterward, ou 
the formation of the party, a stanch Re- 
publican. In religious connection he and 
Ills wife were zealous Baptists. 



624 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Moses S. Tennant, the subject proper of 
these lines, received his education at tiie 
common schools of his native township, 
and was reared to agricultural pursuits on 
his father's farm. Being a studious boy 
and youth, and having a natural inclina- 
tion for reading and a love of books, he 
soon had himself prepared for the profes- 
sion of teacher, which he followed several 
years with pronounced success. In Octo- 
ber, 1839, shortly after his marriage, he 
came with his wife to Ohio, the journey 
being made with a covered wagon and oc- 
cupying two weeks. They located in 
Camden township, Lorain county, and 
having out of his wages — about twelve 
dollars per month — saved a little money, 
Mr. Tennant was enabled to buy one hun- 
dri'd acres of land at ten dollars per acre, 
twenty of which were cleared and fenced, 
and on which there stood a comfortable 
log house with a brick chimney, the first 
one of the kind built in the township. 
Soon after settling here, he agaiti took up 
school teaching at a salary of twelve dol- 
lars per inontii, " boarding round " at 
various places in the district, and in the 
winter of 1840 he conducted a school in 
his own house, being assisted by his wife. 
For several winters he assiduously fol- 
lowed this vocation, working on his farm 
the rest of the year, but the later years of 
his life he applied himself exclusively to 
agricultural pursuits, in which he made a 
pronounced success, being a good manager 
and financier. He died April 8, 1890, 
and was interred in Kipton cemetery. 
Politi(;allv he was first a Whig, later a 
Republican, an<i lie was an active Aboli- 
tionist, a "conductor'" on the "Under- 
ground Railroad," and many a fugitive 
slave found refuiie at his home, where 
he and his wife would not only feed 
and clothe them but also teach them to 
read. In religion he was a prominent 
member of the Baptist Church, in which 
he held various offices, and was an active 
worker during the last twenty years of 
his life. 



On August 14, 1839, Mr. Tennant was 
married at Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y., 
to Miss Mary J. Billings, who was born 
there July 20, 1820, a daughter of Walter 
and Xancy (Gillis) Billings, and children 
as follows came of this union: William 
S., born February 7, 1842; graduated at 
Oberlin College; studied law at Ann 
Arbor, and practiced his profession many 
years, becoming judge of the circuit court, 
in Saginaw (Mich.) District, but was so 
overworked that he was compelled to leave 
his position; and Lettie M., also a graduate 
of Oberlin, who married John A. William- 
son (a grail uate of Yale), of Norwalk, 
Ohio, and died when thirty-five years of 
age. G. F. (a foster son) is now paymaster 
ontheC.L.&W.R.R.; and Edwin A. (also 
a foster son), who has charge of the home 
farm in Camden township. Since the 
death of her husband, Mrs. Tennant has 
continued to reside on the home farm, and 
visits her children from time to time. Slie 
has been a member of the Baptist Church 
for the past fifty years, and enjoys the es- 
teem and respect of a wide circle of friends 
and acquaintances. 



>HE POND FAMILY. On July 8, 
1776, there died on Long Island, of 
camp fever, brought on by exposure 
in the service of his country, Kos- 
well Pond, in the thirtieth year of 
his age, a faithful soldier in the Contin- 
ental army under Gen. George Washing- 
ton. He had married in Branford, Conn., 
November 22, 1764, Miss Lydia Rogers, 
and three children were born to them, viz.: 
(A) Josiah C. September 27, 1765; (B) 
Abigail. December 18, 1769, and (C) Ros- 
well, Jr., July 15. 1772. 

(A) Josiah C. Pond married Miss Je- 
rusha Bull, September 6, 1792, she being 
then twenty-seven years old, and children 
as follows were born to them: (1) Nancy, 
born at Ilarwinton, Conn., November 1, 
1793; (2) Sheldon, born May 3, 1795, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



627 



died April 4, 1883; (^3) Josiali, Jr., born 
December 31, 1796, died on Christmas 
Day, 1883; (4) Jerusiia, born June 17, 
17U'J; (5) Oandace, born May 8, 1801; (6) 
Cyntiiia, born September 8, 1803; (7) 
Mary, born Marcli 4, 1806, died April 28, 

1890, at Oswego, N. Y., and (8) Jouatlian, 
born December 1, 1809. Of tliese, (1) 
Nancy married Co^ey, and died Oc- 
tober 8, 1826; her son, William C, died 
June 7, 1848. (2) Sheldon married No- 
vember 9, 1831, Clarissa Austin, wiio was 
born February 3, 1804; she died May 15, 

1891, at the age of eighty-seven years; 
their children were Ellen L. (born Janu- 
ary 18, 1833), Albert S. (born August 27, 
1834, died Septemlter 17, 1875), Mary J. 
(born July 24, 1838); of these Ellen L. 
married Henry Pond November 5, 1851, 
in Bristol, Conn.; Mary J. married J. H. 
Seovill December 17, 1862, and they live 
on the old farm in Connecticut; Albert S. 
married Hattie A. Harrington November 
14, 1863, and died September 17, 1875. 
(3) Josiah Pond, Jr., married May 5, 1819, 
Acta Dyer, who died June 4, 1844, and 
their children were Lucius Dyer, born 
March 20, 1820; Mariette, born December 
18, 1829; Flora Ann, born November 15, 
1832, married Ferdinand Trivoya Novem- 
ber 6, 1853. (5) Candace Pond died a 
maiden August 11, 1847. (6) Cynthia 
married a Mr. Belden, and died February 
11, 1861. (7) Mary Pond married Augus- 
tus Pf'ttibone, who was born Mayo, 1800; 
she died July 28, 1890, leaving live daugh- 
ters. (8) Jonathan Pond married, but had 
no children. The parents of this family 
both died at Harwinton, Coivi-, the father 
January 31, 1838, aged seventy- two years, 
the mother February 29, 1836, aged 
seventy-one. 

(C) Tl )swell Pond, Jr., married January 
23,' 1800, Efannah Webster, born April 14, 
1778, a daughter of Charles Webster, of 
Harwinton, Conn., and related to Noah 
Webster, the Lexicographer. To this union 
were b(.)rn children as follows: (I) lijswoll, 
born February 16, 1801, died March 18, 

34 



1819; (II) Lydia, born July 1, 1803, died 
February 24, 1889; (111) Lew Anna, born 
June 30, 1805, died in Torrington, Conn., 
June 13, 1888; (lY) Hannah Webster, born 
October 10, 1807, died January 10, 1871; 
(V) Charles Webster, born February 8, 
1810, died in Toledo, Ohio, August 21, 
1885; (VI) Martin Webster (the subject 
proper of this sketch), born March 12, 
1814; (VII) Edwin Loomis, born Septem- 
ber 6, 1816, died in the Sandwich Islands 
November 12, 1889; and (VIII) Julius 
Roswell, born February 11, 1822, died in 
Glencoe, Oregon, May 25, 1891. The 
father of this family died in Harwinton, 
Conn., September 18, 1826, the motiier at 
the residence of her son, Martin W., whom 
she was visiting, at Elyria, Ohio, Novem- 
ber 15, 1854. 

Of the cliildren of (C) Roswell Pond, 
Jr., (II) Lydia married. May 19, 1825, 
Ezra Stiles Adams, of Canton, Coim., and 
they at once came west to Ohio, locating 
in Elyria, then but a small village. The 
record of their children is as follows: Mary 
Laura was born September 1, 1826; Albert 
H. was born May 8, 1830, and died Octo- 
ber 23, 1831; Alfred Henry was born De- 
cember 10, 1832, and died March 15, 1833; 
Lydia Ann was born February 3, 1834; 
George Hnrlbut was born February 1, 
1837, and Ezra StUes was born June 4, 
1845. Of these, Mary Laura married, 
April 21, 1846, in Elyria, Ohio, Charles 
E. IV^ason, a native of Portage county, 
Ohio, born May 4, 1823. The issue of 
this union are tliree children: (1) Mary 
Adelaide, born in Elyria. June 16, 1847; 
(2) Laura Isabel, born in Elyria, February 
4, 1850, and (3) George Adams, born in 
Wellington (also in Lorain county), July 
18, 1858. Of these, (1) Mary Adelaide 
married, June 16, 1868, John W. Meaker, 
of Ann Arbor, Mich., and their children 
are John W., Jr., born July 18, 1870; Guy, 
born September 0. 1873; I>elle, born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1876, and M izie, born November 
30. 1878, all born in Detroit, Alich., except 
the last named, who tirst saw the light in 



628 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



the "World's Fair City "—Chicago. (2) 
Laura Isabel Mason was married June 24, 
1873, in Wellington, Ohio, to Schuyler 
Davis, and their children are George S., 
born in Wellington, August 24, 1874, and 
Roy Mason, born in Cleveland, November 
16, 1879. 

Lydia Ann Adams, second daughter of 
Ezra Stiles and Lydia Adams, was married 
May 27, 1850, to George F. Bell, of Can- 
ada West (now Ontario), and they had one 
child, Kate, born February 11,1853. Mr. 
Bell died August 11, 1872, in Mercer, 
Penn., and May 22, 1879, his widow was 
inarried to Nelson Case, of Orangeville, 
Ohio. 

George Hurlbut Adams, youngest son 
but one of Ezra Stiles and Lydia Adams, 
was united in marriage December 25, 1868, 
with Miss Addie Kemp, who died August 
26, 1874, and for his second wife George 
H. Adams married. May 27, 1878, Miss 
Belle J. Henry, of Rockport, Ohio. 

Ezra Stiles Adams, Jr., youngest son of 
Ezra Stiles and Lydia Adams, was married 
January 19, 1870, in Wellington, Ohio, to 
Miss Jennie L. McClelland, of that place, 
and their children are Louisa M., born in 
Cleveland, October 20, 1871, and Georgia, 
born March 15, 1873. 

(Ill) Lew Anna Pond died at Torring- 
ton. Conn., June 12, 1888; she was mar- 
ried at her father's house in Burlington, 
Conn., December 15, 1825, to Edmund 
A. Wooding, and children as follows were 
born to them: (a) Adeline, born January 
8, 1827; (b) Julia, born at Torrington, 
Conn., October 28, 1835, and (c) Mary, 
born at Torrington, February 25, 1838. 
Of these (a) Adeline married, November 3, 
1846, in New Hartford, Conn., Augustus 
Merrill, by whom she had children as fol- 
lows: (1) Addie, born in New Hartford, 
November 15, 1849, married November 
25, 1868,AVilliamBakerGilbert,of Thomas- 
ton, Conn., and has one child, Grace, born 
October 12, 1880. (2) Grace, born in 
Thomaston, Conn., January 18, 1854, mar- 
ried December 25, 1875, Charles S. Spald- 



ing, of Winstead, Conn., and has three 
children, viz.: Jessie, l)orn July 22, 1878; 
Anna, born August 12, 1880, and Ethel 
May, born November 14, 1885. (b) Julia 
Wooding married May 17, 1877, in New 
York City, William Burtis Fowler, (c) 
Mary Wooding was married at her father's 
house in Wolcottville, Conn., November 
25, 1855, to Walter Scott Lewis, of Bridge- 
port, Conn., and two children were born to 
them, viz.: Lizzie, March 28, 1857 (mar- 
ried to Addison A. Ladley, of Philadel- 
phia, Penn., January 6, 1881), and Charles 
W., October 16, 1859, both born in Wol- 
cottville, Connecticut. 

(IV) Hannah Webster Pond was mar- 
ried in Wolcottville, Conn., June 16, 1833, 
to Jeremiah D. Root, and three children 
were born to them in Hartford, Conn., as 
follows: (1) Edward J., born in 1837, died 
March 16, 1842; (2) Albert Homer, born 
June 15, 1840, died February 19, 1S41; 
(3) Frank, born in April, 1834, and was 
killed by a boiler explosion in New York 
harbor while in the U. S. service, in 1864 
or '65, leaving one son, Edward Samuel, 
known as "Ned Root," born January 10, 
1855; and (4) Ella, born October 15, 1842. 
Mrs. Hannah Webster (Pond) Root died 
in New London, Conn.. January 10, 1871. 
Jeremiah D. Root died in New York City, 
August 6, 1875, and both are buried in 
Hartford, Connecticut. 

(V) Charles Webster Pond married 
October 21, 1846, at Smithville, Canada 
West (now Ontario), Miss Martha Smith, 
and they had two children: Robert, born 
in Canada July 28, 1850, and Ezra Stiles, 
born at Auburn, Mich., February 29, 

1856. The mother died at Smithville, C. 
W., in May following the birth of her last 
child, and Mr. Pond married for his 
second wife, at Detroit, Mich., May 6, 

1857, Miss Catherine Vantiplen, and their 
children were (1) Charles Henry, l)orn at 
Brighton, Mich.. March 12, 1858, and 
died at Toledo, Ohio, December 19, 1881. 
Robert Pond, son of Charles Webster and 
Martha (Smith) Pond, married May 7, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



629 



1873, in Monroe county, Mich., Emeline 
Iliin^erford of Bedford, Mich., and their 
cliildren were May, born at Bedford, Midi., 
February 5, 1874; Maud, born at Toledo, 
Ohio, August 1, 1877, died there Fel)ru- 
ary 10, 1882, and Charles E., born at 
Bedford, Mich., July 15, 187U. 

(VIII) Julius Ruswell Pond married 
July 2, 1850, at the home of her father, 
Royal Watson, in New Hartford, Conn., 
Miss Martha A. Watson, a Tiative of that 
town, born March 19, 1S21, and their chil- 
dren are Edwin Watson, born June 17, 
1853, in New Hartford, and Cora Lena, 
adopted by them when one month old, and 
who was born at New Hartford March 24, 
18G8: she is married to Edward Bisack, 
and they live in JSIorwicli, New York. 

(VI) Martin Webster Pond, the sub- 
ject proper of this sketch, removed with his 
sister, Mrs. Lydia (Pond) Adams, to 
Elyria, Ohio, in 1825, where, December 
10, 1835, he married Miss Eliza J. Sayles, 
of Mayville, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., born 
there March 26, 1817, and died in Elyria 
May 31, 1887. Her parents were from 
Rhode Island. The children born to this 
union w.ere (1) Henry Clay, (2) Martin 
Webster, Jr., (3) Horace Roswell Brown, 
(4) Frank, (5) Franklin Gaylord, and (6) 
Lizzie, all natives of Elyria, Ohio, tite rec- 
ord of whom is as follows: (1) Henry 
Clay was born in Elyria September 11, 
1839, and March 23, 1865, married, in 
Hartford, Conn., Lottie Payne; (3) Martin 
W.. Jr., was born April 30, 1841, and 
February 12, 1871, was married in Cleve- 
land, Ohio, to Miss Fannie J. Thrall, of 
that city, their children being George 
Horace, born at Titusville, Penn., October 
19, 1871, died at Colorado Springs of con- 
sumption October 6, 1889. (3) Horace R. 
B. was born October 31. 1842; in 1S61 he 
enlisted in Company I, Eighth Regiment 
O. V. I., and died at his father's house 
May 14, 1870, of disease contracted in the 
army; be married September 5, 1867, 
Jennie Keyes, of Sandusky, Ohio, and one 
son, Harry, was born to them August 4, 



1868. (4) Frank was born April 14, 1848, 
and died of croup February 7, 1851. (5) 
Franklin G. was born Februai-y 25, 1849. 
(6j Lizzie was born February 21, 1854, 
was tnarried December 5, 1877, to Samuel 
Howe Bowen, of Newport, Herkimer Co., 
N. Y., and their children are Helen Pond, 
born in Green Spring August 15, 1878, 
and Scott Howe, born November 27, 1886. 
Martin Webster Pond received his edu- 
cation at the common schools of his native 
State, and the district schools of Elyria, 
Ohio. He then, at about theageot'si.xteen, 
entered the employ of his brotiier-in-law, 
Ezra S. Adams, as an apprentice to learn 
the saddle and harness making business, 
which he completed in his twenty-first 
year, soon after which he left Elyria for 
the purpose of perfecting himself in his 
trade, among other places working in 
Cleveland, Detroit, and Wheeling (W. 
Va.). At the end of two years he returned 
to Elyria, and here followed his trade until 
1852, during which period he formed vari- 
ous partnerships: first with B. F. Robin- 
son, then with Waterman Morse, and 
lastly with William Doolittle. In June, 
1852, he started on a trip to California, 
via the Nicaragua route; at the Isthmus, 
where he was delayed some three weeks, 
he was attacked with Panama fever, but 
finally reached San Francisco, in a very 
feeble condition, however, after a tedious 
journey of si.xty-five days in all. Gradu- 
ally recovering his health he engaged in 
mining, his headquarters being at Nevada 
City. In June, 1853, he returned to 
Elyria, this time taking the Panama route, 
and again entered into partnership with 
Waterman Morse in the saddlery and har- 
ness business, but at the end of the year Mr. 
Pond retired from the firm. In 1858 fire 
destroyed a building owned by Mr. Pond, 
and immediately he began the erection of 
a finer one, and upon its com])!etion, in 
January, 1859, he resumed his old busi- 
ness, which he continued until 1870, when 
he eno-afred in the manufacture of a harness 
pad, for which lie had obtained a patent. 



630 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



In 1862 be invented the first successful 
tug buckle, to the sale and introduction 
of which he gave much attention until 
1870. A Kepublican in politics, Mr. Pond 
has tilled many position of honor and trust 
conferred upon him by his fellow citizens. 
He is a member of the F. & A. M., and 
was for twenty-nine years treasurer of 
Marshall Chapter No. 47. In 1841 
he assisted in forming in Elyria a Lodge 
of the "Mechanics Mutual Protection,"'- an 
Order that has exerted much permanent 
influence for good in the community. Mr. 
Pond, always a lover of education, was one 
of the most active workei's for the estab- 
lishment of the Elyria Union School. In 
the improvement of Elyria he has taken a 
conspicuous part. 

Mrs. Pond died May 31, 1887, at the 
age of seventy years. Their golden wed- 
ding anniversary had passed; for n)ore 
than fifty years their joys and sorrows had 
been mutual. Theirs had been a most 
happy union, in which communion of 
souls had made the two lives as one, and 
the existence of each as essential factors 
of the other. Since Mrs. Pond's death, 
the luisbaTid has lived at the old home- 
stead, only waiting God's time to be called 
to the final reunion. His health is far 
from good, and being one of the oldest 
residents of Elyria, not many years will pass 
ere the summons comes, which will find 
him ready and waiting. 



1^ 



HI IE AM H. HOWK, familiarly 
I known among his many friends as 
J "Uncle Hiram," for about three- 
score years a resident of Wellington 
township, is a native of Berkshire 
county, Mass., born October 2, 1816. 

His father, David Howk ("Uncle Da- 
vid, " as he was generally known), was 
I'orn in the same county, where he married 
Polly Bradley, who bore him six children, 
as follows: Clarissa, who died in Che- 
nango county, N. Y.; Ely B., deceased in 



Wellington, who was a justice of the 
peace; Hiram H., subject; John, who is 
mentioned elsewhere in this volume; 
David; and Mary, deceased in Pennsyl- 
vania, who was the wife of Frank Hamil- 
ton. The family moved to New York 
State when our subject was a boy, and 
came to Wellington township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, when he was a youth of eighteen 
years. They traveled by lake to Cleveland, 
the rest of the joui'ney being made by 
wagon, and the first house they lived in, 
built of logs, was 12x20, with flat roof, 
puncheon floor, and without either door or 
window, curtains being hung up in lieu 
thereof. Deer, wolves, and other wild 
animals were plentiful, while human be- 
ings were on the other hand rare, there 
being no family in the woods at the time 
the Howks came. Here they carved out a 
home from the dense woods and deep- 
tangled undergrowth, and here the parents 
pasted the remainder of their pioneer lives. 
Their farm was located in the southeastern 
part of the township, very wild land at the 
time, and the first brush pile in the sec- 
tion was cut by "Uncle" David Howk. 
He died on the old homestead at the age of 
sixty-eight years, a member of the M. E. 
Church, and a Whig in polities; he was a 
hardy, active and vigorous man. His wife 
passed from earth March 5, 1871, at the 
present residence of the family, aged about 
eighty-two years. On the father's side 
the family are of Holland-Dutch lineage; 
on the mother's side they are of Massa- 
chusetts ancestry, her parents being of 
Lee, Berkshire county, where they lived all 
their lives. 

The subject of our sketch received but 
a limited education at the old-time log 
sclioolhouse, as his boyhood days were for 
the most part occupied in assisting his 
father on the farm — chopping and clear- 
ing. He has been a lifelong agriculturist, 
and has met with well merited success. 
On September 20, 1848, he married Miss 
Electa Butler, born in Wheeling, AV. Va., 
and three children were the results of this 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



631 



union: John, in Wellington, Lorain 
county (has two cliildren: Fred and 
Arthur); Almira, who died in 1872 at the 
home of her father, aged twenty-two years, 
leaving one child, Eddie II. Burns; and 
Grove, also in Wellington (has one child, 
Myrtle). After marriage our subject con- 
tinued to reside on the old homestead, liv- 
ing there in all about thirty years. On 
April 8, 1863, he and his wife moved to 
Wellington village, and made their home 
there until lately, when they once more 
came to their farm, a life of ease not suit- 
ing " Uncle Hiram," as he is a man of 
perpetual activity, and bright and spry for 
his years; in that respect resembling his 
thirty-three-ycar-old horse, of which he is 
proud, and which is a wonderful animal 
considering his age. In addition to his 
farm our subject owns a nice property in 
the village of Wellington. 



|[ H. LANG. The Lang family, of 
k. I which this gentleman is a worthy 
\Ji representative, and which was at one 
time quite numerous in Huntington, 
Lorain county, can trace their genealogy 
back to Plvmouth Rock. 

The earliest known member of the fam- 
ily was one Robert Lang, a seafaring man 
who came from Scotland as early as 1630. 
He built a house at Portsmouth, N. H., 
some time between 1635 and 1650, which 
is still standing in a very good condition. 
It was built or New Hampshire Pasture 
Oak. The walls are bricked up between 
the studs with brick broucrht from Eng- 
land, and the nails were hand made. This 
house was occupied by English soldiers 
during the King Philip war; was also oc- 
cupied by Governor Wentworth, and shel- 
tered General Washington when he visited 
New England. This is one of the oldest 
houses in the New England States, and 
relics of it are tiow in the possession of 
some of the younger members of this old 



family. The following line brings this 
family down to the present numerous gen- 
eration: 

First from Robert was John, then a sec- 
ond John, who was a Revolutionary soldier. 
Then Bickford, and a second Bickford, who 
was a captain of militia in the war of 1812. 
He was born in Rye, N. H., married Abi- 
gail Locke, and settled in Epsom, N. H., 
where he reared a numerous family. His 
eldest son William was the first to leave 
the parent nest, and go to what was then 
the '• Far West." His brother Reuel soon 
followed, and both settled in Huntington, 
Lorain county, about the year 1821, being 
among the first settlers of that township. 
David, another son of Bickford, followed 
about 1835, and the father came in 1838, 
all of them settling in Huntington. An- 

O IT) 

other son, John, settled in Ashland, Ohio, 
where he was for a number of years a 
prosperous merchant and business man, 
and where he died in 1847. Benjamin, 
another son, graduated at Kenyon College, 
Gambler, Ohio, and was for some time a 
professor of that college; he died in 
Kansas in 1885. David spent the most 
of his life, after coming to Ohio, in Hunt- 
ington, a prosperous farmer, and died at 
the home of his son John in Rochester in 
1884. Josiah Crosby, the youngest son 
of this family, enlisted in the war of the 
Rebellion, but was taken sick and died be- 
fore he had seen any active service, his 
death occurring in 1861. Of the two 
boys who first came to Ohio, Reuel was a 
cabinet maker, and worked at the trade of 
carpenter and joiner for many years; and 
many of the first frame structures of 
Lorain county show his handiwork. He 
was fen- many years a local preacher among 
the Methodists. The last years of his life 
he spent in Wellington, surrounded by 
many of his children, where he peacefully 
passed away in March, 1891, in the eighty- 
ninth year of his age. William, the eld- 
est son, is still living with his son John 
in Wasioja, Minn., in his ninety-sixth year. 
Bickford, Jr., was the only one of this 



632 



LORAIN COUNTY OHIO 



numerous family who did not "go west." 
He remained in his native State, and is 
still living at Franklin, N. PI. There 
were four girls in this family: Maria, 
who married Dr. Babli, and died at Man- 
chester, N. H.; Lorenda, married to Kim- 
ball Prescott, and died at Marinette, 
AVis.; Sarah, who married Morrill Chesley, 
and still lives in New Hampshire, and 
Abigail, who married Milton Barker, and 
died at Oberlin, Ohio. Beyond this brief 
review, this history will have only to do 
with the later generation, and with those 
who have been more intimately connected 
with the history of Lorain county. 

Of the descendants of this family, only 
the children of Reuel settled in this county. 
Josiah Bickford, the eldest, married 
Lorena Chapman, and for a number of 
years lived in Huntington, where he fol- 
lowed the trade of carpenter; for more 
than twenty years he was engaged in the 
tin, stove and hardware trade in Welling- 
ton. He served a term as mayor of that 
village, and by his enterprise and counsel 
added much to its prosperity; for the 
last few years his home has been in 
Cleveland; he had four children — -three 
eons and one daughter, viz.: Watson W. 
and Charles, both in business in Cleveland; 
Eva A., now the wife of George M. Cad- 
well, a business man in Cleveland ; the 
tirst-born son was killed when a cliild by 
the kick of a horse. The next son is Jesse 
H., the subject proper of this sketch, of 
whom further mention will presently be 
made. Cyrus Welcome, the third son, 
lived at home in Huntington till the age 
of twenty, when he visited his relatives in 
New Hampshire, where he died in his 
twentieth year. Louisa Maria, the eldest 
daughter, married Peter S. Wright, lived 
a short time in Huntington, a number of 
years in Oberlin, moved to Vermontville, 
Mich., where he accumulated some prop- 
erty, and about ten years ago returned to 
Wellington, where he still resides. Mr. 
Wright was famed as being one of the 
most ingenious mechanics in the country, 



He enlisted in the army and served with 
honor, and is now retired in broken health, 
on a small pension. They had three chil- 
dren, two of whom died in infancy, and the 
third, Grace, is now the wife of Utley 
AVedcre, and resides in Cleveland. Esther 
Abigail, the next daughter, married 
Charles W. Horr, a prosperous business 
man of Wellington; they had a family of 
four boys, the eldest of which is a lawyer 
in Cleveland, ai;d the rest still live in Well- 
ington. Charles, the fourth son, died at 
Huntington in the twentieth year of his 
age. Olive Amy, the youngest daughter, 
after graduating from Oberlin College, 
married Dr. Meriden B. Lukens, who 
practiced medicine for many years in Illi- 
nois, Wisconsin, and Cleveland, Ohio, and 
finally drifted to Dalton, Ga., where they 
now reside. George Locke, the next son 
in line, grew to sixteen years of age in 
Huntington; then went to Wisconsin and 
took a position in the store of his brother 
Jesse, and when the war broke out he en- 
listed in Company G, Twelfth Wisconsin 
Volunteers, in which he served gallantly 
and faithfully; was severely wounded at 
the siege of Atlanta, Ga., a minie ball 
being permanently left in his right lung; 
after he returned from the war he studied 
telegraphy, and has been engaged in that 
occupation ever since; he is now engaged 
in important work of this kind in the East, 
with a residence in Boston; he married 
Lizzie Viles, at Oberlin, and they have 
one daughter, now married and residing in 
Washington, D. C. Merrill Warner, the 
youngest of this family, also grew to man- 
hood in Huntington, married and settled 
in Wellington, where he now resides, an 
honored citizen. He has been many years 
a member of the village council, and has 
had much to do with the aflfairs of that 
village; he has one son. Burton Lang, who 
is married and lives in Cleveland. Five 
generations of Langs have lived and 
flourished in Lorain county — Watson, the 
son of Josiah, having two children, and Bur- 
ton, the son of Merrill, having one. Bick- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



633 



ford, of tlie first generation, died in Hunt- 
ington at the age of about ninety years, 
and Reuei, of tiie next in line, died in 
Wellington as before stated. Of David's 
family, Albert, the eldest, died in Hunt- 
ington; John, the second son, lives in 
Rochester; Lydia Ann, the oldest daugh- 
ter, is now the wife of Horatio Norton, 
and lives in Huntington; Henry, a younger 
son, entered the army, and was killed in 
action. The names mentioned above com- 
prise all or nearly all of this numerous 
family who have been identified with 
Lorain county. While this family has nut 
produced any great men, there never has 
been any stain on its moral character, none 
of them ever having been in either Con- 
gress or Penitentiary. 

Jesse Hart Lang, whose name opens this 
sketch, was born in Huntington townsiiip, 
Loraiti Co., Ohio, December 21, 1827, a 
sun of Reuel and Amy (Hart) Lang, na- 
tives respectively of New Hampshire and 
Vermont. He was named after his ma- 
ternal grandfather. Mr. Lang grew to 
manhood in his native town, attended 
school in Oberlin a number of years, and 
engaged in teaching and study from 1844 
to 1848. On January 1, of the latter year, 
lie married Miss Mary E. Fitch, of Shef- 
field township, Lorain county, a daughter 
of Samuel B. and Dolly (Smith) Fitch, na- 
tives of Massachusetts and early settlers of 
Shefiield township, Lorain county. The 
first two years of our subject's married life 
were spent on a farm in Huntington town- 
ship, after which he removed to Olmsted 
Falls, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, where he was 
engaged in managing a woolen factory for 
five years. In 1856, with his young wife 
and one daughter, he went to Grand Kap- 
ids, Wis., where he was in the employ of 
the Government, and at the same time 
studied law. While there he was a candi- 
date for the Legislature, but was defeated, 
the District being largely Democratic. For 
ten years he was there engaged in the 
businesses of land surveyor, lawyer and 
merchant. Returning to Oberlin in 1870, 



he has here since resided, engaged in the 
profession of attorney and general busi- 
ness agency. He is a Republican, and 
cast his first vote for the Free-soil party. 
Socially he is a F. & A. M., and he and 
his wife are members of the Congrega- 
tional Church. They had si.x; children, all 
of whom died young, ttie youngest, Carrie, 
at the age of thirteen years. Mr. Lang 
published a work entitled ''Childrens' 
Pictorial Bible," containing twenty thou- 
sand illustrations (seven hundred of them 
being electro-plates) and a topical analysis. 
He spent twenty years on the work. 



dOHN MOUNTAIN, lateleadingmer- 
chant tailor in Elyria, was born Sep- 
/ tember 27, 1834, in County Fer- 
managh, Ireland. His parents were 
John and Elizabeth (Carson) Mountain, 
also natives of County Fermanagh; the 
father, who was a merchant tailor, died in 
his seventieth year; the mother, who was 
of Scotch descent, died at the age of forty- 
four years. They were the parents of five 
children, to wit: William, who entered 
the British army, and died at Bombay, 
India; Christopher, who died in the British 
army, in Turkey; Mary, widow of Thomas 
Timmington, of Fremont, Ohio; John, our 
subject; and Margaret, wife of Charles 
Wilmott, of Melbourne, Australia. 

At the age of seventeen years the sub- 
ject of this sketch left his native land to 
seek his fortune in the Western world, and 
coming to ('anada completed his trade 
with his uncle Joseph Mountain, which he 
had commenced under his father's tuition 
in Ireland. In 1859 he came to Elyria, 
Lorain county, under contract to do cut- 
ting for a leading house in that town. 
After working at his trade in various ca- 
pacities, the Civil war broke out, and be- 
ing imbued with the same martial spirit 
that actuated his brothers to enlist in the 
British army, he, in 18()2, enlisted as filer 
in the One Hundred and Third O. V. I. 



634 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



He was mustered into the regiment as 
drum major, and after serving in the army 
of Tennessee, in Kentiicky, one year, was 
mustered out under an order from the War 
Department relieving all drum majors 
from the service. On his return home he 
worked at his trade until 1878, in which 
year he embarked in business for himself, 
in Elyria. Having become well known in 
and gained the confidence of the com- 
munity at large, he soon found himself in 
possession of the leading merchant tailor- 
ing trade in the city, which he enjoyed up 
to the time of his death, which occurred 
August 12, 1893. 

In 1853 Mr. Mountain married Mies 
Elizabeth Frazer, by whom there were 
three children, as follows: Libbie, wife of 
Dr. P. D. Reefy, of Elyria; Minnie, wife 
of Herbert S. Follansbee, of Elyria; and 
Carson, who died when twenty-two years 
old. The mother died in 1878. Mr. Moun- 
tain afterward married Miss Dora Dunton. 
One child — Arthur — was born to them. 
Politically our subject was a Republican; 
was also a member of the G. A. R., and 
of the Episcopal Church. 



FROF. JAMES HARRIS FAIR- 
CHILD, ex-president of Oberlin 
College, was born in Stockbridge, 
Mass., November 25, 1817, a son of 
Grandison and Nancy (Harris) Fair- 
child. The father was a native of Shef- 
field, Mass., born April 20, 1792, and died 
July 31, 1890, in the ninety-ninth year of 
his age; the mother was born in Rich- 
mond, Mass., November 29, 1795, and 
died August 31, 1875. Daniel Fairchild, 
grandfather of subject, removed from Shef- 
field to Stockbridge, Mass., with his young 
family, where he passed the remainder of 
his busy life in agricultural pursuits; his 
wife's name was Buttles. 

In 1818 Grandison Fairchild came with 
his family to Lorain county, Ohio, making 
a settlement in what is now Brownhelm 



township, then a wilderness, and here he 
cleared a farm and passed the rest of his 
life. The property is still in the posses- 
sion of the family. Eight of the children 
— four sons and four daughters — liorn to 
Grandison and Nancy Fairchild grew to 
maturity, of whom the following is a brief 
record: (1) CJharles Grandison remained 
on the old homestead, and carried on the 
farm until his death in 188-4. (2) Edward 
Henry was educated in Oberlin College, 
and afterward became principal of the 
preparatory department of same ; at the time 
of his death he was president of Berea 
College, Kentucky; one of his sons is 
president of Rollins College, Florida; an- 
other professor in Doane College, Ne 
braska; another is connected with Berea 
College, Kentucky. (3) James Harris is 
the subject of this memoir. (4) Catharine 
Baxter is the wife of Chester A. Cooley. 
(5) Emily Frances is the wife of Rev. M. 
W. Fairfield; one son is professor at How- 
ard University, Washington, D. C. (6) 
Mary Plumb was married to Cyrus Bald;. 
win, now of Dayton, Ohio, and died leav- 
ing four children; one of her sons, Cyrus 
G. Baldwin, is president of Pomona Col- 
lege, Cal. ; another son. Dr. James F. Bald- 
win, is Dean of the Medical University at 
Columbus, Ohio; her daughter is the wife 
of Prof. Cook, of Michigan Agricultural 
College, Lansing, Mich. (7) Harriet Eliza 
married Prof. R. C. Kedzie, of Lans- 
ing, Midi.; their three sons became 
professors of chemistry. (8) George T. is 
president of the Kansas Agricultural Col- 
lege, Manhattan, Kansas. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
education in part at the schools of Brown 
helm, and high school of Elyria, but 
chiefly at Oberlin. The school at Oberlin 
was first begun in December, 1833; in 
May, 1834, it was first regularly oi'ganized, 
and in the following October the first 
Freshman class was formed, comprising at 
that time the two Fairchilds — James H. 
and his brother Edward Henry — and two 
others. Pursuing his course steadily. 




(l^y ^r f k,^*-yh-^MUU/^ 



LOIiAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



637 



James graduated from college in 1838, 
alter wliich lie entei'ed at once upon a 
theological course, which he completed in 
1841. In 1839 he was appointed tutor in 
Latin and Greek in the college, and, on 
the completion of his course in Theology 
in 1841, he was elected professor of Latin 
and Greek. In 1847 he was transferred 
to the Chair of Mathematics and Natural 
Philosophy, and in 1858 he received the 
appointment of professor of Moral Philos- 
ophy and Systematic Theology. In 1806, 
Prof, Finney having resigned his position 
as president, Prof. Fairchild was appointed 
Ills successor, and held the position until 
1889. 

In November, 1841, Prof. Fairchild was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary F. 
Kellogg, at Minden, La., whitiier her 
father had removed from Jamestown, N. 
Y., on account of impaired health. She was 
a native of New York State. This event 
took place before the days of rail- 
roads, and the trip from Oberlin to 
Minden occupied several weeks. The 
Professor took the canal to the Ohio, 
then steamer down the Ohio into the 
Mississippi; down that river to New Or- 
leans, then up the Red river, to the Creole 
town of Natchitoches, from which place 
he proceeded on horseback through the 
pine forests seventy-five miles to Minden. 
The many incidents met with on the way, 
and to him annoying delays, are ofttimes 
recounted by the Professor in his own in- 
imitable manner. To this marriage were 
burn eio;ht children — two sons and six 
daughters — as follows: (1) Lucy Kellogg 
is the wife of Prof. Kenaston, of Howard 
University; (2) George Hornell is a well- 
known business man and banker in North 
Dakota; (3) Mary Fletcher is matron in 
Baldwin Cottage, Oberlin; (4) Catharine 
Cooley is keeping house for her father, 
her niotlier having died in 1890; (5) Grace 
Augusta is a teacher in the art department 
of Oberlin College; (6) James Thome is 
a professor in Tabor College, Iowa. The 
other two children died young. 



The life of Prof. Fairchild has not been 
what might be termed eventful, but it has 
been a busy one — a quiet, yet progressive 
life. He has found time to give to the 
world not a few of the productions of his 
pen, among which niay be mentioned: 
" Fairch ild's Elements of Theology ;" " Fair- 
child's Moral Science"; "Oberlin: The 
Colony and the College." 

In a '•History of Lorain County," the 
following is truthfully and gracefully said of 
Prof. Fairchild: "As a public speaker he is 
quiet and self-contained, and thongh im- 
pressive, would not be called oratorical. 
Yet, so fraught are his productions with 
elevated and original thought, clothed in 
a style clear and terse, that corresponding 
thoughts are awakened in his auditors, 
which tlo not pass away witii the hearing. 
His public addresses on special occasions 
have uniformly possessed so high a degree of 
e.xcellence that, almost without exception, 
they have been requested for publication. 
That which best e.xpresses and e-xplains 
his life is — fidelity to duty. He has not 
been ambitious, or eager for distinction; 
but he has risen to a high position in the 
esteem, respect and admiration of a large 
number. He has given himself to his 
work with a devotion which has known no 
abatement. There is found in him, in no 
ordinary degree, botli the speculative and 
the practical. His mind grapples reso- 
lutely, and works actively and intensely 
on the great subjects of thought; but high 
thoughts do not so absorb his attention as 
to make him neglectful of the necessary de- 
tails of practical affairs. He is wise in 
little things as in great. 

" The prevailing bent of his mind is un- 
questionably ethical. Though his mind is 
too compreiiensive to allow him to be a 
mere specialist, yet his favorite study is 
ethics. On this summit of human thought 
he has long dwelt; and the result of his 
thinking and teaching he has embodied in 
his treatise on moral philosophy. This is 
an admirable exposition of the moral law 
of love or benevolence; first, in its philos- 



638 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



ophy or reason; and, secondly, in its prac- 
tical application to liiiman rights and du- 
ties. In his theological teaciiing he is 
clear, rational, and evangelical. 

" Under his wise and discreet manage- 
ment, Oberlin College has undergone a 
gradual and continual improvement. This 
improvement is, indeed, its natural growth; 
yet it is not spontaneous, but must be pro- 
moted by intelligent effort, in which many 
co-operate. This growth consists in the 
enlargement and perfection of the course 
of study, so as to furnish a culture broader 
and higher; and, as a necessary material 
basis for this, an adequate college endow- 
ment." 



fl( C. MOOKE, M. D., physician and 
l/l\ surgeon, is in the van of his pro- 
ir\^ fession, not only in North Amherst, 
■fj where he has his residence, but also 

in the entire county of Lorain. 
He was born in Lake county, Ohio, in 
1819, a son of Isaac and Philena (Blish) 
Moore, natives, the father of New York, 
the mother of Massachusetts. In 1811 
Isaac Moore came to Lake county, Ohio, 
and took up farming. He was there mar- 
ried, and in 1831 moved to Cuyahoga 
county, thence in 1836 to Mentor, Ohio. 
He died at Farmer City, DeWitt Co., Ill; 
his widow passed from earth while living 
in Cuyahoga county. In politics he was a 
Whig and Republican. Grandfather John 
Moore enlisted, for six months, later for 
the entire service, during the Revolution- 
ary war, and lived to the patriarchal age 
of ninety-three years; his grandmother 
Blish died at the same age. To Isaac 
Moore and his wife were born five sons 
and three daughters, the latter of whom 
are deceased. The sons are C. H., an at- 
torney at Clinton, 111., whither he had 
gone in 1841; Dr. A. C, sul)jectof sketch; 
Blish, a farmer in De Witt county. 111., 
where he settled in 1845; Milan, a jeweler 
in Fai'mer City, 111.; and H. C, now in 
California. 



The subject proper of this sketch re- 
ceived his primary education at the West- 
ern Reserve Teachers' Seminary in Lake 
county, Ohio, after which he attended a 
medical course at Willoughby, now the 
Starling Medical College of Columbus, 
Ohio, then took a course at the Eclectic 
Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, gradu- 
ating with the class of 1848. In order to 
secure means wherewith to prosecute the 
study of medicine, he taught school several 
terms. In 1849 he commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession, and has now been 
successfully engaged in it forty-four years. 

In May, 1855, Dr. Moore was united in 
marriage, in Lorain county, to Elizabeth 
Onstine, a native of Lancaster county, 
Penn., daughter of George and Rosanna 
Onstine, natives of Pennsylvania, and who 
in 1820 came to Lorain county, Ohio. To 
this marriaye was born one daughter, Lulu 
C, wife of H. G. Redington, of Amherst, 
an attorney at law, and who is president 
of the Amherst Savings Bank, and has 
been mayor of North Amherst four terms. 
Mrs. Dr. Moore died in March, 1893. 

Our subject in politics is independent, 
and he is a strong temperance advocate. 
In 1875 he was mayor of North Amherst, 
and he is a member of the board of health. 
In matters of religion, he is associated 
with the Christian Church. He is one of 
the stockholders of the Amherst Savings 
Bank, and is a highly respected and popu- 
lar gentleman. 



HARLES W. JOHNSTON. This 
gentleman is a lineal descendant of 
one of the oldest and most powerful 
of the clans of Scotland, that for 
centuries kept the borders of that country 
in a constant ferment of bloody strife. Sir 
Walter Scott, in his " Tales of a Grand- 
father," says: "There had long existed a 
deadly feud on the western borders, be- 
tween the two great families of the Max- 
wells and Johnstons. The former house 
was the most wealthy and powerful family 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



639 



ill Dumfriessliire and its vicinity, and Lad 
great influence amoni;; the families inhabit- 
iiig the more level part of that conntry. 
The Johnstons on the other hand were 
neither equal to the Maxwells in number 
nor in power, but were a race of uncom- 
mon hardihood, much attaclied to their 
chieftain and to each other, and who re- 
sided in tlie strong and mountainous dis- 
trict of Annandale. It was between the 
houses of Johnston and Maxwell that the 
last great clan battle took place. It is 
known as the battle of Dryfe Sands, and 
was fought on the river Dryfe, near Loch- 
mal)en. The Maxwells had besieged the 
castle of Lockerby (or Locherby), the fort- 
ress of a Johnston who was in arms with 
his chief. His wife defended the resi- 
dence until the approach of the Johnston 
forces. From the superior skill of the 
Johnston chief the Maxwells were de- 
feated, and on their retreat many of them 
were slain or mutilated on the streets of 
Lockerby. The chief Maxwell had been 
wounded by the Johnstons, and left upon 
tlie field of battle with one hand cut off. 
He had offered ' ten pound ten ' for the 
hand or head of the Laird of Johnston, 
and Johnston in return offered to bestow 
live-merk land upon any one who would 
bring him the hand or head of Maxwell. 
As a result Maxwell's hand was cut off; 
and when the Lady of Johnston came out 
of her castle to see how the battle had 
gone, she found Lord Maxwell on the field 
of battle, and knocked out his brains with 
her castle keys. So badly were tlie Max- 
wells cut up that a ])eculiar mark on the 
face was afterward known as ' Lockerby 
Lick.' " 

It was from this same Lockerby that 
Peter Johnston, grandfather of the subject 
of this sketch, was descended. He was 
born in Scotland, in the tovvn of Lockerby, 
Dumfriesshire, and came to America in 
1773. Before leaving his Scottish home 
he received from the magistrates of the 
town of Lochmaben, in the same coutity, 
a credential paper, of which the following 



is a copy: " By the magistrates of the 
Burgh of Lochmaben. — The bearer hereof, 
Peter Johnston, in Lockerby in this neigh- 
borhood, having applied to us and repre- 
sented that, from the inducements given 
for going to America, he intended going 
there, and desired a certificate of his char- 
acter, therefor we hereby attest that the 
said Peter Johnston and his family have 
Maintained a blameless character, and that 
he has honestly supported his family with- 
out being a trouble to any one, all of 
which is attested by us upon proper infor- 
mation. Given at Lochmaben, the Thir- 
tieth day of May, One Thousand Seven 
Hundred and seventy-three years. [Signed] 
Will Haggan (Provost), W. M. Law 
(Baillie), John Dickson (Baillie)." In 
1775 Peter Johnston was a lieutenant in 
the Continental army, and participated 
during the Revolution in the battle of 
Saratoga (or "Stillwater"); also was pres- 
ent at Burgoyne's surrender. 

Steven Cleveland, maternal grand- 
father of Charles W. Johnston, was a cap- 
tain in the Continental army during the 
war of the Revolution, and in that rank 
participated in the battle of Saratoga under 
Gen. Gates; he also was present at the 
surrender of Gen. Burgoyne. He died at 
Bennington, Vt., aged 101 years. 

Thomas Johnston, father of the subject 
of these lines, was born in Saratoga, N. 
Y., August 30, 1777. He was a volunteer 
in the war of 1812, and foucjlit at tlie bat- 
tie of Plattsburg. In 1832 he came with 
his family to Ohio, making his first west- 
ern home in Medina county, whence he 
moved to Lorain county, dying there July 
22, 1858. He was a lifelong farmer, for 
many years a deacon in the Baptist 
Church, and prominent in public and 
social life. He married Susannah Cleve- 
land, a native of Bennington, Yt., born 
Octol)er 2, 1781, and died in Lorain 
county, Ohio, July 19, 1873. They had 
twelve children, eleven of whom grew to 
maturity, our sulyject being the youngest 
but one. 



640 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Charles W. Johnston was born in Lee 
township, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 29, 
1823, and received a liberal education at 
the public schools and in an academy. As 
above related the family came to Ohio in 
1882, and here young Charles commenced 
the study of both medicine and law. In 
medicine he graduated from the Western 
Reserve College, and practiced the profes- 
sion six years in Ashland and Lorain 
counties, but abandoned the field of Galpn 
for that of Blackstone. In law he studied 
in the office of Sheldon & Vincent, Elyria 
(the former of whom — L. A. Sheldon — 
was afterward governor of New Mexico), 
and in 185'J was admitted to the bar at the 
Columbus, Ohio, supreme court. In April, 
same year, he commenced the practice of 
law in Elyria in copartnership with Hon. 
P. Bliss, which continued till 1861, in 
which year Mr. Bliss removed to Nebraska, 
having been appointed judge of that Ter- 
ritory. Mr. Johnston then entered into a 
partnership with- Hon. Albert A. Bliss, 
brother of the judge just mentioned, but 
at the end of a year Mr. Bliss retired from 
the firm and left for Michigan. Our subject 
then continued in the exclusive practice of 
law, alone, enjoying a wide and lucrative 
clientage. In 1869 he was elected prose- 
cuting attorney for Lorain county, and he 
then received Hon. George P. Metcalf as 
partner in his business. In 1S71 he was 
acrain elected prosecuting attorney, posi- 
tively declining to allow his name to be 
again brought before the convention, and 
his partner, Mr. Metcalf, was nominated in 
liis stead. From that time on Mr. John- 
ston continued practice alone until in 
1881 he formed the present copartnership 
with his son-in-law, James H. Leonard. 
The business of the firm is general, but 
chiefly in civil practice, and they make a 
specialty of the investigation of land titles. 
Mr. Johnston's law business ha* not been 
confined to Lorain county alone, for he has 
practiced more or less in Erie and Huron 
counties, and at Cleveland befoi'e the 
United States court, and occasionally in 



the United States circuit and district courts. 
In 1849 Charles W. Johnston and Mary E, 
Fisher were united in marriage, and three 
children were born to thera, viz.: Mary C, 
wife of J. H. Leonard; Martha L., wife of 
W. C. Barnhart, secretary and treasurer of 
the Elevated Railroad Company, Kansas 
City, Kans., and Carleton F., in the U. S. 
mail service from St. Louis to Omaha. In 
politics Mr. Johnston is a Republican, and 
a strong Union man, liberal of his means 
both during the Civil war, in assisting the 
cause, and ever since those dark days, in 
relieving the needy old soldiers, widows of 
soldiers, an<l their orphans. A great reader, 
keeping well abreast of the times, he is the 
possessor of a good library. 



THOMAS GAWN, leading capitalist 
of Lorain, and one of the most in- 
fluential citizens of Lorain county, 
is a native of same, born December 
25, 1829. His parents were natives 
of the Isle of Man, and coming to this 
country about the year 1822 settled in the 
northern part of Black River township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio, where they carried on 
farming with much success. The father 
died in 1868 at the age of seventy-seven 
years, the mother in 1881, when eighty- 
six years old. They had a family of seven 
children, of whom Mrs. Thomas Radclif? 
and our subject are the only surviving 
members. 

Thomas Gawn received such an educa- 
tion as was provided in the pioneer schools 
of his boyhood in Lorain county, and was 
reared to the arduous duties of the farm. 
Apart from agricultural pursuits, which 
he followed for some time, he became in- 
terested in the shipping business early in 
1862, since when he has had heavy invest- 
ments in lake vessels. He is a member of 
the Lorain Steamship Company, and has 
been one of the leading stockholders in 
some of the best steamships that sail the 
lakes, besides smaller vessels. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



641 



In 1854 Mr. Gawn was married to Miss 
EIniina Moore, and immediately thereafter 
settled on a farm wliereon part of the town 
of Black River (Lorain) now stands. He 
has seen in his day both the slow and 
rapid growth of his section of the county, 
Lorain developing from a village to a 
thriving city, and was a man in business 
here long before the days of steam and 
electricity. He has been identified with 
the best financial institutions of Lorain 
from their inception, and is a stockholder 
and one of the main supporters of the Lo- 
rain Savings Bank. Politically he is a 
lifelong Republican. 



dj AMES DAY. The family from which 
this venerable and honored pioneer 
I of Lorain county traces his descent 
was originally from Wales. 
The first of the family to come to Amer- 
ica was Robert Day, who at the age of 
thirty years set sail from his native land, 
arriving in Boston in Ajjril, 1684. He 
was one of the first settlers of Hartford, 
Conn., and as such his name is found on 
the monument erected to their memory in 
that city. He married Editha Stebiiins, of 
Hartford, to which union were born two 
eons, Thomas and John. Thomas, eldest 
son of Robert Day, removed to Springfield, 
Mass., and was the ancestor of the Spring- 
field branch of the Day family. John re- 
mained in Hartford and was the ancestor 
of the Hartford branch. 

Capt. William Day, grandson of Thomas, 
was the grandfather of the subject of this 
sketch. He was born in Springfield Oc- 
tober 23, 1715; went to sea in his boy- 
hood, ami was for many years engaged in 
seafaring business. He was in the service 
during the French war, holding a commis- 
sion under the British Government. His 
vessel was captured on one occasion, and 
he was carried a prisoner to France, where 
he was confined in prison two years. 
When he was released he begged to be al- 



lowed the privilege of taking his old boots 
with hiiTi, which was granted, and why he 
was 60 desirous of having them with him 
was because the heels were filled with 
English guineas. For meritorious ser- 
vice during the war in capturing four 
French frigates and bringing them into 
Plymouth harbor, Capt. Day was pre- 
sented by the Admiralty of England with 
a lai-ge painting by Copley, commemora- 
tive of the event. " He is represented 
standing on the deck of his ship, spyglass 
in hand, calmly viewing the scene with the 
conscious pride of a victorious hero swell- 
ing his breast and lighting up his fea- 
tures." When about fifty-five years old 
Capt. Day left the ocean, locating in Shef- 
field, Mass., and married Rhoda Hnbbell, 
of Litchfield, Cduii., to which union were 
born four sons and a daughter. He died 
March 22, 1797. 

John Day, father of James Day, was 
born in Sheffield, Mass., February 3, 1774, 
and was a lifelong farmer. When twenty 
years of age he married Lydia Austin, 
daughter of Joab Austin, of Sheffield. 
Her grandparents were among the first 
settlers of Sheffield, Mass., making their 
wedding journey on horseback from West- 
field, Mass., over the lulls to their new 
home in the wilderness, the bride taking 
her bed on her horse with her. John Day 
was the father of twelve children, eleven 
of whom lived to manhood and womanhood, 
and nine of them to the age of threescore 
years and ten. 

James Day, the seventh child of this 
family, was born August 27, 1807, in the 
old home on Brush hill in Sheffield, Mass., 
and spent nine years of his life among the 
Berkshire hills. In January, 1815, his 
father and Jabez Ijurrell, also of Sheffield, 
purchased of Gen. AVilliam Hart, of Say- 
brook, Conn., the township now known as 
Sheffield, Lorain Co., Ohio. In June of 
that year they explored the township, and 
in the summer of 1816 John Day reiiioved 
his family to Ohio, arriving July 27, and 
locating at the center of Sheffield. He 



642 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



died October 8, 1827, at the age of fifty- 
three; his widow died October 9, 1854, 
aged fourscore years. 

James Day attended the first school 
taught in ShefKeld by Dr. Preston Pond, 
of Keene, N. H., in the winter of 1817- 
18, and for a number of years afterward 
attended scliool in the winter, but nat- 
urally his education was more highly 
developed in the line of hunting and 
fishing, and the lore of the unbroken 
forest. While a mere boy lie went many 
long journeys on horseback through the 
lonely forest trails to mill, cai'rying the 
grist tied to his saddle. There was a mill 
at the center of Ridgeville, and another on 
Beaver Creek in Black River township, in 
1816, and later one in Elyria. Mr. Day 
looks back on the e.xperiences of those 
early days as the happiest of his life. 
After his father's death he took charge of 
the old farm for a number of years, and 
then settled on a farm of his own. Ten 
years of his active life, from 1845 to 1855, 
were spent in the lumber business in com- 
pany with his brothers, William and Nor- 
man, and William H. Root. Their mill 
on French creek was swept away by flood, 
and never rebuilt. In later life he has 
iiad ample leisure for reading and the eu- 
joyinents of life. His life has always been 
identified with that of the Congregational 
Cinirch at the Center of Sheffield, he having 
been a member since early manhood, and a 
constant attendant since it was first formed 
bv Rev. Alvin Hyde, assisted by Rev. 
William Williams, May 1, 1818. This is 
tlie oldest Church in the county, and one 
of the oldest in northern Ohio. In iiis 
political preferences Mr. Day was first a 
Whig, and since the formation of the 
party has been a stanch Republican, tak- 
ing an active interest in politics. 

In June, 1876, in company with three 
others who came from Sheffield, Mass., as 
boys, in 1816, he revisited his native town 
to attend the one hundredth anniversary 
of a town meeting held June 18, 1876, of 
which his grandfather, Oapt. William 



Day, was moderator, at which the people 
of Sheffield pledged their lives and for- 
tunes to support the Continental Con- 
gress in any measures they might see 
tit to take toward declaring the independ- 
ence of the Colonies. 

James Day married, at the age of twenty- 
eight, Ann Eliza Austin, a native of Shef- 
field, Mass., born March 15, 1815, and to 
this union came eight children, fiv^e of 
whom are living. She died January 13, 
1873, aged fifty-seven years. During a 
long life Mr. Day has enjoyed the respect 
and regard of a large circle of friends, 
many of whom have known him from boy- 
hood, and have watched with him the won- 
derful development of the Western Re- 
serve; a development in which they have 
an active interest, since with it their 
whole lives have been identified. Tiie 
Western Reserve may well be considered 
a monument to the early pioneers, whose 
industry, integrity and steadfast purpose 
have helped to make it what it is. 



J I V. SAMPSELL, M. D., one of the 
' most successful physicians of Lorain 
' county, having iiis residence in Ely- 
ria, is a native of Ohio, born in Ash- 
land county. May 19, 1850, a son of Dr. 
J. B. F. and Catherine (Luther) Sampsell, 
both now deceased. 

The Sampsells in Ohio are descended 
from an old Maryland German family, 
who became early settlers of Columbiana 
county, Ohio, Dr. J. B. F. Sampsell has 
four brothers and eight cousins, all physi- 
cians of repute, while our subject's mater- 
nal grandfather was an M. D., in addition 
to which he has four cousins physicians, 
and one of his lady cousins is married to 
a member of the profession. 

Dr. J. V. Sampsell was reared in Ash- 
land county, Ohio, receiving his elemen- 
tary education at the common schools, and 
then took a course of study at Bethany, 
W. Va. After reading medicine for a 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



643 



time with an uncle, our subject entered 
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, 
at which institution, in the class of 187G- 
77, he took the degree of M. D., and in 
the latter year he commenced the general 
practice of his profession at Elyria, where 
he has since built up an enviable busi- 
ness, even yet on the increase, his ride tak- 
ing him for many miles into the country, 
in addition to his city practice. Recently 
he took a post- graduate course at the New 
York Polyclinic. 

On June 17, 1880, Dr. Sampsell was 
united in marriage with Miss Leonnetta 
Nichols, of Elyria, whose father was born 
in Ohio, the mother coming from Jeffer- 
son county, N. Y. He is a member of the 
JJational Board of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, and is physician and surgeon for 
the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad 
Co. He is a member of the F. & A. M., 
Blue Lodge and Chapter; in politics he is 
a stanch Democrat, and during the Cleve- 
land administration he was president of the 
local board of pension examiners. 



ffJflRAM TILLOTSON, a leading, re- 
l''^ preseritative agriculturist of Hunt- 
I 41 iiigton township, is a native of 
•fj same, born March 9, 1825, a son 
of Daniel Tillotson, who was born 
January 5, 1794, on Wyalusing creek, 
Pennsylvania. 

Thomas Tillotson, father of Daniel, was a 
farmer and shoemaker, the old hammer he 
used in his work being still in the posses- 
sion of his grandson, Hiram. In Henri- 
etta township, Monroe Co., N. Y., Daniel 
married Lovisa Sage, born October 5, 
1795, a daughter of Isaac and Polly (Rice) 
Sage, who became the second settlers of 
Huntington township, Lorain county, the 
first being the Labories. In June, 1818, 
Daniel Tillotson, with his wife and two chil- 
dren — C'hloeand Sally — came to Hunting- 
ton township, they being the fourth family 
to arrive. Joseph Sage, a brother of Isaac 



Sage, already mentioned, owned a large 
tract of land in Huntington township, and 
from him Daniel Tillotson boutrht a few 
acres in the woods, where yet roamed the 
Indian and wild animals — deer, turkeys, 
bears and wolves being frecjuently seen. 
In the new home, a log house having Ijeen 
built, were born the rest of Daniel Tillot- 
son's children, namely: Enos S., who is 
said to have Iteen the tirst white child born 
in the township, the date of his birth be- 
ing December 18, 1818 (he died in Michi- 
gan, December 5, 1872); Sophronia, now 
the widow of E. D. Calkins, living in 
Wellington; Alvin, born in Sullivan town- 
ship, now of Olivet, Mich.; Hiram, subject 
of sketch: Lucetta, who married Hamilton 
Fisher, and died in Brighton; Jennette, 
who married John Halleck, and died in 
Rochester township, Lorain county ; Hulda 
Ann, now Mrs. Henry Baird, of Welling- 
ton ; Lucy E., who died at the age of seven 
years: Harriet C, also deceased at the age 
of seven years; and Elijah, who died on 
the home farm when seven years old. Of 
the two children born in the East, as al- 
ready recorded, Chloe married Joshua N. 
Colver, and died in AVisconsin; Sally \vas 
twice married, first to David Smith, after- 
M'ard to Luther Mead, and she is now 
again a widow, her home being in 
Minnesota. 

Daniel Tillotson was in all respects a 
genuine pioneer. He had to take his axe 
in hand, and from the dense primeval 
forest literally hew out a home for him- 
self and family. He was not only a man 
of muscle but one of superior natural abil- 
ity and bright intellect. For twenty-one 
years he was a justice of the peace, and 
proved a jurist possessed of excellent 
judgment, his rulings being invariably 
sustained by higher courts, in cases of 
appeal. He was also an ordained minister 
in the Universalist Church, and as a 
farmer he met with more than ordinary 
success. On January 31, 183-J:, he came 
to the farm now owned and occujiied by 
his son Hiram, and at that time lying in the 



644 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



midst of a vast wilderness. This he went 
to work to clear, and to a considerable ex- 
tent had succeeded in transforming it into 
a fertile spot when death summoned him 
from the midst of his labors. The last 
thirteen years of his life had been passed 
in the care of our subject and wife; and 
his widow for thirty years, during eighteen 
of which she was blind, had her home with 
her son, who with true filial devotion 
tenderly cared for her in her declining 
years, which even in her aifliction were 
enjoyed by her, so pleasant was the treat- 
ment she received at the hands of her son 
and danghter-in-law. She passed away 
February 1, 1875, and was laid to rest by 
the side of her husband in Huntington 
cemetery. Mr. Tillotson was reared a 
Democrat, but in after years became a 
Republican, remaining as such the rest of 
his life. 

Hiram Tillotson received his education 
at the subscription and district schools of 
his time, and was reared to farm life amid 
all the rugged surroundings of a pioneer 
home. He remembers well that flour was 
twelve dollars per barrel, and could not 
he bought nearer than Wooster, Ohio; 
johnny-cakes were the chief article of food 
"in his boyhood days, and be made many a 
meal of them, washed down with plenty 
of fresh milk. At the age of fifteen lie 
left school, and has since assiduously ap- 
plied himself to agricultural pursuits. 

On September 29, 1847, Mr. Tillotson 
was married to Miss Solina Fisher, who 
was born March 13, 1830, in Jefferson 
county, N. Y., a daughter of Eleazer and 
Polly (Davis) Fisher, who came to Ohio 
in tlie spring of 1836, locating in Brigh 
tun township, Lorain county. After mar- 
riage, owing to the declining health of his 
parents, our subject removed with his 
bride to the old homestead, where he yet 
lives, the dwelling being the third one 
built on the premises, and practically on 
the same site as the first one. The chil- 
dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Tillot- 
son were as follows: Harriet A., now Mrs. 



D. W. Cole, of Huntington township; 
Caroline L., now Mrs. M. R. Sage, of 
Huntington; Myra L., now Mrs. Lewis 
Labarie, of Huntington; Rosella, deceased 
when twelve and a half years old; and Ina 
and Elvira, both deceased in infancy. Mr. 
Tillotson has now 356 acres of prime land, 
and in addition t') general farming has 
been an extensive dealer in and shipper of 
live stock. He has lost in cash over four 
thousand dollars by befriending others in 
the way of endorsements. In his political 
affiliations he was a Democrat until Lin- 
coln's time, when he enrolled himself under 
the Republican banner, and has ever since 
remained loyal to the cause. He and his 
amiable and kind-kearted wife are ex- 
emplary members of the TJniversalist 
Church. 



Tames MONROE of Oberlin was 
L. I born at Plainfield, Windham Co., 
\Jj Conn., July 18, 1821. He received 
his early education in the common 
school, at Plainfield Academy, and, after- 
ward, under the private instructions of 
Mr. John Witter, a highly esteemed 
teacher of Plainfield. 

Before reaching the age of twenty, he 
was engaged, for several years, in teach- 
ing in the public schools of Windham 
county. From October, 1841, until Feb- 
ruary, 1844, he was employed as agent of 
the American Antislavery Society and 
other (iTganizations of similar object, 
speaking and laboring earnestly for the 
antislavery cause. He thus became ac- 
quainted with many of the early Abolition- 
ists. In the spring of 1844, feeling the 
need of more thorough classical training, 
he went to Oberlin College, from which 
he graduated in 1846. For the three fol- 
lowing years he pursued and completed a 
course of theological study in that institu- 
tion. After having served for several 
years as tutor, he was elected, in 1849, to 
the Chair of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres 
in Oberlin College, a place which he tilled 




*y-^/i.-x.t.^^e^ ^^/^^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



647 



until 1862. Beginning witli tho winter of 
1850-51, lie devoted some months of eacli 
year, for sever.il years, to raising money 
for tiie College. Mr. Monroe was elected, 
in the fall of 1855, to the first Republican 
General Assembly of Ohio. lie was a mem- 
ber of the House of Representatives in that 
State in 1856, 1857, 1858 and 1859. and 
of the Senate in 1860, 1861 and 1862. 
Wliile in the Legislature he introduced 
and carried through several important 
measures, such as a bill to establish Re- 
form Schools, one to amend the Habeas 
Corpus Act, and bills to protect the rights 
of colored citizens and for other purposes. 
He was chosen President pro tempore of 
the Ohio Senate in 1861, and again in 
1862. In the meantime he did not neo-lect 
his work in the College, as the sessions of 
the General Assembly were held at the 
time of the long vacation in that Institu- 
tion. 

In the fall of 1862 he resigned his place 
in the Ohio Senate, arid also his Chair in 
the College, to accept the position of 
United States consul at Rio de Janeiro 
tendered him by President Lincoln. This 
office he held until the spring of 1870, 
having also served for some months in 
1869 as Charge d' Affaires ad interhn. In 
October, l!S70, he was elected from the 
Oberliu District to the House of Repre- 
sentatives at Washincrton. He was a mem- 
ber of this body for ten years, from March 
4, 1871, to March 4, 1881. During this 
period he served upon the Committee on 
Banking and Currency, that on Foreign 
Affairs, that on Education and Labor, of 
which he was Chairman, and that on Ap- 
propriations. At the close of his Fifth 
Congress he declined a renomination. On 
his return to Oberlin a desire was ex- 
pressed that he might be placed in a new 
Profes.sorship of "Political Science and 
Modern History;" but the College had no 
fund for its sup])()rt. Thereupon his 
friends in Northern Ohio and other parts 
of the country contributed thirty thousand 
dollars to Oberlin College on condition 

35 



that it should be permanently invested, 
and that the interest should be applied to 
tlie support of the new Chair which Mr. 
Monroe should be invited to fill. This 
arrangement was accordingly carried out, 
and in September, 1883, Mr. Monroe re- 
sumed teaching in the new [)laee, the 
duties of which he has continued to dis- 
charge to the present time. 

In politics Mr. Monroe has been a Re- 
pnblicau ever since the organization of the 
party; and, in his religious faith, he is a 
Congregationalist. 



THE HORR FAMILY. Among the 
pioneer families planted in Lorain 
county few have left more numer- 
ous descendants than the one now 
under consideration; and in no 
other instance have so many brothers risen 
to public note and business prominence. 
For several generations the Ilorr family 
had lived at Pomfret, Vt. The grand- 
father of the Ilorr brothers, now living in 
Ohio, was Deacon John Ilorr, and, back 
of him, the heads of the Horr family were 
a line of deacons; but this religious ardor 
has not been preserved in its orthodox 
purity to tiie present generation. 

The original emigrants of the Ilorr 
family to Ohio were Roswell Horr and his 
two sisters, Mary and Lucina. Mary 
Horr married Joseph B. Jainison, of Avon ; 
Lucina Ilorr married Samuel Robinson, 
formerly of Vermont. She died in Wis- 
consin without issue. 

Roswell Horr was born in Pomfret, Vt., 
January 13, 1796. He had but meager 
educational advantages in early life, atid 
he served an apprenticeship to the trade 
of blacksmith, which he made his chief 
vocation. In 1834 he emigrated to Ohio, 
and locateil in Avon township, Lorain 
county, where he bought and improved a 
farm, upon which he afterward erected, as 
the family home, what is now known as 
the Dr. Townsend residence, situated about 



648 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



one and a half miles cast of the village of 
French Creek. He also built a blacksmith 
shop on the farm, and there worked at his 
trade. Notwithstanding his limited edu- 
cation, and the fact that he lived only 
seven years after coming to Ohio — his 
death having occurred April 25, 1841 — 
he had laid an excellent foundation for his 
future. He had served his community as 
justice of the peace and postmaster in a 
creditable manner, and he left hia family 
a home of seventy odd acres unencum- 
bered, and fifty acres more that was nearly 
paid for. Common sense and strict in- 
tegrity marked his actions both public and 
private. For his first wife he married 
Miss Lucinda Wheeler, who bore him two 
daughters: Lucinda, who married Bai'low 
G. Carpenter, of Olmsted Falls, Ohio; she 
now resides in Chicago, 111., and has two 
children — Harry H., of Chicago, HI., and 
Mrs. Lucena McNeil. Lucina, the second 
daughter of Roswell Horr, married Will- 
iam S. Carpenter, of Olmsted Falls; she 
now lives with her son, Newton H. Car- 
penter, of Chicago, 111., who is secretary of 
the Art Institute of that city. After the 
death of his first wife, lioswell Ilorr mar- 
ried, in Waitsfield, Vt., in 1829, Miss 
Caroline Turner, a native of Moretown, 
same State, born in 1805, who is still 
living, residing in Wellington. Mrs. Horr 
was a woman not only of great heart and 
brain qualities, but she secured a more 
than average early education, and before 
her marriage was for many years a school 
teacher. While engaged in this vocation 
she taught Senator Carpenter, of Wiscon- 
sin, the alphabet. Her mother was a Miss 
Carpenter, and a great-aunt of the Senator. 
Mrs. Horr had eight sons, all of whom 
reached maturity except Henry and Frank, 
who died in their " teens," while attend- 
ing school at Oberlin. The eldest of this 
fjjmily was but a little over ten years of 
age at the time of the death of the fatiier, 
Koswell Horr. In the rearing of this large 
family of boys Mrs. Horr had ample op- 
portunity to exercise all her ingenuity and 



moral courage. If the ambition of the boy 
is inspired by early lessons, or his genius 
quickened by early incentives, how well 
she has succeeded is best told in the lives 
of her sons. The first birth occurred 
November 26, 1830, and by this she bore 
two sons — one now Hon. Rollin A. Horr, 
of Wellington; the- other Hon. Roswell O. 
Horr, of New York City. 

Hon. Kollin A. Horr received an ele- 
mentary education in the public schools, 
and commenced life as a clerk in a store 
in Huntington, Lorain county. He sub- 
sequently entered the cheese business and 
farming and stock dealing there, and made 
that his home for fifteen years. He as- 
sisted in the organization of the First Na- 
tional Bank of Wellincrton in 18()4, and 
the spring of the same year removed to 
Wellington, which he has since made his 
home. He was cashier of the First Na- 
tional Bank for twenty-seven years, since 
which time he has been its vice-president. 
He was for a time a member of the exten- 
sive lumber firm of W. R. Santly & Co., 
and besides being vice-president of the 
First National Bank is now secretary of 
the Clarksfield Stone Comjtany. He was 
nominated by the regular Republican 
caucus, and elected to the State Senate 
from the Twenty-seventh and Twenty- 
ninth Senatorial Districts in 1879, serving 
during the sessions of 1880-81 and 1882- 
83; was subsequently the Republican 
nominee from the Fourteenth Congres- 
sional District. On October 8, 1891, he 
was appointed special employe of the 
United States Treasury Department by 
Secretary Foster, and served in that capac- 
ity until June 1, 1898, when he was re- 
moved by the Democratic administration. 

Mr. Ilorr is a man of medium height, 
but large proportions. He has the natural, 
easy, pleasant bearing of a man long accus- 
tomed to do business with the public. He 
was married in 1853 to Miss Sarah A. 
Ames, from which union were born seven 
children, of whom one died in infancy; 
those living are: Abbie C, married to H. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



649 



B. Hamlin; IloUin C, who was educated 
in Cornell University, and is now in the 
stone business in Philadelphia, Peiin. (he 
is servini^ his third term as member of the 
city council of Philadelpliia); Walter Scott, 
who graduated from Wellino'ton nio;h 
School, now a stenographer and book- 
keeper by profession, and residing in IJii- 
luth, Minn.; Warner M., also a graduate 
of Welliniiton Ilirrh School, now a book- 
keeper, residing in San Francisco, Cal.; 
Charles P., wiio was for iive years book- 
keeper in the First National Bank at 
Wellington, and is now a paving con- 
tractor of Philadelphia, Penn.; Nellie, a 
graduate of AVellington High School, and 
still at home. 

Hon. Roswell G. Horr is the other of 
the twin brothers. He is of national 
reputation as a politician and lecturer. 
He tirst attended the public schools, tlien 
took a partial course in Oberlin College, 
after which he attended Antioch College, 
and in 1857 graduated under Horace 
Maun. Returning to his native county, 
he v;a8 elected clerk of the court of com- 
mon pleas in the fall of 1857, and re- 
elected in 1800. While acting as clerk of 
the court he read law, and upon stepping 
out of the office was admitted to the bar, 
becoming a partner with Judge J. C. 
Hale, and pursuing the practice of law in 
Elyria for two years. In the spring of 
1866 he removed to southeastern Missouri, 
engaged in mining business, and while 
there was the Republican nominee for the 
State Legislature. In the spring of 1872 
he removed to East Saginaw, Mich., and 
was elected from the Eighth Congressional 
District, serving in the XLVI., XLVII. 
and XLVIII. Congresses of the United 
States of America. He is at present tariff 
editor of the New York WeeJclij aiul Semi- 
Weckhj Tribune. AVhen in Congress he 
participated in the leading debates and 
legislation of the day. He has perliaps 
made more political speeches than any 
otiiei' man living, Ijesides having prepared 
and delivered a number of lectures on 



literary and scientific subjects, which have 
given him a national reputation as a public 
lecturer. 

Mr. Horr was married in 1859 to Miss 
C. M. Pinney, and has four living children 
— ^two sons and two daughters, viz.: Flora 
M., wife of Frederick Hebard, of Plain- 
field, N. J.; Frank, a merchant of Ithaca, 
Mich, (he was educated at East Saginaw 
and Orchard Lake State Military Acad- 
emy); Katherine, at home, engaged in 
literary work; and Rollin A., residing in 
Saginaw, Michigan. 

James C. Horr, the third cliild of Ros- 
well and Caroline (Turner) Horr, was born 
January 25, 1832. He received iiis edu- 
cation in the common schools of liis native 
place, which he supplemented with a 
course of study at Oberlin University. 
At the age of twenty-one years he went to 
Australia, remaining there fourteen years, 
at the end of which time he returned to, 
Lorain county, and there remained four 
years. His ne.xt trip was to California, 
and after spending si\ years there he 
located permanently in the city of Olym- 
pia, now the capital of the State of Wash- 
ington. He served a term in the Terri- 
torial Legislature, and was for four years 
special agent of the United States Ti-easury 
Department during the GartieldArthur 
administration. He has served as mayor 
of Olympia, and is now a member of the 
State Senate of the State of Washington. 
He was for a time engaged in the furniture 
trade, but now operates a wholesale and 
retail feed and forwarding store, and real- 
estate business. He was married in Aus- 
tralia to Miss Lizzie Upton; has no living 
children. 

John Horr, born June 2, 1833, in Ver- 
mont, is the last of these children born in 
Vermont. He went to Australia with his 
brother, and subsequently to New Zealand, 
where he now resides. He married in Aus- 
tralia, and has one daughter. But little is 
known of his personal history. 

Rulph Turner Horr was born June 2, 
1835. He was a harness maker by trade, 



650 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



which he followed in earlier life. Swbse- 
qiieutly he engaged with the American 
Express Company, and finally entered the 
United States Mail service. He died a 
few years since. He married a Miss 
Martha Barker, and left two sons: George, 
agent of the Merchants Despatch Transpor- 
tation Company, Chicago, 111. ; and Howard, 
in the employ of the Troy Laundry Manu- 
facturing Company, Chicago, Illinois. 

C. W. HoRK, leading business man and 
capitalist of Wellington, is a native of 
Lorain county, Ohio, born in Avon, Janu- 
ary 25, 1837. He was reared on the farm, 
during the brief winter months attending 
the schools of the locality till he was about 
sixteen years old, when he went to Cleve- 
land, with but a few dollars in his pocket, 
there to seek employment, a total stranger 
in the place, with solely himself to rely 
upon. Casting liis eye on the sign of a 
leading hack and omnibus line office, and 
understanding something of horses, he im- 
mediately applied for and found employ- 
ment as an omnibus driver. Falling into 
no dissipation, and allowing himself no in- 
dulgencies of any kind, he succeeded in 
saving some money, and at the end of five 
motiths he found himself in a financial 
position sufiicieiit to enable him to take a 
term at Oberlin College, which he did. 
He then taught school at Pittsfield Center, 
Lorain county. At the age of eighteen, 
with barely enough money to pay expenses, 
he took stage coach from Louisville to 
Nashville, Tenn., near which city he se- 
cured a position as teacher in Zion Semin- 
ary. In 1858 he became principal of the 
public schools of Napoleon, Ohio. 

In 1857 Mr. Horr entered Antioch (Ohio) 
College, graduating from there in 1860. 
On August 12, of the same year, he mar- 
ried Esther A. Lang of Huntington, Ohio, 
who has proved the kindest and wisest of 
wives and mothers. Indeed, Mr. Horr 
and all of his iTitimate friends would agree 
in regardintr his marriage as the most for- 
tunate event of his life. In the fall of 
1860, with his wife as assistant, he became 



principal of the public schools of Vandalia, 
III. In that town he became a leading 

o 

local agitator in the cause of the Union, 
delivering many eloquent and patriotic 
speeches, and finally he organized Com- 
pany B, Thirty-fifth' O. V. I., of which he 
was made captain. With his command he 
did duly in Missouri, and served under 
Fremont, Halleck, Curtis, Jefferson C. 
Davis, and other leaders of the movement 
in Missouri. During the larger part of 
his service, he was employed as forage 
master or as brigade comniissary of sub- 
sistence, and during the latter part of his 
sei'vice he was attached to Gen. Buell's 
army. At the commencement of the war 
he was a Douglas Democrat. After he 
left the army, he returned to Lorain county, 
and in company with his brother, J. C. 
Horr, commenced the development of the 
cheese industry, building in Huntington 
township the first cheese factory in Lorain 
county. The firm of J. C Horr & Co. 
was succeeded by Starr & Horr, and at the 
end of a year that firm was succeeded by 
the i)resent cheese and butter firm of Horr, 
Warner & Co. Of this firm Mr. C. W. 
Horr has always been the recognized head, 
and its great success is largely due to his 
ability as a business man, and to his saga- 
city as a financier. 

Mr. Horr is also a memljer of the firm 
of Weati, Horr, Warner & Co., the most 
extensive onion and celery growers in Ohio, 
and probably the greatest onion growers in 
the world. He is also president of the 
well-known Wellington Milling Company, 
and has for years been a stockholder and 
director in the First National Bank of 
Wellington, Ohio, and also of the Savings 
Banking Company of Elyi-ia, Oiiio. Mr. 
Horr owns an extensive tract of land in 
Lorain and Medina counties, and is to a 
large extent engaged in the breeding of 
fine Holstein-Friesian cattle. In 1892 he 
was president of the National Holstein- 
Friesian Association, and he has recently 
>been elected president of the National 
Dairy Union. 



LORAIif COUNTY, OHIO. 



651 



In his earlier days Mr. Horr read law, 
and was admitted to the bar, and his knowl- 
edge of both law and general business has 
been of invalnal)ie service, not only to him- 
pelf but also to friends and others who 
frequently consult him on matters of im- 
portance and difficulty. In politics he is 
a Republican, and few campaigns have 
taken place since the war in which he has 
not taken a more or less active part, as he 
is a forcible public speaker, and keeps well 
posted on all political and public questions. 
He is also a writer of ability, a master of 
the English language, and an accomplished 
rhetorician. Although deeply immersed 
in his many business enterprises, Mr. Horr 
still finds time for the study of literature 
in the quiet of liis home, where he is sur- 
rounded by every comfort and finds the 
purest and greatest enjoyment of his life. 
In the very prime of manhood, he is a man 
of tine physique, and of great physical and 
mental energy. He is by no means the 
meekest of men; he is positive in his views 
and aggressive in his methods, and his 
power and influence have been felt in many 
political contests. 

Mr. and Mrs. Horr have had live sons, 
viz.: Norton T., a graduate of Cornell 
University, and member of the law firm 
of Boynton & Horr, of Cleveland, Ohio; 
Charles W., Jr., a graduate of Cornell 
University, now engaged in various busi- 
ness enterprises with his father; Clinton 
(deceased); Alfred E.., at present a member 
of the junior class of Cornell University, 
and Harley M., who still resides with his 
parents. 



FRANCIS S. WADSWORTH, a 
thoroughly representative agricul- 
_^ turist of Lorain county, is a native 
of Massachusetts, born in Becket, 
Berkshire county. 

Jonathan and Deidama (Snow) Wads- 
worth, grandparents of our subject, were 
of Connecticut birth, and moved to Becket, 
Mass., where their family of children were 



born, and where he died at the age of 
eighty-six years; his wife afterward came 
to Wellington, Lorain Co., Ohio, and died 
in the "American House," where she was 
living at the time with her grandchildren 
— O. S. and J. L. Wadsworth. She, as 
was also her husband, was a member of 
the Congregational Church. 

Lawton Wadsworth, father of subject, 
was born June 24, 1785. in Becket, Berk- 
shire Co., Mass., and was reared to agri- 
cultural pursuits. In early manhood he 
taught school in the neighborhood of Otis, 
Mass., where he first met the young lady 
who became his wife, in the person of 
Miss Nancy Rowena Lawton, daughter of 
Elijah Lawton, of that town. They were 
married October 15, 180G, in Becket, 
where they settled on a farm, and seven 
children, as follows, were born to tliem: 
Milo L., born October 2, 1807, who lived 
in Wellington township, died April 2, 
1889; Oliver S., born May 2, 1809, was a 
farmer, and lived for a while at the 
"American House," in Wellington, sub- 
sequently returning to Massachusetts (he 
was killed in a railroad accident at Erie, 
Penn.); Jabez L., born August 27, 1813, 
who lived for a number of years at the 
"American House," in Wellington, and 
subsequently followed milling (he built 
a brick residence in Wellington, whei-e he 
died; his widow now resides in Welling- 
ton); Elijah M., born February 9, 1815, 
learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, 
took a college and theological course at 
Oberlin, Ohio, then went to Wisconsin, 
and later went to Minneapolis, Minn., 
where he now resides; Albert O., born 
August 27, 1819, who has always followed 
farming, first in Wellington, Lorain 
county, and at present in Saranac, Mich.; 
Francis S., born April 27, 1821, and 
David L., born June 1, 1825, who died in 
October, 1892. 

F. S. Wadsworth, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was twelve years old when the 
family arrived in Lorain county, Ohio, 
whither they traveled in wagons the entire 



652 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



way, the trip occupying from April 15 to 
May 9. lie received a liberal education 
in tlie common and high schools (two 
terms at Wellington select schools), and, 
when he was of age, two years at Oherlin, 
where he displayed considerable aptitude 
and fondness for mathematics. For a 
trade he learned that of carpenter and 
joiner, at which he worked, engaging, at 
times, also in painting, and lor four 
winters taught school. On September 20, 
1854, he married Miss Sarah A. Leonard, 
born January 6, 1833, in New York 
State, and the young couple then located 
on a farm about one and one-half miles 
from their present home in Wellington, 
whither they removed in 1884. Two chil- 
dren were born to them, viz. : Ettie R., April 
25, 1858, who was married to B. B. Her- 
rick (has two children, viz.: Sarah E. and 
Hobart); and Frank L. O., of whom special 
mention is made farther on. 

Mrs. Wadsworth is a daughter of Tru- 
man Leonard, who was born in Worth- 
iugton, Mass., March 23, 1784, and June 
1, 1811, married Miss Koxanna AUis, born 
in Chester, Mass., September 15, 1786. 
After marriage they tnoved to Middlesex, 
Ontario Co., N. Y., and there lived until 
1835, in which year the family, including 
eleven ciiildren, moved to Ohio, settling 
in Chatham, Medina county. The father 
died February 24, 1846, the mother on 
September 12, same year. Their daugh- 
ter, Sarah A., received a fair education in 
the common and high schools, well prepar- 
ing her for the vocation of a teaclier, which 
she commenced to follow at the age of 
fifteen years. For the past quarter of a 
century she has been a newspaper corre- 
spondent, chiefly for the Elyria Repiihli- 
can; also contributed to the Ohio Farmer, 
and the Young Ainerica, iSIew York. A 
lady of culture and refinement, she shares 
with her husband the respect and esteem 
of a wide circle of friends. 

Frank L. O. Wadsworth, their son, was 
born October 24, 1866, and received a 
superior education. He is the recipient of 



a diploma from Wellington (Ohio) High 
School (1883); graduated from the Ohio 
State University, Columbus, June 30, 
1888, in Mining Engineering, and the fol- 
lowing year took a diploma in Mechanical 
Engineering, and degree of Bachelor of 
Science. In 18S9 he commenced to teach 
in the Ohio State University, but was soon 
given a Fellowship in Clarke University, 
Worcester, Mass., where he remained three 
years. In July, 1892, he received the ap- 
pointment of senior assistant in the Astro- 
physical Laboratory of the Smithsonian 
Institute. While a student at Clarke Uni- 
versity he assisted Prof. Michelson in per- 
fecting an instrument for measuring the 
length of a meter, to establish a reliable 
standard for the metric system. This in- 
strument was for the French government. 
In the fall of 1^92, in company with Prof. 
Michelson, he visited Paris, adjusting and 
testing the instru7nent to the entire satis- 
faction of all parties concerned. At the 
present time, in connection with his labor- 
atory work, he is a frequent contributor to 
several scientific papers published both in 
this country and in Europe. He was mar- 
ried September 6, 1893, to Miss Laura 
A. Poole, of Washington, D. C. 



DE. N. 
knowr 
geon ( 



H. CORNWELL, a well- 
lown practicing physician and sur- 
of North Amherst, was born 
January 4, 1847, in Elyria, Lorain 
Co., Ohio. His father, N. H. Cornwell, 
was a native of Michigan, and married 
Mary Onstine, who was born in Amherst 
township, daughter of George and Rosina 
(Ruhl) Onstine, natives of Pennsylvania, 
who came in an early day to Amherst 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where they 
both died. Mr. Cornwell died in Elyria 
in 1847. 

N. H. Cornwell was reared by his grand- 
father Onstine, at Amherst, at the public 
schools of which place he received his 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



653 



early education. He was for some time 
engaged in tiie lumber business, inspecting 
lumber at Cliicao;o from 1873 to 187G. 
He entered the Eclectic Medical Institute, 
Cincinnati, Ohio, whence he was gradu- 
ated with the class of 1880, and tirst began 
practice at Port Clinton, coming shortly 
afterward to Lorain county, where he has 
since resided. Dr. Cornweil was married, 
iu 1885, to Miss Josephine Barber, who 
was born in Amherst township, this 
county, daughter of Joseph Barber (now 
deceased). The latter was an early settler 
of northern Ohio, and came to Lorain 
county in 1863. Socially the Doctor is a 
member of the K. of P., and K. O. T. M., 
and is also a F. & A. M. 



IDEON L. STARK, who for many 
, years has been actively identified 
with the business interests of Pen- 
field township, is a prosperous, self- 
made agriculturist. 
He is a son of Talcott and Mary (Linds- 
le\ ) Starr, the former of whom was born 
in Danbnry, Conn., and was reared to farm 
life. Talcott Starr was married in Har- 
perstield, I^elaware Co.. N. Y., in which 
State five children were born to him, as 
follows: Matthew L. ; Maria, who was 
married in New York State to David 
Turner, a Methodist Episcopal minister, 
and died in Schoharie county, N. Y. ; An- 
geline, who was married in New York to 
Benjamin Turner, and died in Rhinebeck, 
that State; Gideon L.. subject of this 
sketch; and Alden, of Flint, Mich. Tal- 
cott Starr had made three trips to Penfield, 
Lorain Co., Ohio (driving the entire dis- 
tance), where tliree of his brothers — Orrin, 
Raymond and William — had located, and 
in 1839 he sold his farm and other effects 
in New York State, and set ont for the 
West. They arrived here after a long, 
tedious journey, driving a team of two 
horses, having come via Cleveland to 
Elyria, where they remained some years 



on a farm one mile east of his brother 
Raymond, who conducted a mercantile 
business. Later Mr. Starr traded that 
farm, whicli he iiad bought, to a man 
named Kemp for land in Penfield town- 
ship, whither the family removed iu 1855, 
and here the parents passed the remainder 
of their lives, the father dying October 15, 
1872, the mother May 10, 1876; they are 
buried in Center , cemetery. They were 
members of the M. E. Church, and in 
politics he was a Democrat. He was a 
very successful farmer, and was quite 
well-to-do. 

Gideon L. Starr was born Fel)ruary 13, 
1816, in Jefferson, Schoharie Co., N. Y., 
was trained to farming pur.-^uits, and ob- 
tained his elementary education in the 
common schools. Later he attended a 
Methodist Episcopal school iu Dutchess 
county, N. Y., preparing himself for the 
profession of teacher, whicli he followed in 
Delaware county (N. Y.) and elsewhere 
for several years. He accompanied his 
parents on their journey to Ohio, and 
drove the team, but after a short sojourn 
there returned to New York State, where, 
in Harpersfield, Delaware county, he was 
married, November 10, 1839, to Miss 
Polly Baird. She was born July 7, 1818, 
in Harpersfield, daughter of Daniel and 
Abigail (Dayton) Baird, early residents of 
that place, whither they had come from 
Watertown, Conn. After his marriage 
Mr. Starr settled on the old family home 
in Sciioharie county, N. Y., which he had 
bought (going into debt for the same), and 
here followed farming, teaching school dur- 
ing the winter season. Later he was 
elected township e.xaminer, and conducted 
tCHchers' examinations. 

Wiiile living in New York State Mn 
and Airs. Starr had children as follows: 
Lemuel T., born November 30, 1840, a 
farmer of Penfield township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio; Similde A., born October 5, 1844, 
who ilied February 8, 1857, and Emer 
Gene, born July 14, 1847, who married 
Charles Catifield, of Litchfield, Medina 



654 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Co., Ohio, and died August 12, 1887. In 
the spring of 1849 our subject traded his 
farm in Schoharie county, and set out with 
his family for Ohio, after a two days' 
drive reaching Spraker's Basin, N. Y., 
whence lie started, by way of the Erie 
Canal, for Buffalo, where he arrived six 
days later. Here he took the lake-boat tor 
Cleveland, arriving the following morn- 
ing in that city, where lie was met by his 
brother Alden, who drove the family to 
Elyria, Lorain county, where the father 
lived. After some visiting in and around 
Elyria, Mr. Starr arrived on May 2, in 
Penfield township, passing the first night 
at the home of Lewis Llart. Here he pur- 
chased land, 121 acres in lot No. 51 east of 
the center, and forty-three acres west of 
the center, locating on the first-mentioned 
tract in a log house, quite different from 
the home in New York. Some of the wood 
on this farm had been cut by lumbermen, 
but the land was not yet fit for agricul- 
tural purposes, and it required considerable 
hard work to convert it into a fertile farm. 
Some time later another house was erected, 
which still stands, and on this place three 
children were added to the family circle, 
namely: Munson B., born October 30, 
1849, who died February 8, 1854; Estella, 
born February 27, 1855, who married Ed- 
win Sears, and lives in LitchHeld, Ohio 
(while absent from home December 27, 
LS93, their house was burned); Lee W., 
born December 25, 1856, a farmer of 
Litchfield, Ohio, who was married June 
25, 1882, to Celia Henderside. Mr. Starr 
was obliged to go into debt for his farm, 
and in the face of the predictions of older 
men, who had lived here for years, to the 
effect that he would never pay for it, he 
went to work with a determination, and 
met with a marked degree of success. 
Since his residence here farming lias been 
his chief vocation, but he has also dealt 
extensively in stock. He is a hard worker, 
a good manager, and an excellent judge of 
stock, wliich knowledge has been of con- 
siderable benefit to him in managine vari- 



ous details of his business to advantage. 
He now owns 300 acres excellent land. 
Politically he is a Democrat, and in re- 
ligious faith he and his wife belong to the 
M. E. Church, of which she has been a 
member sixty years. In 1885 they re- 
moved from the farm to the village of 
Penfield, where they now have a pleasant, 
comfortable home. Mr. Btarr has twelve 
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 



P)AUL W. SAMPSELL, M. D. (de- 
ceased), was born in Columbiana 
county, Ohio. June 22, 1828. He 
received a liberal education in the 
common schools, after which he at- 
tended the Eclectic Medical School, then 
the Homeopathic School of Medicine at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, from botli of which in- 
stitutions he graduated. 

He first practiced his profession at Ash- 
land, Ohio, whence he removed to South 
Bend, Ind., where he practiced till failing 
health compelled him to seek a change. 
Concluding that a trip to the Pacific slope 
would materially assist him in recuper- 
ating, he crossed the Plains, about the year 
1852, in a wagon in company with the 
Studebakers of South Bend, then young 
men and friends of the Doctor. On the 
journey they had in charge a number of 
wagons and several families. In Cali- 
fornia he remained for one year, at the end 
of which time he felt sufficiently well to 
return to his native State, which he did, 
and in 1854 made a permanent settlement 
in Elyria, wdiere he continued in eclectic 
practice of medicine up to the time of his 
death. After locating in Elyria he was 
offered a Chair or Professorship in one of 
the colleges of Cincinnati, but declined 
acceptance, preferring to remain in active 
practice. As a physician Dr. Sampsell 
had no superior, and during his career 
probably had not a peer. He was in the 
enjoyment of a Lirge ofKce practice as well 




/^^ 'Py-^Cu.J^/^Ljf 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



057 



as an extensive ride both in and outside 
tlie city, and his popiihirity botli profes- 
sionally and socially brought him a wide 
circle of friends. 

In 1855 Dr. Sanipsell was married in 
Elyria to Miss Evaliiie Childs, and one 
son, Warren W., was born to theiii. bat 
died Dec. 1, 1887. The doctor was called 
from earth May 8, 1888. Mrs. Sampsell 
is a native of Elyria, and comes of an early 
and mnch res])ected family. She is a lady 
of high culture, and commands the high- 
est esteem in the county. 




J^ILLIAM H. H. SUTLIFF, re- 
tired, one of ihe best known and 
most highly esteemed citizens of 
Wellington township, has been 
closely identified with Lorain county and 
vicinity for the past seventy-three years. 
He is a native of New York State, born 
July 22, 1815, in Erie county, a son of 
Salmon and Anna (Beeman) Sutlifl, the 
former of whom was born in Genesee 
county, N. Y., in 1786, the latter on the 
Susquehanna river. In August, 1820, the 
family, consisting of lather, mother and 
children, set out from their home in the 
East to seek a new one in the theuwildsof 
Ohio. The journey was made with a team 
of horses and a wagon, convevinij a few 
household goods; two cows and fifteen 
sheep beinir driven along. They passed 
through Buffalo, N. Y., at that time a low- 
lying village consisting of a few dirty 
cabins or shanties. On their arrival at 
Cleveland they counted thirteen small log 
houses, with not an acre of land cleared in 
any one place on Superior, the only street 
in the place. They were ferried across the 
Cuyaiioga river, landing on the west side, 
where not a house was visible, but abun- 
dance of land for sale on which there was 
not a stick of timber, the soil being simply 
yellow saiul. Proceeding onward, the party 
in due cour.se reached Avon township, 
Lorain county, wliere they tarried a short 



time until a piece of land coidd be pur- 
chased on the so-called "Murray Tract," 
in (.Carlisle township, and a log house built 
for the family. Into this they moved 
January 1, 1821, before any of the cracks 
were chinked or niudded, and when only 
one-half of the floor was laid with puncheons 
or split logs. This cabin was afterward 
improved, being fully floored, chinked and 
mudded, a chimney built and hearth and 
fireplace constructed, with a pole placed a 
few feet above the hearth, from one side of 
the chimney to the other, on which to 
hang the pot or kettle. Their bread was 
made chiefly of cornmeal, sometimes rye- 
wheat flour being kept for special oc- 
casions; their meats were for the most part 
venison and young fatted pork; tea was 
scarcely known, and "coffee" was made by 
burning an ear of corn black and then 
steeping it in hot water, cooled with milk 
and sweetened witli maple sugar. It should 
be mentioned here that on their way to 
their new home they passed through what 
is now the thriving town of Elyria, Lorain 
county, then composed of three little huts 
iidiabited respectively by Heman Ely, A. 
Beebe and a Mr. Sholes, who kept a small 
grocery. 

Salmon Sutliff was a great hunter, and 
the deer he killed supplied the family 
with not only venison, but also hides which 
were tanned into leather, from which they 
made shoes for all the family and breeches 
for the men's winter wear; he also trapped 
wolves for the Qoverment bounty, eight 
dollars per scalp, in addition to which he 
could get one or two dollars for each hide. 
Bears he would run dowti by tracking them 
in the snow or driving them up trees; 
their hides were also of value, and their 
meat as good as pork for family use. Trees 
were cut down and burned in large heaps, 
the ashes being saved and leached, then 
liquid being made into black salts, same 
being sold for $2.25 to $2.50 per one hun- 
dred pounds — half cash and half trade, the 
latter being in goods at high flgiires, to 
wit: calico or cotton, twenty-five cents per 



658 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



yard. In those days men raised flax and 
dressed it, then the women spun and wove 
it into linen and clotli for domestic use. 
Wild fruits of all kinds were found in 
abundance, especially cranberries, which 
would fetch seventy-live cents per bushel. 
So much for the natural history of the 
place about seventy years ago, although 
a vast deal more might be written of in- 
terest did space permit. Something has 
been said of the average dwelling, and ne.xt 
i[i importance come the schoolhouses. 
They were built of logs, chinked and 
mudded in the same njanner as the cabins 
were, and supplied with a fireplace and 
chimney. The furnitnre consisted of slabs 
(with pegs stuck into them for legs) placed 
flat side up for seats, and a board, laid on 
pins let into the house logs, for writing 
desk. The grim dominie, armed with an 
awe-inspiring birch rod, sat in a corner by 
the tireplace, and at times varied the mo- 
notony of the school hours l)y flogging 
warmth into the more stupid boys at the 
farther end of the class. Five years elapsed 
after the coming of the SntlifF family be- 
fore there were enough children in the 
neighborhood to warrant the organizing of 
a school district, and the using of such a 
building. Before the Sutliffs had raised 
any grain, Salmon would have to walk to 
Avon, a distance of twelve miles, and there 
labor for a bushel of corn, which he would 
carry on his shoulder to a gristmill known 
as " Hecock's mill," which after he had got 
it ground he would carry home through a 
dense foi-est teeming with wild beasts. On 
one occasion, accomi)anied as usual by his 
faithful dog, he came across a she bear 
and cubs, and the dog and bear had a tierce 
battle, which resulted in the total discom- 
fiture of the former, he being badly 
"chawed up," though not killed. 

In the early farming days the family 
would sow a little wheat or rye, as the case 
might be, and when ripe they would cut 
it down with a hand sickle, thresh it with 
a couple of sticks or flails, and clean it 
of the chaff, etc., with a large fan 



held by the hands and knees. In many 
things, especially in cases of sickness, 
they imitated the customs of the Inilians, 
and in this respect it is related of Salmon 
Sutliff that when somewhat advanced in 
years he was stricken with what was sup- 
posed to be consumption, and hearing of 
an alleged cure for that disease, he re- 
solved to adopt it, viz. : the swallowing of 
a rattlesnake's heart. Accordingly on a 
certain day he killed a yellow "rattler," 
about six feet long, took out the heart, put 
it into a bowl of cold water, and swallowed 
it all, his son, William H. H., being a 
witness to the act. It is not known how 
much of the consumption was cured, but 
he lived to see his sevent3'-secoud birthday 
pass, dying in 1858. He was a lifelong 
Whig and a member of the M. E. Church; 
he served in the war of 1812, and was a 
great admirer of Gen. Harrison, for whom 
he named his son, our subject. His 
widow was called from earth in 1870. 

Thirteen children, as follows, were born 
to this honored couple: Silas B., who was 
captain of a steamboat, died of cholera at 
Joliet, 111.; William H. H.; Asa G., who 
died in Minnesota about twelve years ago, 
was a farmer and drover, driving cattle 
from Texas; O. H. P., a resident of Car- 
lisle township, Lorain county; Charles B., 
who was killed twelve years ago in a rail- 
road accident near Elyria; Ralph O., a 
farmer at Chapin's Corners, Mich.; Ln- 
setta, wife of Eli Wright, now residing in 
Wood county, Ohio; Warren C, a justice of 
the peace in Carlisle township; Lucinda, 
Mrs. Perkins, who died of dropsy (she was 
first married to a man named Lee); Jessie, 
residing in Michigan; Theodore, residing 
in Potterville, Eaton Co., Mich.; Miles 
W., in Penfield township, Lorain coimty; 
and Rosetta, wife of William Gott. The 
mother of this family was left an orphan 
when a child, and was brought up by a 
family named Osborne; she was a daughter 
of Silas Beeman. The grandfather of our 
subject. Gad Sutliff, was a native of Eng- 
land, whence with two brothers he came 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



659 



to America, all being single men, and here 
tiiey separated, all trace of the two wlio ac- 
companied Gad being lost; the latter died 
at Clyde, Ohio, aged ninety years. 

William H. H. Sutiitf, the subject 
proper of this sketch, received his edu- 
cation in Carlisle township, Lorain county, 
attending the old log schoolhouse of the 
period, and experienced all the sufferings 
and privations incident to three quarters 
of a century ago. His clothes were of tiie 
most primitive iiome-make, and he was 
twenty years of age before he had a pair 
of boots on his feet; but he was tough and 
hearty, and underwent all kinds of hard- 
ships — working on the farm by day, and 
hunting raccoons, skunks, porcupines, 
opossums, etc., by night. At the time the 
town of Oberlin was being laid out he 
worked there the better part of three years, 
chopping down the timber and clearing it 
off the land. In October, 1834, a Mr. 
Sill, who had come in from Black Eock to 
Oberlin, where he lived one year, bargained 
with our subject for the latter to drive 
four heavy oxen, pulling a load of goods 
(wagon and load weighing G562 pounds) 
to Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., Mich., the 
route lying through a totally new country. 
Mr. Sill drove four oxen witii a lighter 
wagon, containing the family, and they ex- 
perienced many difficulties, at one place, 
near Maumee, the mud being so thick and 
deep that they Tnade but little progress. 
They passed thirty-one taverns in thirty 
miles, but required to stop at only one of 
them, two nights, finally reaching Jones- 
ville in safety; Mr. Sutiiff then returned 
to Ohio, and did hard labor until March, 
1838, when he engaged to drive a four-ox 
team from Carlisle township to Ionia, 
Mich. They traveled through the Maumee 
swamp before the frost had jiassed out of 
it, but got over in safety, and then pro- 
ceeded with comparative ease to Jackson- 
burg through mud and storm, but were 
still seventy-tive miles from their destina- 
tion. From Jacksonburg they traveled to 
Marshall, the county seat of Calhoun 



county, thirty miles; thence to Kalamazoo 
thirty miles; thence seventy-five miles 
northeast to Ionia county, the entire 
journey occupying twenty-six days. Here 
Mr. Sutiitf assisted in hewing out a new 
home in the woods, and buildins a lojr 
house, 18x24, into which the family 
moved within eleven days after their ar- 
rival, during which time they were living 
with a man named AVebster. 

In the same year, Mr. Sutiiff iiaving de- 
cided to revisit Ohio, he shouldered his 
knapsack, and set out alone, on foot, in 
one day reaching St John's, the county 
seat of Clinton county, Mich. From there 
he proceeded to Detroit, taking the nearest 
route, which was forty miles thrungli the 
woods along an old Indian trail. About 
an hour before noon he met a big Indian, 
fully equipped with a rifle, tomahawk 
and knife; but Mr. Sutiiff gave him 
a very brief interview, his looks be- 
ing much more suggestive of a villain 
than a friend, and left him roasting a 
muskrat for his noon-hour meal. Our 
hero arrived in safety, however, at Liv- 
ingston, Berrien county, after a tramp 
of forty miles between sunrise and sunset, 
and from there, after a rest, made his way 
to Detroit, which he reached in due time. 
From Detroit he took steamboat to Cleve- 
land, a rough voyage, thence home by way 
of Carlisle, &c. 

After this, in the same year, William 
H. H. Sutiiff, Asa G. Sutiiff and Philo 
Murry converted their effects into twenty 
head of cattle — oxen, new milch -cows, &c. 
— and started for Ionia, Mich. They pur- 
sued the same route, in due course reach- 
ing Marshall, Calhoun Co., Mich., and 
from there proceeded northward eleven 
miles, to the village of Hastings; thence to 
Vermontville, Eaton county, from which 
place they plodded their way through an 
unbroken wilderness, taking an Indian 
trail, one of the party leading the way with 
an axe, with which now and then he had to 
cut an opening through the bush. Some- 
times the oxen wouhl be "mired down" in 



(560 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



a tainarac swamp they bad to pass through, 
and then they would have to be assisted 
out, and the entire party make a detour of 
about a mile. At the close of each day a 
halt would be made at some convenient 
spot, a fire built, the cows milked, and a 
qnilt spiead on Mother Earth, whereon the 
weary wayfarers would rest for the night. 
To use Mr. Sutliff's own graphic words : 
"We ate and drank and fared sumptuously 
during the three days and three nights we 
were in the wilderness, and came out hale 
and hearty!" 

In September, 1840, Mr. Sutliff was 
married to Miss Phcebe D. Gott, of 
LaGrange, Ohio, a native of New York 
State, born March 22, 1821, and they had 
twelve children, all sons except one, of 
whom the following is a brief record : 
William H., born October 7, 1841, a dray- 
man in Lorain, married Emily Allen, and 
they have two children — Milton and 
Phfpbe; George B., born January 9, 1843, 
died July 21, 1845; CharlesE. (his sketch is 
on page 603), born February IG, 1845, 
married Mary Hoffman, and they have two 
children, May E. and Floyd E ; George War- 
ren, born March 12, 1847, now residing in 
California, married Em ma Bruce, and has 
four children — Belle, Brnce, George W. 
and one whose name is not given; John 
Laverdo, born May 6, 1849, died October 
20, 1852; Stephen S., born August 16, 
1851, died January 14, 1861; Martin 
Beeman, born April 16, 1854, died Janu- 
ary 5, 1861; James Alvord, born August 
5, 1856, died September 12, 1892 (he 
farmed on the home place; he was married 
to Miss Letina Barber, but had no children); 
Frederick Eugene (a hackman in Welling- 
ton), born November 17, 1859, married 
Prudence Coding, and they have two 
sons — Walter and Wilber; one son was 
still-born; Emma Jane, born August 7, 
1862, wife of Bart Whitehead, residing 
in Wellington (they have one child, Phoebe 
Delilah); and Franklin Pierce, born Sep- 
tember 9, 1864, a farmer who married 
Frances Dorchester. 



In December, 1841, Mr. and Mrs. Sut- 
liff (the latter carrying her two-months- 
old babe), with a pair of oxen, two cows 
and seven sheep, set out for Michigan to 
establish a new home on his property 
above alluded to, where they arrived in 
safety, rich in youth and health and 
strength, but poor in pocket, not having 
a dollar at their command. The young 
husband and father soon, however, had a 
good log house put up and furnished, and 
he continued making improvements on his 
land, besides working for others, clearing 
away the timber and brush and assisting 
in the building of schoolhouses, bridiies, 
and logcrossways; chopping out highways, 
and lumbering in the winter season. In 
this wilderness he encountered many dan- 
gers, especially from wild animals, anil he 
did a good deal of trapping, catching in 
that way nine large grey wolves; he also 
killed a bear, first by the aid of his dog, 
driving it up a tree, which he chopped 
down, and then with his axe finished Bruin's 
earthly career. The amount of small game 
he killed was something that would make 
a modern-day Nimrod gasp with wonder- 
ment. On this land he lived from Decem- 
ber, 1841, to February, 1852, — eleven 
years — at the end of which time he was 
induced to return to Lorain county, to care 
for his parents in their declining years. 
Accordingly he " swapped " his Michigan 
farm for one in Wellington township, and 
here he has since resided, for the past forty 
years, in the town of Wellington. One 
day in 1842, in passing through a piece of 
heavily-timbered land, four or five miles, 
with a team of oxen and a wagon, when 
about half-way through, he found a dead 
man, evidently thrown from a wagon, the 
■ horse having taken fright at something. 
Mr. Sutliff picked the body up, placed it 
in his wagon, and conveyed it to the near- 
est house, the act being justified by the 
law, which provided that after a dead body 
had lain in the woods eighteen hours, sub- 
ject to mutilation by wild animals, the 
finder of the corpse may remove it. A 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



661 



coroner's jury was snininoned, and they 
endorsed Ity their verdict the facts as re- 
lated by Mr. iSntliff. 

Our subject's first wife died in 1888, 
and in December, 1891, he married Mrs. 
Deiicy Rugg, a native of LaGrange 
township, l)orn in 1831, who by her first 
husband had three sons, namely: [\) Orrin 
David Kngg, born July 1, 1855, who is 
married and has two children — Leona C. 
and Edmund; (2) Frank E. Rngg, born 
July 27, 1857, residing in Huntington 
tovvnshij), is married and has four children 
— Ermie, Earl, Laverdo and Grace; and 
(3) Charles Edison Rugg. residing in 
Huntington. The father of these, Ediunnd 
Rugg, was born in the State of New York, 
whence he came to Ohio when eleven years 
old. In February, 1854, he married Miss 
Dency Hulbert, of LaGrange township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio. 

Mr. Sutlitf's Michigan farm comprised 
140 acres; his one in Wellington township, 
126 acres. In politics he was originally a 
Republican, his first Pi-esidential vote be- 
ing cast ft)r W. H. Harrison; in mattersof 
religion he has been a member of the M. 
E. Church since he was sixteen years old. 



Hi G. COMINGS, mayor of Oberlin, 
//l\ and proprietor of one of the most 
IrT^ extensive bookstores in Lorain 
■fj county, is a native of Franklin 

county, Vt., born in 1856, a son of 
A. C. and Amanda (Jones] Coinings, both 
also of the "Green Mountain" State, 
where they were married. They came to 
Lorain county, Ohio, when our subject 
was nine years old, and settled on a farm 
in Russia township, one mile from Ober- 
lin. They had a family of six children, 
all educated at Oberlin, A. G. being the 
youngest; he has one brother living, pub- 
lisher of a paper at Springfield, Mo. The 
father is living; the mother is deceased. 

The subject of our sketch, after coming 
to Russia township, attended Oberlin Col- 



lege till he was twenty-one years old, after 
which he taught school ten years, in course 
of which time he served in the capacity of 
principal and superintendent at Conneaut, 
Ohio, and other places. He then perma- 
nently settled in Oberlin, and in 1889 
bought his present business, which has 
since increased to such an extent that he 
has had to enlarge his premises. 

On June 20, 1878, Mr. Comings was 
united in marriai^e with Emelie Royce, 
who was born in Oberlin March 27, 1856, 
a daughter of S. and Martha Rojce. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Comings two children have 
been born: Charles and Harriet. In his 
political predilections our subject is a Re- 
publican, has beeti a member of the city 
council two years, and mayor of Oberlin 
since April, 1892. He is a member of the 
Royal Arcanum. 




E. BRAMAN, county coroner for 
Lorain county, and township asses- 
sor of Elyria township, is a native 
of the county, born at Carlisle Oc- 
tober 20, 1838. 
Anson Braman, father of our subject, 
was born in ISll in Genesee county, N. 
Y. In 1822 his parents came from that 
county to Avon township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio. In 1882 Anson removed from Avon 
to Carlisle, where he followed the business 
of a farmer and nurseryman, and in 1855 
came to Elyria, same county, where he 
established the nurseries now owned l)y J. 
C. Hill. From Elyria he went to North- 
port, Mich. He was married, in 1835, in 
Carlisle, to Miss Emeline Vincent, who 
was born at Mt. Washington, Berkshire 
Co., Mass., October 10, 1818. 

R. E. Braman was reared on his father's 
farm and educated at the Elyria j)ublic 
schools. At the age when he should have 
been entering the arena of professional 
or business life, the Civil war broke out. 
and fired by the spirit of patriotism he en- 
listed, August 9, 1861, in Company I, 



662 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Eighth O. V. I., and was mustered into 
the service at Columbus, Ohio On the 
first day of his service iie was promoted 
to corporal, afterward to sergeant, and 
finally to lieutenant, his commission, how- 
ever, not being issued till July 25, 18G4. 
Our subject participated in the following 
battles and skirmishes: Hanging Rock, 
Va. ; Romney, Va. (both battles); Blues 
Gap; French Store; Blooming Gap; Cedar 
Creek; Strasburgh; Kernstown; Winches- 
ter; Cedar Creek (second battle); Wood- 
stock; Edinburgh; Mt. Jackson; Rood's 
Hill; New Market; Front Royal; Harri- 
son's Landing; Chickahominy Swamps; 
Germantown [M. these in Virginia); Mou- 
ocacy Bridge, Md.; South Mountain, Md.; 
Cliancellorsville, Va. ; Gettysburg, Pa.; 
Kilwinter, Md. After which he was 
present at the following engagements in 
Virginia: Falling Water, Culpeper Court- 
house, Robinson's River, Rappahannock 
Station, Beaieton, Auburn, Bristol Station, 
Centerville, Kelly's Ford, Robertson's 
Tavern, Mine Run, Morton's Ford, Wil- 
derness, Todd's Furnace, Po River, Spott- 
sylvania and Nortli Anna. At the last 
named battle lie received a shot through 
the thigh, which crippled him for life, and 
he remained in hospital until Augut-t 25, 
1864, when he returned home. 

In 1805 Mr. Braman married Miss 
Helen M. Nickerson, a native of Welling- 
ton, Ohio, and four children — Edith M., 
Harry E., Hattie L. and Frank R. — were 
born to them. For a short time after the 
war Mr. Braman was engaged in the coal 
business, but since 1868 he has almost 
constantly been holding local offices of 
trust. In that year he was elected town- 
ship assessor of Elyria township, an in- 
cumbency he has filled continuously since, 
with the exception of the period he was 
county sheriff — 1872 to 1876. He was 
elected county coroner in 1S81, and has 
filled the office ever since without interrup- 
tion. He has served as constable of 
Elyria township several years, and is, at 
present, deputy city marshal. His pen- 



sion for services in the war was originally 
thirty dollars per month, which was raised 
to forty-five dollars by special Act of Con- 
gress. Politically he is a stanch Repub- 
lican; 'ocially he is a member of the 
G. A. R. Post, No. 65, Elyria (in which 
he has been senior vice-commander), of 
the Royal Arcanum and Knights of Honor. 



fr^ H. ROBBINS, ex-treasurer of Lor- 
I J, ain county, is a native of same, born 
\^ September 25, 1826, fourth in the 
^^ order of birth of the nine children 
of Joseph and Mehitabel (Ilurlbut) 
Robbins, natives of Connecticut. 

The parents of subject moved to Jeffer- 
son county, N. Y., and there followed 
farming until 1825, when they came to 
Ohio and settled in the woods of La- 
Grange township, Lorain county, where 
they cleared a farm and remained till the 
father was al)0Ut seventy years old. They 
then retired into the village of La Granjfe, 
and there passed the remainder of their 
busy lives, the mother dying in 1878, at 
the age of seventy-nine years, the father 
in 1880, at the patriarchal age of ninety- 
one. He was in politics first a Democrat, 
then a Free-soiler, and lastly a Republican. 
He and his wife were members of the 
Baptist Church, in which he was a deacon 
f)-om 1840 up to the time of his death. 
His father (grandfather of subject) was a 
native of Ashfoid, Conn., a farmer by oc- 
cupation, and died in La Grange, Lorain 
county, when his grandson, G. II., was a 
boy. 

The subject proper of these lines re- 
ceived a liberal education at the common 
schools of the vicinity of his first home, 
and until he was twenty-four years old 
followed agricultural pursuits. He then 
entered mercantile business in the town of 
La Grange, and continued in same with 
encouraging success until 1880, when he 
was elected county treasurer, in which 
office he served two terms [iowT years). At 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



663 



the time of his receiving the incumbency 
lie moved into Elyria, and lias since been 
one of its most prominent and respected 
citizens. Since 1850 he has l)een u zeal- 
ous Republican, prior to which he was a 
Democrat. 

In 1853 Mr. Robbins was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary F. Perkins, who 
has borne him two children, Louise L. 
and Hettie J. Mary F. Perkins was born 
February 12, 1828, at Burlington, Otsego 
Co., N. Y., and is the eldest daughter and 
second child in the family of eight chil- 
dren — four sons and four daughters — born 
to Thomas and Lucy (Fitch) Perkins, who 
were also natives of the same place. Her 
early years were spent in Virgil, Cortland 
Co., N. Y., and in 1849 she removed with 
her parents to Grafton, Ohio. For several 
years previous to her marriage she was 
engaged in teaching, in which profession 
she was very successful. Tlionias Perkins 
was a descendant of John Perkins, one of 
two brothers who migrated from England 
to Boston about the year 1700. 



1^ 
born 



IfffENRY E. MUSSEY, a prominent 
I ^ business man of Elyria, and a Icad- 
I 11 ing financier of Ohio, commands 
•fj more than a passing notice in the 

pages of this volume. He was 
August 18, 1818, in Washington 
county, N. Y., where he passed his early 
fcliool days. 

Reuben Mussey, father of our subject, 
was a native of New Hampshire, born in 
L)over, October 14, 1785. He studied 
law, and was admitted to the bar at Albany, 
A'. Y., in 181S, and practiced his profes- 
sion at Sandy Hill, N. Y., in partnership 
part of the time with Judge Skinner, also 
law partner with V,. F. Butler, of New 
York, and part of the time with Hon. Silas 
Wright, subsequently U. S. Senator in 
New York State. In 1825 he came to 
Elyria, his family Jbllowing August 10, 



1820, and here he remained, devoting him- 
self chiefly to the practice of his profession, 
teaching school in the county, and in other 
occupations, including that of justice of 
the peace, until the fall of 1837, when he 
removed with all his family (excepting his 
son, Henry E.), to Rockford, III., where 
he continued in the practice of the law 
until his death, which occurred October 
14, 1843. 

Henry E. Mussey completed his educa- 
tion in Elyria under the preceptorship of 
Rev. John Monteith, and at the age of 
fourteen commenced the battle of life with 
no capital save energy, willing heart and 
hands, and sound judgment. He takes 
pride in relating how he chopped cord 
wood in Elyria at eighteen and three- 
quarter cents and twenty cents. Choosinu; 
the arena of mercantile trade, he became 
clerk for Kendall & Parsons, where close 
application to business, steadiness and in- 
tegrity soon brought him advancement till 
we lind him in course of time senior partner 
of Mussey & Fuller, which subsequently 
became H. E. Mussey & Co., and he claims 
that the secret of the unbounded success the 
firm met with was the strictly cash basis 
upon which they operated — buying for 
cash and selling for cash. In 1842 Air. 
Mussey went west and took up a large 
amount of land in Minnesota. He was in 
Chicago when land there that is now worth 
millions could have been bought for a 
mere song; but from his experience he 
avers that money loaned at six per cent 
per annum is a better and safer invest- 
ment than average real-estate investments. 
During tiie " forties" he made more than 
one trip to ]\Iichigan and elsewhere, carry- 
ing with him different bank currencies, and 
making exchanges at various places, sell- 
ing at a discount for gold and trading cur- 
rency for currency, in order to get Ohio 
money or gold. In 1857 he suld out his 
mercantile business to Baldwin, Laundou 
& Nelson, and engaged in lake shipping, 
becoming, from tliat time, interested also 
in banking and real estate. 



664 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



In 1843 Mr. Mussey was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Caroline M. Kendall, of 
Siiffield, Conn., and live children were born 
to them — three sons and two daughters — 
Henry, who died at the age of eighteen 
months; and Eugene K., Reno F., Caro- 
line E. and Flora B., all living at the pres- 
ent time. A stanch Democrat, Mr. Mus- 
sey has at all times been loyal to his party 
and country, but has never aspired to of- 
tice, nor has he ever taken active jjart in 
political contests. For thirty continuous 
years he has l>een a member of the school 
board of Elyria, for twenty-four its treas- 
urer, and during many years its president. 
He is vice-president of the National Bank 
of Elyria, and a director of the Cleveland 
National Bank of Cleveland, both of which 
institutions he assisted in organizing; is 
president of the Mussey Stone Company, 
one of the largest stone interests in Ohio; 
is largely interested in the Cambridge 
Consolidated Coal Company; besides in 
many other enterprises — linancial and oth- 
erwise — and has taken pride and pleasure 
in contributing liberally of his time and 
means to whatever tended to the pros- 
]ierity and welfare of the community at 
large. 

Mr. Mussey is possessed of a most re- 
tentive memory, recalling with wonderful 
accuracy the details of incidents which oc- 
curred within his own view during his 
long life; and he believes that memory is 
the divinest attribute of man, permitting 
him to live over again the liappy days of 
his past life. He has in his possession a 
budget of souvenirs illustrative in a meas- 
ure of the rapid strides this country has 
made during the past few decades — such 
as letters written in the "thirties" before 
envelopes came into use, and the postage 
was thirty-seven and one-half cents per 
half ounce between Elyria and Indiana. 
He saw the day when the mail for Elyria 
was brought on horseback in a single bag 
thi'ee times a week, and has witnessed all the 
improvements since, from the daily stage to 
the present age of steam, telegraph and 



telephone, with postage gradually reduced 
to two cents per ounce to any part of the 
United States, and the single mail bag of 
thi-ee times a week developed into many 
such — pouring their contents, correspond- 
ence from all jjarts of tiie civilized world 
— several times a day in every day of the 
year. He has also been a witness to great 
political changes in the nation, and one of 
the greatest improvements that he marks 
was the transformation of a State currency 
to a National one. Mr. Mussey has seen 
dark periods of panics and financial de- 
pression, but by keen foresight and care- 
ful management he always succeeded in 
steering his affairs clear of shoals and the 
impetiding vortex. During the war of the 
Rebellion, he was true to his colors, grave 
much of his time and means toward the 
defense of the Union, and was a member 
of the local military committee. In re- 
ligious connection his family are members 
of the Baptist Church, of which he has 
ever been a liberal supporter. Socially he 
has always been liberal, frank and genial, 
in business never else than scrupulously 
honorable and honest. 



[[ J M. PARKER, A. M., superin- 

r!^ tendeut of public schools, Elyria, is 

I 1| a native of Licking county, Ohio, 

■JJ born in December, 1835, a son of 

John and Persis (Follett) Parker, 

natives of Franklin county, Vt. They 

come of old Puritan stock, and the tirst of 

the family in Ohio came about the year 

1835. 

His grandfatiier was a soldier of the 
Revolution, and an officer in the war of 
1812. One of iiis great-grandfathers was 
killed in the Revolution, and another was 
an officer throughout that war, and judge 
of the first Supreme Court of Vermont. 

Our subject received a liberal education 
at the common schools of the neighlior- 
hood of his birthplace, and at Marietta 
College, Marietta, Ohio, from wliich insti- 





'.^. 




^^^^^, 



LORAIN CaUNTY, OHIO. 



667 



tution lie graduated in 1859. He entered 
upon tlie profession of teacliing at the 
Granville Male Academy, of which he was 
principal for one year. He served two 
years as princij)al of the Second Ward 
Schools in Zaiiesville, Ohio, under the 
superintendency of Gen. M. D. Leggett. 
He resigned this position to accent the 
snperintendency of the Elyria I*ublic 
Schools, from which work he was called 
two years later, 1864, to take charge of 
the Mansfield Public Schools, which posi- 
tion he held till 1873, when he resigned 
to return to tiie Public Schools of Elyria, 
where he still remains. Mr. Parker is a 
member of the National and the Ohio 
State Educational Associations, and is a 
regular attendant at their meetings; he has 
served on various cotnmittees thereof, and 
as president of the Ohio Association; he 
was a member of the State examining 
board three years, having received his ap- 
pointment from CoL D. F. DeWolf. 
While a resident of Kichland county, 
Ohio, he was a member of the board of 
county examiners, and since coming to 
Lorain has been a member of the board of 
examiners of that county, some twenty 
years. At a convention of the Knights of 
the Maccabees of Ohio, held at Lakeside, 
Ohio, in July, 1892, Mr. Parker was 
elected Great Commander for the State. 
At the close of the year he was reelected 
to the same responsible position. 




)ILLIAM HELDMYER, promi- 
nent in the commercial circles of 
Elyria, and one of the most ex- 
- tensive hardware merchants in 
Lorain county, is a native of the Buckeye 
State, born in Medina county April 13, 
1850. lie is a son of Jacob and Julia 
Heldmyer, natives of Wittenberg, Ger- 
many, who came to America in 1848, set- 
tling in Medina county, Ohio. The father, 
who was first a harness maker and later a 
farmer by occupation, died early in life; 
the mother is yet living in Elyria. 

36 



William Heldmyer at about the age of 
fourteen years left home and worked in 
various cities throughout the country, 
finally, in 1867, locating in Elyria, where 
he first found employment on the L. S. & 
M. S. Railroad, but it was not until 1880 
that his cai-eer of success commenced. At 
that time he opened out, in conjunction 
with Mr. Wright and Mr. Semple, a hard- 
ware store in Elyria, under the firm name 
of Heldmyer, Wright & Semple, and three 
years later he bought out the entire con- 
cern, carrying same on for some three 
years longer as sole proprietor. He then 
received into partnership Mr. John Krantz, 
and for the past several years the prosper- 
ity of the firm has become as a proverb in 
the community, while others have not suc- 
ceeded so well. William Heldmyer & Co. 
bought out the entire stock of H. Brush 
& Co. (at the time of their failure in 
Elyria), consisting of hai'dware, imple- 
ments, etc. About this time the firm of 
W. H. Semple & Son also failed in busi- 
ness, and our subject purchased their stock 
of stoves, etc. The firm also bought out 
the stock of W. E. Brooks, one of the 
largest implement dealers in northern 
Ohio, and with this large stock of goods — ■ 
the practical consolidation of four separate 
businesses — William Heldmyer & Co. pre- 
sented themselves to the public as the 
largest general hardware dealers in Lorain 
county. In addition to the articles already 
enumerated, they include in their stock 
agricultural implements of all kinds, farm 
vehicles, buggies, wagons, etc., as well as 
hardware of every description, seeds, phos- 
phates, etc. The building they occupy, 
and which they own, is 50 x 165 feet, three 
floors of which they use, besides a ware- 
house filled with goods. Mr. Heldmyer 
is a stockholder in the Savings Deposit 
Bank Co., of Elyria, in the Lake Erie 
Electric Light Company at Lorain, and in 
the steamship "Veca." In politics he is 
a Republican, and has been a member of 
the city council for four years. lie is a 
representative self-made man, all that he 



608 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



lias made being due entirely to liis own 
indomitable perseverance and irrepressible 
energy. 

In 1874 Mr. Heldmyer was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Beeee,of Elyria, 
by wliich union there are four children: 
Jiorence, Alice, Leona and Harry, all 
living. In the spring of 1893 Mr. Held- 
myer purchased the "Metropolitan Hotel" 
of Elyria, and August 1, same year, 
bought a one-third interest in the "And- 
wnr Hotel," an elegant hostelry costing 
ninety thousand dollars. His home is sit- 
uated at Middle avenue and Fourth street. 



H 



EMAN E. STARE, who for the 
past sixty years, or nearly so, has 
been a resident of Pentield town- 
ship, is a son of Orrin Starr, 
a representative pioneer 



who was 
citizen of same. 

Orrin Starr was born October 30, 1803, 
in Delaware county, N. Y., a son of Elea- 
zer and Rebecca (Olapp) Starr, old settlers 
of that county, where he passed his early 
years on the home farm. He received his 
litei'arv training in the common schools of 
his native county, but when seven years 
old he was left tatherless, and the duties 
of assisting in the support of the family 
and his widowed mother devolved upon 
him. In 1834 he disposed of his interest 
in the family estate, and migrating to Lo- 
rain county, Ohio, settled on a farm a mile 
and a half northeast of Penfield Center, at 
which time the present territory of Pen- 
field township contained but two frame 
dwellings. On September 12, 1825, he 
had married Miss Abigail, daughter of 
Ileman pnd Lucinda Hickok, of Schoharie 
county, N. Y., and they had passed a happy 
wedded life of over fifty-six years, when, 
on April 30, 1882, he was called from 
earth: he was buried in Penfield cemetery. 
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Starr 
has resided on the home farm with her son 



Clapp R., who now owns the place. Mr. 
and Mrs. Starr were the parents of eleven 
children, viz.: Melinda (deceased), Min- 
erva and Maria (twins), Heman E. (our 
suliject), Elizabeth (who died in Kansas), 
Alonzo B. (who died at Mount Vernon, 
Ky., of disease contracted in the army), 
Hiram H., Emma L. (deceased), Edna, 
Clapp R., and Marian A. (deceased). In 
politics he was originally an Old-line 
AVhig, later a Republican, and was elected 
justice of the peace in his township, but 
resigned after serving a year, feeling that 
his personal affairs required his exclusive 
attention ; he was also elected to other town- 
ship offices. He and his wife were botli 
members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, the latter having joined it in her 
youth. He was a very successful man, 
and at the time of his death owned 237^ 
acres of excellent land in the center of 
Penfield township. 

Heman E. Starr was born March 30, 
1831, at Harperstield, Delaware Co., N. 
Y., and when three and a half years old 
was brought by his parents to Penfield 
township. He received his education in 
the district schools of the neighborhood of 
his boyhood home, then held in old log 
houses, his first teacher being Miss Mary 
Hayes, but being the eldest son he was 
unable to avail himself of many advanta- 
ges. He was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits, which he followed on the home farm 
until the age of twenty-one, when he took 
uphishomewithan uncle, Talcott Starr; but- 
after residing with him only thirteen days 
he was taken ill, and he did not recover 
for a year. On November 13, 1852, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Amelia 
M. Gaylord, who was born May 12, 1833, 
in Harpersfield, N. Y., daughter of Milton 
and Hannah (Eells) Gaylord, who came to 
Penfield township in 1836, and later set- 
tled in Wellington township. The cere- 
mony was performed by Rev. William 
Runnals, a Methodist Episcopal minister. 
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Starr 
resided for a short time with her father in 



LOEAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



669 



Wellintrton, and in the following spring 
settled on tlieir present farm, three-qnar- 
ters of a mile south of the center of Pen- 
field township. At the time of their com- 
ing but a small portion of this place was 
cleared, and they first lived thereon in a 
lionie that cost twenty dollars, complete. 
Here he has since erected a pleasant dwel- 
ling, and now owns 130 acres of excellent 
farm land. Mr. and Mrs. Starr have had 
three children, viz.: Milton G., a farmer 
of Penfield township, who married Miss 
Ilattie Noble (daughter of Mortimer E. 
and Helen A. (Olmstead) Noble, residents 
of Swanton, ()hio), and has one child, 
Winifred L. ; Lizzie, who died young; and 
Harry E., a hardware meichant of Mc- 
Comb, Hancock Co., Oliio. Our subject 
has always followed farming, and for a 
number of 3'ears has conducted a dairy 
business in connection therewith. In his 
political preferences he is a Repul)lican, 
and has served as trustee and in various 
other township positions. He has also 
held dUices in the Congregational Church, 
of which lie and his wife are members. 




V.ILLIAM GPtAVES SHARP is a 
native of Ohio, born at Mount 
m Gilead March 14, 1859, and is 
descended from one of the oldest 
and most honored families in Maryland. 

George Sharp, grandfather of subject, 
and his son (also named George), both 
natives of Maryland, were among the first 
editors in Ohio, in which State and in 
Maryland they held honorable political 
jiositions. The grandfather died at Mount 
Gilead, and is buried there. The father of 
William G. married Miss Maliala Graves, 
who was descended from an old Connecti- 
cut family. They had but two children, 
William G. and George W., the latter of 
M'hom was the youngest senator of Michi- 
gan; he is a graduate of Elyria high school 
and Michigan University, and is now an 
attorney at law in Michigan. 



The subject of these lines received a 

liberal education, in part at the comtnon 
schools, and in part at the high^schools of 
Elyria, from which latter he graduated. 
He then took a course at the ITniversity 
of Michigati, Ann Arbor, where he grad- 
uated in the class of 18^1 in law, ami part 
of the literary course. Wlien he left col- 
lege he found himself poor in a financial 
point of view, but rich in a harvest of 
literary and legal loitj. He then made a 
trip west to Minnesota and Dakota, and 
at Fargo, in the last named State, entered 
newspaper work, becoming local editor 
and finally editor-in-chief. Returning to 
Ohio, he opened a law office in Elyria, and 
soon afterward we find him forming a 
partnership with Lester McLean in Elyria. 
In 1884 he was elected, on the Democratic 
ticket, to the office of prosecuting attorney, 
overcoming an adverse majority of more 
than 2.000, and after three years was 
nominated for State senator in his District, 
but was defeated, although he ran eon- 
siderably ahead of his ticket. In 1892 he 
was a Presidential elector for Ohio on the 
Democratic ticket, and has been chairman 
of County and Congressional District 
Committees at various times. About five 
years ago he became interested as attorney 
for certain Tennessee business corpora- 
tions, and in many other enterprises, from 
which connection with Tennessee capital- 
ists he was enabled to organize a number 
of large manufacturing concerns in the 
United States and Canada. He also vis- 
ited several South American Republics 
for the same purpose, meeting with en- 
couraging success, but was interrupted by 
the Chilean war. Mexico was also visited^ 
by him in similar interests, and with a 
like result, and he is now a director and 
stockholder in half a dozen different com- 
panies, requiring more or less attention. 
He nu^ibers among his friends and busi- 
ness associates soine of the most prominent 
capitalists in this country, both in the North 
and South, whose conKdence lie enjoys in 
the highest degree In the meantime his 



670 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



home is still in Elyria, as is also his law 
office; but so much of bis time is given to 
manufacturing enterprises that he has but 
little to spaie for clientage. While in 
regular practice he made a record equal to 
the best, being successful in a very large 
proportion of the State cases entrusted to 
him as prosecuting attoi'ney. In 1891 he 
began the erection of the W. G. Sharp 
block in Elyria, which is built of pressed 
brick, and is three stories in height, hav- 
ing the interior fitted up with hardwood, 
marble and tile. Mr. Sharp lias traveled 
extensively in nearly every country except 
the extreme Orient, and has profited much 
by his observation of men and things. 
Socially he is a member of the F. & A. 
M., I. O. O. F., K. O. T. M. and K. of P. 



FRANK W. BENNETT, president 
of the Wellington (Brick) Machine 
^ Co., of Wellington, Ohio, comes of 
stalwart English ancestry, and of 
patriotic Revolutionary stock in this 
country. 

His grandfather, a native of either Ver- 
mont or Massachusetts, served in the 
Revolution. He was a Baptist preaclier 
for a very long period, and died at the 
patriarchal age of ninety-two years in 
Wellington, Lorain Co., Ohio, where his 
wife also ended her days. They came to 
Ohio with their family some time in the 
winter of 1832-33. They had two chil- 
dren: Isaac, father of subject, and Fannie, 
who married Peter Bost, of Pentield, Lo- 
rain county. 

Isaac Bennett, father of subject, was 
born in Vermont in 1800, and came with 
his parents to Ohio when he was about 
thirty-two years of age. He taught school 
both before and after coming here, but 
chiefly gave writing lessons in Lorain 
county. In course of time he opened out a 
brick manufacturing business, which he car- 
ried on some years; also owned a sawmill, 
and made rakes and such like agricultural 



implements in a shop he built for the pur- 
pose. For seventeen years he served as 
a justice of the peace, and it is stated by 
good authority that no decision of his was 
ever overruled by higher courts. He was 
librarian of the public library at W^elling- 
ton many years, and in every public enter- 
prise showed himself in a substantial way 
to be a useful, loyal citizen. He was a 
zealous Baptist as long as there was a 
church or congregation of that denomina- 
tion in the neighborhood, but died a 
member of the Disciple Church, that event 
taking ])lace in 1886, when he was aged 
about eighty-seven years; his wife, Esther 
(Childs), passed away in 1891. They 
were the parents of six children, as fol- 
lows: Lewis, of whom special mention will 
presently be jnade; Tirzah, who married a 
Mr. Kirk; W^illiam, residing in Welling- 
ton; Charles, also in Wellington; Levi, de- 
ceased, and Frank W., subject of sketch. 

Frank W. Bennett, whose name intro- 
duces this sketch, was born December 5, 
1843, in Wellington, Lorain Co., Ohio. 
He received a liberal education at the 
common schools of the neighborhood of 
his place of birth, and at the age of nine- 
teen laid aside his Ovid and Sallust for 
the musket and sword. In 1863 he en- 
listed in Company C, Eighty-sixth O. V. 
I., six months service, and was discharged 
February 10, 1864; February 1, 1865, he 
enlisted, second time, in the One Hundred 
and Seventy- sixth O. V. I., and was honor- 
ably discharged June 8, 1865. In the 
.first company he served he was a corporal, 
and during his last enlistment he was in 
the regimental band. After the war he 
commenced the manufacture of cheese 
boxes in Wellington, Lorain county, which 
industry he conducted until purchasing an 
interest in bis present business, originally 
known as Bennett Bros. & Co., but since 
incorporated into a stock company under 
the title of the Wellington Machine Co. 
This company is extensively engaged in 
the manufacture of brick machinery, an 
industry which, under their management 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



671 



and control, has grown from small pro- 
portions to one of considerable magnitude. 
In connection with this they own the 
Quaker Brick Machine, the sale of wliich 
they have pushed in all parts of the 
United States, as well as brickyard sup- 
plies. In 18'.)0 they put up their present 
manufacturing building, whicii contains 
about half an acre of floor space, and they 
employ an average of seventy-tive men. 
In 1867 Mr. Bennett married Miss Ella 
Boys, who was born in Norfolk, Litchfield 
Co., Conn., in 1848, and came to Oliio 
with her parents in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bennett have one child — Roy C. Politi- 
cally our subject is an ardent Bepublican. 
Lewis Bennett, eldest brother of Frank 
W., is a native of Vermont, born Septem- 
ber 7, 1824, and received nearly all his 
schooling in Lorain county. Till he was 
in his twenty-third year he worked in his 
fatiier's brickyard, after which he carried 
on a similar business for his own account, 
some thirty years, in Wellington, Lorain 
county, making by hand most of the brick 
used in the erection of all the best houses 
in the town. In 1871 he built the "Park 
Hotel" in Wellington, a well known and 
popular hostelry. In 1847 he married 
Miss Fannie Lewis, a native of Medina 
county, Ohio, born in September, 1830, 
and two children have been born to them, 
both now deceased, the son at the age of two 
years, the daughter (who bad married, but 
had no children) when thirty years of age. 
Politically Mr. Bennett is a lifelong Re- 
publican, and in matters of religion is a 
member of the Disciple Church. 



T. MAYNARD, M. D., a leading 
physician of Lorain county, and a 
resident of Elyria, was born Sep- 
tember 14, 1851, in Ripley town- 
ship, Huron Co., Ohio. He is a son of 
George and Polly (Woodward) Maynard, 
natives of New York State, both of whom 
are yet living, and carrying on farming in 



Ripley township, Huron county, where 
they have resided ever since their marriage, 
in 1850. 

Our subject was reared on a farm, and 
received his elementary education in the 
comtnon schools of the Tieighborhood of 
his ])lace of birth. So hard did he study, 
and so apt was he as a student, that from 
being a scholar he became a teacher be- 
fore he was twenty-one years old, and all 
the money he earned up to that age went 
toward the support of the family. After 
that period of his life he continued teach- 
ing during winter time, and working on a 
farm in summers, saving his money in 
order to enable him to follow out the am- 
bition of his boyhood and youth — to become 
a ])hysician. In 1873 he commenced the 
study of medicine, the same year entering 
the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where he took his degree of M. D. 
in 1875. During the two succeeding years 
he was assistant physician in the North- 
western Ohio Asylum for the Insane at 
Toledo, Ohio. In the general practice of 
his profession Dr. Maynard opened out 
flrst at Middletown, Ohio, whence, in 
1878, he moved to North Amherst, in 
Lorain county, and here he practiced over 
seven years, during which time he took a 
post-graduate course at the Medical Col- 
lege, Western Reserve University, Cleve- 
land, Ohio, graduating there in 1884. In 
1885 and '86 the Doctor spent six months 
in the Polyclinic, New York, taking an- 
other post-graduate course. In 1886, on 
his return, he moved to Elyria, Ohio, and 
established his present lucrative practice. 
The winter of 1888-89 he passed in 
Europe, visiting various medical institu- 
tions in London, Paris, Berlin and Vienna, 
spending a whole year in post-graduate 
work; in addition to all of which he took 
a short course at the Homeopathic Medi- 
cal College, Chicago, in 1892, and spent 
six weeks at the Post-graduate School of 
New York, in the fall of 1893. This is an 
experience of study that few medical men 
in Ohio can boast of, and Dr. Maynard is 



672 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



justly recognized as one of the leading 
practitioners in his county, wliile at the 
same tinne he is alniobt the youngest man 
there in the profession. 

Dr. O. T. Alaynard was married, in 1877, 
to Miss Mary E. Lyman, niece of Dr. B. 
A. Wright, superintendent of the North- 
western Ohio Asylum for the Insane at 
Toledo, already mentioned. In politics he 
is a Republican, and socially is a member 
of the Royal Arcanum, the I. O. F., 
the Cuyahoga County Medical Society, the 
Society of Medical Sciences of Cleveland, 
and the Ohio State Medical Society. He 
has been an active member of the Baptist 
Church ever since he was married, having 
united with that Church at Cincinnati 
during his student life. 



CHARLES E. WILSON, county com- 
missioner of Lorain county (with 
^_^ residence in Elyria), is a native of 
same, born in Avon township, Au- 
gust 26, 1840. 

His father, William Wilson, was born 
in 1812 in Northamptonshire, England, 
whence at about the age of eighteen years 
he came to the United States, locating in 
Cleveland, Ohio, for a few years. He 
there married Miss Elvira Clisbee, and the 
young couple then (1839) moved to Avon 
township, Lorain county, settling on a 
piece of land, at that time all covered by 
the forest. He died January 19, 1860, 
aged forty-seven years, two months, nine- 
teen days, a Democrat in politics, a Bap- 
tist in religion. His father, also named 
William, came from England to this coun- 
try, and died in Avon township, Lorain 
county; he was twice married, his first 
wife <lying i!i England, his second in Avon 
township. Our subject's mother, who is 
at present living at Tabor, Iowa, aged 
seventy-three years, comes of New Eng- 
land stock. She is the mother of six chil- 
dren, of whom the following is brief men- 
tion: Charles E. is the subject of this 



sketch; Nancy is the wife of N. S. Phelps, 
of Glenwood, Iowa; Louis E. is in Atchi- 
son county. Mo.; Anna is the wife of J. 
Graves, of Tabor, Iowa; Willis S. died 
when twenty-three years old; Alice is also 
deceased. 

Charles E. Wilson, the subject proper 
of this sketch, received his elementary 
education at the common schools of Avon 
township, w'hich was supplemented with 
an attendance of one term at Oberlin Col- 
lege. In 1864 he enlisted in Company H, 
First Ohio Heavy Artillery, which served 
in eastern Tennessee. He remained in the 
army until the close of the war, and was 
in active service at the time of Lee's sur- 
render, after which he came home, and in 
the fall of the same year drove a team to 
Iowa, where he resided one year on a farm. 
Once more coming to Lorain county, he 
married Miss Elzina Lucas, and then set- 
tled on the old homestead which at that 
time he rented, but later bought. They 
lived there until 1886, when he located in 
Elyria. He is a stockholder in the Elyria 
Savings Deposit Bank Co.; has been a 
member of the boai'd of directors of the 
Lorain County Agricultural Society; he is 
affiliated with the G. A. R., and is a F. & 
A. M. He is a Republican in politics, 
and has been a member of the city council 
and of the board of education. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Wilson were born two children, 
viz. : Alice, who was married, June 8, 1S93, 
to F. E. Edwards, and lives in Medina, Ohio, 
where her husband is a leading dry-goods 
merchant, and Grace, who departed frotn 
earth at the early age of sixteen years. 
The family are members of the M. E. 
Church. 



MITH STEELE is a son of John 

and Pollie (St. John) Steele, and 

was born in Avon township, Lorain 

Co., Ohio, October 27, 1819. 

His father, a native of Delaware county, 

N. Y., where he married, was a tanner and 

currier, and harness and saddle maker. In 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



673 



1818 he came to Lorain county, settling in 
Avon townsliip, where he followed his 
trade for some years, and then, about 1826, 
removed to North Amherst. Here he 
passed from earth at the age of sixty-six 
years. The mother of our subject was 
born in Connecticut, and reared in Dela- 
ware county, N. Y.; she died in California. 
A brief record of their children is as fol- 
lows: Julia Ann married O. Williams, of 
Avon townsliip, Lorain county, and died 
there; at one time they lived in Michigan. 
John C, a farmer, lived in Avon town- 
ship, Lorain county, for a time, then in 
North Amherst, where he died; his daugh- 
ter is livinsx on his late farm. R. E. went 
from North Amherst to California, where 
he had ranches, and died very wealthy. 
Horace S., who was a carpenter and joiner 
and also a farmer, went to California, and 
lived on a ranch. Nathaniel was a resident 
of North Amherst, and died while visit- 
ing in New York State. Mary B. married 
S.J. Finney, a professor and lecturer, who 
was elected to the Assembly of California; 
she died in Pescadero, Cal. The seventh 
in order of birth is Smith, the subject of 
sketch. Emeline married Isaac Steele, and 
is reputed wealthy; they live in Pescadero, 
California. 

Smith Steele received but a limited edu- 
cation, and was reared to the arduous 
duties of farm life. In 1841 he was 
united in marriage with Miss Lydia Orms- 
by, who was born in North Amherst Janu- 
ary 27, 1822, and whose parents were 
among the first pioneers of North Am- 
herst. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Steele 
remained a short time on the farm, and 
then moved to North Amherst, where for 
six years he carried on a store, and for 
three years a hotel, at the end of which 
time they again went on the farm. In 
186n they returned to North Amherst, 
where they built a nice residence. Mr. 
Steele had twenty-two acres of prime land, 
and followed agriculture until his retire- 
ment from active life in 1878. He and 
his wife visited California three times, on 



one occasion spending a year in the "Eu- 
reka State." Mr. and Mrs. Smith Steele 
have two ciiildren living — H. N. and Eber 
— two having died — Mary, born January 
29, 1843, died at the age of two years; 
Ilattie May, born October 29, 1849, died 
October 8, 1864. H. N. was born De- 
cember 20, 1845, and was educated at 
Oberlin College; he is now cashier of the 
Savings Deposit Bank of North Amherst. 
Eber was born December 16, 1847, and 
educated at Oberlin; he is now secretary 
in the same bank as his brothei-. Politi- 
cally our subject was originally a Demo- 
crat, but is now a Republican; he and his 
wife are Spiritualists, lie is a stockholder 
in the North Amherst Bank, and in the 
Lorain Steamship Company. 

Rev. Caleb Ormsby, father of Mrs. Smith 
Steele, was born at Becket, Berkshire Co., 
Mass., August 10, 1789, and died July 31, 
1864, in North Amherst, Ohio. He re- 
ceived his education in his native town, 
and in New York State, in which latter 
he was married in 1811, to Catherine 
Stanton. In 1820 they came to Ohio and 
made a settlement in Amherst township, 
having previously bought the land on 
which the village of North Aniherst now 
stands. He was a circuit preacher in the 
M. E. Church for about forty years, riding 
raanj' miles to the various meeting houses, 
and he had a wide reputation for preaching 
funeral sermons. Besides his duties as a 
preacher, Mr. Ormsby carried on farming, 
and became wealthy. He died July 31, 
1864, a lifelong Republican. His wife 
was born in Rhode Island, and died in 
1872. Their children were as follows: 
Isaac C, born January 5, 1813, died in 
1875 (he was a sailor on the lakes); Mary 
C, married to John Williams, of Avon 
township, Lorain county, died about the 
year 1832; Caleb N., born August 27, 
1824, was a farmer, and died June 29, 
1844. 

II. N. Stkele, cashier of the Savings 
Deposit Bank, North Amherst, is a native 
of that town, born December 20, 1845, a 



674 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



son of Sinitli and Lydia (Ormsby) Steele. 
He received his education at Oberlin Col- 
lege, after whieli he commenced business 
at North Amherst. For some time he was 
in the milling business, and for about five 
years carried on agriculture. He was one 
of the organizers of the Savings Deposit 
Bank in North Amherst, and March 12, 
1891, he was appointed cashier of same. 

Mr. Steele was united in marriage, Sep- 
tember 20, 1867, with Miss Ellen Gawne, 
and four children have been born to them, 
as follows: Edgar, Franklin, Florence and 
May. Our subject is a Republican, and a 
member of the K. of P. He is a stock- 
holder in the North Amherst Furniture 
Company, and in tlie Lorain Steamship 
Company. Mr. Steele is a man of excel- 
lent business capacity, and an expert in 
financial matters. 



JOSEPH L. WHITON, Jr., a prom- 
inent farmer of Amhei'St township, is 
a worthy representative of an early 
pioneer family. His grandparents 
were Joseph L. and Amanda Whitoti, and 
the following is a brief record of their chil- 
dren: Harriet, born March 7, 1796, is 
row deceased; Amanda, born October 10, 
1797, is also deceased; Samantha, born 
August 30, 1794, came to Lorain county, 
and died December 13, 1878, in St. 
Charles, Minn.; Joseph L. is the father of 
our subject; Daniel G., born March 20, 
1801, came to Lorain county, but subse- 
quently went to Wisconsin, and died there 
March 20, 1866; Edward V.,born June 2, 
1805, came to Lorain county, and after- 
ward went to Janesville, Rock Co., Wis., 
where he became prominent in the early 
histoi-y of the county, and served as judge, 
deciding the Barstow case (he died April 
12, 1859); Eliza, born April 16, 1807, 
died June 15, 1885, at Clifton, Va.; Cath- 
erine, born March 8, 1810, died August 
14, 1836; and Agnes, born August 12, 



1813, is deceased. The father of this family 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He 
died August 16, 1828. 

Joseph L. Whiton was born July 14, 
1799, in Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass., and 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, at the age of 
twenty years, locating on land in Black 
River township. He afterward returned 
to Massachusetts, where he was married 
December 18, 1829, to Lavina Wright, a 
native of Springfield, that State, and in 
1830 they came to Amherst township, Lo- 
rain county, settling in the then wilderness, 
where they passed the remainder of their 
lives. They became the parents of three 
children, viz.: Agnes, who married Henry 
Allen, of New York, and died in Amherst 
township August 1, 1863; Catherine, wife 
of M. W. Axtell, of North Amherst, and 
Joseph L. Mr. Whiton took great interest 
in the politics of his day; he served for 
twelve years as justice of the peace; for 
seven years he was associate judge in the 
court of common pleas; he represented his 
county in the Legislature during the winter 
of 1849-50, and was always very active in 
public affairs. He died April 26, 1869,- 
his wife surviving him till April 8, 1874, 
when she too passed away. 

Joseph L. Whiton, Jr., was born March 
28, 1848, on his present farm in Amherst 
township, received his education in the 
district schools, and has always followed 
farming. On June 24, 1874, he was mar- 
ried in Amherst township to Miss Annetta 
J. Gawn, a native of Lake Breeze, Shef- 
field township, Lorain county, whose 
grandparents, John and Ann Esther 
(Quailj Gawn, were natives of the Isle of 
Man, and came to Lorain county in a very 
early day; they died in Amherst township. 
Their son, Daniel Gawn, who was also born 
in the Isle of Man, learned the trade of 
carpenter, and when a boy of sixteen came 
to Loi'ain county, Ohio. He was married, 
at Black River, to Susanna Spooner, a na- 
tive of Maine, and to their union were 
born nine children: Annetta J. (Mrs. 
Whiton), Thomas E. (living in Amherst 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



677 



townbliip), Mary E. (wife of Charles Grif- 
fin, of Amherst township), John L. (a 
resident of Lorain), Charles L. (living in 
North Amherst), James {\n North Am- 
herst), Susanna C. (^wife of Adam Schu- 
bert, of liOraiu county), Joseph L. (in 
Amiierst) and Daniel C. After his mar- 
riajje Mr. Gawn operated Lake Breeze farm, 
and in 1867 moved to Amherst township, 
where he died January 22, 1876; his widow 
is now residing in Lorain. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Whiton have been born 
five children: Joseph Edward, Curtis 
Warren, Edith Lovina, Agnes L. and 
Arthur Lucas. In politics Mr. Whiton is 
a Democrat, and has served repeatedly as 
trustee, assessor, and member of the school 
board. He conducts a general farming 
business, giving his principal attention, 
however, to stock farming, raising Short- 
horn cattle. 



El D WARD WEST, familiarly known 
as " Deacon West," is a capitalist 
I and farmer of no small prominence 

in Lorain county, and a citizen of 
unquestionable loyalty and probity, hold- 
ing many offices in the townsliip where he 
resided. 

He was born October 3, 1818, in Green- 
wich, Mass., a son of Roger West, who 
was born in October, 1787, in the same 
place, and died August 21, 1837. Roger 
West married, in 1813, Miss Cynthia 
Sears, born April 12, 1792, and died July 
12, 1840. Roger received a fair educa- 
tion in his native town, and became a good 
bookkeeper and business man. By occu- 
pation he was a miller, owning saw, card- 
ing and grist mills. In 1831 he came 
west with his family to Ohio, the first win- 
ter tarrying in Brooklyn, Cuyahoga 
county, near Cleveland; thence in March, 
1832, moving toStrongsville, same county, 
where they resided two years, and then 
came to Ridgeville, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
where for nearly four years the father fol- 
lowed farming. Here he died, and the 



family in March (1838) following pro- 
ceeded to Huntington township, where 
they made a permanent settlement, the 
mother dying there July 12, 18-10. Mr. 
and Mrs. Roger West were upright, hon- 
orable people, held in respectful remem- 
brance for their manj' virtues. Tliey were 
the parents of seven children, a record of 
whom is as follows: (1) Lyman was born 
July 3, 1814, and was twenty- four years 
old when the family settled at Huntington; 
here he was shortly afterward converted, 
and joined the Baptist Church at Hunt- 
ington, of which he was an active member 
and deacon until 1867, when he removed 
with his family to Michigan, locating on a 
farm in DeWitt township, Clinton county. 
He united by letter with the Baptist 
Church at that place, where he was made 
deacon in September, 1867, serving until 
1877, "when he removed to Lansing, same 
State, and united soon after with the Bap- 
tist Church there. He finally returned to 
his old horaein DeWitt township, Clinton 
county, as his health was poor and he 
wished to be near his son, and there he 
died, August 1, 1886. (2) Hannah was 
born Septeml)er 3, 1816, and in February, 
1834, was united in marriage to Marvin 
E. Stone, who was killed by a runaway 
horse October 14, 1879, when he was 
seventy-five years of age. He had lived 
in Strongsville for almost sixty years. 
They had nine children. Mrs. Stone died 
November 18, 1893. (3) Edward, of whom 
special niention is made farther on, is the 
subject of this sketch. (4) Turner was 
born March 5, 1821, and spent most of 
his life in Lorain county, but in his later 
years he went to Kansas to encourage 
and help his sons. lie had a fall in a 
cornfield, which proved fatal, and he 
died September 26, 1875. (5) Al- 
plieus was born June 18, 1823, and 
died August 1, 1828, when five years 
old. (6) Henry B. was born July 3, 1832, 
at Strongsville, Cuyahoga county, and 
spent three years in study at Oberlin Col- 
lege, Ohio; he was soon after chosen 



678 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



recorder of Lorain county, in which position 
he served for nine years, holding the office 
three years lonoer than any other man up 
to that time. Shortly after the expiration 
of his third term he went to Put-in-liay, 
and engaged in the hotel business, being 
the pioneer in that line there; and here he 
continued in this for fifteen years, wlien 
the "Piit-in-Eay House" was destroyed by 
lire. Some time prior to this event Mr. 
West had become interested in the "West 
House," at Sandusky, and after the fire he 
removed thither, remaining there three or 
four years, when he removed to Shelby, 
Ohio, conducting the "Junction House" at 
that place two or three years. He next 
went to Cleveland, where, as stated by the 
Cleveland press, he became one of the 
oldest and most successful liotelkeepers 
in the city, and died there July 12, 1888. 
(7) Harriet 11. was born July 3, 1834, in 
Ridgeville towtiship, Lorain county, and 
in 1859 was married to Fazelo Hubbard, 
with whom she removed to Illinois in 
1860. She embraced religion when very 
young, and was always a meek and Chris- 
tian-liku woman, and an ardent worker in 
the church, ever ready to do her Master's 
will. She died at Pana, Illinois, Novem- 
ber 11, 1870. 

Edward West, whose name opens this 
sketch, received a fair education at the 
public schools of his native place, and two 
and a half years at Oberlin College, Ohio, 
and assisted his father in his woolen mill, 
chiefly in the carding room. He was also 
employed on a faru) till 1850, when he 
commenced dealing in sheep and wool, a 
business he followed for about thirty years 
in connection with his farm, which was 
locateil in Huntington township about 
three-quarters of a mile south of the cen- 
ter. In 1881 he came to Wellington, with 
the business progress of whicli town he 
has since become intimately identified. 
Soon after the organization of the bank 
there he become one of its heaviest stock- 
holders and a director, and has been con- 
nected with same ever since. On Sep- 



tember 24, 1840, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Eineline C. Chapman, born 
August 26, 1821, in Montgomery, Hamp- 
den Co., Mass., a daughter of Abner and 
Olive (Fisher) Chapman, natives of Con- 
necticut and Massachusetts, respectively, 
and a record of whose children is as fol- 
lows: (1) Luther, born November 20, 
1798, came to Ohio on foot, settling in 
Geausa countv, where he was married 
February 19, 1830, to Anna Granger; he 
died March 30, 1886, near Troy, Ohio, 
and was a member of the M. E. Church. 
(2) Calvin, born March 24, 1800, was 
married November 5, 1823. to Eliza Van- 
Horn, whose father was a cabinet maker iu 
Boston, Mass. Calvin Chapman died June 
1, 1827. (3) Achsah, born February 10, 
1802, died January 10, 1804. (4) Olive, 
born April 22, 1804, died January 10, 
1870, in Wisconsin; she was married 
on February 4, 1822, to Julius Hatch. 
(5) Achsah, born February 1, 1806, died 
December 28, 1823. (6) Laura, born 
February 29, 1808, was married Decem- 
ber 19, 1823, to Sumner Otis; she died 
January 9, 1832. They had a son who 
was a major-general in the regular army, 
and a graduate of AVest Point, and lived 
with his grandfather, Abner Chapman. 
(7) Abner, Jr., who was born March 8, 
1810, and was married March 25, 1835, 
to Eliza A. Cone, who died February 5, 
1884. He resides in Wellington. (8) 
William, born April 80, 1812, was mar- 
ried November 19, 1835, to Rowena Bab- 
cock, who died May 3, 1885, in Hunting- 
ton, a member of the Baptist Church; he 
died December 26, 1880. (9) Eunice, 
born July 3, 1814, was married December 
7, 1840, to Lyman West; she died March 
18, 1887. (10) Hulda A., born June 19, 
1817, was married October 5, 1841, to 
Josiah C. Lang, who was a soldier in the 
Civil war, and died November 17, 1861; 
she died September 20, 1872. (11) John 
Austin, born April 7, 1819, was married 
November 6, 1844, to Isabel Lindsey; he 
died May 22, 1891. (12) Emeline' C. is 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



679 



the wife of Edward West. Mrs. Emeline 
C. West was twelve years of age when she 
came to Luraiii county, and slie attended 
school in Huntington townsliip, after 
which she taught some years. At about 
the age of nineteen she united with the 
Baptist Church, but two years after her 
marriage she became identified with the 
Congregatioualists. Politically our sub- 
ject has been a stanch Hepublicau since 
the organization of the party, and he was 
always a pronounced Abolitionist. In 
February, 1840, he united witli the Con- 
gregational Church, in which he was dea- 
con for many years. All his life he has 
been an active and zealous church worker, 
and has been liberal of liis means in the 
cause of education, in charities and in 
public improvements, giving at one time 
a thousand dollars to Oberlin College and 
smaller amounts since that time, and aliout 
a year ago he gave five hundred dollars to 
the village library of Wellington. 



q^ EORGE H. ELY, one of the leading 
r, spirits of enterprise in Eljria, and 
I one of her most prominent citizens, 
^ is a native of that beautiful town, 
born November 15, 1844, a son of 
Heman and Mary H. (Monteith) Ely. 

After attending the common schools of 
the place, the subject of this brief notice 
entered Yale Ccdlege, from which he 
graduated in the class of 1865. On his 
return from college he became a member 
of the firm of Topliff & Ely, in Elyria, 
giving his entire attention to the develop- 
ment and management of that concern 
until 1888, when he sold out his interest. 
At present he is connected with several 
prominent businesses in Elyria, most of 
which owe their origin to his enterprise 
and forethought. In the fall of 1893 lie 
was elected senator to represent the 27th 
and 2'Jth Districts in the 71st General 
Asseml)ly of Ohio. For many years ho 
has shown "reat interest in the Lorain 



County Agricultural Society, and is at 
present the president. Moreover, rather 
as a diversion from the cares of business 
than otherwise, he has for some consider- 
able time been interested in the live-stock 
industry, and he is now the owner of one 
of the best stock farms in Ohio, and of the 
far-famed "Elyria." 

On December 11, 1867, George H. Ely 
and Miss Annie Moody, daughter of Loman 
A. and Louisa (Patrick) Moody, of Chico- 
pee, Mass., were married in that town. In 
his political preferences Mr. Ely is a 
Republican. 



and 



HARLES COOLEY, superinteiulent 
of the County Infirmary, was born 
in Browuhelm township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, in 1835, a son of Moses B. 
Jane M. (Peck) Cooley, lifelong 
farmers, the latter of whom died at the 
age of seventy years. They were mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. 

Moses B. Cooley was a native of Massa- 
chusetts, born in Stockbridge in 1800, and 
in 1818 came west to Ohio, settling as a 
pioneer in Brownhelm township, Lorain 
county. He died in 1889, a Republican 
in politics, originally an Old-line Whig. 
The pioneer of tlie name in Lorain county 
was Hanson Cooley, who, in 1818, settled 
with his family in what is now Brownhelm 
townsliip. He was a millwright by trade, 
and built the old Ely mill, the first one in 
the county. 

Charles Cooley received a liberal edu- 
cation in the schools of his native town- 
ship, and at Oberlin College. He married 
Miss Anna Bacon, who died in 1865, leav- 
ing two sons — George, now in St Louis, 
Mo., and Charles. For his second wife he 
married, in 1870, Miss Addie Applel)y, 
by which union there is one child. Mrs. 
Cooley is a lady of refinement, possessed 
of superior personal attainments and busi- 
ness qualitications, and by her popularity 
has surrounded herself with hosts of 



friends. After his first 



Mr. 



680 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Cooley remained on his father's farm in 
Brovviihelm township for five years. In 
1888 he was appointed to his present posi- 
tion, since when he has been a resident of 
Elyria. In the conducting of the affairs of 
the County Intirniary he is assisted by his 
excellent wife, and they have given emi- 
nent satisfaction in every particular. In 
polities Mr. Cooley is a Republican; so- 
cially lie is a member of the F. & A. M. 
and K. of P. 



1^ 



I J[ ENRY WURST. Among tiie pre- 
'!^ eminently self-made men of Lorain 
Ij county, and prominent in the busi- 
ness circles of Elyria, is to be found 
this ojentleman, who is deserving of 
more than a passing notice in the pages of 
tliis volume. 

He is a native of Hessen-Cassel, Ger- 
many, born November 7, 1849. When he 
was about one year old, his parents emi- 
grated to America with their family, 
making their way westward to Ohio, where 
they made a settlement in the fair town of 
Elyria. When our subject was six years 
old he lost his father by death, and after 
a few years' attendance at the common 
schools, at the early age of eleven, he com- 
menced business life as a clerk in the gro- 
cery store of C. A. Parks, in Elyria. About 
1866 Mr. Parks went out of business, and 
young Wurst commenced work for Mrs. 
C. A. Ely; from there went to Mr. D. M. 
Fisher's, and from there to Baldwin, Laun- 
don & Nelson, with whom he stayed until 
they sold the grocery and crockery and 
hardware business to Harman & Obitts. 
With this tirm he remained till October 2, 
1875, in which year he and H. H. Andress 
jointly purchased the grocery and crockery 
business. After a short time, however, 
Mr. Andress retired, Mr. Wurst purchasing 
the entire concern. He remodeled the store 
and greatly extended the trade, which soon 
became one of considerable magnitude, 
bringing in profitable returns. In 1880 
he purchased the property whereon now 



I 



stands the Wurst block, but in 1885 his 
buildings were destroyed by tire. He im- 
mediately rebuilt, however, the result 
being one of the best business blocks in 
Elyria, and known as the " Wurst block," 
just mentioned. It is of brick, three 
stories in height, the main building being 
44 X 75 feet, and the rear one 18 x 70. 
Mr. Wurst continued the grocery business 
till June 15, 1892, wheti he found himself 
so deeply engaged in other interests in the 
city that, in order to give his undivided 
attention to affairs of, to him, more ira- 
ortance, he sold out his grocery. He and 
lis former partner, Mr. Andress, had pur- 
chased the " Beebe House," the leading 
hotel in Elvria, which at considerable out- 
lay they repaired and reiitted, and it now 
stands second to none in the State as a 
lirst-class hotel. Mr. Wui-st is a stock- 
holder in the Elyria Savings Bank; the 
Electric Light Plant Company of Lorain; 
the Savings and Loan Association of Elyria, 
and of the National Building and Loan As- 
sociation of Cleveland. 

On November 27, 1873, Mr. Wurst was 
united in marriage with Miss Ella Robin- 
son, of Ridgeville, Lorain Co., Ohio, she 
being of English birth, and two children 
have been born to them — Earl H. and 
Charles J., both now attending college at 
Oberlin. Politically Mr. Wurst is a Re- 
publican, and he is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias. 



rENELON B. RICE, the well-known 
director of the Oberlin Conservatory 
_^ of Music, is a native of Ohio, born 
at Greensburg, Trumbull county, in 
1841. He is the iirst son of Rev. David 
L. and Emily (Johnson) Rice, the former 
of whom was born in Trumbull county, 
Ohio, May 1, 1820, the latter in Canaan, 
Litchfield Co., Connecticut. 

The father of our subject received his 
literary education in Trumbull county, 
Ohio, and studied for the ministry in 
Geauga Seminary. The iield of his cleri- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



681 



cal labors lay in Trumbull and Ashtabula 
counties, Ohio, exceptino; twenty years in 
which he was traveling from place to place 
in the country, from New York to Iowa, 
Boliciting subscriptions or donations to- 
ward the founding of Hillsdale (Mich.) 
College, visiting ail the Freewill Baptists 
on his route, he being a preacher in the 
church of that denomination. He died in 
Trximbnll county in 1886. His father, 
David Rice, came from his native place, 
North Brooktield, Mass., to Trumbull 
county, Ohio, then a wilderness, where he 
lived seven years ere a death occurred in 
their township. He married a native of 
Brookfield, Vt., and they were members of 
the Congregational Church. Two brothers, 
one sister and quite a colony of relatives 
settled there. Enoch Rice, great-grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, was a 
farmer and mechanic, and built grist and 
saw mills. 

Fenelon B. Rice received his early edu- 
cation at Orwell Academy in Ashtabula 
county, Ohio (Prof. Tuckerman being then 
in charge, now president of New Lyme In- 
stitute), and at Hillsdale College. In 1859 
he went to Boston for the purpose of 
studying music, and in 1863 he graduated 
from the Boston School of Music. In that 
year he took charge of the musical depart- 
ment of Hillsdale (Mich.) College, where 
he continued until 1867, at which time he 
went abroad with his wife, who was her- 
self musical and becatne an accomplished 
vocalist, for the extension of their musical 
culture. His time was spent at Leipsic, 
chiefly \inder the instruction of Dr. Pap- 
peritz, Ignaz Moscheles and Louis Plaidy 
in piano, and Prof. Richter in theory. He 
there found the standard of criticism higher 
than any he had hitherto met, and set 
about mastering tiie Leipsic point of view, 
with results that were determining for his 
own taste. His teachers, also, were men 
of high moral conceptions, and their in- 
fluence fostered Prof. Rice's natural senti- 
ment in favor of high morals in company 
with hiofh art. 



On his return from Germany, in 1869, 
he began his professional work at Oberlin. 
He became associated with Prof. G. W. 
Steele, and entered into a joint arrange- 
ment to manage the Conservatory of Music 
in that place for two years, at the end of 
which time Prof. Steele withdrew, leaving 
Prof. Rice in sole charge. His connections 
at Oberlin proved congenial, both to him- 
self and tlie College. With the char- 
acteristic moral and religious sentiment of 
the place he could heartily sympathize; 
and if the average musical feeling was not 
up to his standard, at any rate there were 
\'ti\Y places where it was better, or where 
the public mind was more tractable. He 
set about his work with the Leipsic Con- 
servatory for his model of organization, 
and with an unbending devotion to the 
lofty art ideals which had won his heart. 

Prof. Rice has been director of the Ober- 
lin Conservatory of Music since 1871. In 
1880 the degree of Mus. Doc. was given 
him l)y Hillsdale College; in 1S84 the 
honorary degree of A. M., by Oberlin Col- 
lege, and he has been twice elected presi- 
dent of the Music Teachers National As- 
sociation. The Conservatory has experi- 
enced a remarkable growth since his con- 
nection with it. When he first entered 
its doors in a professional capacity he 
found the institution occupying two small 
leased rooms, and employing three teach- 
ers. To-day, mainly tlirough his indi- 
vidual energy and enterprise, Oberlin Con- 
servatory of Music stands among the very 
foremost institutions of the country, as a 
place for the study of music. The school 
occupies a tine sandstone edifice, the muni- 
ficent gift of Dr. and Mrs. Lucien 0. War- 
ner, of New York City. It was erected at 
an expense of moretiian one hundred thou- 
sand dollars, and is one of the fiiiest and 
largest structures ever built exclusively for 
the use of a school of music. It is a four- 
story building, with a frontage of 150 feet 
on North Professor street, and a depth of 
120 feet, and contains a tine concert hall, 
lecture room, orchestra room, library, 



682 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



offices, and more than eighty instruction 
and practice rooms. It is heated through- 
out, liy steam, lighted by gas and electric- 
ity and supplied with a fine passenger 
elevator, and many other modern conveni- 
ences. The three teachers of a few years 
ago have multiplied into twenty-three pro- 
fessors of unquestioned ability, who give 
instructions to more than six hundred 
students every year, all under the immedi- 
ate direction of Professor Eiee. 

In 1863 our subject was married in 
Detroit, Mich., to Miss Helen M. Libby, 
wiio was born in Portland, Me., and they 
have one child, Louis M. They are mem- 
bers of "the Second Congregational Church 
at Oberlin, of which he is a trustee. For 
the last twenty-three years he has been a 
member of the Faculty of Oberlin Col- 
lege, and for the past eight years has been 
on tlie executive board, which has largely 
to do with the finances of the College. 
Politically he is a Republican. He has 
been a director of the Oberlin Bank since 
its organization, and for the past two years 
vice-president of same. 



Iff GRACE WADSWORTH, better 
I^H known in his locality as Deacon 
I 1[ Wadsworth, senior member of tiie 
■J) firm of H. Wadsworth & Son. lum- 

ber dealers, of Wellington, is a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, born in Tyringham, 
Berkshire county. May 26. 1822. 

Etios Wadsworth, grandfather of sub- 
ject, was born in Massachusetts, and died 
in Portage county, in the woods. He had 
gone hunting one day, and not returning, 
his friends and neighbors instituted a 
fruitless search. Three weeks afterward 
a neighbor dreamed that he saw the body 
lying in a certain swamp; search was made 
at the place indicated, and the body was 
there found. 

Asa Wadsworth, son of Enos and father 
of Horace, was born in Tyringham, Mass., 
in 1794. He there married Electa Russell. 



In 1819 he brought his family to Ohio. 
This was the third family to enter Free- 
dom, Portage county, at that time a per- 
fect wilderness. Wild animals roamed un- 
disturbed in the forests, and the sound of 
howling wolves was often heard. Their 
first home was built of round green logs, 
split logs forming the floor. There was 
no chimney till the kitchen fire, built at 
the end of the house, burned an opening 
large enough to start a stone chimney. 
Four children were born to this pioneer, 
in their forest home: Calista A., Eliza- 
beth S., Emaret and Cyril. Edwin, the 
eldest, was born in Massachusetts. Em- 
aret died when three years of age; the 
others all live in Wellington. 

At this home the subject of our sketch 
spent his childhood days. The sound of 
the axe and the crash of falling trees were 
music to his ears. When but four years 
old, emulating the success of his elders, he 
wished to down one of the monarchs of the 
forest. In the absence of his fatlier he 
started for a large tree near the house, think- 
ing to astonish his mother by cutting it 
to the ground. On the way he slipped on 
the ice. In falling he cut his hand badly, 
severing one finger, thus crippling him for 
life. When he was eight years of age lie at- 
tended the first school formed in the 
township. The family lived in this home 
twelve years. In 1835 they moved to Well- 
ington, Lorain county. AVellington was 
then comparatively new, and the people 
lived, with few exceptions, in log houses. 
There were at the center two stores, two 
hotels and a l)lacksinith shop; a third 
building served the triple purpose of 
church, town-house and school-house. The 
first M. E. Church was erected and en- 
closed the year of their arrival. The 
family made a settlement on land three- 
fourths of a mile west of the center; their 
home was a log house, formerly used as a 
Methodist meeting-house. The father 
and his three sons, two of them thirteen 
and fifteen, respectively, formed the force 
necessary to clear the land and furnish the 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



683 



means of subsistence. The elder son by 
reason of ill health was for a nunnber of 
years unable to do heavy work. The 
youngest, but a child, was at this time un- 
able to assist, and the burden of the work, 
therefore, fell upon the father and the 
second son Horace. To clear the land and 
lit it for cultivation formed the task of 
those early days. At that time ready 
money Avas seldom seen. Wood at fifty cents 
a cord, cut from the farm, was exchanged 
at the store for clothing and provisions. 
This called for work with the axe early and 
late to provide for the family of seven. 

During the winter months Horace at- 
tended school, rising and doing the chores 
of the farm before daylight and swinging 
the axe till nine o'clock, then to study. 
On his return after school the same task 
was continued. This routine of work and 
study was persisted in for a number of 
years till the forest was replaced by culti- 
vated fields of wheat and corn, and he 
gained an education fitting him for his 
future work. The youngest son, Cyril, 
with increasing years became old enough 
to assist in the work, and in 1844 a new 
frame house was erected and finished suf- 
ficiently for the family to enter. The out- 
look for the family appeai-ed bright, but 
the following year, the father, after a brief 
illness, died. This left the management 
of the fMrm upon Horace, then twenty-one 
years of age. The next year the frosts 
killed the wheat and corn. With nothing 
to feed the stock it was sold at a very low 
price. With a debt of several hundred 
dollars upon them, they were still further 
burdened by the sickness of the mother, 
who became and reniained a helpless in- 
valid, cared for by the two daughters till 
her death in 1865. Hard work, however, 
cleared the farm, and good crops paid the 
debts and finished the house hitherto in- 
complete. 

At twenty-five years of age Horace, 
qualified by hard study, began teaching in 
the common schools. He taught with 
good success for ten winters, two of which 



were in the satne schoolhouse which he 
had attended as a scholar. In connection 
with this work he became a contractor and 
builder, and for a number of years was the 
leader in this line. In 1879 he started in 
the lumber business, buying a small es- 
tablishment which he enlarged, addins 
thereto a planing mill and factory which 
was afterward sold. In 1853 he married 
Sarah II. Phelps, a native of Connecticut, 
and daughter of Daniel Phelps. A mem- 
ber and worker in the Congregational 
(jhurch and Sabbath-sdiool, she was 
worthy of the love and respect of all who 
knew her. Mortimer IL, their only child, 
was born June 27, 1857, and was educated 
and graduated at the high school at Well- 
ington. He is now associated with his 
father in the lumber business. 

The subject of this sketch was origin- 
ally an Old-line AVhig, and his first vote 
was cast for Henry Clay. When sixteen 
years of age he united with the Congrega- 
tional Church. At forty-one he was chosen 
deacon. He has been an active worker in 
the Sunday-school as superintendent and 
teacher, and is a ready and active helper in 
all church work. Now, at seventy-two 
years of age, he is in good health, and is 
always interested in church work as well as 
public improvement. 



/^ 



t JJj A. POUNDS. In Lorain county, 

^'1 Ohio, was born September 17, 

-"li 1848, the subject of this brief 

sketch, who is ex-sheriff of Lorain 

county, and at the present time a 

well-known horse dealer and trainer, than 

whom there is no one in the county more 

deserving of the popularity he enjoys. 

He is a son of L. M. and Fidelia 
(Humphrey) Pounds, the former of whom, 
now living retired in Elyria, was educated 
at Dolaw^are, Ohio, and became a promi- 
nent divine in the M. E. Church. The 
mother was born in Lorain county, Ohio, 
a daughter of Orson J. and Lucina Hum- 



684 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



phrey. Their clnldreii, five in number, 
are as follows: M. A., subject of sketch; 
L. H., in real-estate business in Topeka, 
Kaiis.; T. M., engaged in banking in To- 
peka, Kans.; Amelia, wife of George Bow- 
man, residing in Elyria; and Jessie, wife 
of William Jones, of Brooklyn, New York. 

Our suliject received bis education at the 
Elyria high schools and Berea College, and 
was reared to agricultural pursuits, but 
early in life evinced a great liking for 
horses, so that he naturally drifted into 
the buying and selling of such stock. He 
resided in Eaton township, Lorain county, 
until 1886, when he was elected sheriff, 
at which time he moved to Elyria, here to 
make his future home. As sheriff he 
served the county two terms, or four years, 
acceptably, and since retiring from the in- 
cumbency he has devoted his time and at- 
tention to breeding and rearing fine road 
horses, besides training all kinds of horses 
for himself and others. His stables are 
located in Elyria. 

On November 24, 1870, Mr. Pounds 
was married to Miss Mary E. Johnson, and 
three children have been born to them, 
viz.: Mabel, Harry and Ruth. Our sub- 
ject is a member of the F. & A. M., An- 
chor Lodge No. 56, Elyria. 



fff|IRAM WOODWOKTH (deceased). 

IsH Among the leading representative 

I 1| families of Lorain county, none are 

•fj more worthy of special mention in 

this volume than the one of which 

the gentleman, whose name opens this 

sketch, was an honored member. 

Hiram Wood worth was a native of 
Madison county, N. Y., born in the town 
of Fenner February 14, 1802, a son of 
Benjamin and Sophia (Allen) Woodworth, 
both also natives of the Empire State. 
Reared on the home farm, and trained to 
the arduous duties incident all the year 
round to the pursuits of agriculture, our 
subject remained under the paternal roof 



until about a year beyond his "coming of 
age." At that time he commenced work- 
ing away from home, by the month, con- 
tinuing chiefly in that line of his choice 
for some six years, diligently pursuing his 
vocation and carefully husbanding his 
earnings. By this time he was able out 
of his savings to purchase one hundred 
acres of land in the town of Randolph, 
Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., which two years 
afterward he traded tor a hotel building in 
the town of Bristol, Ontario county, same 
State. 

In the meantime, in September, 1828, 
Mr. Woodworth was married to Caroline 
L. Wales, a daughter of Rev. Alvin and 
Polly Wales, and a native of the same 
town as her husband. In January, 1829, 
the young couple moved into the hotel just 
spoken of, which they conducted two and 
one half years, and at the end of that time 
our subject traded the hotel for 335 acres 
of land in what is now Rochester township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio, and eighty acres in what 
was then the Territory of Michigan. On 
May 22, 1832 — sixty-two years ago — Mr. 
and Mrs. Woodworth arrived in tlieir new 
forest home in Rochester township, the 
journey being made via the Erie Canal to 
Buffalo, thence Lake Erie to Cleveland, 
and from there by wagon to destination. 

From the titne of their arrival till the 
middle of September following, this 
pioneer couple lived in the most primitive 
of primitive homes, the rude hut being 
furnished with neither door, window, 
hearth, chimney, nor even a chair of any 
sort, much less any other kind of furniture. 
Nothing daunted, however, they cheer- 
fully set to work to render their home 
comfortable, Mr. Woodworth making, with 
such tools as he was posessed of, some 
stools, table, etc.; and soon tlie surround- 
ings began to take the garb of civilization 
— the monarchs of the forest disappeared 
neatli the sturdy axe of the woodman, and 
the stately trees were superseded by smil- 
ing fields of golden grain, and pasture land 
redolent with clover. The improvenaents 





l4iJUA^^n. /i^HMlivn^i^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



687 



were not only attractive in appearance, but 
also of the most substantial kind, and dur- 
able, Mr. Woodworth's maxim, in all his 
undertakings, beiiij/: "That which is worth 
doiiiij at all is worth doiiij; well." 

Having now succeeded in "■ettiui; the 
new home in good order, and in comfort- 
able condition, Mr. Woodworth embarked 
e.xtensivel}' in the live-stock business, 
which in time grew to such proportions 
with him that there was no room left for 
any com]>etitor in that line in northern 
Ohio. Most of his stock was driven to 
Brighton, Mass., where the animals were 
sold, the round trip occupying in the neigh- 
borhood of forty days. In his live-stock 
ventures Mr. Woodworth was remarkably 
successful, nor could they be otherwise 
when under his immediate control, and his 
extensive trade gave employment to a 
small army of help, scattered, in their 
various lines of duty, all over northern 
Ohio. 

After a residence of thirty years in 
Rochester township, the old homestead 
was sold, and Mr. and Mrs. Woodworth 
came into Wellington township, he having 
purchased a fertile farm, said to be the 
" premium farm " of Lorain county, which 
is now part of the town site of Wellington. 
From here after a three years' residence 
they moved into a hotel in the town of 
Wellington — now known as the " Ameri- 
can House " — which Mr. Woodworth had 
bought, and was conducted by him up to 
his death; the property is still owned by 
Mrs. AYoodworth- He passed from earth 
October 10, 1873. In his political pre- 
dilections he was a Republican, and while 
in Rochester he served as postmaster some 
six years. 

Mrs. Woodworth, though past the 
eightieth mile post on the highway of life, 
is still vigorous, both mentally and physi- 
cally. She is residing in her pleasant home 
on ]\[aygar street in the town of Welling- 
ton, and she worships at the Congrega- 
tional Church. The record of her chil- 
dren, in brief, is as follows: Roxania 

37 



(deceased) was the wife of John Braman, 
now a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; 
Rosen ia is the widow of David L. Wads- 
worth, and resides in Wellington, Ohio; 
Warren A. is in West Virginia; Roenia is 
the wife of F. M. Sheldon, of Hornells- 
ville, N. Y.; Rosetta is the wife of Stanley 
Wilcox, of Plattsburg, Missouri. 




E. BROOKS, vice-president and 
manager of the Topi iff & Ely 
Company, manufacturers of spe- 
cial carriage hardware, Eljria, is 
a native of Lorain county, Ohio, born in 
Avon, August 13, 1846. His parents 
were James, E. and Eliza (Sweet) Brooks, 
both natives of Vermont, and early settlers 
of Lorain county. The father died June 
5, 1874; the mother January 5, 1894. 

Our subject received a liberal education 
in the common schools of his native place, 
and from early youth was brought up in 
the general hardware business, in which 
he was engaged. In 1870, he removed to 
Elyria, and became interested in the agri- 
cultural implement business until 1888, 
in which year he sold out and became as- 
sociated with the Topliff & Ely Company, 
which was founded in 1806 l)y G. H. Ely 
and J. A. Topliff, and incorporated in 
1888. They began by making hubs and 
spokes, but in 1874, abandoning that line, 
they embarked in the manufacture of 
tuhnlai- bow sockets, for carriage bows, 
which industry has grown to enormous 
proportions, they being the only manu- 
facturers of this patent in the world for 
many years. They ship not only to all 
parts of the United States, but also to 
Europe, South America and Australia. In 
the manufacture of bow sockets alone, 
there are employed in the building about 
one hundred hands who turn out from 
125,000 to 150,000 sets per annum. 

On August 8, 1877, Mr. Brooks was 
united in marriage with Miss Fannie Top- 



688 



LORAIN COUNTY OHIO 



lifl', daughter of John A. and Caroline 
(Beers) Topliff, tlic former a native of 
Massachusetts, the latter of Connecticut, 
and both now living in Elyria. To this 
union were born three children, as follows: 
Harold T. (who died January 27, 1893), 
Margaretta E. and John P. The mother 
of these died December 4, 1893. Mr. 
Brooks is a member of the F. & A. M., 
K, of P. and Royal Arcanum. 



DANIEL T. BUSH, a wealthy re- 
tired farmer and a citizen of Well- 
' ington, was l)orn in Plymouth, N. 

Y., August 28, 1814. He is the 
son of Benjamin T. Bush and Elizabeth 
(Burst) Bush, and a grandson of Henry T. 
Bush. 

The father of subject was born in Al- 
bany county, N. Y., in which State he 
married Elizabeth Burst, a native of 
Dutchess county, N. Y. In 1834 the 
family came to Ohio, the journey being 
made by wagon from Canandai^ua, N. Y., 
to Rochester; by canal to Buffalo; Lake 
Erie to Cleveland, Ohio; and from there 
by wagon to Huntington township, Lorain 
county, where they settled on a farm of 
fifty acres covered with dense woods. The 
mother died in Rochester, Ohio, August 
29, 1844, aged seventy years, seven months, 
and two days. The father died near Lan- 
sing, Mich., August 28, 1855, aged 
seventy-nine years and eight months. 
They were both members of the M. E. 
Church, and in politics he was a Demo- 
crat. Children were born to this pioneer 
couple as follows: John T. ; Joseph T.; 
Martin T.; Nancy T.; Eliza T. ; Daniel 
T. (subject of this sketch); and Amy 
T. ; all were born in the State of New 
York, and all but Martin T. died 
in Michigan. Martin T. went south 
about the year 1825 or 1826, and has 
not been heard from since. The grand- 
father of subject served in the war of the 
Revolution, was taken prisoner by the 



British and conveyed to Canada, where he 
died of i>mallpox; his two eldest sons 
served during the Revolutionary war 
against foreign invasion, the younger 
entering the service of the Colonies at the 
age of fourteen years, and serving during 
the entire war. The rest of the family en- 
countered great hardships being driven 
from their home in Cherry Valley, and 
becoming eyewitnesses to the destruction 
of all their property. 

D. T. Bush received his education in the 
little red schoolhouse on Baptist Hill in 
Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y. On February 
25, 1838, he married Sophia Clark, and 
settled on a farm in the woods one mile 
south of his father's farm, where he had 
to literally hew out what is now one of the 
finest farms in Huntington township, 
which in 1871 contained 205-^ acres, hav- 
ing thereon a large and comfortable dwell- 
ing and commodious outbuildings. This 
farm was purchased in different parcels, 
covered by seven deeds, and here the fol- 
lowing nine children were born to them: 
Almond D. (died in infancy), Melissa J., 
George C, Martin L., Mary A., Edwin D., 
Charles A., John O., and Henry W. (died 
September 12, 1879, aged twenty-three 
years). Selling the farm in 1871, Mr. 
Bush moved to Wellington, Ohio, where 
he now resides in his eightieth year, en- 
joying the respect and esteem of his fel- 
low citizens, and a loving and grateful 
posterity. 



GF. LEE, the widely-known and 
popular photographer, of Elyria, 
^^ ' was born in the town of Vernon, 
Conn., August 26, 1843, a son of 
George and Ida Harris (Skillman) Lee. 

Georgo Lee was also a native of Con- 
necticut, born in the town of Vernon, in 
1806. He was reared to the woolen manu- 
facturing business, working from his 
earliest boyhood in what is known as the 
Frank Woolen Mills. His business ability 
was marked by the fact that in subsequent 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



689 



years he succeeded to the inaiiagemetit of 
these mills, and became the principal 
stockholder and proprietor of same. In 
about the year 1853 a disastrous fire de- 
strcved the plant, and, financially, Mr. Lee 
was almost ruined. Concluding, in the 
hope of recuperating his fortunes, to come 
west, he set out with sanguine expecta- 
tions, tirst locating at Utica, N. Y., where 
he was superintendent of the Globe 
Woolen Mills for about two years. He 
then made a trip still farther west, visit- 
ing different points in Illinois and else- 
where, but not finding satisfactory induce- 
ments to remain, returned eastward to 
Ohio, and made a settlement in Norwalk, 
remaining there until 1863. Removing 
in that year to Cleveland, he there engaged 
in the oil-refining; b\isiness, and lortune 
once more smiled on his enterprise and in- 
defatigable industry. But again he was 
doomed to become a victim of the devour- 
ing element, the ravages of fire once more 
confronting him on his onward march to 
wealth, his oil mills being burned to the 
ground in 1870, whereby all lie had a 
second time acquired was almost utterly 
destroyed. This second disaster was suf- 
ficient to crush the ambition of most men, 
and Mr. Lee, finding himself too far ad- 
vanced in years to commence life anew 
the third time, gathered together what he 
could from the ruins of his estate, and 
retired to Berlin Heights, in Erie county, 
where he passed the rest of his days 
in peaceful retirement, dying in 1874 
at the age of sixty-eight years. Mr. Lee 
was a lifelong practical Christian, and a 
deacon in the Congregational Church. la 
his political sympathies he, in earlier 
years, was an Old-line Henry Clay Whig, 
and in later life atiiliated witli the Repub- 
lican paity. 

Ida II. Lee, the mother of our subject, 
was born at Riverhcail, L6ug Island, N. 
Y., in July, 1812; in 1880 was married to 
George Lee; on September 7, 1893, died 
in Elyria, Ohio, at the residence of her 
son, C. F. Lee, where for some years she 



had made her home. She was a descend- 
ant of one Fanning, a native of Ireland, 
who had settled in Long Island in an early 
day. To George and Ida H. (Skiliman) 
Lee were born six children, of whom the 
subject of this sketch is the sole survivor. 

C. F. Lee received his education chiefly 
at the old seminary at Norwalk, Ohio. In 
1864 he joined the Federal army, enlisting 
in Company B, One Hundred and Si.xty- 
sixth Regiment, O. V. I., at Norwalk, 
Ohio. This regiment belonged to what 
was known as the "one hundred days 
service," and was sent to the defense of 
Washington, D. C. At the close of his 
term of enlistment Mr. Lee returned home 
and took up his i-esidence in Cleveland, 
Ohio, where he learned the art of photo- 
graphy with J. F. Ryder, and was in his. 
employ most of the time until 1876. In 
that year he established himself in his. 
present business in Elyria, where he has 
since successfully conducted the leading 
photographic establishment of the city. 

In 1868 Mr. Lee was married to Miss. 
Ella Louise Morehouse, and three children 
have been born to them, viz.: George E., 
Ida V. and Xellie M. Politically, our 
subject is a Republican; socially, he is 
past master of King Solomon's Lodge, 
F. & A. M., Elyria. Ohio, and a member 
of Marshall Chapter No. 47, R. A. M. 



'jT^j EV. JOHN KEEP was born in 
y^ Long Meadow, Mass., in 1781, 
I ^ graduated at Yale in 1802, was 
J) pastor in Blandford, Mass., and in 

Homer, N. Y., from 1805 till 1883, 
when he came to Cleveland and became 
pastor of a new church on the West Side. 
While he was at Homer he had been a 
trustee of Hamilton College and of Au- 
burn Theological Seminary, and was natur- 
ally intei-ested in any educational enter- 
prise in the neighborhood. In 1884 he 
was elected a trustee at Oberlin. and held 
the position until his death in 1870. By 



690 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



reason of his years and experience he was 
made president of the Board, and had the 
responsibility of the casting vote on the 
question of receiving colored students, in 
1835. From that day he took Oberlin on 
his heart, and never laid it off unless when 
he laid off the eaithly life. His last words 
pertained to a letter he had planned to 
write in the interest of the college. He 
traversed the land to gather means to sus- 
tain it, and crossed the ocean to save it in 
a crisis. In 1850, then seventy years of 
age, he removed to Oberlin, and from that 
time his home was here. At every meet- 
ing of the trustees he was present, and 
encouraged all by his hope and his faith. 
When others were depressed he sustained 
and bore them on by his cheerful courage, 
and thus he held on to the end of his days. 
When more than fourscore years old he 
would often come out at evening, with his 
lantern, to find some one burdened with 
responsibility and care, and cheer him up 
with a word of encouragement. His sleep 
was sweeter after such a service. He died 
in his eighty-ninth year, not from disease, 
but because life was completed. [Taken 
from "Oberlin: The Colony and The Col- 
lege." by the kind permission of the author, 
Prof. James H. Fairchild. 




J, EV. HENEY COWLES was called 
to the professorship of languages 
at Oberlin, upon the resignation of 
Mr. Waldo, and came in Septem- 
ber, 1835. He was born in Nor- 
folk, Conn., in 1803, and was tiiirty-two 
years of age when he came. 

He had graduated at Yale, and taken his 
theological course there. He completed 
the course in 1828, was ordained at Hart- 
ford the same year, and came at once to 
northern Ohio under appointment from 
the Connecticut Home Missionary Society. 
He preached in Ashtabula and Sandusky, 
and after two years, having received a call 
from the clinrch in Austinburg, he i-e- 



turned to his l)ome in Connecticut, was 
married, and commenced his work in Aus- 
tinburg. I'^rom a most successful pastorate 
of five years he came to Oberlin, and 
found himself in lull sympathy with all 
the leading objects and aims of the work; 
and from the first day until the day of his 
death — a period of forty-six years — he 
gave himself, without reserve, to these ob- 
jects. There seemed to be no thought of 
himself or his personal interests; no anx- 
iety in reference to position. His heart 
was in the work, and all he asked was a 
place to lay out his strength. In 1888 he 
took the chair of Church History in the 
seminary, and of Hebrew and Old Testa- 
ment Literature in 1840. In 1848, in 
consequence of straitened means on the 
part of the college, and the necessity of 
reducing expenses, he resigned his work 
in the seminary, and took the editorship 
of the Oberlin Ev<in(jdi8t^ a work which 
he had shared with others for some years 
preceding. From this time until the close 
of 1862 he gave his thought and heart to 
the Evan<jelist^ and made it greatly what 
it was, a treasury of religious thought and 
experience, and of practical life. The 
twenty-four volumes of the Oberlin 
Evangelist, with which Professor Cowles 
had more to do than any other man, give 
a better exhibition of Oberlin thought and 
character and workduring those years than 
any definite attempt to set them forth can 
possibly do. 

When the Evangelht was closed up 
Professor Cowles was about sixty years of 
age, and he migiit naturally feel that the 
cliief work of his life was done; and it 
would have been a satisfactory work. But 
the habit of communicating his thoughts 
to others by writing was strong upon him, 
and by what seemed a divine leading he 
entered upon the work of writing com- 
mentaries upon the Scriptures. He com- 
menced with the parts of the Old 
Testament to which he had given more 
particular attention as an instructor, and 
went on, year after year, adding volume 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



691 



to volume, devoting to it all his energies 
and all bis resources, tiirougli a period of 
seventeen j'ears. In 1881 he issued the 
last volnnie, and then felt that the Lord 
permitted him to depart in peace. His 
work was done; the result remains with 
U8 — a commentary on the entire Scrip- 
tures, full of practical wisdom and the ripe 
fruits of scholarship. He died in Septem- 
ber of the same year. The interests of the 
college through all these years filled his 
heart and hands. He was a member of 
tiie " J'rudential Committee" and a trustee, 
in constant attendance upon these duties, 
and often went out upon financial missions 
in behalf of the college. His last public 
duty was to attend the meeting of the 
trustees in 1881. [Taken from "Oberlin: 
The Colony and The College," by the 
kind permission of the author, Prof. James 
H. Fairchild. 



fr^^EV. ASA MAHAN reached Ober- 

L^" lin in May, 1835, having been 

I \^ elected to the presidency of the col- 

■JJ lege, and entered directly upon his 

duties. He was then thirty-six 

years of age, a native of Western New 

York, educated at Hamilton College and 

Andover Seminary. 

He came from the charge of the Sixth 
Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, and 
his earnest and vigorous preaching made 
at once a strong impression upon the peo- 
ple of Oberlin. He was a bold and ag- 
gressive advocate of all the Oberlin ideas 
and doctrines, and was always ready, at 
home or abroad, to eive a reason for the 
faith that was in him with earnestness and 
full conviction. He w;as an enthusiastic 
teacher in his own department, that of 
philosophy, and gave an impulse to the 
study at Oberlin which it has never lost. 
His administration of the college was, in 
general, successful, and he gave his heart 
and strength to its prosjterity without any 
reservation. An infelicity which often 
attends great strength of purpose and of 



character was sometimes suspected in him, 
namely, a greater facility in conviction 
than in conciliation. While he had many 
ardent friends, tiiere would be another 
class who were as distinctly not his 
friends. Some of his colleagues felt at 
times that his strong aegressiveness 
awakened unnecessary hostility against the 
college; and in 1850, some of his friends 
having planned a new- university at Cleve- 
land, and invited him to take tlie direction 
of it, he resigned at-Oberlin, having held 
the presidency of the college fifteen years. 
With President Mahan, Oberlin lost some- 
what of its positiveness and aggressiveness. 
The enter[)rise at Cleveland was not a 
success, and Mr. Mahan was called to a 
professorship in Adrian College, Mich., 
and at length to the presidency of the 
college. The last ten years be has spent 
in England, in abundant labors in the 
special work of promoting the "higher" 
Christian experience, and now [1883], at 
the age of eighty-three, he is preaching to 
large congregations, editing a magazine 
called Divine Life, and issuing one vol- 
ume after another, such as '• The Baptism 
of The Holy Ghost," " Out of Darkness 
into Light," and " Autobiography, Intel- 
lectual, Moral and Spiritual." While at 
Oberlin he pnblished works on " The 
Will," "Intellectual Philosophy," and 
" Moral Philosophy." Other works, since 
published, are on Logic, Spiritualism, 
ISfatural Theology, and a Criticism of the 
Conduct of the War. [Taken from "Ober- 
lin: The Colony and The College," by the 
kind permission of the author. Prof. James 
H. Fairchild. 



EV. CHARLES G. FINNEY came 



in June, 1835, about a month after 



11^ Mr. Mahan. He was then nearly 
J) forty-two years of age, with health 

somewhat broken by the exhaust- 
ing evangelistic labors of the preceding 
ten years. 



692 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



he went again in 

the same lenffth of time. 



He found a theological department of 
thirty-live stndents, and entered at once 
upon his work, as professor of systematic 
theology. His habit was to preach once 
on the Sabbath, not often twice, and the 
year following he was called to the pastor- 
ship of the church. For many years he 
gave the long winter vacation to preaching 
as an evangelist, for the most part with some 
church at the East. In 1849 he went to 
England, and spent a year and a half in 
similar labors in London and other cities 
of England and Scotland. Ten years later 
the same work for about 
^ In 1851 he was 

elected President of the college, and held 
the position until 1865, with the arrange- 
ment that he was not to give attention to 
tlie details of the position, but only to the 
more public duties. His work as an in- 
structor was not changed except that he took 
the Senior college class for some years in 
moral philosophy. In 1865 he resigned the 
presidency. l)eing then seventy-three years 
of age. He had already, in 1858, sur- 
rendered the work in systematic theology, 
retaining the pastoral theology and liis 
work as a pastor. In 1872 he laid down 
the pastoral work, but continued his pas- 
toral lectures until the year of his death, 
1875, having completed, lacking a few 
days, his eighty-third year. No brief 
mention can characterize him or set forth 
his work ; nor is it necessary. He belongs 
to the world, and not to Oberlin alone. 
His " Sermons on Important Subjects" and 
"Revival Lectures" were published before 
his coming to Oberlin. His "Lectures to 
Christians" appeared a year or more after- 
ward, and his two volumes on "Systematic 
Theology" in 1846 and 1847. These were 
numbered as volumes second and third, 
his purpose being to prepare a volume on 
" Natural Theology " to precede them. This 
volume was never written. Wiiile he was 
in England in 1850. he prepared and pub- 
lished an edition of his Theology in one 
volume, involving the substance of the 
two preceding volumes. His latest works 



were a volume on " Masonry," published in 
1869, and his "Memoirs," written by him- 
self, and published after his death. Upon 
the jtnblication of iiis Theology very 
diverse opinions were expressed in regard 
to it, according to the standpoint. 

Rev. Wm. H. Burleigh closed a notice 
of the work in the Charter Oak, Hartford, 
Conn., 1846, with the following paragraph: 
"We will venture the prediction that fifty 
years hence this volume will rank among 
the standard works on theology, and the 
name of Finney be mentioned with those 
of Edwards, Dwightand Emmons. Sooner 
than that we fear he will not be generally 
ap]ireciated. The time will come when 
Finney will have justice done to his exalted 
talents, and when the liost of his revilers 
— men not possessing, in the aggregate, 
half his mental grasp — will be lost in 
oblivion unless he should preserve their 
names from utter extinction by an inci- 
dental allusion in his works." 

Dr. Charles Hodge, in the BiMical Re- 
pository, 1847, wrote as follows: "The 
work is, therefore, in a high degree logical. 
It is as hard to read as Euclid. Nothing 
can be omitted; nothing passed over 
slightly. The unhappy reader once com- 
mitted to a perusal, is obliged to go on, 
sentence by sentence, through the long 
concatenation. There is not one resting- 
place, not one lapse into amplification 
or declamation, from the beginning to the 
close. It is like one of those spiral stair- 
cases, which lead to the top of some high 
tower, without a landing from the base to 
the summit; which, if a man has once 
ascended, he resolves never to do the like 
acain. The author begins with certain 
postulates, or what he calls first truths of 
reason, and these he traces out with singu- 
lar clearness and strength to their legiti- 
mate conclusions. We do not see that 
there is a break or a defective link in the 
whole chain. If you grant his principles, 
you have already granted his conclusions. 
.... We propose to rely on the reductlo ad 
ahsurdum, and make his doctrines the 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



refutation of his principles .... We con- 
sider this a fair refutation. If the prin- 
ciple that obligation is limited by ability, 
leads to the conclusion that moral 
character is confined to intention, and that 
again to the conclusion that when the in- 
tention is right nothing can be morally 
wrong, then the principle is false. Even 
if we could not detect its fallacy, we should 
know it could not be true." 

Dr. George Redford, of Worcester, 
England, in the preface to the London 
edition, which he edited, 1851, writes: 
"As a contribution to theological science, 
in an age when vague speculation and 
philosophical theories are bewildering all 
denominations of Christians, this work will 
be considered by all competent judges to 
be both valuable and seasonable. Upon 
several important and difficult subjects the 
author has thrown a clear and valuable 
light which will guide many a student 
through perplexities and difficulties which 
he had long sought unsuccessfully to ex- 
plain. The editor frankly confesses that 
when a student he would gladly have 
bartered half the books in his library to 
have gained a single perusal of these lec- 
tures; and he cannot refrain from express- 
ing the belief that no young student of 
theology will ever regret the purchase or 
perusal of Mr. Finney's lectures." [Taken 
from "Oberlin: The Colony and The Col- 
lege," by the kind permission of the 
author. Prof. James H. Fairchild. 



Ij ACOB BAKTH, a representative self- 
w I' made and progressive agriculturist of 
\y/ Grafton township, is a native of Ger- 
many, born November 7, 1826, in 
Wittenberg. His father, John Jacob Earth, 
was a peddler and huckster, and also owned 
a small piece of land, which his wife and 
family of ten ciiildren looked after. 

When our subject was ten years of age 
his parents hired him out as a shepherd 
boy, he receiving in compensation a few 



clothes and his board for a summer's work. 
Ill the winter season he attended school a 
short time, but home labor required his 
attention so much that but little time was 
left for his education. Up to his fifteenth 
year he had been woi'king round at various 
places, and at different kinds of work, get- 
tinj' but small wacjes. At the age of tif- 
teen he commenced to learn shoemaking, 
his three-years appi'enticeship costing him 
a premium of some twenty-five dollars, 
after which he followed his trade as a 
journeytnan for the equivalent of one 
dollar per week. He also found employ- 
ment on the public highways then being 
repaired, receiving therefor twenty cents 
per day, out of which he had to board 
himself. After he had passed his twenty- 
first birthday he joined the regular army, 
in which he served nearly six years. 

While yet in Germany he married Ro- 
sina Merika, who bore him one child, 
Jacob L., in the Fatherland. In 1853, 
leaving his little family behind, he set sail 
for America, and after a three-months' 
voyage landed at New York, whence he 
continued westward to Liverpool, Medina 
Co., Ohio, where he found himself, a 
stranger in a strange land, with a capital 
of just two cents. However, he soon 
found employment in Liverpool at his 
trade at five dollars per month, after which 
he w-orked in Litchfield, same county, two 
years. By his employers, who had con- 
fidence in him, he was trusted, and being 
honest and industrious he never lost their 
confidence. Having saved some money he 
sent for his wife and son Jacob (now fore- 
man of the Grafton Stone Sawmill) to 
come out to him, which they did, arriving 
in due course at Litchfield, from which 
place they shortly afterward removed to 
York, same State, where for nine years he 
followed his trade. At the end of that 
time they went to Abbeyville, Medina 
county, where Mr. Barth lionght a farm of 
sixty-two acres, running in debt to the 
amount of three hundred dollars, on which 
he paid six per cent, interest. For three 



694 



LOEAIN. COUNTY, OHIO. 



years tliey lived here, and then in 1866 
came to the place he now owns and lives 
on, in Grafton township, Lorain county, 
running in debt two thousand dollars, on 
which he paid ten per cent, interest. With 
the assistance of his sons he has cultivated 
and improved this property, which con- 
sists of eighty-four and a half acres (all 
paid for), equipped with good buildings, 
in the aggregate presenting the result of 
indefatigable perseverance, honesty of pur- 
pose, energy and economy, and acciirau- 
lated from the commencement of the two 
cents he had when he landed in Ohio. 

In this country ten children were born 
to him, as follows: Henry F., of Cleve- 
land, wliere he is a skilled mechanic in the 
Steel Works, making steel; Frederick, a 
molder, in llochester, N. Y.; John J., Jr., 
a farmer in Rochester, N. Y. ; Mary C, 
Mrs. Andrew Hartung, of Chicago, 111.; 
Martha L., Mrs. J. A. Weaver, of Cleve- 
land, Ohio; Catherine L., Mrs. Fred Kel- 
ler, of Liverpool, Ohio; William A., of 
Belden, Ohio, an engineer; George M., of 
Cleveland, an iron- worker; Joseph H., a 
farmer, living at home with his father; 
and Charles A., a carpenter by trade, liv- 
ing at Cleveland. Politically Mr. Barth 
is a Republican, and lie and his wife are 
inemliersof the Lutheran Chnrch at Liver- 
pool, Ohio. 



FREDRICK B. MANLEY. No 
greater pleasure can be enjoyed 
_^ by the aged than to look back on 
a life usefully spent for the good 
of others as well as themselves — a happi- 
ness that can be enjoyed in an eminent 
degree by the gentleman whose name here 
appears. 

Mr. Manley is a native of Berkshire 
county, Mass., born in the town of Otis 
March 10, 1817. He is the eldest son of 
Josiah B. and Betsey (Webster) Manley, 
also of the Bay State, who came to Ohio 
in 1821, the journey occupying forty days 



and forty nights. The father located land 
in Wellington township, Lorain county, 
and immediately entered upon the labors 
of "rolling up a log cabin," and opening 
up a new farm in the "forest primeval," 
at which and similar work he was actively 
and successfully engaged until his death, 
which occurred August 22, 1824. Of the 
noble army of pioneers he was the first to 
pass away in Wellington township, and he 
is remembered as a devoted husband, a 
kind and indulgent father and a true 
friend. While his remains were being 
consigned to their last resting place, marks 
of respect and esteem were abundantly 
shown by warm-hearted, sorrowing friends. 
His widow taught school for three succes- 
sive seasons in her log house, and two 
terms in a district schooliiouse. She died 
at the home of her son, Fredrick B., at the 
advanced age of eighty-three years. 

The subject proper of this sketch was, as 
will be seen, about four years old when iiis 
parents brought him to Lorain county, and 
he was reared among the many privations 
of pioneer life. In Wellington township 
lie attended the first school taught there, 
continuing his attendance thereat, both 
summer and winter, until he was thirteen 
years old, after whicii he availed himself 
of the winter term only, later enjoying the 
benefit of excellent select schools. He has 
followed farming for the most part all his 
life, and is well-trained in tlie calling of 
the agriculturist, occasionally engaging, 
sometimes fj^uite extensively, in the busi- 
ness of speculation in live stock. The 
three-hundred-acre farm, which by careful 
thrift and assiduous labor he has brought 
to an excellent stateof cultivation ; the com- 
modious dwelling and ample and comfort- 
able outbuildings — all combine to attest 
to the characteristic skill and sound judg- 
ment of the owner. And a true description 
of the spot would be incomplete, were a 
notable and far-famed attraction left un- 
noticed — the grand old elm — widely known 
as "Mauley's famous elm" — that graces 
tlie lawn, spared by the pioneer axe-man 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



697 



on account of its majestic appearance, its 
heiglit from root to topmost limb being at 
least a hundred feet. 

"Woodman spare that tree, 
Cut not a single bough ; 
It useti to shelter me, 
And I'll protect it now." 

On the lOtlt day of March, 1847, Fred- 
rick B. Mauley was united in marriage 
with Mi«s Mary L., eldest daughter of 
Major Judson and Lucinda Wad8worth,of 
Wellington. By this union there is one 
sou, Henry W., married, and the father of 
one child— Floyd UeWitt. Mrs. F. B. 
Manley died March 25, 1883, aged fifty- 
nine years. 

Our snliject in his political views is a 
sotind liepublican, his first vote having 
been cast for Gen. W. H. Harrison. He 
served his township as constable, one terra, 
and assessor eight consecutive years. Soci- 
ally, he lias been president of the Union 
Agricultural Society by seven successive 
reelections, faithfully and acceptably dis- 
charging the duties imposed. During 
the war of the Rebellion, he was enrolling 
officer, receiving the compliments of the 
managing board for his careftilly prepared 
and neatly-written enrollment paper, and 
he was in a marked degree energetic in 
securing men to put down the Rebellion. 

Mr. Manley is one of the oldest pioneer 
settlers in Wellington township, none now 
living antedating his arrival. During his 
long residence of over seventy-two years 
in the county, he has ever sustained a repu- 
tation for integrity and good citizenship, 
alike creditable to his judgment and char- 
acter. As one of the men who in an early 
day took part in subduing the wilderness, 
transplanting in its place the fine farms 
and beautiful homes that the present gen- 
eration enjoy in comparative ease, Mr. 
Manley is well worthy of being memorized 
in the biographical record of Lorain 
county. 

Now at tlui honored age of seventy- 
seven years, well preserved, of a command- 
ing presence, possessed of a vigorous 



mind, good practical business sagacity, 
and a reliable memory as to early events, 
he is deeply grateful that Time has dealt 
gently with him. Ofttimes he ruminates 
upon the changes that have taken place, in 
his midst, since the days of the stick 
chimney and puncheon floor, and the twang 
of the thread as the good mother faithfully 
plied her needle, by the dim light of a 
tallow candle, to ''keep the wolf from the 
door." Anon! When the "hamlet is still," 
recalling in a retrospect the marvel- 
ous work of the first settlers of Welliuir- 
ton, their memory and the goodly heritage 
al)ideth. 



CHARLES E. TUCKER, a member 
of the enterprising firm of Hart & 
^ Tucker, proprietors of lumber yard, 
planing-mill and coal yai-d, Elyria, 
is a native of Lorain county, Ohio, born 
in Carlisle township, February 11, 1860, 
a son of William H. and Clarissa (An- 
drews) Tucker, tlie latter of whom died in 
Elyria January 20, 1S7(). 

William II. Tucker was born March 21, 
182t), in Windham, Portage Co., Ohio, the 
youngest son of Jacob and Chloe Tucker. 
In boyhood he came with his parents to 
Lorain coimty, and the family made a set- 
tlement in the wooiis of what is now Eaton 
township. He received as liberal an ele- 
mentary education as the home schools of 
\\w times afforded, and by hard work and 
judicious saving was enabled afterward to 
place hitnself in a select school at Ridge- 
ville, Ohio. He then commenced teach- 
ing, an occupation he followed the long 
period of twenty-two years in various parts 
of Ohio. In 1864 he was elected recorder 
of Lorain county, a position he tilled, by 
two re-elections, for nine consecutive 
years. In the meantime he had been mak- 
ing a studv of law, and on retiring from 
the recordership was admitted to the bar 
at a sitting of the district court at Cleve- 
land, Ohio. In 1864 he came to Elyfia, 
where lie is yet residing. Mr. Tucker was 



698 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



prominent in the organization, in his 
adopted town, of the Royal Arcanum and 
of the Knights of Honor, and has tilled 
tlie Iiighest positions in both these Socie- 
ties in the State of Ohio. 

Charles E. Tucker received his primary 
education in the common schools, and 
afterward attended the high school of Ely- 
ria. In 1882 he entered the employ of 
John W. Hart, in the lumber and planing- 
mill business, and by faithful attention to 
his duties, steadiness and trustworthiness, 
soon won the confidence and goodwill of 
his employer. In 1892 he and L. J. Hart, 
son of John W. Hart, purchased the entire 
plant from the latter, and, by close appli- 
cation to business and honorable dealing, 
the young firm have succeeded in buildins; 
up a larij;e and lucrative trade, in which 
thev enjoy the utmost contidence of their 
patrons. 

Mr. Tucker was married, September 20, 
1882, to Miss Hatty E. Hart, daughter of 
John W. and Caroline (). Hart. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican, and he is a mem- 
ber of the Royal Arcanum and the F. & 
A. M. and Chapter. Young, energetic 
and thoroughly experienced, our subject 
is sj)ecially well adapted to his branch of 
the business — attending to the sales of 
lumber, coal, etc., and the outside business. 



'[r^EY. JOHN MORGAN" arrived at 
L"^ Oberlin,in company with Mr. Fin- 
I V ney, in 1835. He was then thirty- 
J) two years of age, a native of Ire- 

land, havincr been brouplit to tliis 
country at the age of ten, trained as a 
printer in eastern cities, prepared for col- 
lege at Stockbridge, Mass., and graduated 
at Williams, as valedictorian, in 1826. 

He had taken no seminary course, but 
studied theology some years in New York. 
He was an instructor in the literary or pre- 
paratory department of Lane Seminary, at 
the time of the anti-slavery excitement, 
there, and was in entire sympathy with the 



students in their withdrawal. His tirst 
appointment to Oberliu was as professor 
of mathematics, but the call which he ac- 
cepted was to the chair of the literature 
and exegesis of the New Testament. This 
work he entered upon at once, but his 
broad and thorough scholarship enabled 
him to fill many a gap, upon emergency, 
in the new college. There was not a 
study in the entire curriculum in which he 
could not give instruction, at an hour's 
warning, as successfully as if it were his 
own specialty. But the New Testament 
was his chosen field, and for this field his 
linguistic, historical and philosophical 
gifts and attainments abundantly qualified 
liim. He was no mere mechanical or 
technical interpreter, but reached at once 
the soul of the matter, where language 
and philosophy both harmonize. 

The influence of Professor Morgan in 
the enterprise was conservative in tlie best 
sense, not by reason of any inertia or im- 
mobilit}' of nature. His enthusiasm, in 
any well-considered movement, was always 
prompt, but his breadth of nature and 
thought and knowledge gave him a view 
of all sides of every question, and he 
could not hold an extreme position, or 
enjoy any extreme action. He could 
patiently tolerate the extravagances of 
others, because of his kindliness and his 
hopefulness. Probably no one among the 
many instructors who have been at Ober- 
lin has held a larger place in the hearts of 
all. For many years he was associated 
with Ml'. Finney in the pastorship of the 
church, preaching once on the Sabbath, 
and more in Mr. Finney's absence or ill 
health. At the age of seventy-eight he 
retired entirely from his work, and since 
that time has been residine with a son and 
a daughter in Cleveland. By all right he 
belongs to Oberliu, and the benediction of 
his presence in these latest years ought to 
rest upon us. He expended his interest 
and his labor upon his classes, and rarely 
felt that he was ready to commit his 
thoughts to writing. Thus far he has 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



699 



given us no books. A few valuable essays 
are all tiiat we have from him in this 
form. The " Baptism of the Holy Spirit" 
and " Acceptable Holiness " were published 
in the Oberlin Review, and an article on 
the "Atonement," in two parts, can be 
found in the Bibliotheca Sacra for 1877-8. 
[Taken from "Oberlin: The Colony and 
The College." by the kind permission of 
the author, Prof. James H. Fairchild. 



FREDERICK A. ROAVLEY. In 
the front rank of tiie galaxy of news- 
^ paper men in Lorain county stands 
this ojentieman, thoroughly repre- 
senting in propria persona, the hustling, 
enterprising and wide-awake typical Amer- 
ican journalist. 

By birth he is a Hoosier, having first 
opened his eyes to the light of day in 
Steuben county, Ind., April 17, 1860. 
His father, Martin V. Rowley, was born 
in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1836, and is 
now a prominent real-estate dealer of 
Oberlin, Lorain county. He was married 
to Miss Lydia Clarke, a native of Cale- 
donia county, Vt., also still living, and 
they had five children, as follows: Lillian, 
who died in youth; Willis A., who has a 
responsible position with the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad Company at Coshocton, 
Ohio; Frederick A., the subject of this 
sketch; Mary E., deceased when eighteen 
years old; and Kate M., attending Oberlin 
College, Ohio. Enos Rowley, paternal 
grandfather of our subject, was born in 
Montgomery connty, N. Y., of English 
ancestry, and the Clarke family also date 
back to England. 

Frederick A. Rowley, whose name in- 
troduces this sketch, received his educa- 
tion at the public schools of Huron 
county, Oiiio, and at the age of seventeen 
precipitated himself into the arena of 
journalism in the Arcadian role of "devil" 
for the Times, in Carey, Wyandot Co., 
Ohio, where he served his apprenticeship. 



From there he proceeded to Oberlin, in- 
tending to take a regular course in college, 
but after a short time turned his back — 
literally, not figurativehj — upon the col- 
lege, with his face and footsteps toward 
the town of Lorain. Here lie again took 
np newspaper work, ultimately establish- 
ing the Lorain Times, which, after con- 
ducting it successfully some si.x years, he 
sold out. He then sought employment in 
western cities, securing positions on lead- 
ing newspapers, finally halting at Kansas 
City, Mo., where he found employment on 
the local staff of the Times. While in 
that city he was elected assistant secretary 
of the Inter-State Fair Association, in 
which capacity he served during the fall 
of 1877. In that year he i-eturned to 
Ohio, and was engaged for a time as court 
reporter on the Cleveland Press, and later 
he launched into the world, for weal or for 
woe, the Herald, at Lorain. After a year 
the Herald became a semi-weekly paper, 
and is a bright and spicy sheet, clean both 
in type and in matter, newsy, trenchant and 
vigorous, and like its publisher and editor, 
uncompromisingly Republican. 



''^^ OBERT MERRIAM, the most ex- 
L»^ tensive farmer and landowner in 
11 ^ Pittsfield township, is a native of 
J) same, born January 7, 1840. His 

father, William A. Merriam, was 
born April 5, 1811, in Pittsfield township, 
Berkshire Co., Mass., and was reared to 
farm life, receiving in his youth a common- 
school education. 

In 1836 AVilliam A. Merriam married 
Miss Lucy H. Fairfield, a native of the 
same place, and in the following spring 
(^1837) the young couple migrated west- 
ward, journeying by way of canal and lake 
to Cleveland, Ohio. Their boat was the 
first to make the trip to Cleveland that 
spring, and the passengers were obliged to 
travel for eleven miles over the ice; during 
this journey the boat took tire, and they 



700 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



narrowly escaped being burned. Proceed- 
ine from Cleveland to Amherst. Lorain 
county, they remained at the latter place 
one summer, and then removed to Pitts- 
field township, same county, where he in- 
vested in 110 acres of land at seven dollars 
and lifty cents per acre. This tract was 
completely wild, with the exception of 
fourteen acres which had been chopped 
but not cleared. The dwelling was a log 
cabin, with puncheon floor and Dutch 
chimney-place, but no hearth, and here 
were born two children: Robert, and John 
F., a well-to-do retired citizen of St. Joseph, 
Mo. Here Mr. Merriam passed the re- 
mainder of his life, never journeying more 
than forty miles from home, and he never 
traveled by rail. He was a hard-working, 
industrious farmer, and was well known in 
the community in which he resided. In 
politics he was a Democrat. He passed 
from earth February 27, 1871, his widow 
on August 12, 1890, and both are buried 
in South cemetery, in Pittslield township. 
In religious faith Mrs. Merriam was a 
member of the Congregational Church. 

Robert Merriam received his education 
in the common schools and at Wellington 
Seminary, and later took a commercial 
course at Oberlin College, when S. S. 
Calkins was at the head of that depart- 
ment. He was afterward a student at 
Wellington Station, on the C. C. C. & I. 
Railroad, at the time when Noah Hamil- 
ton M-as agent for the "Big Four" Rail- 
way at that place, but, being dissatisfied 
there, returned home and followed farm- 
ing with his father. 

On June 2, 1869, he was united in mar- 
riage with Chloe M. Sheffield, who was 
born October 30, 1844, in Camden town- 
ship, Lorain county, daughter of Robert 
S. Sheffield, who was born in Schenectady, 
N. Y.; in April, 1842, he came westward 
to Pittsfield township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
where he married Delia Watkins, and fol- 
lowed farming the remainder of his life. 
Mr. Merriam is an industrious, persevering 
and enterprising man, possessing consider- 



able business ability, and has accumulated 
during his active lifetime a comfortable 
competence. Some years since he in- 
herited quite a sum of money, which he 
invested in land, and he is now the owner 
of 422 acres, being the largest farmer in 
Pittsfield township, of which he is a lead- 
ing and influential citizen. In politics he 
is a Democrat, but beyond casting his bal- 
lot takes little active interest in affairs of 
State. Mrs. Merriam is a higlilv esteemed, 
intelligent lady, well-read and an interest- 
ing conversationalist. 

Mr. and Mrs. Merriam have enjoyed 
many pleasant trips to Connecticut and 
Massachusetts, visiting the old homes of 
their parents, besides other journeyings. 
In August, 1892, they set out on a west- 
ern tour, their first stopping place being 
St. Joseph, Mo., where Mr. and Mrs. J. F. 
Merriam and daughter, and Mrs. Gray, 
Mrs. J. F. Merriain's mother, joined them 
for the remainder of the trip. From there 
the party proceeded to Denver, Colo., 
thence to Colorado Springs, stood on the 
summit of Pike's Peak, drank of the 
Manitou Springs, and visited the "Garden 
of the Gods." Thence they proceeded to 
Pueblo, where they visited the " Mineral 
Palace," and the smelting works, witness- 
ing there the transforming of crude ore 
into perfected steel rails. Salt Lake City 
was their next point, where they were for- 
tunate enough to meet a Mormon elder 
with whom they had some previous ac- 
quaintance, and he showed them many 
things of interest. From Salt Lake City 
they journeyed to other points, including 
Madera, Cal., from which town they went 
by stage (the first vehicle of the kind to 
make the trip through to the Yosemite 
Valley), seven days being occupied enroute. 
Returning to Madera, the tourists there 
took train for Los Angeles, where they 
made a stay of three days, visiting the 
ostrich farm, etc., and here for the first 
time they had a glimpse of the Pacific 
Ocean. From there they proceeded to Old 
Mexico; thence to Oakland and San Fran- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



701 



Cisco, Cal.; thence to Salem and Portland, 
Oreg. ; thence took a flying trip into the 
new State of Washington. Then turning 
homeward, they stopped off at Shoshone, 
from there staging twenty-eight miles to 
Shoshone Falls and Blue Lake. Return- 
ing to Shoshone they traveled to Denver, 
thence iioine via St. Joseph, Mo., just 
escaping the great and memorable snow- 
storm, having from tlie time they tirst left 
St. Joseph been traveling seven weeks, 
everywhere sight-seeing and visiting most 
of the accessible places of interest. 



^J 



jJl ENRY RIMBACII, furniture dealer 
'5^1 and undertaker, one of the fore- 
1| most business men of Elyria, was 
born in the city of Bnli'alo, N. Y., 
October 30, 1854. 
His parents, Henry and Catharine (Bran- 
dau) Rimbach, natives of Hessia, Germany, 
came to America in the year 1852, locating 
in Buffalo, N. Y., vrhere they were shortly 
after married, and here Mr. Rimbach fol- 
lowed his trad*, that of cabinet making, 
until late in the year 1855. when they and 
their young son, Henry, came to Elyria, 
Ohio. For a period of ten years he pur- 
sued his business in the employ of others, 
and at the expiration of this term he en- 
gaged in business on his own account, and 
this he conducted to the time of his death, 
when his son Henry succeeded to the busi- 
ness. Henry Rimbach, Sr., was born Jan- 
uary 23, 1825, and died December 20, 
1878; a man whose business career was 
successful, and whose character was with- 
out stain or blemish. Mrs. Rimbach was 
born February 7, 1833, and died Novem- 
ber 21, 1881. Their children were as fol- 
lows: Henry, whose name prefaces this 
sketch; Anna, wife of Charles Friday, of 
Elyria; Ernst C, a cigarmaker, of Elya-ia; 
George, in the l)00t and shoe business in 
Elyria; John; and Adam, an ordained min- 
ister of Cleveland, Ohio. 



Grandfather Rimbach, whose name was 
Christoplier, was a native of Germany, and 
came to America in 1854. lie was a 
gifted musician and a professor of the 
violin and clarinet. He made his home 
in Pennsylvania till the year 1808, when 
he came to Elyria, making his home with 
his son Henry, and, after the latter's death, 
with his grandson, Henry; he died at the 
ripe old age of eighty-eight years; he was 
l)orn in 1800. Although a resident of 
the United States for thirty-four years he 
never spoke English. 

We cannot well conclude this notice 
without some favorable mention of the 
eldest surviving member of this family. 
Henry Rimbach was early taught the value 
of books, and also was early made aware 
that toil and frugality were both essential 
to success. He received a good school 
training, and when respited from his 
studies he was taught to shove the plane. 
From a poor boy he has hewn out his own 
prosperity, and to-day takes easy rank 
among established and older business men 
of iiis city. Socially he is a member of 
the R. A., and a member of the Funeral 
Directors' Association, of Ohio. Politi- 
cally he is a Democrat. On May 19, 
1880, he married Miss Christina Herold, 
of Berea, Ohio, and they have two children 
in their home: Emanuel and Henry. The 
business house of Mr. Rimbach is one of 
the most substantial structures of Elyria. 



JOSEPH H. LINCOLN, deceased 
farmer of Pittsfield township, was a 
native of Peru, Bennington Co., 
Vt., born January 31, 1818. He re- 
ceived a common-school education, was 
reared to the duties of agricultural life, 
and when a young man migrated west- 
ward with his parents to Ionia county, 
Mich. On the way thither Joseph stopjx'd 
to visit a short while with his brother, S. 
W. Lincoln, who had settled on a farm in 
Pittsfield township, Lorain Co., Ohio, and 



702 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



in 1848, sliortly after the death of his 
lather, whicli occurred in Michigan, he 
came to Pittsfield township, and here re- 
sided with liis brotlier for about one year. 
On April 3, 1849, Mr. Lincoln was 
united in marriage with Hannah N. 
Plielps, a native of New Marlborough, 
Mass., who w^s born January 9, 18l9, 
youngest child of Bethuel and Levina 
(Norton) Plieips. The parents migrated 
westward, settling in Pittsfield township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio, on the same farm where 
their daughter Hannah still resides; and 
at the time of their settlement the country 
was still in its primitive state, the forests 
abounding with bears, wolves, turkeys and 
other wild animals. After marriage Mr. 
Lincoln settled on the farm of his father- 
in-law, the " Phelps Homestead," where 
he passed tiie remainder of his life, suc- 
cessfully carrying on a general farming 
and dairy business. He owned a farm in 
Ionia county, Mich., but sold it. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Lincoln were born two children: 
Louisa, who died at the age of thirty-two; 
and Andrew P., a farmer of Pittsfield 
township. The father died in February, 
1S62, and was buried in South cemetery, 
and Mrs. Lincoln has since managed the 
farm (excepting for four years when it was 
rented), displaying in this capacity consid- 
erable business ability. In politics Mr. 
Lincoln was an ardent Republican, and 
lield various positions of trust in Pittsfield 
township. 



UARTLTS GILLMOPtE is a member 
of one of the early families of Lo- 
rain county, of whicli he is a native, 
born in May, 1839, a son of Quartus 
and Elizabeth (Peid) Gillmore. The 
Gillmores are of Scotch ancestry, and early 
settlers of Massachusetts. 

The father of our subject was a native 
of Massachusetts, whence in the spring of 
1810 he set out on foot for Ohio, where 
he located land in what was then the Con- 
necticut Reserve, which land is now in 



Lorain county. In the fall of the same 
year he returned to Massachusetts, and in 
the spring of the following year once more 
came to his new settlement (this time in 
company with his father, Edmund Gill- 
more), and here passed the rest of his days 
in farming; he died in 1869, his widow in 
1876. They were both Methodists, and 
in politics he was first a Whig, then a 
Free-soiler, and, in his later years, a Re- 
publican. They reared a family of eight 
children, namely: Gen. Quincy A., a 
native of Lorain, Lorain county (after 
leaving school, and up to the age of twenty, 
he taught .school; then entered the Mili- 
tary Academy at West Point, where in 
1849 he graduated at the head of his class; 
he was well known in the Civil war, and 
his death occurred at Brooklyn, N. Y., in 
1888); Elizabeth, wife of W. Prince, of 
Cleveland; Sophia, wife of D. S. Leslie, of 
Northport, Mich.; Roxana, wife of A. B. 
Spooner, in California; Edmund, a resi- 
dent of Lorain; Alice, wife of James Con- 
nolly, of Lorain (she died in January, 
1893); Quartus, subject of this sketch; 
and Cornelius, residing in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Quartus Gillmore received a liberal edu- 
cation at the public sciiools of his native 
county, and at the age of seventeen com- 
menced sailing on the lakes, a vocation he 
followed several years, at one time as cap- 
tain of a vessel. In 1866 he gave up sea- 
faring life, find embarked in the grape- 
growing industry, continuing in this until 
1882, when he formed a partnership with 
a Mr. Stang, under the firm name of 
Stang & Gillmore, dredgers and pier 
builders. In 1888 they dissolved partner- 
ship, since when Mr. Gillmore has carried 
on the same line of business alone. 

In 1859 our subject was married, in 
Lorain, Ohio, to Miss Mary Fitzgerald, 
who was born in Michigan, but reared in 
Lorain county, Ohio, daughter of Almond 
and Mary (Root) Fitzgerald, of Massachu- 
setts, who in an early day came to Lorain 
county, where they died. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Gillmore have been born four children: 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



703 



Quartus A., iiiarriecl and residing in Cleve- 
land, Ohio; Mary Isabelle, wife of Theo- 
dore Burgess, of Lorain, who is employed 
on the C. L. & W. R. II.; Theodore Leroy, 
married and residing at Coniieaut, Ohio; 
and William, at home. Mr. Gillraore in 
his political preferences has been a Re- 
publican since his first vote was cast for 
Abraham Lincoln. Socially he is a mem- 
ber of the Knights of the Maccabees and 
Royal Arcannm. He is the owner of con- 
siderable property in Lorain. 



GYRUS IVES, for nearly sixty years 
a resident of Columbia township, 
where he now owns a magnificent 
tract of land of five hundred acres, 
divided into four farms, deserves special 
mention in this volume. 

He was born, in 1825, in Genesee (now 
Wyoming) county, N. Y., a son of Albert 
and Betsey (Russell) Ives, natives of Con- 
necticut and Vermont, respectively, who 
in 1834 came with their family to Lorain 
county, locatirig in Columbia Center, later 
moving to the southwest part of Columbia 
township, where thej hewed out for them- 
selves a new home in the solemn woods. 
Tliey were the parents of live children, to 
wit: Cyrus, our subject; Harriet Maria, 
wife of Andrew Osliorne, residing in Co- 
lumbiatownship; Ambrose, deceased; Seth, 
residing in Columbia; and Sarah Jane, 
who married Warren Bracy, and died in 
1891, in Columbia township. The parents 
were devout and zealous members of the 
Baptist Church, and the father for several 
years was sexton in his neighborhood. He 
was an ardent Democrat, and a man of 
■wide reputation for his sterling principles. 
He was called from earth in 1872, his wife 
in 1874. 

Cyrus Ives was reared iu his native 
county until ten years of age, at which 
time Ilia parents brought him to Lorain 
county, and he then attended the schools 
of Columbia township. Reared to agri- 



cultural pursuits, he has been a lifelong 
farmer, progressive and successful, and he 
and his father were the prime movers in 
establishing Columbia township. In 1849 
he was married in Elyria, Ohio, to Miss 
Prudence Stranahan, a native of Connecti- 
cut, and daughter of Joshua and Mary 
(Itlasou) Stranahan, also of that State. 
The mother died there, and the father 
afterward married, in Connecticut. Miss 
Lucy Farnham. In 1830 they came to 
Columbia township, Lorain county, and 
took up a farm. This wife died, and Mr. 
Stranahan then married, in 1854, iliss 
Jeanette Stone; he died in 1856. By his 
first marriage, only, there are surviving 
children, as follows: Sheffield J., who re- 
sides in Michigan; Sfartha Louisa, wife 
of Daniel Bigelow, of Columbia township; 
and Prudence, Mrs. Ives. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ives was born one 
child, John Cyrus, who was cut off in his 
twenty-fourth year, April 12, 1881, after 
a lingering illijess from catarrhal con- 
sumption. He was a member of the Bap- 
tist Church, was licensed to preach, and 
went to Denison University three years, 
never missing either a recitation or chapel 
service or prayer meeting in all that time. 
At his death he could read four lauauages. 
On the Sabbath he was called to his re- 
ward. Communion service was postponed 
until the follovving Sabbath, when his 
father officiated. Politically onr subject 
is a Democrat, taking a lively interest in 
the affairs of his party. He and his wife 
are members of the Ba])tist Church at 
Columbia Center, in which he has been a 
deacon forty one years, and during all that 
time he never missed attending church to 
officiate excepting one Sabbath. 



d I AMES WHIPPLE was born March 
16, 1811, in Pomfret town, Windham 
^ Co., Conn. His parents, Charles 
and Hannah Whipple, w^ere both 
natives of North Providence, R. I., born 
April 28, 1779, and November 14, 1786, 



704 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



^Wau-. ■ 



respectively. In 1807 they moved to 
Pomfret, Conn., and thence in 1S15 to 
AVestmoreland, Oneida Co., N. Y., where 
tliey passed the remainder of their lives. 
Charles Whipple died January 8. 1806, 
aged eiglity-six years; his wife, Hannah, 
had preceded him to the grave December 
6, 1863, when aged seventy-eight years. 

On Jlay 24, 1833, James Whipple came 
to Lorain county, Ohio, having previously 
purclias'jd in IJrighton one hundred acres 
of land, known as the Loomis farm; this 
farm he afterward increased to two hun- 
dred acres. On November 14, 1839, he 
was united in marriage with Slelinda 
Dunbar, who was born September 6, 1819, 
at Sandy Lake, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., 
daughter of John Dunbar, who was born 
June, 1777, at Bridgewater, Norfolk Co., 
Mass., of Scotch and English descent. lie 
resided with his parents at Bridgewater 
until sixteen years of age, when he re- 
moved with them to Grantham, Sullivan 
Co., N. H. In 1800 he was married to 
Sally Annadown, who was born Sep- 
tember 20, 1776, daughter of Joseph and 
Dorcas Annadown, ot Southbridge, Mass., 
and tliey resided at Grantham until Feb- 
ruary, 1818, when they removed to Sandy 
Lake. In 1820 they went to Ludlow, 
Windsor Co., Vt., thence, iu 1831, to 
Minerva, Essex Co., N. Y^. In the latter 
part of May, 1835, they came westward to 
Ohio, locating, in the latter part of Sep- 
tember, in Brighton, Lorain county, where 
Mr. Dunbar passed from earth January 8, 
1838, when aged sixty-one years. He 
cairied on farming on a place situated 
about three-fourths of a mile north of the 
centei- of the township. His widow passed 
away September 22, 1854, aged seventy- 
eight years. Melinda Dunbar received in 
her youth a common-school education, atid 
was sixteen years of age when she came 
with her parents to Brighton township, 
Lorain Co.. Ohio. 

To Mr. and ]\Ii's. James AVhipple were 
born four children, viz.: Jefi'erson C, 
born August 18, 1841; Anzonette, born 



February 8, 1851, died June 17, 1859, 
aged eight years, four months and nine 
days; Emma, born April 2, 1857. died 
June 12, 1859, aged two years, two months 
and ten days; and Manette C, born Oc- 
tober 31, 1861. The family homestead is 
one and a half miles from Brighton. Mr. 
Whipple was actively identiiied with the 
early religious and political questions of 
the town, taking his part in the develop- 
ment of the country'. 



DAVID L. WADSWORTH and 
FAMILY. David L. Wadsworth, 
' youngest and seventh son of Lawton 

and Nancy R. Wadsworth, was born 
in Becket, Berkshire Co., Mass., June 1, 
1825. He was a lad of fine promise — 
bright, witty and active — and grew up 
among the granite hills, la^'ing the foun- 
dation for character noted in after years for 
geniality and good fellowship. A true son 
of sturdy New England ancestry. 

On April 15, 1883, Lawton Wadsworth 
and family started from Becket on a west- 
ern journey, moving by overland route, 
with horses and covered wagons, and ar- 
rived in Wellington, Ohio, May 9, making 
the journey of about 600 miles in twenty- 
four days. David L. was then in his 
eighth vear, and the town of Wellington in 
its pioneer stage. Here, for fifty-nine 
consecutive years, he dwelt amonir her 
people, growing with her growth, strength- 
ening with her strength, utitil, step by 
step, he moved onvvard and upward, with 
the march of improvements of this busy, 
bustlinij town. During his vouthful days 
he accjuired a good common-school educa- 
tion, which was supplemented with a few 
terms at Oberlin College, preparatory to 
following the vocation of school teacher. 
For seven years he taught in district 
schools during the winter terms, establish- 
ing a good record as instructor and discip- 
linarian. 





^^-C^^.^/?^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



707 



In 1840 he commenced the study of 
medicine under Dr. llall, of Orange, Ohio, 
but acquiring a distaste for tiiis profession, 
he shortly returned to the parental home- 
stead, and gave liis attention to farming 
and stock dealing, developing a spirit of 
speculation that proved lasting, and as 
years passed brought forth its cainy:)lement 
of unlimited success. On October 22, 1850, 
D. L. Wadsworth was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Rusenia C. Woodwortli, 
of Rochester, Lorain county, a daugh- 
ter of Hiram and Caroline L. (Wales) 
Woodwortli, born November 5, 1831, in 
Bristol, N. Y., and who came with her 
parents to Rochester in 1832, where they 
settled for a term of years. Three children 
were the fruits of this marriage, viz.: 
Kitty May, born May 20, 1856, and died 
April 6, 1858 (^he was a beautiful child, 
sweet and lovable, and died greatly 
lamented); Georgie M., born September 
25, 1861, and Leon H., born October 13, 
1863. In 1866 the present family resi- 
dence, situate on North Main street, was 
completed and occupied. In 1868 Mr. 
Wadsworth purchased a planing mill, and 
embarked in the manufacture of doors, 
sash and blinds, dealing largely in lumber, 
shingles, lath, etc. Afterward other in- 
dustries were added, to wit: a cheese and 
butter- box factory; and later on he estab- 
lished a lumber yard and planing-mill in 
Greenwich, Ohio,givingemployment to up- 
ward of seventy-five workmen. He was a 
prominent dealer in real estate, buying 
farms, luiildinghonsesabouttown fordwell- 
ings and other purposes, a hundred or more, 
adding much to the general growth and 
prosperity of the village wherein he dwelt. 

On October 22, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. 
Wadsworth celebrated their twenty-fifth 
wedding anniversary in a right royal 
manner, witl\ some 300 guests in attend- 
ance, who presented many elegant silver 
gifts in honor of the occasion. It was a 
fete noted for its social and enjoyable 
features, and ever remembered with pleas- 
ure by those who participated therein. 

38 



Mr. Wadsworth's political faith dated 
from the famous " Rescue Case " of 1858, 
after which time he was a Democrat. In 
1861 he became an ardent, zealous and 
enthusiastic War Democrat. Ho called 
the first meeting for the purpose of secur- 
ing volunteers, and his cry of: " Boys, 
this means business," was very like a 
clarion note, inciting men to do their 
duty, and to do it well. He gave gener- 
ously of his time and money to further the 
cause of loyalty to the Union, and was ever 
a true and firm friend to the "boys in 
blue." Although the district in which 
Mr. AVadsworth lived has always been Re- 
publican, yet he received many political 
honors. On April 1,. 1878, he was ap- 
pointed, by Gov. Bishop, trustee of the 
Cleveland Insane Asylum, holding this 
position five years. Gov. Iloadley ap- 
pointed him trustee of the State Institu- 
tion for the Blind, and this position was 
held during the remainder of that gov- 
ernor's term of oflice, also the entire first 
term of Gov. Foraker, a Republican offi- 
cial. In 1875 he was nominated to fill 
the office of State treasurer, and was de- 
feated by only two votes; in 1888 he was 
nominated for a representative to Congress, 
and succeeded in reducing the Republican 
majority in his own county over four 
hundred. In 1890 he was ottered the 
same nomination, but declined the honor. 
Although not a member of any church, 
his public spirit led him to contribute 
largely to the building of churches with- 
out regard to color or creed. In Free 
Masonry he attained the thirty-second 
degree. 

Mr. Wadsworth gave his children, 
Georgie M. and Leon II., every facility 
for educational advantage. After this 
years' attendance in the Union schools of 
Wellington, Georgie was given one year 
of schooling in Oberlin, and two years in 
Miss Mittleberger's Select School for 
young ladies, in Cleveland. Leon H. 
graduated in the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Law- 
School in 1883. On October 14, 1885, he 



708 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



married Miss Mary E., only daughter of 
Capt. William and Sophia Trinter, of 
Vermillion, Ohio. Tlie wedding was cele- 
brated with all due honors at the home of 
the bride's parents, and wedding gifts 
were numerous and valuable. On Octo- 
ber 22, 1885, on tlie thirty-lifth anniver- 
sary of Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Wadsworth's 
wedding, their daughter Georgie M. was 
united in marriage with Mr. D. B. Ord- 
way, of Hornellsville, N. Y. A reception 
was also tendered Mr. and Mrs. Leon H. 
Wadsworth at the same time and place, and 
once again the elegant home of Mr. and 
Mrs. D. L. Wadsworth was tilled with 
many guests to celebrate this triple event 
in the history of the family. The gener- 
ous collection of rare flowers used for dec- 
orations; the elegant home furnishings; 
the rich costumes, as seen under gaslight, 
made a charming picture, worthy of being 
perpetuated on canvas. 

Previous to the marriage of the chil- 
dren homes had been prepared and fur- 
nished, ready for occupancy. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ordway's home was located in Hor- 
nellsville, N. Y., while that of Mr. and Mrs. 
Leon H. Wadsworth was near the paternal 
homestead, and he was given an interest 
in his father's lumber business. In March, 
1886, Mr. and Mrs. Ordway returned to 
Wellington, taking up a residence in the 
house previously occupied by Mr. and 
Mrs. Leon H., the latter moving to Green- 
wich, Ohio, and taking charge of the lum- 
ber business, previously establit^hed at 
that place by his father. Mr. Ordway 
was given a position in the lumber busi- 
ness in Wellington similar to that of Leon 
H. On October 25, 1886, a son was born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Leon H. Wadsworth, and 
was christened William Luther, in honor 
of each grandfather. On November 29, 
1886, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. D. 
B. Ordway, and christened James Wads- 
worth Ordway. 

In 1890 D. L. Wadsworth received an 
appointment from Gov. Campbell as a 
member of the World's Fair Board from 



Ohio. He was a most active and tireless 
worker, and from overexertion in this cause 
was attributed the fatal illness that cut 
shoit the thread of life in so summary a 
manner. Mr. Wadsworth died at his home 
on the evening of October 7, 1892, of heart 
failure, at the age of sixty-seven years. 
His illness was only of a few hours' dura- 
tion. Dr. E. G. Rust, the family physi- 
cian, was in attendance, and his family all 
present. The funeral service was con- 
ducted at his late home, Tuesday, 2 o'clock 
P. M., October 11, by Rev. Wi'lliam Bar- 
ton, pastor of the Congregational Church, 
assisted by Jacob W. Vanderwerf, emi- 
nent commander of the Order of Knights 
Templar, Oriental Commandery of Cleve- 
land, Ohio, of which Order Mr. Wads- 
worth had been a member for twenty 
years. The jjerfection ring presentation 
was conducted by Prelates Ills. Charles A. 
Woodward and Brenton D. Babcock; music 
was rendered by a Knights Templar quar- 
tet, the ceremonies being all most solemn 
and impressive. Mr. Wadsworth's remains 
were dressed in the Knights Templar re- 
galia, as were the tifty or more Knights in 
attendance. The casket and rooms were 
adorned with choice flower pieces, gifts 
from the various Orders to which the de- 
ceased belonged, also from relatives and 
friends, and their honied perfume made 
the air fragrant with sweetness. The day 
was most divinely fair, each shrub and tree 
had put on its most attractive colors, and 
the rich, mellow sunshine, softened by 
cooling breezes, baptized Mother Earth 
with a glory quite indescribable. All the 
principal business houses and shops in 
town were closed during the funeral obse- 
quies, and the attendance was very large. 
The roomy house and extensive grounds 
were tilled to overflowing. No greater 
trilmte of respect was ever paid a deceased 
citizen of Wellington, than was freely 
given on this occasion, by not only the 
citizens of the town, but by all surround- 
ing towns, whence came many people to 
pay their last respects and to extend their 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



709 



sympathy to the bereaved family. The 
order of the procession was as follows: 
First Wellintjtou Brass Band, playing a 
funeral dirtfe: carriao;e contaiuintr the 
clergy; hearse, guarded by six Knights 
Templar, bearing reversed swords, fol- 
lowed by titty or more of same Order on 
toot, each dressed in regalia of their Order; 
Masons of all grades; workmen employed 
in the various industries carried on by the 
Wadsworth firm; carriage containing 
mourners; carriages containing citizens; 
citizens on fool, numbering several hun- 
dred. The service at the grave was con- 
ducted by Prelates same as at the family 
residence, and the remains were lowered 
into their last resting-place amid a sprink- 
ling of evergreens and floral blossoms. 
"Earth to earth, and dust to dust." 
His widow still resides in the now lonely 
home, where, on every hand, are seen evi- 
dences of the thoughtful outlook and care- 
ful supervision on the part of the dear de- 
parted, for the comfort of those dwelling 
within the liome circle. Ah! it is little 
wonder the bereaved heart continually cries 
for the protecting arms that were wont to 
shield it from all adverse afflictions and 
trials, incident to liuman life whilst making 
its earthly pilgrimage. 



/George h. andress, a promi- 

I • «- nent agriculturist of Henrietta 

\^l township, is a native of same, born 

J^ August 5, 1834, a son of Carlo and 

Nancy (Buckly) Andress. 
Carlo Andress was born November 6, 
1804, in Essex county, N. Y., and came to 
Ohio in 1817. On March 1, 1832, he was 
married in Henrietta to Nancy Bnckly, who 
was born in Auburn, N. Y., May 30,1812, 
and they lived together nineteen years, 
when she died. August 25, 1851. They 
had but one child, George H., the subject 
of this sketch. Carlo Andress was subse- 
quently, on December 4, 1851, married to 
Weltha Smith, of Elyria, by which union 



he had two children, both born in Hen- 
rietta, at the old homestead, viz.: Alice, 
born October 30, 1853, and Henry, born 
June 19, 1855. Carlo Andress died of 
paralysis November 8, 1870, in Oberlin, 
whither he had removed in order to have 
his children educated; his wife was born in 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., August 16, 1815, 
and died April 24, 1871. 

Carlo Andress commenceJ life as a pio-' 
neer farmer, working early and late with- 
out any of the comforts and barely the 
necessities of lite. For the wife of his 
earlier years he married one that was as 
willing to work as was he, and together 
they labored and managed to lay the foun- 
dation of a competency. He was elected 
Justice of the peace in the time of T. Cor- 
win, in 1842, and was for many years jus- 
tice in Henrietta township, where he tried 
to have all troubles settled without any 
ill-will. His wife was a Christian woman, 
having joined the Disciple Church while 
quite young, and remaining true to her 
early faith till the last. She was noted for 
her goodness to the poor and her kindness 
to the sick, and her sweetness of disposi- 
tion is often spoken of until this day by 
the people who knew her best. Two 
brothers of hers and their descendants are 
living in Henrietta township at the pres- 
ent time. His second spouse was a model 
wife and mother, devoting her entire time 
to her family. He could at tliis time pro- 
vide for his family far differently than in his 
younger days. He and his wife were 
deeply interested in the welfare of their 
children and the people that were of their 
household. 

Our subject attended the primitive coun- 
try schools of his boyhood days, and Berea 
(Ohio) College two terms. He then as- 
sisted his father in the farm work, clear- 
ing the land of timber and undergrowth, 
and converting the virgin soil into fertile 
fields. At the age of about twenty-three 
years lie commenced life for his own ac- 
count, as a full-fledged fanner, and in his 
vocation has been highly successful. He 



710 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



now owns 134 acres of prime land, one 
hundred of which were cultivated by his 
father. 

In 1859 Mr. Andress was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Matilda Eison, and three 
children were born to them, as follows: 
Maud (Mrs. Fred Fowler, of Berlin Heights, 
Ohio), born April 13, 1861; Ernest, born 
July 18, 1863, died January 16, 1873; and 
•Leon, born March 13, 1865. The mother 
of these died in 1868, and in 1870 our 
subject intermarried with Adelaide Ennis, 
by which union there is one child, Frank, 
in the express ofhce in Elyria. In 1872 
Mr. Andress married Amelia Hutchison, 
daughter of William Hutchison, and 
children, as follows, were born to this 
union: Edna, at present at Painesville 
(Ohio) Seminary; Elsie, teaching school 
at Berlin Heights, Ohio; Walter, deceased; 
Henry, Fred and Bessie, at home. Politi- 
cally our subject is a Democrat, but in 
local elections he invariably vptes for the 
best man regardless of party. 



E 



DMUND GILLMORE. A biograph- 
ical record of Lorain county would 
J be incomplete were prominent men- 
tion not made of this gentleman, 
who is a native of the county, born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1833, in Black Hiver township. 
Mr. Gillmore is a son of Qnartus and 
Elizabeth (lieidj Gillmore, the former of 
whom was a native of Chester, Hampden 
Co., Mass., a son of Edmund and Eliza- 
beth (Stuart) Gillmore, also of Massachu- 
setts, born of English and Scotch ancestry, 
respectively. From their native State 
they came west to what was then known 
as the " Connecticut Western Reserve," 
locating, in 1811, in what is now Lorain 
county, Ohio, where he bought wild land 
which he cleared, passing the rest of his 
days thereon. He was a farmer and land- 
owner in Amherst and Black River town- 
ships, and he and his wife died in Black 



River township, in 1843 and 1844, respect- 
ively. They had a family of ten children 
— nine sons and one daughter — a brief rec- 
ord of them being as follows: (1) Quar- 
tus, born in 1790, has mention made 
further on. (2) Aretus, born in Massa- 
chusetts ill 1792, died in Lorain county, 
Ohio. (3) Orrin, born in Mai-sachusetts 
in 1794, died in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. 
(4) Simon, born in 1796, died in Detroit, 
Mich., in 1833; he was a ship carpenter 
by occupation. (5) Truman, born in 1798, 
died in Lorain county, Ohio, in 1881. 
(6) Linas, born in 1801, died in Lorain in 
1881. (7) Roxanna, born in 1803, was 
married in Lorain county to Robert 
Wright, and died in Oregon. (8) Alanson 
was born in 1805. (9) Edmund, born in 
1801, died in Minnesota. (10) James 
Madison, born in 1811, died in Lorain 
county, Ohio. 

Quartus Gillmore came west with his 
parents, the journey being made with 
teams. In what is now Lorain county, 
Ohio, he married Elizabeth Reid, who 
died in 1876, surviving her husiiand seven 
years, he having passed away in 1869. In 
politics he was an active Whig, afterward 
a Republican; was for many years a magis- 
trate, and about 1837 was appointed the 
first trustee of Black River township. 
Of tlieir family of children, Quincy A. 
was born in Lorain county in 1825, and 
was educated in the public schools of Nor- 
walk and at Elyria Academy; was a teacher 
in the public schools for three years; in 
1845 entered the Military Academy, where 
he graduated at the head of his class, and 
ultimately became a noted general. He 
died in Brooklyn, M. Y., April 7, 1888. 

Edmund Gillmore received his educa- 
tion at the public schools of Black River 
township, Lorain county, and at the age of 
fifteen commenced sailing on the lakes, 
making trips to Oswego, Chicago, and all 
lake ports, which vocation he continued in 
for ten years. He also worked at ship 
caulking, and while so engaged on one oc- 
casion received a severe injury. For ten 



LORAIN COUNTY, OUIO. 



711 



months he was with a Itrother in New York 
City, acting as shipping agent and assistant 
draughtsman. 

In 1858 Edmund Gillmore was united 
in marriage with Miss Adelaide E. (xill- 
more, a native of Lorain, Lorain Co., (Jhio, 
and daughter of Aianson Gillmore, of 
Lorain. To this union has been born one 
child, Quiiicy A. Gillmore, a prominent 
attorney at law of Elyria, Ohio. Politi- 
cally our subject is a pronounced Republi- 
can, and has held several offices of trust in 
his locality, such as assessorfor some time, 
township clerk for fifteen years, justice of 
the peace since 1863, and notary public 
for the past twenty years. 



^UINCY A. GILLMORE, a leading 
attorney at law of Elyria, was born 
May 12, 1859, in Lorain county, 
i\ Ohio, a son of Edmund and Ade- 
laide E. (Gillmore) Gillmore, also 
natives of the county, who are now resi- 
dents of the town of Lorain. 

Our subject received his education in 
Obyrlin and Delaware Wesleyan Colleges, 
graduating in 1881. Making a study of 
law, he graduated from the Cincinnati 
Law School in 1883, and in the fall of 
1884 located in Elyria for the practice of 
his chosen profession, in which he has met 
with well-merited success. In 1884 he 
was married to Miss Frankie G. Brown, 
and one child has come to brighten their 
home, named Scott E. Politically Mr. 
Gillmore is one of the most ardent Re- 
publicans in his section, and he is a mem- 
ber of the K. P. and of the Lorain County 
Bar Association. 



rEORGE W. RICE. This gentleman 
, is descended from one of the pio- 



y^Jl neer families of Lorain county, and 

Al is a native of the same, having first 

seen the light on his father's farm 

in Amherst township February 19, 184t5. 



His father, Abram Rice, was born April 
21, 1801, in Fayette county, Penn., and in 
1822 came to Lorain county, where he 
took up one hundred acres of wild land in 
Black River township. Later he moved 
into Amherst township and l)ought a 
partly-improved farm of one Moses Mul- 
nick, where he passed the remainder of 
his pioneer days, dying in 1876. In his 
political preferences he was a Whig and 
Abolitionist, and, later, a Republican. In 
religious sentiment he was a Methodist. 
He was married in Fayette county, Penn., 
to Miss Margaret Stacker, who died in 
March, 1891. They were the parents of 
fourteen children, of whom the following 
is a brief sketch: (1) Mary was married in 
Illinois to O. P. Kilmer, of New York, 
who enlisted in Company F, Forty-First 
O. V. I., and was shot at Pittsburgh Land- 
ing in 1862, dying two weeks later in Cin- 
cinnati; his widow died February 28, 
1891. (2) Daniel was born in 1824, was 
reared in the county, and here married 
Mary Smith, of Black River township, 
Lorain county, who died shortly afterward; 
in 1850 he went to California, where he 
married and had six children — five daugh- 
ters and one son; he died June 23, 1889, 
in Arroyo Grande, Cal. (3) Samuel A., 
born in 1826, became ^n early pioneer of 
Grant county. Wis., where he married and 
passed the rest of his days, dying in 1855, 
leaving a widow and one daughter, now 
Mrs. Ella Jansen, of Clay Center, Kans. 

(4) Ann E., born in 1827, was married in 
1850, in Lorain county, to Hiram Wilber, 
of New York, who came in an early day 
to Lorain county, where he died in 1878; 
they had two children : Byron E., in Adams 
county, Iowa (married and has two chil- 
dren, Stella and Jessie); and Eda B., mar- 
ried to M.Cunningham, of Columbus, Ohio, 
and has two children, George and Roy. 

(5) John S., born in 1829, was married to 
Miss Lucy Hale, of Lorain county, some- 
time in the "fifties." At the time of his 
marriage he was keeping a hotel at Berlin 
Heights, Erie Co., Ohio. Later he sold 



712 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



out, and removed to Minnesota, where he 
was residing when the call came for volun- 
teers to suppress the Rtbellion. He en- 
listed in the Second Regiment Minnesota 
Infantry, and served until discliarged on 
account of chronic sore eyes. Afterward 
he moved to Iowa, and still later went with 
his family to Arroyo Grande, Cal., where 
he now resides, surrounded by his family 
of eight sons and one daughter, besides 
numerous grandchildren. (6) Melissa, born 
in 1830, was married to H. P. Strickler, of 
Pennsylvania; she died in 1861, leaving 
one son and one daughter; the son, L. D., 
and daughter, Mrs. Meda Sandrock, reside 
with their families in Amherst township. 
(7) Adaline, born in 1832. is the widow of 
Wm. Pearl, and resides in North Amherst; 
she has three sons: Eugene F.,CorriceC. and 
Arthur A. (8) Margaret J., born October 
7, 1833, was married to I. G. Hazel, and 
to them were born live children, viz.: 
Emma and Alma, lx)th deceased ; Alpha, re- 
siding in Oberlin; Ruby, wife of Everett 
E. Walker, of North Amherst, and Harry, 
attending Oberlin College; Margaret J. 
Plazel died in North Amherst March 28, 
1890. (9) Nancy O., Iiorn January 6, 
1885, married R. G. Barney, who enlisted 
for one year in Company E, Sixth Ohio 
Cavalry, served his time out, and died No- 
vember 12, 1872; tliev had two children, 
Mrs. Maggie Root, and Mrs. Mina Guten- 
felder, of Cleveland; Nancy O. Barney 
died in 1869. (10) Susan, born in 1837, 
is the wife of John K. Hazel, who was a 
member of Company C, Second Wis- 
consin Cavalry; they live in Florida; they 
have three children living: Loudon C, 
Percy and Mark. (11) Abram J., born 
January 17, 1840, enlisted in 1861 in 
Company F, Forty-tirst O. V. I., was killed 
at the battle of Pittsburg Landing April 7, 
1862, and was buried on the battlefield; the 
G. A. R. Post located at Amherst is named 
in honorof him. (12) Wesley, born Janiiary 
29, 1842, is married and resides in Oberlin; 
he has two children, Alma, wife of Charles 
J. Maynard, and Mary Faith. (13) Charles, 



born December 5, 1843, died August 31, 
1886, at Amherst. (14) George W. is the 
suliject of this sketch. On the father's 
side the family were of French-German 
ancestry, on that of the mother they claim 
German-Dutch lineage. Grandfather Rice 
served in the Revolutionary war, and died 
in Pennsylvania. 

George W. Rice, the subject of this 
sketch, received a moderate education at 
the common schools of Amherst township 
and at Berea College. In his boyhood 
and youth he was thoroughly inducted 
into the mysteries of agricultural pui-suits, 
which have been his life work, and he now 
owns the homestead, consisting of ninety 
acres of prime land, all iti a guod state of 
cultivation. Socially he is a member of 
Amherst Lodge Nu. 74, K. of P., and is 
Master of Exchequer in same; also mem- 
ber of Amherst Lodge No. 96, I. O. G. T. 
Politically he is a zealous Republican, and 
for nearly a quarter of a century he has 
been an active member of the board of 
education of Amherst township, being at 
present president of the same. Up to date 
he is unmarried, none the less he is the 
leading spirit of his neighborhood, socially 
and politically; his interest in the welfare 
of old and young never flags. 



/p^EORGE C. JEFFERIES, attorney 
I m, at law and war claim agent, Elyria, 
\J^ wf*^ born June 22, 1837, in Spencer, 
1^ Lorain (now Medina) Co., Ohio, a 
son of Gilbert and Mary A. (Spencer) 
Jelieries, the latter of whom was the eldest 
daughter of Col. Spencer, after whom the 
town and township of Spencer (Medina 
county) were named. She died the day 
following Thanksgiving Day, 1891, at the 
age of eighty years, a member of the M. 
E. Church. 

Gilbert Jefferies was born in October, 
1811, in the town of Webster, N. Y., and 
in 1832 came to Ohio, making a settle- 
ment in Spencer, Lorain (now Medina) 



LORAIN OOUNTT, OHIO. 



713 



county. He was a farmer all his life, and 
died June 22, 1870. An Old-line AVbig 
originally, he united with the KepiiMiean 
party in 1854 (the year of its organ izatiou), 
and was a member of the M. E. Church. 
Thomas Jeft'eries, paternal grandfather of 
subject, came to Medina county in 1847, 
and passed the rest of his days with our 
subject's parents. Gilbert and Mary A. 
(Spencer) Jefferies were the parents of 
nine children — seven sons and two daugh- 
tars — of whom our subject is the eldest, 
and six are yet living. 

George C. Jefferies received his educa- 
tion in the country schools and at Oberlin 
College (where his mother was also in part 
educated). After reading law with Hon. 
H. G. Blake, of Medina, Ohio, he enlisted 
August 12, 1802, in Company B, One 
Hundred and Twenty- fourth O. V. I. His 
regiment was attached to the army of the 
Cumberland, and its first camp was made 
in Elizabethtown, Ky-, wiience it was sent 
to Kashville and Franklin, Tenn., at which 
latter place a battle was fought. Tlience 
the regiment marched to Triune, same 
State, from there to Readyville and Man- 
chester, Tenn., from which latter it moved 
to the Sequatchie Valley. On September 
19, 1863, it participated in the battle of 
Chickamanga, where Mr. Jefferies (then 
serving as first sergeant) was so severely 
wounded that he liad to retire from the 
array. On his return home he completed 
his law studies, and in 1875 was admitted 
to the bar of the State of Ohio, and the 
United States bar. In 1876 he commenced 
the practice of his profession, and in 1878 
moved into Elyria. Since 1885, in con- 
nection with his legal business, he has 
given special attention to war claims. 

On July 7, 1870, Mr. Jefferies was mar- 
ried, at Chatham, MedinaCo.,Ohio, to Miss 
Mary Hine, and three children have been 
born to them, viz.: Gilbert C, born in 
Spencer, Medina Co., Ohio, August 8, 
1871, now a stenographer and typewriter 
in Elyria: Edgar C, born at Elyria Oc- 
tober 15, 1879, now at school, and Thomas 



C, born at Elyria February 7, 1881, also 
at school. Our sul)ject in politics is a 
Republican, in religion a Methodist. He 
is a member of the G. A. R., and U. V. 
Legion. The first of tiiis family of Jef- 
feries in Ameria was the first governor of 
Connecticut. 

Mrs. Mary (Hine) Jefferies was born 
January 6, 1846, at Chester, Wayne Qo., 
Ohio, a daughter of John and Elizabeth 
(Luce) Hine, the latter of whom died when 
Mary was a child. The father in early 
life settled in Wayne county, Ohio, where 
he became one or the largest horse and 
wheat raisers, and there resided until he 
was well advanced in years, when he 
moved to Chatham. There he passed from 
earth in November, 1876, at the age of 
seventy-eight years. 



d(OHN HARVIT, one of the repre- 
sentative self-made men of LaGrange 
^ township, is a native of Ohio, born 
April 26, 1836, in Chester township, 
Wayne county. He is a son of Joseph 
and Nancy (Smith) Harvit, farming people, 
the former of whom died in 1838, leaving 
a comfortable home. His widow subse- 
quently re- married. 

Our subject was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and during his early man- 
hood was employed as a farm band, mean- 
time saving his earnings. On November 
7, 1865, he was married to Miss Sarah 
Coleman, born May 30, 1847, in La- 
Grange township, Lorain Co., Ohio, whom 
he had met while a resident of Penfield, 
same county, whither he moved with his 
stepfather, James Brown, who was a well- 
to-do farmer. Mrs. Harvit was the 
daughter of James and Harriet Coleman, 
the former of whom died in 1849, of 
cholera, and was buried in the Catholic 
cemetery in Eaton township. Mrs. Cole- 
man was subsequently mari-ied to William 
Ormsby, and continued to reside on her 
former home; she was buried in the ceme- 



714 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



tery in LaGrange township. After mar- 
riage Mr. Harvit located on the James 
Coleman homestead, lot No. 30, LaGrange 
township, where he has always followed 
farming, in which he has met with en- 
couraging success. He has a natural apti- 
tude for carpenter work. In 1885 he 
erected one ot the most comfortable rural 
homes in the township on his place, which 
consists of 278^ acres of excellent land, 
fully equipped with good farm buildings. 
Mr. Ilarvit is a hard worker and a good 
business manager, and the results of his 
labor are shown in his surroundings, for 
his farm and farm buildings are amongf 
the best in the township. In party affairs 
he is a Republican, but is not an active 
politician. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Harvit has come one child, Hattie, born 
November 28, 1869, now the wife of Don 
Scwartz, a leadinsj; citizen of LaGrange 
township. (They have one son, Harry, 
born February 20, 1892). Mrs. Harvit is 
a member of the M. E. Church at La- 
Grange. 



^ 



ON. LUCIUS HEERICK. This 
gentleman, who is a prominent and 
well-known figure in the arena of 
agriculture and politics in Lorain 
county, is a native of Jefferson 
county, N. Y., born in Honndsfield, near 
Watertown, November 8, 1820. 

Philo Ilerrick, father of subject, was 
born in Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Mass., 
whence when a boy he, with the rest of the 
family, nioved to Bridgewater, Oneida 
Co., N. Y., his father, Amasa Llerrick, 
afterward taking them to Honndsfield, 
same State. Here Philo Herrick made 
his home till the spring of 1835, when, 
with his wife, Sophia (Blodgett), and fam- 
ily, he came to Wellington, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, the journey being made with an old- 
tiiiie "prairie schooner." Here he made 
a land purchase of 158 acres in Welling- 
ton township (which has since passed into 
the hands of his son Lucius), built a log 



house, and set to work to transform the 
wild woods into a fertile farm. Tlic fatlier, 
who was a tanner and currier, and also a 
shoemaker, rented a tannery in Hunting- 
ton township, but soon afterward returned 
to Wellington. For a time he followed 
the shoe business in Winnebago county, 
111. He dit'd in Wellington in 186(i, a 
strong Republican in politics, originally a 
Whig, his first vote being cast for James 
Monroe; his wife was born September 27, 
1788, and died at the age of ninety-eio-ht 
years less five days. They were the parents 
of four children: Loring, now a resident 
of Meckling, Clay Co, S. Dak.; Amasa 
B., residing in Chicago; Lucius, and 
George F., a mechanic, who was accident- 
ally killed September 15, 1844, at Janes- 
ville, Wisconsin. 

Lucius Herrick, the subject proper of 
this biographical sketch, enjoyed but lim- 
ited school j)rivi leges, but the loss in that 
he partially compensated for by systematic, 
diligent home study. In 1839 he entered 
an academy in Elyria, where he made his 
home with Deacon Lane, working for his 
tioard. His father tried to induce him to 
take up the trade of shoemaker, but he 
preferred farming, and consequently made 
it his life w-ork. In 1843 he married Miss 
Mary E. Griffith, who bore hitn one son, 
Luther G. This wife was called from 
earth in January, 1844, and in 1849 Mr. 
Herrick married Miss Harriet E. Bidwell, 
and one son blessed their union, Bert B., 
who was educated at the common schools 
of Wellington and at Oberlin; he is now a 
farmer and cheese manufacturer; he mar- 
ried Miss Etta Wadsworth, and they have 
two children: Ethel and Hobart. 

Formerly a Whig, now a Republican, 
Mr. Herrick has ever taken an active in- 
terest in public affairs. He served as in- 
firmar}' director two years, and also as 
township trustee; was elected county com- 
missioner three full terms consecutively, 
resigning in order to accept nomination to 
the Legislature, in which he served in the 
Sixty-third and Sixty-fourth General As- 



#^^%^. 





C^.£^ 




^^-^tyt-ivY^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



717 



semblies; and lie says he much enjoyed the 
variety of lieing in the House, but tliat it 
was the hardest work he ever did in his 
life. He has in his possession several in- 
teresting public documents, and in his 
library the full series of "Geological Sur- 
veys of Ohio," by Newberry. Mr. Herrick 
is the owner of 435 acres of land, and has 
seen the gradual evolution in agricultural 
development from the hand sickle to the 
self-bindino; harvesting machine. Mrs. 
Herrick, with whom he is now living, was 
Miss Sarah West, only daughter of Francis 
West, of Berlin, Erie Co., Ohio. The 
families for three generations at least, have 
been members and supporters of Presby- 
terian and Congregational Churches. 



TpJ A. CUYLEK, a well-known fruit- 
1^ grower of Avon townsiiip, where he 
IL^i has resided for almost the last half 
century, is a native of New York 
State, born in Essex, Essex county, in 
August, 1822. His parents, John B. and 
Phoebe (Hoffnagle) Cuyler, were also na- 
tives of New York State, where they both 
passed their entire lives, the father dying 
in 1838, the mother forty years later, in 
Essex county. John B. Cuyler was a ser- 
geant in the war of 1812. 

E. A. Cuyler, the subject proper of this 
memoir, was reared in iiie native county 
up to the age of twenty- one, receiving his 
education in the common schools. After 
coming, in 1843, to Avon township, Lo- 
rain Co., Ohio, he commenced sailing on 
the lakes, in which he continued for seven- 
teen seasons, on boats plying between 
Cleveland and Buffalo, and also Detroit. 
In an early day he opened up a farm in 
Sheftield township, Lorain county, wliere 
he resided for some years, thence remov- 
ing to Avon township, where he has since 
had his home. In 1847 he was married, 
in Avon township, to Miss Kuth J. Titus, 
who was born in New York State, daugh- 
ter of Anson and Hannah (Moore) Titus, 



natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and 
Connecticut, and early settlers of Avon 
township, where they died. To this union 
were born four children, as follows: Mi- 
nerva, who was first wedded to Lorenzo 
Miller, and after his decease to Frank Nes- 
bitt (she had two children by her first hus- 
band, Vernon and Carrie, and one by her 
second husband. Little Elbert, named for 
his grandfather; she died in 1892); Jane, 
wife of AV^illiam J. Curtis, living in Avon 
township; Sumner, who was drowned when 
five years old; and Edward, residing on 
the home farm, who is married and has 
two children — Lou and Melinda. The wife 
of E. A. Cuyler died in 1879. In his 
political connections our subject is an 
active Republican (easting his first vote for 
James G. Birney), and has served three 
terras as trustee of Avon township. In re- 
ligious faith he is a member of the Epis- 
copal Church, and socially he belongs to 
King Solomon Lodge, No. 5G, A. F. & A. 
M., Elyria, and to Marshall Chapter No. 
47. Mr. Cuyler owns a fertile farm of 
sixty-two and a half acres in Avon town- 
ship, and twenty acres of another farm; he 
has twenty-one acres devoted exclusively 
to grape- culture. 



El W. PITTS. This gentleman was 
born February 18, 1833, in Spring- 
I field township, Richland Co., Ohio, 

a son of William and Mary (Buck- 
ingham) Pitts. 

William Pitts, grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was a native of England, and when a 
young man emigrated to America, where 
he married and rearedafaiDily of children, 
among whom was one son, William. The 
latter was born April 15, 1803, in West- 
moreland county, Penn., was reared to farm 
life, and had but meager educational ad- 
vantages. When a youth of fifteen he 
came west to Ohio, and here passed the 
remainder of his life, principally engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. On May 6, 1832, 



718 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



he was united in marriage, in Mansfield, 
Ohio, with Miss Mary iJuckingham, who 
was horn April 5, 1817, in Harrison 
countv, same State, daughter of Jc^shua 
Buckingham (who was born March 28, 
1781), and his wife Margaret (^Randall) 
(who was born September 27, 1781, in 
Baltimore county, Md.). 

Gov. Buckingham, of one of the New 
England States, was a full cousin to Mrs. 
William Pitts, and consequently second 
cousin to E. W. Pitts, the subject proper 
of this sketch. The governor's father was 
a Methodist minister. On his mother's 
side E. W. Pitts has six full cousins who 
are physicians, and tveo who are lawyers, 
one of whom, by name William Cantwell, 
born near Mansfield, Ohio, died a few years 
ago in San Francisco, Cal. On our sub- 
ject's father's side there were also many 
relatives of prominence, noted men in Eng- 
land, holding high positions there, some as 
" merchant princes." 

To Mr. and Mrs. William Pitts were 
born two children: Ezekiel W., subject 
of this memoir, and Otis W., a liveryman 
of Belleville, Ohio. Mr. Pitts was obliged 
to begin life for himself with practically 
notliing, and was at first employed in 
chopping wood, being paid for his work in 
money, which was then very scarce in the 
backwoods regions. However, he became 
a successful farmer, and accumulated a 
comfortable property. In politics he was 
a Democrat until Abraham Lincoln's time, 
after wliich he remained a member of the 
Republican party; in religious faith he was 
a member of the Presbyterian Church, his 
wife of the Methodist denomination. He 
passed from earth November 24, 1884, and 
was followed to the grave by his widow 
September 18, 1887, and they now rest side 
by side in Shelby cemetery, Richland 
county, Ohio. 

Ezekiel W. Pitts was reared to the duties 
of agricultural life, and when but five years 
of age attended school in his native county, 
at which time the now thriving city of 
Shelby could boast of but one store. When 



he was six years of age his parents moved 
to Springfield township (Richland county), 
where he went to school with his mother, 
who, having had no literary advantages in 
her early life, availed herself of the pres- 
ent opportunity. Our subject attended 
school regularly till seventeen years of age, 
and in 1852 came to the college at Oberlin, 
Ohio, where he studied nine months, tit- 
ting himself for the profession of a teacher. 
To pay for his tuition at Oberlin he worked 
on the P. F. W. ct C. R. R., for ninety 
cents a day, and lathed at Oberlin for ten 
cents an hour. He began teaching in New 
Haven township, Huron Co., Ohio, in the 
Miller District, when it contained seventy- 
five pupils, who met in an old log school- 
house. The school had been without a 
teacher for some time, and Mr. Pitts was 
obliged often to enforce obedience, but he 
nevertheless was very successful. Wiiile 
attending school at Oberlin Mr. Pitts met 
Miss Roseltha A. R.owell, who was born 
July 16, 1837, on the farm her husband 
now owns, daughter of Levi L. and Laura 
M. (Matchain) Rowell,and they were mar- 
ried September 26, 1855, in the house 
where he still resides. Levi L. Rowell was 
born in Granville, Hampden Co., Mass., a 
son of Sullivan and Elizabeth (AVool worth) 
Rowell, and was the first of the family to 
come to Ohio. He migrated hither from 
Connecticut in 1832, settling in Pittsfield 
townsliip, Lorain county, when that section 
was in truth a "howling wilderness,'' 
abounding with wild animals. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pitts lo- 
cated in Springfield township, Richland 
Co., Ohio, on a farm of forty acres, costing 
nine hundred dollars, which atnount he 
borrowed from his neighbors. The house 
was a rude frame structure, 16 x 24 feet, 
and containing but two rooms, and here 
they resided for ten years, when they 
moved to Pittsfield township, Lorain 
county, where he had purchased some land. 
In 1867 they came to their present farm, 
which at one time comprised 300 acres; 
but it has been gradually divided among 



LORAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



719 



tlie children, until now he has but 132 
acres, which he calls his own. Mr. Pitts 
lias met with well-tnerited success in his 
chosen vocation, and he is one of the lead- 
ing fanners in the county. His advice on 
various matters is often sought for by liis 
neighbors, who appreciate his good com- 
mon-sense and souiul j ndgment, and respect 
and admire him for his many sterling 
qualities. To Mr. and Mrs. Pitts have 
come children, a brief record of whom is 
as follows: Effie W., who was born in 
Richland county, Ohio, is the wife of Dr. 
E. V. B. Buckingham, of Chicago Junc- 
tion, Ohio; Levi M., who was also born in 
Kichland county, Ohio, was drowned June 
23, 1882, when aged twenty- three, being 
seized with cramps while bathing; Alton 
J. is a farmer of Pittstield township; Willis 
W. is also a farmer of Pittstield township; 
Roseltha M. has been a student at Oberlin 
College; Grant W. is farming in Pittstield 
township. In politics Mr. Pitts is a mem- 
ber of the Republican party, and has served 
as township trustee, m which position he 
gave universal satisfaction ; he is the pres- 
ent school director in his district. Mrs. 
Pitts is a member of the Methodist Church. 



P)ETER McRO BERTS, one of the 
pioneers of Pittstield township, was 
born February 10, 1804, in Spring- 
field, Vt., son of John McRoberts, 
who was born in Scotland in 1759, 
and came to America in 1775. He served 
as a soldier in the ('ontinental army dur- 
ing the war of the Revolution, and re- 
ceived an honorable discharge. He died 
in 1813. and sleeps in an honored grave in 
the South cemetery of Whiting, Vt. His 
wife, Lucy Bradford, was i)orn, in 1761, 
in Massachusetts, a descendant of the 
Bradfords of Puritan fame; she died in 
1845, and was buried in Centre cemetery 
of Pittstield. 

Peter's youth and early manhood were 
spent in farming, laml)ering, and driving 



a mail coach from Castleton to Middle- 
bury, Vt. His education was that of the 
common school, which at that time to 
those in his station was limited to a short 
term in winter. His text books were a 
Spelling Book, Testament, American Pre- 
ceptor, for a reader, while Adams' Arith- 
metic (in which he e.xcelled) completed 
the outlit. 

Peter McRoberts was married Decem- 
ber 13, 1828, in Sudbury, Vt., to Eliza 
Waitc, who was born in Shoreham, Vt., 
August 23, 1803, daughter of Samuel 
Waite, who died, in 1805, in Shoreham, 
Vt. Her mother, Elizabeth (Smith) Waite, 
was born in 1765 in Massachusetts, came 
to Ohio, and died in Pittstielil in 1835; 
she was Imried on the Josiah Jiarnard 
farm, there being no public burying place 
in the township at that time; some years 
later her remains were removed to the 
Centre cemetery of Pittstield township, 
and laid by the side of Nahum Clark, a 
son by her first husband, (^n October 31, 
1831, Peter, with his wife, two babies and 
sister Cynthia, in a covered wagon drawn 
by two horses, started from Sudbury, Vt., 
for Ohio, a journey of seven hundred 
miles, and at the end of six weeks they 
found themselves in Madison township, 
Richland county, where Mrs. McRoberts 
had two sisters living — Mrs. William 
Stewart and Mrs. Horatio Harmon. On 
January 14, 1832, he contracted with 
George Mann, of Sullivan township, for 
the purchase of the whole of Lot 4 and the 
north half of Lot 17, in Pittstiehl town- 
ship, at two dollars and a half per acre, 
two hundred and fifteen dollars in hand 
paid, the balance in three annual payments 
in neat stock or wheat; and in March, 
same year, the family moved hither, liv- 
ing with a neiglil)or by the name of Beam 
until a log house could be built. They 
moved in as soon as the roof was on, the 
earth serving for a floor, and a iilanket for 
a door. They were the twelfth family 
in Pittstield township. Mr. McRoberts 
cleared a part of this farm, and in 1834 



720 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



sold it to Josiah Barnard. He then pur- 
chased Lot No. 18, cleared a large part of 
it, and built a frame house and barn. But 
his ambition exceeded his endurance, and 
his health failing he gave up farming for 
merchandisincr, movinj; to Wellinttton vil- 
lage in 1837. For a time he did business 
where Benedict's hardware store now 
stands, in a building owned by John S. 
Reed, later moving his establishment to 
where the postotiice now is, in a building 
formerly occupied by R. H. Foot. He 
huilt and operated an ashery for manu- 
facturing ])earlasii (crude soda, a product 
of wood ashes), and continued in business 
till 1843, when he sold out to Mathew 
Allen, and came back to his farm in Pitts- 
field township, on which he made many 
improvements. 

Politically Mr. McRoberts was a Whig, 
and he took great interest in public affairs, 
helping to organize the County Agricul- 
tural Society; he also took an active part in 
building the Congregational Church, and 
though not a member was one of the 
trustees of the Society. He held the 
offices of real-estate assessor, justice of the 
peace, and township trustee; having some 
knowledge of law he could tell what he 
knew, and advocated many cases before 
justices of the peace, being generally suc- 
cessful. He died in 1847, and was buried 
in the Centre cemetery of Pittsfield town- 
ship; his wife, now in her niuety-tirst 
year, has lived continuously in the same 
house for more than half a century, the 
sole survivor of all the residents of Pitts- 
field township that had attained their ma- 
jority when she came here sixty-two years 
ago. As wife, mother and neighbor she 
has nobly sustained her part in the trials 
and hardships of pioneer life, and the rear- 
ing of a large family; and now, with her 
mother love undimmed (children and 
grandchildren supplying her wants), with 
a faith that never faltered, her life shadow 
lengthening near the night, ^she awaits the 
coming dawn of a life eternal in Heaven. 
Her children, seven in number, were all 



sons, to wit: Henry, born October 31, 
1829, in Hubbardton, Rutland Co., Vt., 
lives on the home farm, sketch of whom 
follows; Albert, born August 9, 1831, in 
Sudbury, Rutland Co., Vt., is a farmer of 
Pittsfield township (he draws a pension 
for disability incurred in the service of the 
United States while acting as iirst lieu- 
tenant in the Forty-first Regiment O. V. 
I.); Pitt, born December 22, 1834, in 
Pittsfield township, Lorain Co., Ohio, is a 
well-to-do farmer of that township, living 
within fifty rods of where he was born; 
Charles, born December 25, 1838, in 
Wellington, Lorain county, who served 
two years in Battery E, First Regiment 
Ohio Artillery, was killed at Cleveland, 
Ohio, in 1872, while a freight conductor 
on the L. S. & M.. S. R. R. (he was 
buried in the Centre cemetery of Pitts- 
field); Volney, born May 12, 1841, in 
Wellington, Ohio, a sketch of whom fol- 
lows; Erwin, born February 14, 1844, in 
Pittsfield, enlisted in the Eighty-seventh 
Regiment O. V. I., for three months, was 
captured at Harper's Ferry, was paroled 
and came home, being discharged at Dela- 
ware, Ohio (lie re-enlisted in Company D, 
One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regi- 
ment O. V. I., and served to the end of 
the war; he was killed at Toledo, Ohio, in 
1870, while a freight conductor on the L. 
S. & M. S. R. R., and was buried in the 
Centre cemetery, Pittsfield, by Oberlin 
Lodge, F. tfe A. M., of which he was a 
member); and Arthur, born September 
29, 1846, in Pittsfield township, where he 
now resides, and carries on farming (so- 
cially he is a member of Oberlin Lodge, 
I. O. O. F.). 



I^- 



I ENRY McROBERTS, a well-known 
resident of Pittsfield township, was 
born October 31, 1829, in Vertnont, 
and came to Pittsfield township 
with his parents in 1832. His edu- 
cation was that of the common schools, 
and he lived with his parents and an uncle 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



721 



by the name of Hall till his eighteenth 
year. He then went to Elyria, in the em- 
ploy of Baldwin, Starr ife Co., dealers in 
general merchandise, as a salesman, re- 
maining there two years, and thence going 
to Chicago, where he was in the employ of 
William Blair & Co., hardware merchants, 
at No. 176 Lake St., as salesman, for three 
years. During that time he cast his first 
vote at a municipal election. He saw the 
first train of ears go out of the city. In 
1852 he came back to Pittsfield, and has 
lived on tiie same farm forty-one years, as 
a farmer, dealer in tine-wool sheep, and 
patent rights; he also operates a stone 
quarry, and is a contractor for stone work. 
In politics a Eepublican, he has held the 
offices of President of the Board of Educa- 
tior). Township Trustee and Assessor, and 
is serving his fourth terra as Justice of the 
Peace. During the war of the Rebellion 
he was one of the "Squirrel Hunters." 

On April 19, 1860, Mr. McRoberts was 
married to Harriet Pomeroy, who was 
born November 2, 1834, in Newfane, 
Windham Co., Vt., daughter of John M. 
and Clarissa (Gale) Pomeroy; the parents 
came to Ohio in 1839, and first located in 
Sullivan township (then in Lorain county), 
whence they finally moved to Pittsfield 
township, where they settled. To Mr. and 
Mrs. McRoberts have come the following 
named children: Luella P., Philip L., 
William S., Metta C4., Erwin R., Ola E. 
and H. Blain, all born in the same house 
in Pittsfield township, and all living. Mr. 
McRoberts is a member of the F. &A. M., 
and is well-known in the community where 
he resides. 



1 IJOLNEY M.'ROBERTS, an influen- 
V/' tial citizen of Pittsfield township, 
W, was born May 12, 1841, in Welling- 
ton, Lorain Co., Ohio, fiftii in a 
family of seven sons born to Peter and 
Eliza (Waite) McRoberts. In 1843 he 
came with his parents to the farm in Pitts- 



field township, where he first attended 
school, his first teacher being one William 
Horton. 

After the death of his father our sub- 
ject went to live with an uncle, Orlando 
Hall. He received his primary education 
at the common schools, and later took a 
two years' course at Oberlin College. Re- 
turning to the home of his uncle he re- 
mained there until July, 1862, when he 
enlisted, at Cleveland, in the First Ohio 
Battery, which was sent to Kentucky and 
stationed on the Green river, along the L. 
& N. Railroad, whence they were driven 
back by Bragg. Mr. McRoberts,' along 
with a number of others, being taken sick 
near Louisville, he was discharged in the 
fall of 1862, and returned to Pittsfield, 
Ohio. 

On August 18, 1863, he was married to 
Miss Celia Pomeroy, a native of Pitts- 
field township, daughter of John Pomeroy, 
and to this union were born four children, 
namely: Walter V., foreman in a stone 
sawmill at Bedford, Lawrence Co., Ind.; 
Cora E., Mrs. Charles Reynolds, of Shef- 
field, Ohio; Lena M., wife of C. C. Carter, 
a farmer of Pittsfield township; and Pitt 
E., attending the business college at Ober- 
lin. On February 15, 1875, the mother 
of these children passed from earth, and 
was buried in Pittsfield cemetery. On 
April 3, 1877. he married, for his second 
wife, Amelia Johnson, of Penfield, Ohio, 
who was born September 29, 1850, in 
Wellington township, daughter of Collins 
and Eliza (Gaylord) Johnson, who came 
here in an early day from Jefferson connty, 
N. Y. To this marriage have come two 
children, Celia F. and Helen I., both liv- 
ing at home. After marriage Mr. McRob- 
erts settled on Lot 21, in Pittsfield town- 
ship, where he has since resided, principally 
engaged inagriculture,iD which he has met 
with no small degree of success. His farm 
is an excellent one. and now comprises 
137 acres of fine land. This tract contains 
a stone quarry, which he operated for 
seventeen years, and he has done con- 



722 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO, 



siderable work for the conntj, giving 
Ills cliief attention to bridge-building, 
stonework, etc., all of wliich lie laas 
executed in a most creditable manner. Poli- 
tically he is a leading member of the Re- 
publican party, and has served his township 
in various otiicial capacities; he cast his tirst 
vote for Abraham Lincoln. Socially he is 
a meniber of Oberlin Lodge IMo. 380, 
F. & A. M. 



rjfENRY H. WEEKS, a prominent 

f sH resident of CJamdeii township, is a 

I 1 'native of New York City, born 

^J March 10, 1831, a son of Thomas 

T. and Mary (Hoag) Weeks, the 

former of whom was born in Yorktown, 

Westchester Co., N. Y., in 1798, a son of 

Benjamin K. Weeks, who was born in 

1773, a son of James Weeks. 

Thomas T. Weeks received a fair educa- 
tion at the schools of his native place, and 
being naturally bright was a clever student 
and an apt scholar. He was reared on a 
farm, and followed agricultural pursuits 
until 1825, when he moved to the city of 
New York, and there followed the busi- 
ness of draying (at that time a lucrative 
occupation) for a large wholesale tirtn, 
until 1837, in which year he removed with 
his family to Ohio by river, canal and 
lake via Buffalo, the voyage from the 
latter place being made on the "Daniel 
Webster," the tirst boat to pass through 
the ice that spring — then the middle of 
May. Prior to tliis he had visited Ohio 
(in 1833 and 1835) and bought 320 acres 
of land in the extreme southeastern part 
of Florence township, Erie county, a part 
of which was cleared, with a log house 
and barn and a small orchard thereon. He 
lived here thirty-four years. In 1871 he 
sold this farm and bought another two 
miles farther west, on which he lived in 
the family of his son, Henry, eleven years. 
Thomas T. Weeks was twice married: 
first to Miss Mary Hoag, who was born in 
Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1796, daughter 



of Abraham and Sarah. (Matthews) Hoag, 
and the children by this marriage were: 
Sarah, now widow of James Daley, of 
Wakeman, Ohio; Lydia M., wife of Edgar 
AVright, a wholesale grocer of New York 
City; Elizabeth, who died in 1878, and 
Henry H. The mother of these died in 
New York in 1833, and in 1836 Mr. 
Weeks married Mrs. Freelove Fowler, nee 
Thorn, widow of Henry Fowler. The 
children of this marriage were: Theodore, 
who died in infancy; John F., now living 
at Clyde, Ohio; Benjamin K., a farmer, 
who died in Oberlin in 1879; James, who 
died in infancy; Martha J. and Marietta, 
of Oberlin, Ohio; and Emma, of Spring- 
field, Mass. The mother of these died in 
Florence in 1866. Mr. Weeks died March 
8, 1885, at the home of his daughters in 
Oberlin, where he had been temporarily 
sojourning. He was a man of strong con- 
victions, fearless and outspoken, a success- 
ful farmer and good business man, self- 
made, and highly respected. In politics 
he was a Democrat until 1856, when he 
became a Republican, and ever after took 
a deep interest in the success of the prin- 
ciples of that party. 

Henry H. Weeks, the subject proper 
of this memoir, attended the public schools 
of the county of his adoption, and also 
one term at a select school at Birminti;- 
ham, Erie county. He remained with his 
father until his marriage in 1855, teaching 
school, however, during several winters in 
Florence, Vermillion and Wakeman town- 
ships. Soon after his marriage he moved 
into a log house on a small farm which he 
owned in Henrietta township, Lorain 
county, where he lived until 1858, when 
he removed with his family to Findlay, 
Ohio, where he carried on a grocery and 
provision business. In 1861 he returned 
to Florence, and in company with his 
brother, Benjamin, carried on the home 
farm four years. The next three years he 
lived ip the city of New York. Return- 
ing from there in 1868 he took charge of 
hie father's farm, on which he and his 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



?23 



family lived until the spriug of 1883, 
when he purchased and inoved onto the 
farm wliere he now resides in (Janiden 
township, Lorain county, about one mile 
west of Kipton. 

JMr. Weeks has been twice married: 
first time November 15, 1855, to Miss 
Cora L. Van Camp, of Quincy, Mich., 
and, second, October 14, 1872, to Mrs. 
Louise J. Shafi'er, widow of George 
Shatter, a member of the One Hun- 
dred and First Regiment O. Y. I., 
who died of smallpox at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., in 1863. She was born at Birming- 
liani, Erie county, March 13, 1841, a daugh- 
ter of Thomas Hazard, a native of the city 
of New York. By the first marriage were 
born two children: Frank E., now a prac- 
ticing physician in Clarkstield, Huron 
county, iind Charles H., who was accident- 
ally killed at the age of ten years. Politi- 
cally our subject is a Republican, has held 
several township offices, and is now serving 
his tenth year as township trustee. 

From genealogical records in his posses- 
sion Mr. Weeks traces his lineacre back to 
Anneke Jans-Bogardus, a native of Hol- 
land, who with her husband, Roelof Jans, 
came to New Amsterdam (now New York) 
in 1630, and who at her death left landed 
property there which has since become 
very valuable, and is now in the possession 
of Trinity Chui-ch. The immediate an- 
cestors of our subject were Friends, or 
Quakeri?, and he is by birthright a member 
of that Society, but in belief is bound by 
no religious creed. 



THOMAS FOLGER, a leading grape 
grower in this section of Ohio, and 
manager of the grape syndicate that 
controls the sale of grapes grown in 
the Lake Erie district, is a native 
of Medina county, Ohio, born February 14, 
1842. He is a' son of H. G. and E. A. 
(Ingersoll) Folger, the former of whom 



died November 26, 1883; the mother is 
yet living, and is making her home with 
her son Thomas. 

Thomas Folger, grandfather of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was born on the island 
of Nantucket, Mass., where his ancestors 
had settled, one of whom was many years 
ago one of the seven proprietors of that 
island. Grandfather Folger was a whaler, 
owning an interest in several whalimr 
ships; and wiien the English Government 
passed a law granting a bounty on whale- 
oil products, he removed to London, Eng- 
land, in order to come under the provis- 
ions of said law, expecting good financial 
returns. lie there married, and in the 
city of London our subject's father was 
born. After the rescinding, by the Eng- 
lish Government, of the whale-oil bounty 
Act, Thomas Folger returned to Nantucket, 
taking his family with him. C. J. Folger, 
the prominent American politician, who 
was IJ. S. Sub-Treasurer under Grant, also 
Secretary of the Treasury under Arthur, 
and held many other high offices of trust 
in the U. S. Government, is an uDcle of 
our subject. 

Thomas Folger received his education 
in part at the public schools, and in part 
at the Western Reserve Collecfe. At the 
breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted, 
in August, 1861. in Company H, Twenty- 
fifth O. V. I., and was mustered out of 
the service in July, 1865. His regiment, 
which was first assigned to the army of 
the Potomac, participated in the battles of 
Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Cedar Moun- 
tain and several minor encfagements. It 
was then transferred to tiie army of the 
Southwest, under Sherman, was in the 
celebrated march to the sea, and after its 
return homeward took part in the Grand 
Review at Washington. Mr. Folcfer was 
promoted from the ranks to lieutenant and 
adjutant, and brevet captain. On his return 
to the pursuits of peace, he took up his 
residence in Cleveland, Ohio, where he 
embarked in the produce and commission 
business, which he carried on for some five 



724 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



or six years, subsequently becoming a 
wholesale commission merchant. About 
the year 187S he abandoned this business 
for grape culture, a line of industry for 
whieli lie has a special liking, and to 
which he has since given much thought 
and attention. He now owns and operates 
a vineyard covering some forty acres, and 
is one uf the leading organizers of a syndi- 
cate whose ol)ject is the marketing of 
grapes grown in tins part of the country, 
Mr. Folger lieing manager of same. He 
attends to the details of shipment, as well 
as the finding of suitalde markets, and, in 
fact, controls the entire business of the 
corporation. He is also a stockholder and 
director in the Lorain Banking Company. 
Mr. Folger was united in marriage. May 
2, 1SG7, with Miss Delia Beswick, and 
four children have been born to them: 
Anna B., Josephine D., Jennie P., and Ida 
A., who died at the age of eight years. 
Politically he is a Democrat, and has been 
a member of the city council of P]lyria (of 
which place he is a resident). He is a 
F. & A. M.,a member of the Chapter, and 
is a member of the G. A. R. A man of 
marked business faculties, Mr. Folger is a 
]>otent factor in all movements tending to 
the advancement and prosperity of the 
county of his adoption. 



IDNETSAEDUS WARNER. This 
gentleman, proiuinent in the bank- 
ine:, raanufactui'iii"; and farmincr in- 
terests of Loi'ain county, comes of 
English ancestry, who left the Mother 
Country many years ago for America, 
makinjj a settlement in New England. 

Mr. Warner was born in Snffield, Conn., 
April 17, 1820, and in 1882 was brought 
by his parents to Mantua, Portage Co., 
Ohio, thence in 1839 to Iluntington, Lo- 
rain county. There he made his home un- 
til he moved in 1868, to Wellington, where 
he lias since resided. His father. Chaun- 
cey Warner, born in SufKeld, Conn., in 



1790, was a man of culture, high mental 
attainments and irreproachable character. 
He married Miss Eliza Kent, who was 
born in his native town in 1792, a lady of 
pronounced intellectual force, undimmed 
even in her old age, and a devoted worker 
in every cause tending to the advancement 
and enlightenment of the human race. 
They both attained patriarchal ages, the 
father dying at ninety- two, the mother at 
ninety-seven years. With such intellec- 
tual, hale and stanch parentage, it is not to 
be wondered at that at an early age, ere he 
had quite reached the close of the first 
decade of his life, the son should begin to 
develop that spirit of determination and 
enterprise that has since characterized his 
many and various undertakings, and ele- 
vated him to the pinnacle of success. 

When thirty-two years old, Mr. Warner 
was elected to represent Lorain county in 
the General Assembly of Ohio, on the 
"Union ticket;" was reelected in 1863, 
and has ever since been a Republican. His 
career as Representative was marked by 
his accuracy of judgment and political sa- 
gacity, and his fearless discharge of duty 
to his constituency and the State at large; 
and as a proof, if proof were indeed needed, 
of the esteem, and respect in which he was 
held by the people, we find him elected State 
Treasurer on the Republican ticket in 
1865, again in 1867, and yet again in 
1869, serving three consecutive terms. 
Mr. Warner's administration was charac- 
terized by the highest efficiency and the 
most scrupulous honesty. After serving 
four years as trustee of Cleveland Hospital 
for the Insane, he was reappointed to the 
same position, by Gov. Foster, for a term 
of five years, during which time he filled 
the office of president of the board. Soon 
after iiis re-appointment, however, he re- 
signed, in 1880, to head the Republican 
ticket as elector at-large, but was, after the 
election of Garfield, again, December 31, 
same year, re-appointed to that trust, to 
preside at the board from wiiich he had 
recently resigned. Mr. Warner's political 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



121 



career has been marked, at every step, by 
persistent energy, strict iiiteirrity and a 
hii^h sense of justice. In 187-4 he was a 
prominent candidate for Governor of Ohio, 
and would probably have been nominated 
liad not the question of U. S. senatorship 
entered the convention as a potent factor. 
As a candidate for Congress in the Four- 
teenth Congressional District, he secured, 
tor 595 successive ballots, more votes than 
any otlier candidate in the convention. He 
withdrew, however, in the interest of liar- 
muny — naming a new candidate who was 
nominated the first ballot thereafter. Mr. 
Warner has, indeed, been highly honored 
by his State; and it can be said, withont 
suspicion of flattery, that he has well 
merited every honor he has received. 

Mr. Warner's business enterprises, while 
numerous and varied, have been successful 
and prosperous. He was one of the prime 
movers in the organization of the First 
National Bank of Wellington, in 186-4, 
and has been its president since, a period 
of abiiut thirty years. Since 1869 he has 
been a member of one of the largest cheese 
firms in the State of Ohio, widely known 
all over the coimtry under the name of 
Horr, Warner & Co. During its exist- 
ence, he was president of the Citizens 
Mutual Relief Association. In 1881 he 
was chosen president of the Clarkstield 
Stone Company; in 1883 he assisted in 
organizing the Cleveland National Bank, 
of which he has been the only president. 
He is a member of the agricultural firm of 
Wean, Horr, Warner & Co., and is e,\- 
tensivelv engao-ed in the breedinu; of fine 
blooded horses. 

In 1851 Mr. Warner married Miss 
Margaret Anna Bradner, of Huntington, 
Lorain county, a woman of the same 
sturdy New England stock, whose ability 
and good judgment have supplemented 
the endeavors of her husband, and whose 
accomplishments have kept pace with his 
career. Four children have been born to 
this union, as follows: Orrie Louisa, 
Sidney Kent, Albert Rollin and George 



Bradner, the youngest two being gradu- 
ates of Cornell University, the daughter 
of Oberlin College. 

Surrounded by his interesting, intelli- 
gent family, Mr. Warner is a thoughtful, 
devoted husband, and a kind, indulgent 
father. Among men he is genial and 
companionable; manly and fearlessly in- 
defiendent in character and thought; con- 
sistent and temperate in all respects. His 
social standing is high, his integrity in- 
corruptible. A true and loyal friend, a 
man of taste and culture — with broad and 
liberal views — Mr. Warner is a man, all 
in all, of large body, soul and mind. 



AMUEL S. ROCKWOOD, assist- 
ant cashier of The Savings Deposit 
Bank Co., Elyria, is a native of that 
town, born October 6, 1861. His 
education was received in the public schools 
of Elyria, and he graduated from the High 
School in the class of 1880. In 1882 he 
entered inta the employ of the Savings 
Deposit Bank as assistant bookkeeper, 
from which position he has been promoted 
step by step to the assistant cashiership, to 
which incumbency he was appointed in 
1892, and is at present tilling with char- 
acteristic ability and fidelity. In 1886 Mr. 
Rockwood was married to Miss Ella L. 
Garford, and one child, named Gertrude 
L., has come to brighten their home. 

Onr subject in his political sympathies 
is a Republican; socially he is a member 
of the Royal Arcanum and National 
Union, and both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
The parents of the subject of our 
sketch, Augustus F. and Diantha (Spencer) 
Rockwood, were children of pioneers of 
the county, born, reared and educated 
there. The father, who was by trade a 
carpenter and joiner, died in 187-4 from 
diseases contracted during a three years' 
service for the Union in the war of the 
Rebellion. They were tlie parents of three 



728 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



cliildreii: Samuel S., the subject of our 
sketch; Ancreline S.. wife of J. A. Reubliii, 
and Mary D., wife of W. G. Watts, Well- 
ington, Ohio. 

Henry S. Kockwood, the paternal grand- 
father of our subject, was one of the pio- 
neers of the county, having spent most of 
the years of a long life within its bounds. 
He was for some time county recorder, and 
is still living hale and hearty, having 
passed his eighty-second birthday. He 
came of long-lived stock, his own father 
having lived and died in the connty at the 
advanced age of one hundred years. Eliel 
C. Spencer, the maternal grandfather of 
the subject of our sketch, came to Lorain 
county when a mere boy. He endured all 
the har(lshi[)8 and privations of pioneer 
life, and died at the age of eighty-two. He 
was an indefatisable worker, and of him it 
is said: '• He hewed more miles of public 
highway through the virgin forest in the 
towns of Pittstield and LaGrangethan any 
other man in those parts." 



rA. AVERY, editor and proprietor 
of the North Amherst Argus, is a 
_^ native of Lorain county, Ohio, born 
January G, 1872, in Henrietta town- 
ship. He is a son of A. P. and Lucinda 
(Wheeler) Avery, the former of whom was 
born, in 1832, in Massachusetts, came west 
and located in Wellington, Ohio, where he 
married Miss Lucinda Wheeler, of La- 
Grange township, Lorain county. 

The subject of these lines left his home 
at the age of fourteen years, and from that 
time made his own way in the world. He 
received his education at the common 
schools, also at the Wellington high school, 
and took a miscellaneous literary course at 
the Normal College of Valparaiso, Lid. 
In Antwerp, Ohio, he learned the printing 
trade, and after serving his apprenticeship 
came to North Amherst, where for a year 
and a half he was manager and local editor 
of the Reporter. In the fall of 1891 he 



severed iiis connection with that paper and 
worked as a "jour" compositor on various 
leading newspapers in the East and West 
until October, 1892, at which time he 
established the ^/v/t/s, a clean, bright, 
newsy journal which is bound to make its 
mark under the facile pen of its experi- 
enced tliough yet youthful editor. It is a 
paper free and untrammeled, being open to 
all parties, intluenced by none, and neutral 
in politics. 



K. STARR, farmer and extensive 
landowner, and oldest resident of 
Rentield township, is a son of Will- 
iam Starr, who was born October 3, 
17 — , near Danbury, Conn., son of Eleazer 
and Rebecca (Clapp) Starr. 

William Starr was reared to farm life, 
and when a young man removed with his 
parents to Harpersfield, Delaware Co., N. 
Y., where he was united in marriage, in 
181t), with Miss Ada Reardsley. She was 
born April 18, 1795, near Danbury, Conn., 
daughter of Gaylord and Charlotte (Bass) 
Beardsley, who also moved from Connecti- 
cut to Delaware county, N. Y. Here 
William and Ada Starr had children as 
follows: A son that died in infancy un- 
named; Axey E.,born September 20, 1818, 
who married Abel Dougherty, and died 
in Pentield, Ohio; Polly Ann, born Feb- 
ruary 29, 1820, now the widow of Jacob 
Smith, residing with her children in Erie 
county, Penn.; Clarinda E., born Novem- 
Iter 11, 1822, who married for her first 
husl>and Dr. William Jeffries, and for her 
second Charles Sliepard (she died October 
.5, 1885, at Adrian, Mich.); Orline R., 
born January 20, 1826, now the widow of 
J. W. Hamilton, who died October 11, 
1877 (she lives in Wellington, Ohio); 
Jane M., born April 1, 1827, of Welling- 
ton, Ohio; Ada L., who died when three 
months old; and George W., born March 
20, 1831, who died June 8, 1878, at Pen- 
field, Ohio. After coming to Ohio they 
had two more children — Orrin K., sub- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



729 



ject of this sketch, and Gideon E.., a 
tanner and retired merchant of Warren 
township, Warren Co., Penn. In 1831 
tlie family came l)y canal and lake to (^hio, 
the hired man driving the team to liiiti'alo, 
N. v., from which place they came on the 
boat "William Penn" to Cleveland, the 
trip occupying three days and two nights. 
During this journey a terrible stonn arose 
on the lake, the ship being twice driven to 
the Canadian shore. From Cleveland they 
drove with a team to Medina, where 
Matliew L. Hamilton, a brother-in-law of 
Mr. Starr, resided, and here remained two 
weeks, when they removed to Pentield 
township, Lorain connt>'; at this time 
there was no bridge there across the Black 
river, and JMrs. Starr crossed it on a foot- 
log, carrying her infant son George. They 
located on land a short distance west of 
the center of the township, which Mr. 
Starr purchased from Amzi Penfielil. and 
made a permanent home on this farm, 
which still remains in the possession of 
the family, being now owned by the sub- 
ject of this sketch. When William Starr 
catne to Ohio his means were somewhat 
limited, and he was obliged to go into 
debt for his farm, only a few acres of which 
were then cleared, and whicli contained a 
log house, but no barn. Wild animals 
abounded. Improvements were begun at 
once, and here he continued to follow 
farming the rest of his life, and amassed a 
comfortable competence. Politically he 
was a Democrat until the time of William 
H. Harrison, when he joined the Repub- 
lican party, with wliich he affiliated the 
rest of his days. He died in April, 1S64, 
preceded by his wife May 28, 185(). and 
both are buried in Peniield cemetery. They 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Pentield. 

(). K. Starr was born December 3, 1833, 
in Penfielil township, Lorain Co., Ohio, on 
the farm he now owns. He was reared to 
agricultural life, and obtained his educa- 
tion in the common schools of the day. re- 
ceiving his tirst literary instructioti under 



Jiles Palmer. After his seventeenth year 
he worked away from home, receiving 
eight dollars per month; later was em- 
ployed three years by Hiram Smith; in 
1855 went to Adair county, Iowa, and 
while there took up land which has since 
remained in the family. In 1857 he was 
married, in Pentield, to Miss Matilda 
Wager, who died a few years later, leaving 
one child, Ida, now Mrs. Edwin Norton, 
of Grand Rapids, Mich. For his second 
wife our subject was married, February 28, 
1863, to Miss Mary E. Blanchard, who was 
born in 1840 in Palenville, Greene Co., 
N. Y. (among the Catskills), daughter of 
J. H. and Jane Parmelia (Myers) Blanch- 
ard, who came to Pentield township in 
1850 from Morrow county, Ohio, whither 
they had migrated from New York. In 
company with his brother George Mr. 
Starr bought out the other heirs of the old 
home farm, and here he made his home 
until 1888, when he removed to his pres- 
ent farm. To his second marriage have 
been born two children, namely: Justice 
M. (a merchant of Pentield) and Alena R. 
(wife of Fred Andrews, a farmer of Pen- 
held). Mr. Starr has dealt in stock, and 
has bought and sold wool, meeting in all 
his enterprises with no small degree of 
success. He now owns 213 .acres of excel- 
lent land. In his political predilections he 
is a stanch member of the Republican 
party, and has served as township treasurer 
for some years. Mrs. Starr is a member 
of the M. E. Church. 



lOHN AUSTIN" CHAPMAN (de- 

V I ceased), for many years a prosperous 

\Jj farmer and dairyman in Huntington 

township, was born in Montgomery, 

Mass., April 7, 1817. 

Isaac Chapman, paternal grandfather of 
John Austin Chapman, was a native of 
Connecticut, born in the town of Groton, 
December 18, 1740. His wife, Mary, was 
born July 13, 1742, in Plymouth, Mass., 



no 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



and died May 25, 1806, the motber of nine 
children, all horn in Groton, as follows: 
Content, Susanna, Isaac, Mary, Ahiier, 
Elisha, Nathan, Bradford and Sarah. John 
Fisher, maternal grandfather of John Aus- 
tin Chapman, was horn May 22, 1751, and 
his wife, Muriel, on November 15, 1741. 
Of their children, William, Olive (John 
A. Chapman's mother), George, Hulda and 
Henry all lived in Vermont. 

Abner Chapman, father of subject, was 
a native of Connecticut, born June 20, 
1772. He worked on the farm of John 
Fisher, in Vermont, whose daughter, Olive, 
he married January 19, 1796, at Ver- 
gennes, same State; she was born iS'ovem- 
ber 20, 1778. All their children, thirteen 
in number, were born in Massachusetts, 
and the following is a. brief record of the 
majority of them: Luthei-, born in 1798, 
died at the age of eighty-six in Geauga 
county, Ohio, where he had settled; Calvin, 
born November 24, 1800, was married, and 
died in Boston, Mass., June 1, 1857; 
Aclisah (1) died in infancy; following these 
come Olive, Achsah (2), Laura, Abner, 
William, Eunice, Hulda A., John Austin 
(subject of sketch) and Emeline (wife of 
Edward West), of Wellington, Ohio, all of 
whom grew to maturity excepting two. In 
1833 the family came from Montgomery, 
Mass., to Lorain county, Ohio, settling in 
Huntington township. Luther, the eldest, 
came west before his parents and the rest 
of the family, walking the entire distance 
to Geauga county, Ohio, wliere lie settled, 
as already related. The father died Jan- 
uary 29, 1851, the mother on February 25, 
1854. 

The subject of this sketch was married 
November 6, 1844, in Huntington town- 
ship, Lorain county, to Miss Isabel Lind- 
sey, born December 15, 1824, in Chester, 
Mass., a daughter of John and Susan 
(King) Lindsey, the former of whom was 
born in Massachusetts (it is believed) No- 
vember 15, 1803. In 1836 Mr. Lindsey 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, settling 
on a farm in Huntington township. He 



served as deputy under Sheriff Gates, of 
Lorain county, and was one of the posse of 
detectives who hunted down the counter- 
feiters several years ago, bringing back in 
custody several of them from beyond the 
Mississippi river. His wife was born July 
7, 1801, in County Armagh, Ireland, and 
died Jutie 2, 1845, after which Mr. Lind- 
sey removed east, but after a time again 
came west, for a couple of years sojourn- 
ing in Illinois, where he had business, and 
where he died in September, 1852. In his 
political predilections he was a strong 
Doujflas Democrat. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Lind.sey there were born six children, viz.: 
Isabel, born December 12, 1824, widow of 
John A. Chapman; William K., born May 
18, 1826, died young; Esther, born May 
25, 1828; John G., born April 18, 1831, 
living in Allegan, Mich.; Margaret, born 
June 6, 1835; and William II., born Sep- 
tember 28, 1839, living in Michigan, all 
born in Massachusetts except the youngest, 
who is an Ohioan. Grandfather William 
Lindsey, who lived in Chester, Mass., was 
descended from Scotch ancestry, the Chap- 
mans being of English descent. Mrs. 
Chapman's maternal grandmother, Mar- 
garet Morton, married William King. 
Her (Mrs. Chapman's) paternal grand- 
mother was Jane Hubble, a native of Con- 
necticut, who had two brothers known to 
Mr.<. Chapman, named respectively Ed- 
ward and Silas; she was twice married: 
first to John Lindsey and then to William 
Lindsey. 

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. John 
Austin Chapman settled in Huntington 
township, Lorain county, on the Chapman 
liomestead, taking care of his parents in 
their declining years. In 1876 they came 
to the town of AVellington, where they 
built the eleorant and commodious residence 
still occupied by Mrs. Chapman. Here he 
died May 22, 1891, leaving a comfortaide 
competence, the accumulation of years of 
honest toil and careful thrift. Prior to 
the Civil war he was an Old-time Dem- 
ocrat, but became, at the breaking out of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



781 



that struggle, a stanch Republican, re- 
maining in the ranks of that party till the 
day of his death. Their home was bright- 
ened hy the birth of three children, of 
whom the following is a brief record: 
Oren P., born October 30, 1845, married 
Miss Ella Perkins, and has two children, 
Mary Isabel and Kobert A.; John Lindsey, 
born July 31, 1852, married Mabel Noney, 
and has three children: William Austin, 
Grace and Olive; and Josephine, married 
to Edward Van Cleaf, has two sons: Frank 
Chapman and Wint'erd K. 



/^'EORGE M. HARRIS, M. D. This 

I J< gentleman, who has successfully 
^L>l practiced his profession for some 

^|l sixteen years in Lorain, comes of an 
old pioneer family of Lorain county. 

He was born in North Amherst, Ohio, 
in 1854, a sun of Milo and Mary J. 
(Tyrrell) Harris, natives of Ohio and Mas- 
sachusetts, respectively. The father is a 
prominent man in Lorain county, toward 
the growth and advancement of wliich he 
has materially contributed. In 1861 he 
was elected sheriff of the county, serving 
eighteen months; was also a justice of the 
peace for many years in Amherst and 
Black River townships. He was twice 
married: first time, in 1843, to Miss Caro- 
line Stocking, of Lorain county, by which 
union there was one child, Florence (widow 
of Hiram Leslie), now living in California. 
Mrs. Caroline Harris died in 1852. and 
Mr. Harris subsequently married Miss 
Mary Tyrrell, daughter of Homer and 
Mary F. Tyrrell (both now deceased), all 
natives of Massachusetts. By this mar- 
riage there were live children, of whom 
the following is a brief record: George M. 
is the subject of this sketch; Albert T. is 
a physician in Howard. Ivans.; Lucia M. 
is the wife of Georcre M. Parker, of North 
Amherst; Homer J. died at the age of 
sixteen years; Carrie F. died at the age of 
three years. 



Josiah Harris, grandfather of subject, 
was born November 30, 1783, in Becket, 
Berkshire Co., Mass., and died March 26, 
1867, aged eighty-fotir years. In 1818 
he came on foot from Massachusetts to 
Lorain county, where he had previously 
purchased land in what is now Amherst 
township. lie was a member of the Ohio 
Legislature, and to attend to his duties 
there, at Columbus, he used to ride on 
horseback through a comparatively wild 
country. He served as postmaster (under 
appointment of Postmaster-General Meigs) 
over forty years continuously, excepting 
when in the Legislature. 

George M. Harris received his primary 
education at the common schools of North 
Amherst, after which, in 1875, he entered 
the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincin- 
nati, where he graduated with the class of 
1877, in which year he located in Lorain, 
a town then of but some 1,500 inhabitants, 
and where he has since resided. In May, 
1881, the Doctor was united in marriage, 
in Uhrichsville, Ohio, with Miss Dor- 
rell M. Leggett, a native of Uhrichsville, 
and to this union has been born one child, 
Florence. In politics Dr. Harris is a Re- 
publican, and he has served as a member 
of the town council. Socially he is a 
member of the K. O. T. M. 



dl O HN CURREY, a successful well-to- 
do merchant, and well known as one 
) of the stanch business men of Roches- 
ter, is a native of Pentisylvania, born 
in Chester county February 10, 1823. 

William Currey, father of subject, by 
trade a wagon maker and wheelwright, 
was of the same locality by birth, as was 
also his wife, Rachel (Rickard). They 
were the parents of children as follows: 
Jonathan, who died in Troy, A.shland Co., 
Ohio; Ann, who married Thomas Wood, 
and died in Ashland county; Isaac, de- 
ceased in Ashland county; Harriet, who 
died in Pennsylvania when young; John, 



732 



LOJtAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



subject of sketch; Hannah, Mrs. James 
Walker, of Troy, Ohio; William, of Ash- 
lard connty; Matthew, a resident of the 
State of Washinfjton; and Angeline, who 
died young. In 1837 the family came to 
Ohio, the journey to Columbus, their 
destination, being made by wagon, and 
their route the National Pike. In Colum- 
bus the father died, in Aiigust, 1837, and 
his widow about three mouths afterward 
moved to Greenwich township, Huron 
county, where she and the family rented 
land, on which they lived five years. In 
1842 they moved to Troy, Ashland county, 
where they bought fifty acres of wild land 
at six dollars per acre. Here the mother 
died in 1854, her remains being laid to 
rest in Beckley cemetery, Rochester town- 
ship. 

John Currey, whose name introduces 
this sketch, recei\'ed his education at the 
schools of his native place, and was four- 
teen years old when the family came to 
Ohio, where he had to lay his hand to the 
axe to assist in the hewing out of a new 
home for the family. In 1866 he moved 
from Troy township, Ashland county, to 
Rochester, Lorain county, where he en- 
tered mercantile life, having since success- 
fully conducted his general store, in con- 
nection with which he is interested in a 
hotel business, and buys and sells farm 
products. He owns in Troy township, 
Ashland county, 312 acres of excellent 
farmino; land. 

Mr. Currey has been twice married, first 
time in 1854 to Miss Almira Carrier, who 
was born in Ashland county, Ohio, and 
shortly thereafter they moved to Iowa 
City, wliere he was employed as clerk in 
tlie hardware store of Hart, Love & Co., 
which was not his first experience in that 
line, having already been in business for 
himself in Troy, Ohio. While in Iowa 
City his wife died, and about three months 
later he returned to Troy. In 1856, for 
his second helpmeet, Mr. Currey wedded 
Miss Matilda Wicks, a native of New 
York, born of English parentage. By 



this marriage came children whose record 
is as follows: Rachel, now Mrs. Adelbert 
Mitchell, of Rochester; Jane, Mrs. Charles 
Beardsley, of Rochester; Emeline, Mrs. 
George Smith, of Brighton township; 
Charles, of Troy, Ohio; Hattie, Mrs. 
Dwight Mann, of Rochester; and Nellie, 
residing at home. Politically our subject 
is a stanch Republican, and has held vari- 
ous township oliices, including that of 
treasurer six years. Both he and his wife 
are exemplary members of the M. E. 
Church. Mr. Currey is a man of good 
judgment and sound common sense, and 
his advice, where truly needed, is fre- 
quently sought for and found valuable. 



THADDEUS W. FANCHER, post- 
master at Lorain, was born Febru- 
ary 25, 1839, in Greenwich, Hunm 
Co., (Jhio, where he was reared and 
educated. 
At the age of twenty-four he removed 
to central Michigan, where he resided 
about ten years, or until 1873, when he 
canje to Lorain, Ohio, and there followed 
contracting and building some five or six 
years. At the end of that time he bought 
an interest in a hardware business, having 
as a partner a Mr. Edison, and this he con- 
tinued in until his appointment, in 1880, 
as jjostmaster at Lorain. At the end of 
seven years' well-merited popularity in 
this office he was deposed by the incoming 
Cleveland administration, but received re- 
appointment on the accession of Harrison 
to the Presidency, in 1890. He has also 
served in various municipal offices, such as 
member of council and mayor, besides as a 
justice of the peace for several years. 

In 1862 Mr. Fancher was united in 
marriage, iu Greenwich, Huron Co., Ohio, 
with Miss Ermina Griflin, of the same 
place, daughter of Riley and Philena 
Griflin, the former of whom was born iu 
1812 in Greene county, N. Y.; iiis wife, 
Philena (Washburn), was born in Ulster 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



733 



county. N. Y., in 1817, and died iu 1862. 
Two children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Fancher: Elvadore R. and Millicent 
A. Our subject has been a Freemason 
since the age of twenty-one. He is a son 
of William and Mary (Vanscoy) Fanclier, 
the former of whom was born in 1811 in 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., whence in 1819 he 
came to Greenwich, Huron Co., Ohio, and 
died in 1887, at Camden, Mich., at the age 
of seventy-six years. Our subject's mother 
was a native of Geauga county, Ohio. 



C. WEEKS, whose industry and 

thrift have united in placing him 

in the front rank of Lorain county's 

A1 many prosperous agriculturists, is 

the owner of a highly-improved 

farm of seventy-seven acres in Rochester 

township. 

He is the third son of German Weeks, 
who was born in the State of New York 
March 13, 1804; was united in marriage 
January 7, 1830, with Jane S., daughter 
of Christina and Peter Thompson. She 
was born April 17, 1809. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Weeks were born thirteen children, 
all of whom are now living except the 
third child, who died in infancy. They 
are as follows: Matilda, Schuyler, George, 
Christina, Peter T., Andrew, John, Mary 
E., Martha A., Eliza J., Harriet L. and 
La Rue. Five of these accompanied the 
parents to Ohio in 1840, locating first in 
Rochester, Ohio, and two years later mov- 
ing two miles south to Troy, Ashland 
county. Here he bought and cleared ui)a 
farm of one hundred acres, and here he 
lived until his death, which occurred June 
25, 1886, a period of more than forty 
years. His faithful and beloved wife de- 
parted this life November 29, 1882, 
greatly mourned by her husband and 
children. 

G. C. Weeks was born September 10, 
1835, and received a fairly liberal educa- 
tion at the schools of his native place. At 



the age of fourteen he left the paternal 
home, and worked out at what he could 
find to do on neigfliborine; farms. At the 
end of seven years he returned to his par- 
ents, and with filial affection assisted and 
cared for them until he was thirty years 
old, at which time he boucrht for his own 
account fifty acres of land at forty dollars 
per acre. Directly after his marriage he 
added to this purchase twenty other acres 
adjoining, and, still later, seven more, 
which in the aggregate comprise his pres- 
ent fine farm. 

During the Civil war Mr. Weeks en- 
listed, iu February, 1865, in Company F, 
One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Regi- 
ment O. V. L, serving one year. Return- 
ing home January 31, 1866, he married, 
May 31, same year, Miss Mary B. Ford, 
born in Clear Creek township, Ashland 
Co., Ohio, February 9, 1846, a daughter 
of Elias Ford, one of the pioneers of Ash- 
land county. Politically Mr. Weeks is a 
Republican, and in religious faith he and 
his wife are meml)ers of the Methodist 
Episcopal (Jhurch at Troy, in which they 
take an active interest. 




iARREN. The Warren family is 
one of the oldest in Wellington 
township, and is descended from 
a long line of New England an- 
cestry. 

The earliest records of the family men- 
tion one Warren, born about 1650, who 
was the father of Joshua Warren, of 
Watertown, Mass. Joshua married Re- 
hecah, dauiihter of Caleb Church, also of 
Watertown. The next in line was Joshua,- 
Jr., who married Elizabeth Harris, of 
Brookline. He was followed by Benjamin 
Warren, born in Watertown, November 
30, 1728; his wife was Hannah Lewis, and 
he was a Revolutionary soldier. 

Benjamin Warren, Jr., was burn April 
19, 1772, and married Lucy Burr, of Nor- 
folk, Conn. He brought his family to 



734 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Wellington in 1831. Th'^ir cliildren were: 
Polly, Harriett, B( tsey, Alanson and Lu- 
ther Day. Tlie latter was born March 2, 

1813, and msirried Laura Wait, who was 
born in P'redoiiia, N. Y., February, 6, 

1814. Their descendants, who still live 
in Wellington, are: Harriet E. Warren, 
M. D.; Frank D. Warren, who married 
Metta Sajre (they have one child — Ella); 
Walter D. Warren, wlio married Helen 
Conistock, and with their three children — 
Clarence, Albert and Emma — still lives in 
the old homestead on the banks of the 
Charlemont. 



Iff ENRY HAERISON WILLIAMS. 
IpH one of the earliest pioneers of Avon 
I 1_ township, was born in Norwich, 
^J Conn., October 21, 1812, one of 

eight children born to John and 
Clarissa Williams, both natives of Massa- 
chusetts. 

In 1817 the parents moved to Ohio and 
settled in Troy (now Avon) township, 
Lorain county, bringing with them their 
eight children, as follows: Laura, Justin, 
Teinpa, Eliza Minerva, John Wendell, 
Mary Harriet, Henry Harrison and James 
Dwight, of whom, Justin died in 1846. 
Here the father opened up a farm in the 
woods, whereon he made a permanent 
liome, and he laid the first board floor in 
the township. He died June 29, 1840, 
his wife October 28, 1839. In politics he 
Was a Whig, and he served as township 
treasurer. Some of their children lived to 
old age: Mrs. Tempa Garfield died Jannaiy 
13, 1894, in Sheffield, in her ninety-fourth 
year; Mrs. Eliza M. Clary, now in her 
ninety-first year, lives in Norwalk; John 
W. died in Avon in his eighty-fifth year; 
Henry Harrison is now in his eighty- 
second year; James D. died in Avon in his 
seventy-fifth year. 

H. H. Williams was five years of age 
when he came with the rest of the family 
to what is now Avon township, at which 
time the country was covered with timber. 



wolves, bears and deer beincr numerous. 
One of the male members of the family 
would have to go horseback once in every 
two weeks, to Olmsted, to have their mill- 
ing done, and as there were no roads the 
journey was often somewhat perilous. 
Many a day Harrison spent pounding corn 
in a stump, hollowed out, to make their 
bread. Shoes were a luxury, and the chil- 
dren would tramp miles to school in win- 
ter time with their feet bound up in 
cloths. Our subject received his educa- 
tion in the common schools of the day, 
wiiich were held in log cabins, and subse- 
quently engaged in mercantile business at 
French Creek for fifteen years. In 1850 
lie erected the first steam sawmill in the 
township, which he conducted for some 
time, and then bought a gristmill. In 
1855 he was burned out, and in 1856 he 
built the present gristmill at French 
Creek, which he operated for many years. 
For the past few years he has given his 
attention to agriculture, and owns a good 
farm adjoining the village. On Februarj' 
6, 1840, he was married at Ridgeville, 
Ohio, to Miss Eunice Amelia Porter, 
daughter of Ebenezer and Eunice (Yale) 
Porter, who were married in 1800 at Lee, 
Mass.; in 1822 they left Jthere, with their 
family of eight children, for Ohio, the 
journey being made with covered wagons, 
and occupying tluee months. They spent 
the first winter in Dover, Cuyahoga 
county, and in tlie spring moved to Ridge- 
ville, where Mr. Porter built the first log 



house on Sugar Ridge, 
farmer. He died at 



He was a lifelong 
his residence in 



Ridgeville July 6, 1867, at the patriarchal 
age of ninety-two years. Llis wife died at 
the same place November 19, 1847, aged 
seventy-seven years. Their children were 
as follows: Mrs. Griscilda Gardner, de- 
ceased; Kimball; Mrs. Marcia Smith, de- 
ceased at the age of eighty-two years; 
Mrs. Mary E. Chester, Mrs. Frances Sex- 
ton, Mrs. Charlotte Tinker and Charles J., 
all deceased, and Mrs. Eunice A. Will- 
iams. To Harrison H. and Eunice A. 




.15^ 








^z^^^. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



737 



Williams were born five children, their 
names and dates of l)irth being as follows: 
(1) Howard, January 21, 1841; (2) An- 
nette, January 23, 1S48; (3) Everett E., 
March 2, 1846; (4) Montville, November 
15, 1847 (died December 16, 1847); and 
(5) Nellie L., October 5, 1853. Of these, 
(1) ri(iward married JIarcli 13, 1871, Ada 
F. McCarty; he is in the slate and felt 
rooting business in Toronto, Ont., also 
Buffalo, N. Y. ; their children were Alli- 
son Jay, Annette Morey, Dwight Mc- 
Carty (deceased), Ralph Clark and Frank- 
lin Howard (of these Annette Morey was 
married June 15, 1893, to T. Corbert 
Thompson, a dry-goods merchant in To- 
ronto, Ont.). (2) Annette married, June 
8, 1868, Norris Morey, an attorney at law 
of Buffalo, N. Y., and captain in the New 
York cavalry; their children are Isabel 
Kansom, Joseph Harrison, Howard Will- 
iams and Arthur Norris. (3) Everett E. 
married, at Avon, October 23, 1870, Miss 
Laurett A. AVilliams; he is assistant cash- 
ier in the National Bank of Elyria; their 
children are Zella Messenger, Harrison 
Charles and Porter Hastings. (5) Nellie 
L. was married May 21, 1881, to Burton 
C. Jameson, formerly of Avon, in the 
gravel and composition rooting business in 
Buffalo, N. Y., also in Toronto, Canada; 
tlieir children are Everett Williams and 
Norris Morey. 

Howard Williams, eldest son of H. H. 
Williams, enlisted August 11, 1862, then 
twenty-one years of age, in Company E, 
Forty-second O. V. I., as a recruit. For 
most of tlie time he was on detached, or 
special, duty until April 3, 1863, when, 
beiiicr sick, he was sent to St. Louis Hos- 
pital. Subsequently he was given a com- 
mission as second lieutenant of Company 
B, Fifth U. S. Volunteers; was ordered to 
Salena, Kansas, a border town, to guard 
army trains across the Plains, where In- 
dians and others were troublesome. Later 
he was sent to Denver, Colo., and there 
remained till the close of the war. lie is 
now in Toronto, Ont., as above recorded. 



In political connection Henry 11. Will- 
iair)s was originally a Whig, and cast his 
first Presidental vote for (len. Harrison in 
1840; since the formation of the party he 
has been a Repuljliean, and he has served 
as treasurer of Avon township, and also as 
postmaster at French Creek. He and his 
wife have l)een active members of the 
Baptist Church at French Creek, she for 
fifty-nine years, he for fifty-two years, and 
a trustee much of the time. 



GOLDEN WEDDING. 

" Married in Ridgevillc February 6, 1840, 
at the residence of E. Porter, Esq., by the 
Rev. Silas Tucker, Mr. Henry H. Williams 
of Avon and Miss Eunice A. Porter. 

"The printer's fee on this occasion was 
a full loaf of cake of ample dimensions, 
which spoke well for the sweet temper of 
the bride, and the prospect of future felic- 
ity to the happy pair." 

The above notice appeared in the Elyria 
paper of February, 1840. February 6, 
1890— Mr. and Mrs. Williams, who have 
been spending the winter in Buffalo, cele- 
brated their golden wedding at the resi- 
dence of their daugliter, Mrs. Norris 
Morey, No. 200 Sumner street. The four 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Williams, with 
their families, were all present, thirteen 
grandchildren, making twenty-three in 
the family: Howard Williams, of Toronto; 
Mrs. Jameson, of Buffalo; Mrs. Morey; 
Mr. Williams, of Elyria; it being the first 
reunion of the family at which every mem- 
ber was present. Two deaths have oc- 
curred during the fifty years — an infant 
son and a grandson. The bride and groom 
of half a century received many golden 
gifts, also beautiful flowers and books 
from friends in Buffalo. 



E 



VERETT E. WILLIAMS, assistant 
cashier of the National Bank of 
I Elyria, is a son of H. H. and Eu- 
nice A. (Porter) Williams, and was 
born March 2, 1846, in Avon township, 



738 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Lorain Co., Ohio. He received his liter- 
ary training at the public schools of Avon 
and at Oberlin College. At the conclu- 
sion of his studies he connnenced the mill- 
ing business in Avon, and is now a mem- 
ber of the IJrm of Williams, Barrows & 
Co., merchant millers, Lorain, Ohio. In 
connection he is interested in grain eleva- 
tors as a member of the firm of Williams 
& Breckenridge. In 1885 he was unani- 
mously nominated and elected, on the Re- 
publican ticket, treasurer of Lorain county, 
and after serving his county in this capac- 
ity two terms (four years), he became 
connected with the National Bank of 
Elyria, as teller. 

Mr. Williatns was married, at Avon, 
October 23, 1870, to Miss Laurett Will- 
iams, and they have three children, namely: 
Zella Messenger, Harrison Charles and 
Porter Hastings. Mr. Williams is among 
the best known and most progressive busi- 
ness men of Lorain county, and enjoys an 
enviable popularity. 



^/ 



MILO HAPtRIS, a leading and in- 
fluential citizen of North Am- 
_[ herst, where he carried on mer- 
cantile business for many years, 
hut is now retired from active life, 
was horn April 21, 1822, at that place, the 
third son and child of the old pioneer 
Josiah Harris. 

Josiah Harris was the most notable man 
to arrive in Lorain county in 1818. He 
was born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Mass., 
November 30, 1783, and died March 26, 
1867, aged eighty-four years. He made 
joui-neys to Ohio in 1814-15, and pur- 
chased land; in 1818 he came to Amherst, 
and soon after had a log house completed 
on the banks of Beaver creek. He finally 
settled on the Public Square. In 1821 
he was elected a justice of the peace, and 
served thirty-six years; was the first sheriff 
of Lorain county, and served three years 
as associate judge, being appointed in 



1829; was a member of the General As- 
sembly of Ohio in 1827, representing 
Cuyahoga county; represented Lorain and 
Medina counties in the House, and after- 
ward was elected to the State Senate from 
the same District. Some time in the 
"twenties" he was appointed postmaster 
by Postmaster-general Meigs, and held the 
office continuously to the time of his death 
(over forty 3'ears), except when in the 
Legislature, being, probably, the oldest 
postmaster in the United States. He was 
agent for a number of eastern landowners, 
in which capacity he was enabled to do 
many a kind turn for the new comers, and 
no man in the township exerted a wider or 
more potent influence for good. He had 
four children, viz.: Josiah A., now de- 
ceased, for many years editor of the Cleve- 
land Herald; Loring P., in Texas; Mile, 
and Emeline C, in Philadelphia. 

The subject of this sketch received a 
liberal education at the schools of North 
Amherst, and was i-eared to commercial 
life. In 1861 he was elected sheriff of 
Lorain county, serving eighteen months; 
he was also a justice of the peace for many 
years in Amherst and Black River town- 
ships. In 1843 he was married to Miss 
Caroline Stocking, of Lorain county, 
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Good- 
rich) Stocking, of Massachusetts, who in 
an early day came to Black River town- 
ship, Lorain county; they are both now 
deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Harris was 
born one child, Florence (widow of Hiram 
Leslie), a resident of California. Mrs. 
Caroline Harris died in 1852, and on 
March 1, 1853, Mr. Harris married, in 
Amherst township, Lorain county, Mary 
Tyrrell, daughter of Homer and Mary F. 
Tyrrell (both now deceased), all natives of 
Massachusetts. By this marriage there 
were children as follows: George M., a 
physician and surgeon in Lorain, Ohio; 
Albert T., a physician in Howard, Ivans.; 
Lucia M., wife of George M. Parker, a 
member of the Amherst town council and 
superintenden t of the Malone Stone Quarry ; 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



739 



and Homer J. and Carrie F., who died at 
tlie age of sixteen and three years, re- 
spectively. 

In politics our subject is a Republican. 
Socially he has been a member of Elyria 
Lodge, No. 103, I. O. O. F., since 1852, 
and was a charter member of Plato Lodge; 
he was also a member of the L 0. G. T. 
Mrs. Harris is a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church. A notable fact in regard 
to the Harris family is that three of its 
members have held the office of sheriff of 
Lorain county: Judge Josiah Harris was 
the first sheriff; his son, Josiah A., held 
the office at a later period, being third 
sheriff in the county, and Milo was sheriff 
in 1861, as already related. 



^J 



IT ENRY WALLACE, the well-known 

'5^ lake captain and vessel owner, whose 

1[ residence is in Lorain, was born in 

County Down, Ireland, in 1828, a 

son of Samuel and Ann (Finley) 

Wallace. 

In his native land he was reared on a 
farm, and educated at the Protestant 
schools of the vicinity of his place of birth. 
In 1850 he came to America and to Ohio, 
making his first home, in the New World, 
in Cleveland, where he remained till the 
fall of the same year, when he came to 
Lorain (then Black River), in which now 
flourishing city he has since made his 
home. Here he worked in shipyards for 
several years, finally becoming interested 
in vessel property — small boats chiefly — 
the firm with which he was connected being 
known as "AVallace, Gawn & Co.," who 
became very successful in business. For 
the past several years he has been owner 
or part owner of some of the A 1 vessels 
that have sailed the lakes, and among those 
in which he at present has an interest may 
be mentioned the propeller '• Vulcan " 
(built of steel), and the steamer " Robert 
Wallace " and sailing vessel " David Wal- 
lace," the " Thomas Gawn " and " Lyons;" 



also the steel propeller " Vega," which was 
built by the company winter of 1892-93. 
For about twenty-eight consecutive years 
he sailed the lakes as captain, and for ex- 
cellency of seamanship and care in hand- 
ling liis vessels, his reputation stands 
without a blemish. 

On Christmas Eve, 1S56, Capt. Wallace 
was united in marriage with Miss Chloe 
Case, a native of Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
and they have threechildren living, namely: 
Eva, wife of J. H. Hills, superintendent of 
the Brass Works at Lorain (they have three 
children: Alma, Harry and Albert); Eliz- 
abeth, and Lillie, wife of Welker McEl. 
Frish. 

The entire family, with the exception 
of Mrs. Hills, who is a Contrregationalist, 
are members of the M. E. Church. Capt. 
Wallace is a Republican in politics, and is 
a member of the I. O. (). F. 



HfENRY J. BARROWS was born 
March 15, 1851, in Avon township, 
_ Lorain Co., Ohio. His early life 
was spent upon a farm, and he re- 
ceived such an education as the dis- 
trict schools afforded, later studying for a 
time in the Prepai-atory l)epartment of 
Oberlin College. At the age of twenty- 
seven he married Miss Anna L. Beers 
(daughter of Lewis and Susan Beers), 
whose native place was Stratford, Conn., 
and two daugliters, Edna and Ellen, were 
born of the union. Mrs. Barrows died 
April 5, 1893. 

In 1879 the subject of this sketch pur- 
chased an interest in the Avon Flouring 
Mills, then owned and operated by Willams, 
Warden & Co. Mr. Barrows at once took 
charge of the business of the firm, and in 
1886 the style of the firm was changed to 
Williams, Barrows I't Co. Near the close 
of the year 1886 the Avon property was 
sold, and possession given on the first day 
of January, 1887, and the company at once 
commenced the erection of a new flouring 



740 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



mill of 150 barrels daily capacity, at Lo- 
rain, Ohio, which was completed and 
started up Jniie 15, that year. From the 
start tiie new venture has been a success. 
Mr. Barrows still retains a share of and 
manages the business. He holds a direc- 
torship in the Citizens Savings Bank Co., 
and in the Lake Erie Electric Ligiit Co. ; 
is president of the board of Water Works 
Trustees, and vice-president of the Citizens 
Home Savings & Loan Association. In 
politics he has always been a Republican. 
James R. Barrows, father of subject, 
was born in New York, and at the age of 
seven years came to Oiiio with his father, 
Adiiah Barrows, who settled on a farm in 
Avon township, in what was at that time 
almost an unbroken wilderness, and died 
at the age of sixty-seven. Clarrissa Day, 
his wife, lived to be eighty-seven years of 
age. James R. Barrows married Melvina 
P. Sawyer, and they had a family of four 
children, of whom Warren J. died at the 
age of twenty-seven; Ellen C. died at the 
age of thirty-four; Henry J. and Etta M. 
are still livinfj. Mr. James R. Bari-ows is 
now living at the age of seventy-two years, 
on a farm in Avon township, in comfort- 
able circumstances. His tirst wife died 
at the age of thirty-two. 



JOHN LERSCH, member of the well- 
known prosperous dry-goods firm of 
Baldwin, Lersch & Co., Elyria, is a 
native of the Bavarian Palatinate, 
Germany, born July 25, 1841. 

He is a son of Carl and Louise (Schweit- 
zer) Lersch, natives of the same place, who 
emio-rated to America in 1851, bringing 
their young son John with them. At 
Havre, France, July 25, that year, they 
boarded a sailing vessel bound for the 
United States, and after a voyage of forty 
days arrived at New York September 4 
following. From there they came direct 
to Cleveland, Ohio, where they sojourned 



about six months, and then proceeded to 
Mansfield, same State, in which city they 
resided one year. At the end of that time 
they returned to Cuyahoga county, where 
the father purchased a farm in North Dover, 
about thirteen miles east of Elyria, and not 
far from the Lorain county line. They did 
a considerable amount of their trading in 
the town of Elyria, and one day while there 
with their son, the subject of this sketch, 
the following seemingly trivial incident 
occurred, which influenced and directed the 
after life of the lad. They were making a 
purchase in the old-established store of 
Mussey & Co., when one of the salesmen 
— a Mr. Bishop — asked the boy how much 
a peck of the article his father was pur- 
chasing would cost at $2.62^ per bushel. 
Undaunted by the question, young Lersch 
gave prompt and correct answer. " Are 
you sure of this?" asked Mr. Bishop. The 
boy for a moment looked at his mother for 
assurance, and then, on her telling him to 
answer if he really knew, he replied: •' Tes, 
that is right." Thereupon Mr. Bishop 
turned to Mr. Gallup, a partner in the 
house, with the remark: "Here is a boy 
we want; " and accordingly then and there 
it was agreed that, as soon as the proper 
preliminaries could be arranged. Master 
John Lersch should enter the store of 
Mussey & Co., on a thirty-days trial. Thus 
on April 13, 1854, our subject, then not 
thirteen years old, found himself installed 
" on trial " with the lirm. a sudden transi- 
tion truly from the quiet life of the farm 
to the bustle of a busy town. This month 
of probation was marked by a strict ap- 
plication to business on his part, and con- 
stant punctuality, so that at the end of the 
prescribed time indentures were signed 
for three years. The compensation he re- 
ceiveii for his first year's service was forty 
dollars and board ; for the second, fifty 
dollars; for the third, seventy-five dollars; 
and for the fourth, one hundred and 
seventy-five dollars and board, his salary 
being advanced in proportion to his pro- 
motion in the store. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



743 



In 1858 S. W. Baldwin, T. W. Lann- 
don and T. L. Nelson bought out the firm 
of H. E. Mnssey & Co., Mr. Lersch re- 
maining with them until their retirement 
from business in 1872, when, each having 
made liberal fortunes, they sold tlie dry- 
goods department of their business to D. 
C. Baldwin & Co., Mr. Lersch being the 
Junior partner. By hard work and close 
attention to detail their busitiess soon be- 
came one of the largest retail houses in the 
State. As years rolled by Mr. Lersch be- 
came familiar with the entire business of 
buyiner and felling, so that, in whatever 
capacity he acted, his services were alike 
valuable. This relationship continued until 
1880, when the firm was changed to Bald- 
win, Lersch & Co., the present style of the 
lirrn, although Mr. Baldwin has partially 
retired from active business. Most of 
the management of the concern devolves 
upon Mr. Lersch. than whom few men so 
competent, and certainly none superior, 
could be found. At about this time Mr. 
Lerech established the N. O. Syndicate, 
composed of Baldwin, Lersch & Co., Ely- 
ria. Frier «fe Scheule, of Cleveland, and B. 
C. Taber & Co., of Norwalk, Ohio, formed 
for the purpose of purchasing goods, 
chiefly from manufacturers or theiragents, 
thus saving Jobbers' profits, keeping an 
agent constantly on the lookout for bar- 
gains, which enables them to sell at con- 
siderable advantage. 

In 186S Mr. Lersch was married in 
Ellyria, to Miss Pamela Boynton, third 
daughter of Joshua Boynton, and the alli- 
ance has proved a happy one. Seven chil- 
dren have been born to them, all of whom 
have had good educational privileges. They 
are Carl Theodore aiid Robert Boynton 
(both assistants in their father's store), 
Louise De Lano, Carlotta Pauline, John 
Walter, Arthur Emerson ami Paul Har- 
wood. After Mr. Lersch's marriage, his 
parents re.'iided with him during the re- 
mainder of their lives; his mother died in 
February, 1877, iiis father in March, 1887. 
Although a native of Germany, and speak- 



ing the language of that coimtry equally 
as well as he does English, Mr. Lersch is 
a typical American. He is broad in his 
views and conversant with all public ques- 
tions, believing it is the duty of every 
American citizen to be intelligent, and 
well informed on all public issues. As he 
is an ultra-protectionist, it goes without 
saying that he is a straight Republican. At 
the present time Mr. Lersch is one of the 
directors of the Elyria Savings Deposit 
Bank; also a member of the finance com- 
mittee of this baid<. Mr. Lersch attributes 
much of his luisiness success to the admir- 
able training he received at the hands of 
Mr. T. W. Laundon,than whom, probably, 
no better dry-^oods man ever conducted 
business in Lorain county. Mr. Lersch 
has been connected with practically the 
same store for a period of forty years, dur- 
ing which time he has lost only four days 
on account of illness; and the only vaca- 
tion he has taken of any length was in 
1S.S2, when he spent the months of Jnly 
and August in Europe. 



m W. NICHOLS, one of the most 
ZlW yji'ogressive and intelligent of Lo- 
Ir^ rain county's agriculturists, and 
■// whose magniflcent farm of two 

hundred acres is among the most 
fertile of Grafton township, comes of Eng- 
lish-Welsh ancestry. 

He was born July 3, 1828, in York town- 
ship, Livingston Co., N. Y., a son of Na- 
thaniel Nichols, who was born in Rodman 
township, Jefferson Co., N. Y., May 7, 
180H, and whose father, alsq named Na- 
thaniel, served in the Revolutionary war. 
The father of subject was a tanner and 
shoemaker, at which latter trade he served 
a regular apprenticeship. On September 
16, 1827. he married Dorcas E. Bailey, 
who was born March 29, 1804, in Elmira, 
N. Y., of Huguenot and Dutch extraction, 
daughter of Benjamin and Polly (Burr) 
Bailey. After marriage they made their 



744 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



new home on a piece of land owned by liis 
brother Albion, where for a time he fol- 
lowed his trade. While they were residing 
in Livingston comity, N. Y ., one son, A. 
W., onr subject, was born to them. Later 
they moved to Cattarangus county, same 
State, and made a temporary settlement in 
Dayton township, where the father honght 
tifty acres of land. Here two children 
were born to them: Martha E., born July 
2, 1831, married to Milton Adams, and 
they now live in Eaton county, Mich.; and 
Mary A., born December 27, 1834, mar- 
ried first to Orange Adams, afterward to 
Samuel Denison, a ranchman near Well- 
born, Texas. From Cattaraugus county 
the family moved to Nunda, Allegany 
(now Livingston) Co., same State, \yhere 
two more children were born, viz.: Rollo 
A., born June 7, 1888, who during the 
Civil war, while a bookkeeper in Hunts- 
ville, Ala., was forced into the Confed- 
erate service, and rose from the ranks 
till at the battle of Spottsylvania C. H. 
he found himself an officer on Gen. Buell's 
staff; at that engagement he was taken 
])risoner by the Federals, and in the 
.spring of 1864 he enlisted in the Union 
ai'my, in which he served till the close of 
the war; afterward he served as commis- 
sary for the IT. S. (Tovernment, and died 
in 1880 at Florence, Ga., where he was 
buried. The other child who came to them 
in Allegany county is Ellen, born Septem- 
ber 25, 1843, married to Don Carlos Van- 
Dusen, now of Oberlin, Ohio. 

In 1843 Nathaniel Nichols came alone 
to Ohio, and deciding to settle in Grafton 
township, Lorain county, he purchased in 
the eastern part fifty acres of wild land at 
ten dollars an acre. In the following fall 
the family joined him, and they set to 
work to clear the land and make all neces- 
sary improvements, building a substantial 
log house for a dwelling. After some 
years the father moved to Columbia town- 
ship, same county, whence after a time he 
returned to Grafton township, and made a 
final settlement in the southern portion of 



same. For a season he was a resident of 
La Grange township (also in Lorain 
county), and he died in 1883 in Hinckley, 
Medina Co., Ohio, where he was sojourn- 
. ing with his daughter Elleu. His wife 
preceded him to the grave some years, dy- 
ing in La Grange township, and they now 
lie buried in the Western Cemetery in that 
township. After coming to Ohio Mr. 
Nichols followed farming chiefly, and to 
some extent his trade, shoemaking. Po- 
litically he was originally a Whig, Imt died 
a Democrat. He was a very liberal and 
hospitable entertainer; in his religious 
views he was partial to the M. E. Church, 
while his wife was an Old-school Presby- 
terian, and their home was always open to 
ministers of all chnrches. 

A. W. Nichols, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received but a limited, educa- 
tion at the public schools of his boyhood 
days, and was i-eared to farm work. Be- 
ing bright at his studies, and an apt 
scliolar, he made considerable progress by 
private reading, and became skilled in 
mathematics. When he was a small boy 
he was adopted by a bachelor uncle, Al- 
bion Nichols, and a maiden aunt, Esther 
Nichols, who lived together and carried on 
farming. In 1844 he came to Ohio, and 
spent his first winter in Lorain connty. 
In the following year his uncle and aunt 
came to Grafton township, and here bought 
sixty acres of wild land from James Tur- 
ner, being the farm our subject now owns 
and lives on, and where he has since re- 
sided, for he at once made his home with 
his benefactors. For some years before 
their death — they lived to advanced ages 
— he had the entire management of their 
farm, and when they died he succeeded to 
the property. He has prospered in all his 
undertakings, and is now the owner of 200 
acres of prime land. In May, 1883, his 
residence was burned dowt;, but he at once 
set to work and built a yet finer one, which 
he calls "Hurricane Hall." 

On February 22, 1870, prior to the death 
of his uncle and aunt, Mr. Nichols was 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



745 



united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth H. 
Durkee, who was horn April 14, 1885, in 
Eaton township, Lorain Co., Ohio, a daugh- 
ter of John Gamble, a native of York- 
shire, England, and his wife. Mar}' Curtis, 
of Boston, Mass. Politically our subject 
has been a Republican since the organiza- 
tion of the party, and has held several 
township offices of trust. He is a mem- 
ber of the F. & A. M., Lodge No. 399, at La- 
Grange, and of Marshall Chapter, Elyria. 



nr^) CHESTER, who for over sixty 

jJ^^ years has been a resident of Avon 

I V^ township, where for nearly half a 

JJ century he has been an industrious 

and frugal farmer, is a native of 

England, born in Northamptonshire, in 

1823. 

He is a son of William and Amelia 
(Perrin) Chester, natives of the same 
county, the former of whom died in Eng- 
land, and his widow, after marrying John 
Fretter, emigrated with her family in 1833 
to the United States. They settled in 
Avon townsJiip, Lorain county, where they 
lived on rented land till 18-40, in which 
year thev moved to the farni wliere our 
subject now resides. The mother died in 
Minnesota about the year 1878, her second 
husband passing away in 1846 in Avon 
township. Lorain county. There were tive 
ciiildren born to her lirst marriage, a brief 
record of whom is as follows: William 
married and resided in Avon, where he 
died in 1881; John died in Avon township 
in 1879; Job is married and resides in 
Rice county, Minn., where he was the first 
settler; R. is the subject of these lines; 
Matilda became the wife of Charles Blanch- 
ett and died in Avon township in 1887. 
Our subject had two stepsisters, viz.: Eliz- 
abeth, who married Luke Cheney, and 
moved to Rice county, Minn., where she 
died in 1880; and Lucy, who married 
Joseph Spriggs, and also moved to Rice 
county, Minn,, where she died in 1885. 



The subject of this sketch, who was ten 
years old when he came to Avon town- 
ship, received his education at the common 
schools of the neighborhood of his home, 
and when he was old enough to work as- 
sisted in clearing the home farm. For 
four years he was in the employ of ex-Gov- 
ernor Wood in Rockport township, Cuy- 
ahoga county, and then returned to Avon 
township, in 1848 locating on his present 
farm of 245 acres, which for the most part 
he cleared himself, and where he has since 
been assiduously engaged in general farm- 
ing. In 1852 he was married, in Elyria 
township, Lorain county, to Miss Eliza 
Mitchell, a native of Northamptonshire, 
England, and children were born to them, 
as follows: Elizabeth Ann, who died in 
1864 at the age of eleven years; Clara, who 
died in 1892 at the age of thirty-seven 
years; Job, residing at home; Mary Ann; 
Agnes Jane; and Reuben Albert. In pol- 
itics Mr. Chester is a Republican. 



DR. H. L. HALL, a well-known young 
physician and surgeon of North 
Amherst, was born May 17, 1860, 
at Jefferson, Ashtaluila Co., Oiiio. 
His grandfather, Daniel Hall, was a native 
of Connecticut, and in a very early day 
came westward to Ashtabula county, Ohio. 
O. L. Hall, son of this early pioneer, was 
born in Connecticut, and was reared in 
Ashtabula county. He was married to 
Laura Hyde, a native of Connecticut, 
whose father, Gates Hyde, was born in 
Allegany county, N. Y., and was one of 
the earliest pioneers of Lenox town.ship, 
Ashtabula county, where he assisted in 
clearing a farm. Mr. Hall followed the 
profession of a teacher. He died in 1885 
at Macon, Ga.; his widow is now living in 
Atlanta, Georgia. 

Dr. H. L. Hall was reared in his native 
county, and received his education at Grand 
River Institute. Austinburgh, Ohio. In 
1881 he entered the Medical Department 



746 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



of tlie "Western Reserve University, Cleve- 
land, Ohio, graduating with the class of 

1884, ami afterward spent eighteen snonths 
at tiie Lakeside Hospital, also in Cleve- 
land, graduating therefrom in October, 

1885. He then came to North Amherst, 
wiiicii he has since made his home, and 
where lie has built up an extensive general 
practiff; he is now medical examiner for 
seven old-line life-insurance companies. 

In June, 1885, the Doctor was united 
in marriage, in Ashtabula countj', Ohio, 
with Miss Hattie A. Tinker, a native of 
that county. Tiiey are both members of 
the Congregational Church, in which he 
has filled several offices. In politics onr 
subject is independent, and he takes an 
active interest in everything tending to the 
advancement of his community. Socially 
he is a member of North Amherst Lodge 
No. 74, K. of P. 



/p^ORDON W. BAKER, senior mera- 
1 w, ber of the well-known clothing linn, 
\^ ill Elyria, of Baker &, Foster, is one 
^^ of the oldest established merchants 
in tlie city. lie is a native of 
Northamptonshire, England, born June 2, 
1888, a son of Richard and Sarah (Gau- 
derii) Buker, of the same place, who emi- 
grated to the United States when the 
subject of these lines was yet a boy, lo- 
cating in Lorain county, Ohio. 

Mr. Richard Baker enjoys a wide repu- 
tation as one of the most prominent 
stockmen in the Buckeye State. He was 
one of the leaders of the State Fair an- 
nually held in Columbus, Ohio, and for 
several years was president and a director 
of that Association; was one of the first to 
introduce into Lorain county, Ohio, the 
famous Shorthorn cattle, and it is said 
owned the first herd of that breed exhibited 
in these parts. To tiie rearing of not only 
finebrcd cattle but also horses, as well as 
general agriculture, has Mr. Baker devoted 
the greater part of his useful life. 



Gordon W. Baker received iiis primary 
education at the schools of the neighbor- 
hood of his place of birth, which he 
supplemented in this country with con- 
siderable application to books and study as 
opportunity offei'ed. Leaving his fatlier's 
farm at the age of thirteen years he en- 
gaged his services as clerk to a genera! 
merchant in Elyria, but this emijloyer 
going out of business, Mr. Baker soon 
found another opening, with Starr Bros., 
which position he filled with much credit 
for some four or five years. He then en- 
tered the employ of Baldwin, Laundon & 
Nelson, the then leading mercantile house 
of Elyria, and here he did efficient work 
for several years, becoming at the same 
time thoroughly conversant with all 
brandies of mercantile trade, making his 
mark for application to business and thor- 
ough knowledge of all departments of the 
same. From the successors of the above- 
named linn he ])iirchased the clothing de- 
partment of their business, and received 
into partnership Frank H. Foster, the style 
of the firm becoming Baker & Foster, as it 
at ijresent remains. Throu<jii his lono; 
connection with mercantile pursuits. Mi"- 
Baker gained for himself a very extensive 
acquaintance, and his sturdy Anglo-Saxon 
qualities of integrity, liberality and candor 
gained for him a host of personal fi'ieiids 
and the utmost confidence of the public. 
He soon became the leading clothier of 
Elyria, which he continues to be. Mr. 
Baker has often remarked that just as a 
mati has gained sufficient knowledo-e of 
business to find a real pleasure in it, the 
best part of his life has passed, and he is 
compelled to withdraw into retirement. 

In 1872 Mr. Baker was united in mar- 
riage, in New York State, with Miss 
Charlotte Alice Linnell, a native of North- 
amptonshire, England, to which country 
the happy couple made their wedding trip. 
To this union were born two children, 
named, respectively, Alice Maud Mary and 
Annie Louise. The family reside in a 
handsome home on Washington avenue, 





^^^^^. ^^7^'. 



/ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



749 



Elyria. Mr. Baker is a Kepublican, and 
he attends the services of tlie Episcopal 
Church. In political, religious and all 
other views, public or private, he is liberal, 
always respecting the rights of every man 
to his own opinion and judgment. He is 
a stockholder in and director of the Elyria 
Savings Deposit Bank Co., and a member 
and director of the Elyria Savings and Loan 
Company. 

Mr. Baker is a great reader, and keeps 
himself well informed on all public ques- 
tions. He has a special fondness for live 
stock of all descriptions, and is a good 
judge of same. He breeds extensively, 
and organized a company for the purpose 
of introducing and perpetuating a line of 
fine stock in Colorado, whei-e he has an in- 
terest in a ranch, and a considerable amount 
of means invested. A traveler of no little 
experience, he has made several trips to 
Europe, visiting his old home in England 
and places of interest on the Continent. 



TlOSEPH H. BALDWIN, one of the 
w I leading, intelligent and progressive 
\^) agriculturists of Brownhelm town- 
ship, was born in Addison county, 
Vt., in 1824, a son of Thomas and Esther 
(Wilson) Baldwin, natives of the State of 
New Jersey; the father born in 1785, the 
mother in 1794. 

Thomas B:ildwin, who was a wawon- 
maker by trade, left the paternal roof in 
early life, and, for a time sojourning in Ver- 
mont, married there. In 1832 he removed 
to Chautauqua county, N. Y., whence in 
1836 he came to Brownhelm town-hip, 
Lorain Co., Ohio, where he bought a farm 
and spent the rest of his days. He died 
in 1868. ills widow in 1881. In politics 
he was first a Whig, afterward a Republi- 
can. Six children were borii to Mr. and 
Mrs. Thomas Baldwin, viz.: Lucus, now a 
resident of Paulding county, Ohio; Joseph 
H., the subject of our sketch; Julia, who 
died in 1852; and three children who died 

40 



in infancy. On the father's side the fam- 
ily claim Welsh descent; on the mother's 
they are of Scotch lineage. 

Up to the age of twelve years the subject 
of our sketch was reared in the States of 
Vermont and New York, and, after coming 
to Ohio in 1836 with his parents, attended 
for a time the district schools of Brown- 
helm township, Lorain county.* Learning 
tlie trade of carpenter and joiner, he worked 
in the shipyards at Vermillion, Erie 
county, much of the time uiitil 1863, when 
he settled on the old homestead farm, con- 
sisting of eighty-five acres in Brownhelm 
township, Lorain county. Wliile engaged 
in the business of farming Mr. Baldwin 
has increased his farm by purchase of ad- 
ditional land, until now he lias a well- 
improved farm of 163 acres of first-class 
land, on which he still resides. 

Mr. Baldwin has been thrice married, 
the first time in 1851, to Miss Sarah M. 
Ashenhurst, by which union three children 
were born: Henry T., a blacksmith by 
trade, now residing at Berlin Heights, 
Ohio; William A., a railroad employe, 
who was killed while coupling cars, July 
7, 1883; and Charlie, who died in infancy. 
This wife died September 5, 1864, and in 
December, 1865, Mr. Baldwin was wedded 
to Miss Adeline Hardy, a native of the 
State of New York, daughter of Ephraim 
Hardy, a pioneer of IJrie county, Ohio. To 
this union two children were born, namely; 
Fi'ank O., who has attended school and 
taught for the past five or six years, he 
having graduated from the Commercial De- 
partment of the Ohio Normal University 
(September, 1SU2), and the Business De- 
partment of the Tri-State Normal College 
(October, 1893), the degree of B. C. S. 
being conferred upon him by eacii institu- 
tion; and Charles A., a farmer who resides 
at home with his father. The mother of 
these departed this life April 21, 1890, and 
February 14, 1892, the subject of our 
sketch married Mrs. May E. Howey, a na- 
tive of Missouri, and a lady of culture and 
refinement (she has, by her former bus- 



750 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



band, one child, a 6on, wlio is a successfnl 
telegraph operator in the West). 

In his jiolitieal faith Mr. Baldwin is a 
stanch Republican; he has served as town- 
ship trustee several years, and is now 
president of the Board of Education in his 
township. 



IjACOB GOODMAN (deceased) was 
V. Ii born September 13, 1818, in Seneca 
^/j county. N. y., to Jacob and Eliza- 
beth (Meyer) Goodman, who about 
the year 1833 came to Medina county, 
Ohio, from the East, settling in the woods 
of Brunswick township. 

Our subject attended the public schools 
of his early day, but being one of a large 
family of children, twelve in number, did 
not enjoy many educational advantages. 
In December, 1849, he married MaryEuga, 
a native of Baden, Germany, born Decem- 
ber 11, 1828, daughter of Jacob Euga, 
who came with his family to the United 
States in lo34, landing in New York after 
a three weeks' passage. Thence they pro- 
ceeded by Hudson river and Erie Canal to 
Buifalo, N. Y., from which city they came 
by lake to Cleveland, thence by road to 
Liverpool township, Medina county, where 
the father bought a small tract of land 
totally unimproved, on which he erected a 
log house, and where his family were 
reared. Alter marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Goodman located on a farm, where he had 
previously resided, in Grafton township, 
Lorain county, and here a new log cabin 
was erected. On this farm cliildren as 
follows were born to them: Sarah, Mrs. 
Frederick AYise, of Eaton township; Char- 
lotte, Mrs. W. E. Saddler, of Bloomdale, 
Wood Co., Ohio; Adaline, Mrs. Charles 
Reisinger, of Grafton township; Mary, 
now Mrs. Edward Killup (her tirst hus- 
band, Henry Reisinger, was killed by 
lightning in Columbia township), and 
Charles. About the year 1861 Mr. Good- 
man built the frame hou.se in which he re- 
sided until his death, which occurred Sep- 



tember 20, 1884, after a lingering illness; 
his remains were interred in Belden ceme- 
tery. He was a lifelong successful farmer, 
and his death was hastened by overwoi-k, 
as he was a most energetic man in all his 
undertakings. In politics he was an en- 
thusiastic Democrat, and though not a 
member of school board, was a strong ad- 
vocate of free schools and compulsory edu- 
cation. In matters of religion he was a 
member of the Congregational Church at 
Belden. as is also liis widow, who con- 
tinues to reside on the old homestead, 
which is under the management of her 
son Charles, a brief sketch of whom is 
here given. 

CHAHLf:s Goodman was born in March, 
1862, in Grafton township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, and received a liberal education at 
the district schools. On August 1, 1888, 
he was united in marriage with Hattie D. 
Bradley, who was born in Monee, 111., 
February 17, 1870, a daughter of George 
and Eleanor (Harper) Bradley, and three 
children were born to them, viz.: Mary E., 
Bert B., and Henry, who died in infancy. 
After marriage Mr. Goodman continued 
to reside on the old farm, which now com- 
prises 244 acres of prime land, for his age 
controlling more land than any other 
farmer in the township, and he long since 
gave evidences of his competency to do so. 
Pie is a typical "hustler," and one of the 
most prosperous go-ahead and wide-awake 
young farmers of Grafton. In politics he 
follows in the footsteps of his father, being 
an uncompromising Democrat. 



J FRANCIS HARMON, the well- 
known druggist of Oberlin, was born 
' in Randolph, Portage Co., Ohio, 
January 22, 1836, a son of Chaun- 
eey and Comfort (Dickinson) Harmon. 
The father of subject was born in Berk- 
shire county, Mass., in 1796, and in 1816 
came west to Ohio, settling in Randolph, 
Portage county, where he carried on farm- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



751 



ing up to the time of his death in 1862. 
In 1821 he married Comfort Dickinson, 
wiio was born in Granville, Conn., and in 
1806 came west with her parents. Both 
families were of English ancestry. 

J. F. Harmon was educated at the com- 
mon schools of his native place, and at 
Oberlin, whither he had come when yet in 
liis "teens." On leaving school he com- 
menced to learn tiie trade of printer, and 
after a three-years apprenticeship, he and 
V. A. Shankland purchased, in 1858, the 
Evangelist, a weekly paper in Oberlin, 
which they continued to pulilish jointly till 
during the Civil war, when fired with the 
spirit of patriotism Mr. Harmon entered 
the service of the Union, having previously 
sold out his interest to his partner; l)ut the 
paper collapsed during the war period. 
There was another periotlical established in 
1858, and published in tlie^««W(7«Zwi!office, 
entitled The Oherlin Students' Monthlij, 
the students of Obei'lin College supplying 
the editorial matter, and this also ''came 
to grief" during those troublous days. 
They also established the Lorain County 
News in ISOO, which under the title of 
Oberlin News is still publislied. 

Our subject enlisted April 19, 1861, in 
Company C, Seventh O. V. I., in the three 
months service, and went to Cleveland, 
Ohio, as corporal, there to join his regi- 
ment. Thence they proceeded to Camp 
Dennison, whei-e they were drilled till the 
end of the following June. At the expira- 
tion of his term Mr. Harmon reenlisted 
for three years, as did also nearly every 
member of the company. They were 
then ordered to West Virginia, where they 
spent their first summer and fall, and at 
tlie affair at Cross Lanes, where they en- 
countered Gen. Floyd's force, about thirty 
of the company were taken prisoners, and 
some died of their wounds. In December, 
1861, the regiment proceeded to central 
Virginia, and particijiated in the engage- 
ment at AVinchester with Gen. " Stone- 
wall" Jackson's force, in whicli four or 
five of Company C were killed; thence 



they moved down the Shenandoah Valley, 
where they remained during April, May 
and June, 1862, and the regiment did 
good service at the battles of Port Repub- 
lic and Cedar Mountain, where they lost 
many men, killed and wounded. They 
then served in what is known as Pope's 
Campaign, and at the battle of Antietam 
they again lost several men. Shortly after 
this last battle, the brigade to which the 
Seventh was attached went into camp on 
Bolivar Heights, Harper's Ferry. In the 
spring of 1863 the Seventh again encoun- 
tered the enemy, this time at Chancel lors- 
ville, where it lost heavily. In June, same 
year, they were at Gettysburg, Penn., and 
did gallant service. From there they were 
ordered to New York to assist in quelling 
the riots; about September 1, following, 
they returned and occupied the old camp 
on the Rapidan. Soon after, with the 
Twentieth Army Corps, under Gen. Hook- 
er, they were transferred to the Western 
Department, and participated in the battles 
of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. 
. Two days later, at Ringgold, in storming 
the heights of Taylor's Ridge, the gallant 
Seventh were severely handled, and re- 
pulsed with a loss. of nineteen killed and 
sixtv-one wounded, only one commissioned 
oflicer being left uninjured. In January, 
1864, the regiment returned to its old 
camp at Bridgeport, Ala., where it passed 
the winter in comparative quiet. In the 
spring of the year they saw some service 
at Resaca and elsewhere, and this ended 
their campaign, for in June they were 
mustered out, and returned home. Of the 
original 1,000 men of the Seventh Ohio 
only about 270 were left, and of the one 
hundred original members of Company C, 
only seventeen answered their iiames at the 
muster-out roll. 

On Mr. Harmon's return home he bought 
an interest in the Oherlin News, and a 
short time afterward purchased the entire 
concern, and this paper he conducted dur- 
ino- the summer of 1865, when he sold out. 
For nine years thereafter he was postmas- 



752 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



ter at Oberlin, at the close of which in- 
cumbency (in 1874) he erabarkfd in the 
drug business in the same town, and has 
continued it ever since, enjoying an excel- 
lent trade. 

In 1864 Mr. Harmon was married to 
Miss Cecelia C. Yiles, who was born in 
Camden township, Lorain Co., Ohio, daugh- 
ter of William and Dorlisca (Heath) Viles, 
and by this union there is one son, Will- 
iam, who recently graduated at the Massa- 
chusetts School of Pharmacy in Boston. 
Mr. Harmon, in his political predilections, 
has always been a straight Republican, and 
his first Presidential vole was cast for Lin- 
coln. In the G. A. R. Post, No. 304, Ober- 
lin, he has been quartermaster, adjutant 
and commander. 




\ILLIAM H. PHILLIPS. This 
gentleman is the oldest living set- 
tler of Eaton township, having 
been a resident of same for the 
past sixty-seven years, during which time, 
he has seen the wild woods give place to 
fertile farms, and the untutored Indian 
and tierce animals of the forest vanish be- 
fore the inevitable onward march of civil- 
ization. 

Mr. Phillips is a native of the State of 
New York, born in Greene county in 1809, 
a son of Henry J. and Abigail (Finch) 
Phillips, also of New York State, where 
they were reared and married. In 1826 
they migrated westward to Lorain county, 
Ohio, settling in October of that year in 
Eaton township, our subject being then a 
lad of seventeen summers. The father 
was a wagon maker by trade, and made the 
first wagon used on Butternut Ilidge. He 
died in Eaton township, February 11, 1864; 
he was a lieutenant in the State militia 
during the war of 1812. The mother had 
passed away July 13. 1833. They were 
the parents of nine children, as follows: 
William H., subject proper of sketch; De- 
borah, married, who died some years ago 



in Omaha, Neb.; Edward, married, who 
was a sailor on Lake Erie, and was wrecked 
October 24, 1851, on the "Henry Clay;" 
Catherine, who was the wife of William 
Webster, and died in Carlisle township, 
Lorain county; Jeremiah, who died in 
Boone county. 111., in 1891; Mary, who 
was the wife of William Webster, and 
died in Texas in 1891; Martin O., who 
died in Wisconsin; Savilla W., wife of 
Samuel Sweeley, residing at Adel, Iowa; 
and Abbie, who is the wife of AVilliam 
AVhite, of Denison, Texas. 

William li. Phillips received part of 
his education in Ithaca, N. Y., and part in 
the old log schoolhouse of Eaton township, 
Lorain county. He learned w-agon making 
with his father, and followed the trade 
some years; he made for his own use the 
first buggy that ever ran on Butternut 
Ridge, Eaton township. For the past 
sixty years or so he has given his attention 
exclusively to his farm. 

In 1840 Mr. Phillips was married, in 
Carlible township, Lorain county, to Maria 
S. Slater, who was born in New York 
State, dauo-hter of Johiel Slater, who died 
in Ridgeville township, Lorain county. 
To this union were born children as fol- 
lows: William A., an oculist and aurist in 
Cleveland, Ohio, and a member of the 
Faculty of the College of Homeopathy, 
Cleveland, wlio has beeu at college some 
twelve or fourteen years, and graduated 
from the New York Institute fur the Eye 
(he married Marian Nickerson, and they 
have one son, Roland); Edgar A., who en- 
listed in Elyria, Lorain county, and was shot 
during the retreat from Martin's Ferry, 
Va. ; Edward E., who is married to Mary 
Schuyler, is a professor in Marietta Col- 
lege (he has been engaged in educational 
work all his life, and has visited Europe); 
Corda C. is the wife of Ezra Atwater, and 
lives in Newburgh, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio; 
Lena M., the wife of D. H. Stevenson, 
resides in Eaton township, Lorain county, 
and has one child — Phil W. The mother 
of this family was called to her long home 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



753 



in 1868. Politically Mr. Phillips is a 
Republican, formerly a Democrat, and he 
voted for Gen. Jackson. lie served as 
assessor of Eaton township tor nearly 
thirty years, and as justice of the peace 
about twenty years; has also been super- 
visor and member of the school board. He 
is a member of the Universalist Church. 



Q 



D. FOOT. Dell Foot, the courte- 
, ous, oliliging and popular " mine 
host" of a leading hotel and livery 
in Wellington, is a native of Lorain 
county, born September 21, 1836, 
in Huntington township. 

Amos Foot, father of subject, was born 
March 5, 1812, in Chester, Hampden Co., 
Mass., and in 1835 came to Ohio, locating 
in Huntington township, Lorain county. 
He brought with him one hundred and 
fifty dollars in cash, which latter lie in- 
vested in fifty acres of land. He mari-ied 
Miss JNlary Chapman, a native of Mont- 
gomery, Hampden Co., Mass., and for 
years thereafter he followed farming; then 
became a preacher in the Wesleyan Cliurch, 
holding forth for a considerable time in 
Avon, Loraiu county, afterward in Olm- 
sted Falls, Cuyahoga county. Returning 
east he preached for ten years at Cochit- 
uate, Mass., near Boston, where his wife 
died April 20, 1869, and then once more 
came to Lorain county, where he married 
his second wife, his last days being spent 
at the home of his son, our subject. He 
died in 1888, his second wife in 1882. He 
was a very large man, in his prime weigh- 
ing some 290 pounds, and he had a voice 
remarkable for its strength and volume. 
He had two children — G. D. and Emma 
J. (wife of George Royce, of Wellington) 
— by his first wife, none l)y his second. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to 
agricultural pursuits on the farm of his 
father, with whom he lived until 18."36, 
■when he purchased the farm. To the 
original tract he added until he had 



500 acres of as fine land as could be found 
in the township, and carried on general 
farming, including dairying and stock- 
raising. During seven years he milked 
an average of one hundred cows, and 
dealt in cattle, horses and hogs. In 1873 
he moved to Wellington, where he is en- 
gaged ill the hotel and livery business, his 
house being most complete in every re- 
spect, fitted with water and gas sup|)ly, 
although there is neither system in the 
town — in fact it is essentially a metropoli- 
tan hotel. 

In 1856 Mr. Foot married Matilda 
Rush, who was born in Greene coutity, 
Perm., and they had five children, viz. : 
Celia, Lucy, Jessie. Dell and Orrie, of 
whom Celia married E. D. Bush, a suc- 
cessful farmer and proprietor of a meat 
market; she died in January, 1891. aged 
thirty-six years, leaving four ctiildren, 
Walter, Charles, Fred and George. Lucy 
married George Lambert, one of tlie firm 
of the AVelliiifjton Milling Co., and has two 
children, Robert and Celia. Jessie married 
Chris. McDermott, one of the proprietors 
of the Machine Co., at Wellington, and 
has three children, Lucile, James, and 
Louise. Mr. Foot in his political faith is 
a stanch Republican. Personally he is 
most affable, good-natured, social, and is 
in every respect, as a caterer to the wants 
of the public, " the right man in the right 
place." 



MORELL E. SEELT, a prominent 
and well-to-do farmer of Brighton 
township, is a son of HumpliTey 
J) S. Seely, who was born November 

22, 1817, in Oneida county, N. Y., 
and whose father, Cornelius, was born 
in the same county September 3, 1796, a 
son of Daniel. During the Revolutionary 
war the last named, while fishing with 
some other boys, was kidnapped by the 
"Tories," and induced to enter the British 
service, which he did, acting in the capac- 
ity of officer's servant. 



754 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Cornelius Seely, grandfather of subject, 
in 1817 married Racliel Smith, who was 
born October 1, 1800, in New York, only 
daughter of Thomas Smith, a farmer and 
cooper. The children by this union were 
the following: Humphrey S. ; Joseph W., 
who died in Kansas; Thomas, an M. E. 
minister of Ann Arbor, Mich.; Esther A., 
widow of John Cockrel, deceased; Almira 
H., widow of William Hubbard, a tailor, 
who died in the service during the Civil 
war; Phebe, who married Hart Smith, and 
died in New York State; Daniel F., a 
farmer of Waukesha, Wis. (he was form- 
erly in the lumber business); Phineas, also 
a farmer of Waukesha, Wis.; Renette, who 
died of scarlet fever when six years old; 
Amanda, deceased in infancy; James W., 
a farmer of Ridgeville township; Floren- 
tine, who married Asa Frary, and died in 
Canaan, AVayne Co., Ohio; Rachel N., who 
died in ciiildhood ; Ursula, wife of William 
Vandervere, of Kalamazoo, Mich.; Elroy 
Mc, who served in the same regiment with 
the subject of this sketch, and died in the 
hospital at Nashville, Tenn. Cornelius 
Seely, who was a lifelong farmer, came in 
1821 to Lorain connty, Ohio, with his fam- 
ily, consisting then of a wife and three 
children, the journey being made with a 
covered two-horse wagon, which conveyed 
two families, for his brother, Daniel, wife 
and child accompanied them. (Thischild,by 
name William, became a Methodist Epis- 
copal divine, was presiding elder, and was 
superannuated). Tiie party camped outlay 
the roadside at such times as taverns could 
not be reached by night, and they were 
kindly treated wherever they went. Their 
route was by way of Cleveland, where they 
forded the Cuyahoga river, theu traveled 
along the beach of Lake Erie to Avon 
township, where the brothers secured a 
tract of land of 300 acres, north of the 
ridge, by trading his farm in New York 
State for it. The land was all covered with 
timber and underbrush, but by dint of 
hard work and incessant toil they succeeded 
in making a clearing for their farm, and 



on it built a log house to shelter both 
families, but afterward each had a cabin. 
Money was a scarce commodity, and the 
brothers would make a journey on foot to 
Cleveland, a distance of twenty miles, and 
the same day after arrival each cut an 
average of four cords of wood. About the 
year 1846 Cornelius Seely moved to Wis- 
consin, locating for some time near Wan- 
kesha, and then returned to Avon town- 
ship. Here he died March 4, 1866, and 
his remains lie buried in Avon cemetery. 
He was a pillar of the M. E. Church, serv- 
incr as class-leader and in various offices. 

O ... 

Mr. Seely had been twice married ; his first 
wife, Rachel, died October 18, 1843, and 
for his second spouse he wedded Mrs. 
Mary Cadwell, nee House, widow of Capt. 
Cadwell (her first husband was a Mr. Kin- 
ney), whom she married in New York. 
She died in her ninety-third year at the 
home of her daughter, Mrs. Leavitt Tay- 
lor, in Elyria, Ohio. Mr. Seely had no 
children by this union. 

Humphrey S. Seely, father of subject, 
received his primary education at the sub- 
scription schools of his native place, and 
after reaching maturity attended select 
school, later the seminary at Norwalk, the 
principal thereof being Bishop Thompson, 
who died while on a trip around the world. 
Mr. Seely was a maii of consideral)le abil- 
ity, and advanced rapidly in his studies. 
He remained on his father's farm till after 
his marriage, when he located on that of 
his father-in-law for two or three years. 
He then bought wild land in Brighton 
township, same county, and here cleared a 
farm, remaining on same until 1889, when 
he removed to Wellington village, in the 
township of that name, where he is now 
living a retired life. On March 25, 1841, 
he married Miss Cordelia Loveland, who 
was born November 12, 1823, in Brighton 
township, a daushtcr of Leonard H. and 
Margaret V. (Whitlock) Loveland (a sketch 
of whom immediately follows), and two 
children were born to them, viz.: Morell 
E., subject of this memoir; and Amina R., 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



755 



born November 6, 1843, now Mrs. John 
Eddy, of Wellington; her first husband 
was Oliver Rnlisoii, who during the Civil 
war served in the Second OhioClavalry, and 
died from injuries received in the war. 
The mother of these died March 23, 1852, 
and was buried in Loveland cemetery, 
which was situated on the home farm. For 
liis second wife Mr. Seely married, in 
1852, Miss Julia Crosby, l)urn December 
28, 1825, in Brighton township, Lorain 
county, a daughter of John Crosby, a pio- 
neer of same. Two children came to tiiis 
union, viz.: DeFore.stC, born Octol)er 12, 
1858, died April 26, 1878; and Dwight 
F., born July 9, 1800, a farmer of Brigh- 
ton townsiiip. Tliis wife was called from 
earth August 13, 1876, and was buried in 
Brighton cemetery. Mr. Seely's present 
wife, whom he married February 14, 
1877, was Mrs. Julia E. Andrus (?ir?'<j 
Smith), widow of John Andrus. In politics 
Mr. Seely is a Prohibition-Republican, 
and he and his wife are devout members of 
the M. E. Church, respected and honored 
by the entire community. 

Morell E. Seely, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was born May 22, 1842, in 
Brighton township, Lorain Co., Ohio, on 
the farm he now owns and lives on. He 
received a liberal education at the schools 
of his district, his first teacher being Sarah 
Boardman, and under his father's careful 
tuition he was thoroughly posted in the 
business of general farming. On August 
5, 1862, he enlisted, in Brighton town- 
ship, in Company F, One Hundred and 
Third O. V. I., and was sent to Camp 
Cleveland for purposes of drill, joining the 
command at Covington, Ky. At Knox- 
ville, Tenn., November 25, 1863, he was 
wounded so severely as to necessitate being 
sent to hospital. After convalescence he 
was furlonghed, and April 18, 1865, was 
honorably discharged from the service, 
and returned to Brighton township, where 
he worked one year for bis father. He 
then came to his present farm, where his 
grandfather, Leonard H. Loveland, was 



then living, and with him made his home 
until the death of the latter, when the 
farm was transferred by inheritance to our 
subject. He has now 214 acres of prime 
land, on which he carries on general farm- 
ing, including dairying on an extensive 
scale, and he is conceded to be one of the 
best managers and financiers among the 
agriculturists of his township. As a 
steady, progressive farmer, he lias no su- 
perior, and in many ways is a leader in 
the community. 

On September 30,' 1868, Mr. Seely was 
married to Miss liachel Rulison, who was 
Ijorn February 5, 1852, daughter of James 
Rulison. She died without issue March 
28, 1873, and was busied in Brighton 
cemetery, aiid Mr. Seely married, May 18, 
1874, her sister, Cordelia, born March 18, 
1849. The children by this union are 
Herbert E., born March 2, 1875, clerk in 
a bank at Oberlin, Ohio; and Leonard E., 
born March 22, 1877, residing at home, 
who takes an active interest in the me- 
chanics, especially in electricity, and who 
is somewhat of a genius in that direction. 
In his political preferences our subject is 
a stanch Republican, and has frequently 
been elected to otiice, but invariably de- 
clined to serve. 

Leonard H. Loveland (deceased), ma- 
ternal grandfather of Morell E. Seely, was 
a native of Massachusetts, born in South- 
field, Berkshire county, October 3, 1794, 
a son of Abner Loveland, with whom he 
lived until he attained his majority. He 
was educated at the common schools, and 
studied in spare hours at night by the 
flickering light of a burning pine log, thus 
(lualifying himself for a teacher, a voca- 
tion he followed two years with marked 
success. On March 13, 1820, he married, 
at South Brunswick, N. J., Margaret V. 
Whitlock, born in that town September 
10, 1802, and three children were born to 
them: Abner, Cordelia and Emeline. The 
mother of these died October 3, 1860, in 
Wellington, Lorain county, and on August 
3, 1862, Mr. Loveland married Mrs. Anna 



756 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Rulisoii, who was born December 22, 1809, 
in Knox county, N. Y. He passed from 
earth Angiist 18, 1887, and was buried in 
Brighton cemetery. Politically he was a 
Democrat until the firing on Fort Sumter, 
after which he united witli the Kepublican 
party. He served as a justice of the 
peace twenty years, county commissioner 
two terms, and had charge of the extensive 
land interests of (X Bliss. As a consistent 
member of tiie M. E. Church, he was ever 
a liberal contributor to same. He was a 
man of fair legal ability, excellent judg- 
ment and sound common sense, while his 
unswerving personal integrity, and the 
general rectitude of his life, gained for 
liim an enviable, reputation in the com- 
munity where he was best known. 




I( ETHUR LOVETT GARFORD, 
l\ president of the Garford Manufac- 
turing Co., and Cashier of the Sav- 
ings Deposit Bank Co., Elyria, is a 
native of that town, born August 4, 
1858, and comes of old English lineage. 

William Garford, his grandfather, was 
manager of a large estate in England — 
where his ancestors had lived for genera- 
tions. His eon, George, father of Arthur 
L., was a native of that country, born in 
Northamptonshire, where were passed the 
earlier years of his life. In 1851 he was 
married to Miss Hannah Lovett, daughter 
of Edward and Hannah Lovett, of Keg- 
worth, Leicestershire, England. Mr. Lovett 
WHS the proprietor of a large silk and lace 
factory, and was a manufacturer of wide 
repute. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lovett lived 
to a ripe old age, and died in Kegworth 
but a few years ago. All but one of their 
children survive them. The eldest son, 
John Lovett, is at present manager of a 
large factory in England, and is a genius 
of high merit. James, another son, served 
for many years in the British Navy, and 
is now on the retired list. Five sisters 
are still living in and around Derby, Derby- 
shire, England. 



In 185B, Geo. Garford, who felt that 
America offered more favorable opportuni- 
ties for an ambitious young man, severed 
his connection with Dr. Daniels, a physi- 
cian of large practice and repute, in whose 
service he liad been for a number of years, 
and came alone to the United States and 
to Ohio; his wife and child, Geo. H., fol- 
lowing him to the new western home in 
1854. They settled in Elyria township, 
Lorain county, where he had engaged in 
landscape gardening, and later on in stock 
farming. Some of the most picturesque 
gardens and artificial landscapes in Elyiia 
to-day bear tribute to the early efforts of 
Mr. Garford. As a stock raiser he achieved 
a national reputation. For a number of 
years iiis stock was to be seen at the 
Annual State Fairs, where, successively, 
he bore off the highest awards. For nine- 
teen years prior to 1882 he occupied the 
Elywood Stock Farm of nearly three hun- 
dred acres. Since 1882 he has not been 
actively engaged in farming personally, 
his sons, Geo. H. and Charles E., having 
charge of his interest in a large farm in 
Ashtabula county, which he now owns. 
His love for fine stock is still manifest, 
however, as he continues to raise, in a 
small way, some very fine horses at his 
attractive home on Harrison street, in 
Elyria. 

Eight children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Geo. Garford, as follows: Geo. H.; 
Elizabeth A., wife of C. H. Miser, Con- 
neaut, Ohio; Kate S., wife of Edmund F. 
Smith, Bnckland, Mass.; Arthur L. ; Ella 
Louise, wife of Samuel S. Rockwood, as- 
sistant cashier. Savings Deposit Bank Co. ; 
Charles E. ; Edith G., and Carrie M. The 
mother and daughters are all active mem- 
bers of the Episcopal Church. The father, 
in politics, has always been a stanch Re- 
publican, and the sons have grown up in 
like mind. 

Artiiur L. Garford was named after C. 
Artiiur Ely — the original owner of Ely- 
wood farm — and one of the greatest phi- 
lanthropists who has ever lived in Elyria. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



759 



Thougli a young man when lie died, in 1865, 
his name is yet revered, and his memory 
kept green by many of the older citizens 
who knew him, and by the later generation 
because of his gift of the public library, 
now one of the greatest attractions of the 
town. An attraction sprung up between 
William Arthur Ely — only son of the late 
Charles Arthur Ely — and the subject of 
our sketch in very early boyhood, and has 
continued to exist without interruption 
ever since. For a number of years Arthur 
L. made his home with his friend, and 
widowed mother, and many evidences still 
exist of the regard in which he was held 
while thus intimately associated with this 
family. He received a liberal education 
at the public schools of Elyria, where he 
graduated at the age of sixteen years. One 
year later he entered the arena of business 
by accepting the cashiership in the large 
importing house of Rice & Burnett, 
Cleveland, Ohio. Here his natui-al ability 
soon asserted itself, and it was not long 
before he was promoted to head book- 
keeper, being then but eighteen years of 
age. In this capacity he remained until 
April, 1880, at which time he resigned on 
account of ill health — later on accepting 
the position of bookkeeper in the Savings 
Deposit Bank, of Elyria. 

In 1882 D. B. Andrews, well known as 
one of the most expert accountants in 
northern Ohio, resigned the position of 
teller of the above-named bank, to asso- 
ciate himself with the Mercantile National 
Bank, of Cleveland, and Mr. Garford was 
promptly installed in the vacancy, which 
incumbency he tilled until January 1, 
1888, when he was promoted to assistant 
cashier. On the re-organization of the 
bank, after the death of Mr. T. L. Nelson, 
its president, in January, 1891, Mr. Gar- 
ford was further promoted to cashier, and 
at the same time was elected a director, 
positions he yet holds. 

Outside the routine of office Mr. Gar- 
ford for several years found pleasure 
and invigorating recreation in bicycle 



riding, and while so engaged, not being 
pleased with the saddle on his machine, 
his inventive faculties were brought 
into play, resulting in the invention 
of an improved bicycle saddle. He had 
no idea at first of turning his device 
to any account, but its originality and 
value being favorably pronounced upon by 
friends, he applied for and received a 
patent, which he at once took steps to dis- 
pose of. Receiving, however, but little 
encouragement from proposed purchasers, 
he concluded to manufacture his invention 
himself, beginning in a small way. Pros- 
pects of success in his enterprise brighten- 
ing, he associated with him H. S. FoUans- 
bee and Fred N. Smith, a partnership be- 
ing formed under the firm name of "Gar- 
ford Manufacturing Co.," and at once 
proceeded to have the saddle placed on the 
market, the goods being manufactured 
by the Topliff & Ely Co., of Elyria. This 
was in 1889-90, from which time the busi- 
ness developed so rapidly, and the demand 
for the goods increased so fast that in No- 
vember, 1891, the firm found it expedient 
to form an incorporated company under 
the laws of Ohio, with a capital stock of 
one hundred thousand dollars, the old 
company turning over their patents, good- 
will and business to the new concern for 
that amount. On May 4, 1892, the works 
of the Topliff & Ely Co. were badly dam- 
aged by tire, and the saddle department 
completely destroyed, thus causing a large 
loss to the Garford Mfg. Co. 

After mature consideration the directors 
of the Company concluded to build a fac- 
tory peculiarly adapted to their business; 
accordingly, in August, 1892, they began 
the construction of their present factory in 
Elyria, the main Iniilding of which is 
40 X 100 feet, three stories and ba.sement, 
and is admirably located directly alongside 
the tracks of the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern Railroad, a spur from which runs 
to the receiving door in the rear. The 
basement is used for heavy machinery, the 
blacksmith shoj), spring formers, etc. The 



760 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



first floor contains the offices — finished in 
oak throughout — the tool-room and the 
polishinLj-rooni. The second floor is de- 
voted to nickel-plating, buffing and leather- 
room, in which latter the hide, by special 
process, is transformed into the perfect 
saddle top. The upper floor of all is used 
for shipping purposes, stock and assem- 
bling. The engine house is detached 
from the main building, and the engine 
lias a capacity of 150 horse-power. Al- 
though in 1893 the output reached 800 
saddles per day, yet the supply proved in- 
adequate to the demand, and the Company 
found it necessary to largely increase their 
capacity, and have recently built an addi- 
tion, containing coal sheds and enameling- 
room, providing ample storage accommo- 
dation. Over one hundred men are now 
employed in all departments, and during 
the. past six months the factory turned out 
the enormous number of sixty thousand 
saddles. In addition to their own goods, 
leather furnishings for bicycles and sev- 
eral specialties are here made. The pres- 
ent Company at its organization had among 
its stockholders the following prominent 
citizens: Hon. W. A. Braman, Hon. Geo. H. 
Ely,M. M. Ely, J. C. Hill, Hon. Parks Foster, 
W. A. Ely, G. W. Baker, F. H. Foster, F. 
P. Hill, H. S. Follansbee, F. N. Smith, 
and A. L. Garford; the directors being 
Hon. Geo. H. Ely, Hon. Parks Foster, A. 
L. Garford, F. N. Smith and H. S. Fol- 
lansbee. Mr. Garford was elected presi- 
dent; H. S. Follansbee, vice-president; and 
F. N. Sraitli, secretary and treasurer. In 
February, 1893. a suit for infringement 
brought against the Hunt Manufacturing 
Co., competing saddle manufacturers, of 
Westborough, Mass., i-esulted by way of 
settlement in two-thirds interest of that 
company being passed to the Garford Man- 
ufacturing Co., and the Company being at 
once re-organized with a paid-up capital of 
thirty thousand dollars, A. L. Garford being 
elected president and a director of same. 
The Garford Manufacturing Co. is by 
far the largest and most extensive exclus- 



ive bicycle saddle manufacturing company 
in the world, and their product enjoys the 
reputation of being the standard of excel- 
lence, and is used almost exclusively by 
the largest and best manufacturers of bi- 
cycles in the United States. Mr. Garford 
and his associates have become very widely 
and favorably known among the Cycling 
fraternity, and prominent manufacturers 
generally. Tlie following clipping from 
Cycling Life, one of the most prominent 
Cycling journals, under date of October 
19, 1893, illustrates the regard in which 
Mr. Garford is held by the fraternity. 

" Upon starting out in life A. L. Gar- 
ford must have had conspicuously in front 
of liim the inspiring reflection, now an 
apothegm, that youth must be served. We 
behold him to-day the king of the craft of 
saddle making, and hence well entitled to 
a place in our gallery of ' Leaders in the 
Cycle Industry.' Yery interesting, indeed, 
is it to trace the rise of Mr. Garford. The 
son of a farmer, he must have early be- 
come imbued with higher ambitions and 
aims than most men, for when scarcely out 
of his 'teens' we find him in a banking 
institution, from which he graduated with 
such distinction as falls to the lot of few men. 
At financing he is an expert, and doubtless 
it was while engaged in such work that 
be acquired that solid reputation for integ- 
rity which is inseparable from the charac- 
ters of those who are successful in that 
line. Some will ascribe hissuccess simply to 
ability, some to fortunate circumstances 
and some to the close practice of hon- 
orable business principles; but we prefer to 
credit him with being the rare possessor of 
all three qualifications, and choose to find 
the secret of his distinction in the faithful 
practice of them. It is said of Mr. Gar- 
ford that the contemplation of his own 
success does not yield him as much pleas- 
ure as it may afford to those who are his 
biographers in a small way. Perhaps this 
is because he feels that he is not yet spent 
— that he has in him the power to climb 
to greater heights." 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



761 



On December 14, 1881, Arthur L. Gar- 
ford was united in inari'iage with Miss 
Mary Louise Nelson, second daughter of 
the late T. L. Nelson, of Elyria, and two 
children have come to briohten the Gar- 
ford home — Mary Katharine, born July 
17, 1883, and Louise Ely, born July 19, 
1885. 

Mr. Garford is a stanch Republican, and 
though frequently approached liy friends 
to allow his name to be used in connection 
with party office, he has invariably declined 
all profiFered political honors. He is a 
prominent member of the Royal Arcanum, 
having occupied all the Chairs of Elyria 
Council, and is now a past regent. The 
high school of Elyria has an Alumni Asso- 
ciation, of which he has served as presi- 
dent. In addition to his other extensive 
interests above recounted, he is secretary 
and treasurer of the Repuljlican Printing 
Co., of Elyria, and of the Beal Mining 
Core Drill Co.; is a stockholder in the 
Sunol Bicycle Co., of Chicago, and of the 
Topliff & Ely Co., of Elyria; is two-fifths 
owner of the Fay Manufacturing Co., and 
a stockholder in the National Bank of Ely- 
ria. He was city treasurer for Elyria some 
five years, resigning in 1892. At the death 
of T. L. Nelson, his father-in law, he was 
one of the executors of the will, and he 
lias since helper! in the management of the 
entire estate. Busy as he is with his end- 
less variety of commercial interests, Mr. 
Garford yet finds some little time for the 
farm, and he is the proud owner of some 
fine-bred horses, noted for both blood and 
speed, and he is the possessor of consider- 
able real estate in and about the city of 
Elyria. 

Mr. Garford is a typical self-made 
American, with tiie strain of British blood 
in his veins that adds to his American pro- 
gressive impulses an indomitable will and 
a tenacity of purpose that are some of his 
more pronounceil characteristics. From a 
plain farmer's son, he has risen in the 
commercial world by his own marked exe- 
cutive ability and untiring energy'; and 



though not yet past the heyday of young 
manhood, he is already prominently iden- 
tified with nearly every enterprise located 
in Lorain county. 



DC. NICHOLS, one of the well-to- 
do, native-born farmer citizens of 
LaGrange township, is a son of 
James Nichols, who was born 
August 9, 1801, in the State of Rhode 
Island. When six months old James was 
lirought by his father, Stephen Nichols, 
to Washington county. N. Y., and there re- 
mained until eighteen years of age, when 
he went to Jefferson county, N. Y. His 
parents followed him to that county some 
time afterward, and there passed the re- 
mainder of their lives. 

James Nichols was reared to farm life, 
and his education was received in the 
common schools. He was married in 
Jefferson county, N. Y., at the age of 
twenty years, to Miss Leonora Johnson, 
who was born in that county February 14, 
1803, daughter of Joshua and Experience 
(Tibbals) Johnson, who were natives of 
Connecticut, and early settlers in Jefferson 
county, N. Y. ; the father died at the 
home of our subject, D. C. Nichols, in 
LaGrange township, Lorain Co., Ohio; the 
mother died in Michigan. While resi- 
dents of New York State children were 
born to James and Leonora Nichols, as 
follows: Eliza, now the widow of Bennett 
Rockwood, of Pittsfield, Lorain county; 
Cyrus, who died in LaGrange township, 
October 19, 1891; George, who died when 
three months old; Philander, a carpenter 
of Wellington, (J)hio; Sarah, who married 
Dittamus Johnson, and died in La(Trange; 
Alfred, a carjienter of Lorain, Ohio; and 
Cordelia, Mrs. William Disbro, of Cass 
county, Iowa. James Nichols followed 
farming in New York State, and also 
worked as a lumberman in the pineries. 
He owned a small place, which he sold, 
and in June, 1836, came west to Ohio, 
via canal to Buffalo, and thence by lake to 



762 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Cleveland, from which city he was driven 
to LaGrange township, Lorain county, 
where his father-in-law had located some 
years before. The roads were almost im- 
passible, and it was only after much work 
that they reached their destination, where 
for a short time they made their home 
with Joshua Johnson. Mr. Nichols pur- 
chased a tract of land containing fifty 
acres, on which he made payments, and by 
hard labor had partly cleared; in spite of 
his toil he lost his home through an un- 
scrupulous land-dealer. Not being dis- 
couraged by his misfortune, however, he 
purchased tifty acres lying south (the farm 
on whicii our subject now resides), which 
he finally succeeded in paying for, by hard 
labor, such as chopping and clearing the 
land, laising what crops he could, and also 
going to the northern part of the county, 
where he chopped foui'-foot wood at two 
shillings per cord. 

After coming here the family was in- 
creased by the following children: Mi- 
randa, a resident of South Dakota, the 
widow of Garrison Archer, who was 
drowned while going to the war, as a re- 
cruit; Ozias, who died when Hve years 
old; Stephen, a resident of Cass county, 
Iowa; and D. C, the subject proper of 
this sketch. After coming to Ohio Mr. 
Nichols engaged exclusively in agricul- 
ture, made for himself a comfortable home, 
and became a respected, well-to-do citizen. 
He died on the homestead in May, 1872, 
liis wife September 5, 1864, and both lie 
buried in LaGrange cemetery. Though 
Mr. Nichols never made any profession of 
religion he was a thorough Christian ; Mrs. 
Nichols was a member of the Methodist 
Church. In politics he was a stanch Re- 
publican. 

D. C. Nichols, whose name appears at 
the opening of this sketch, was born May 
13, 1847, in LaGrange township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio. He received his education at 
the common schools of the neighborhood 
of his birthplace, and then remained on 
the home place, engaged in agricultural 



pursuits, to which he had been trained 
from boyhood. On January 28, 1869, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Jeanette 
Holcomb, who was born October 5, 1845, 
in LaGrange, a daughter of Asahel and 
Fannie (Hastings) Holcomb,who were from 
Jefferson county, N. Y. After mari-iage 
the young couple located on the farm 
where they yet reside, and which he now 
owns, consisting of 113 acres of land 
highly improved and equipped with all 
necessary buildings, etc. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Nichols have been born children as 
follows: Charles H. (attending school), 
Guy S., Claude M. and James A. (all three 
living at home). In politics our subject 
was a Ilepublican until 1876, when he be- 
came a Democrat. 



Ei DGAR H. HINMAN, probate judge 
of Lorain county, is a prominent 
I figure in the galaxy of legal lights 

in the county. He is a native of 
Ohio, born December 16, 1846, a son of 
Edward and Mary B. Hinman, the former 
of whom was born in Catskill, N. Y., the 
latter in Lee. Mass.; they both came when 
children to Ohio and to Portage county, 
where they were married, and here Edward 
Hinman carried on farming, until his 
death, which occurred March 7, 1875, in 
Oberlin, where Mrs. Hinman still makes 
her home. The first of the Hinman family, 
in America, came to the United States, 
from England, in 1655, making a settle- 
ment in New Etigland. 

The subject proper of this niemoir re- 
ceived his literary education at Oberlin 
College, Ohio, and studied law at Ann 
Arbor, Mich. In 1864 he enlisted in Com- 
pany K, One Hundred and Fiftieth O. V. 
I. (one hundred-days service), which regi- 
ment was stationed around Washington, 
and participated in the defense of the cap- 
ital at the time it was attacked by the Con- 
federates. On leaving the army Mr. 
Hinnian went to Missouri, and for one 





/ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



765 



year was deputy clerk of the supreme 
court at St. Joseph, after whicli he was 
engaged as foreman in the building of 
dikes along the Missouri river, preparatory 
to building a brid(>-e. In 1872 he returned 
to Ohio, and for a time resided in Oberlin, 
where he commenced tlie practice of his 
profession, but soon afterward moved, in 
1873, to North Amherst, in the same 
county, where he opened an office, prac- 
ticing law for nearly nine years. For two 
terms he was mayor of Amherst, resigning 
this when elected probate judge, upon the 
duties of which office he entered February 
9, 1882. He is now serving his fifth con- 
secutive term, and is also president of the 
Elyria Savings and Loan Company. His 
residence is now in Elyria, and has been 
since 1882. 

Judge E. H. Hininan and Miss Ada M. 
Fa.\on were united in marriage in Novem- 
ber, 1877, and the following named four 
children were born to them: Harold F., 
Scott, Lucile and Edgar, the latter of whom 
died in infancy. Active in politics, the 
Judge has been chairman of the Republican 
County Committee about six years, and 
has been a delegate to State and Congres- 
sional conventions. Socially he is a mem^ 
ber of the F. & A. M., of the G. A. R. and 
K. of P. One of the pleasant incidents of 
Judge Hiiimairs life was a trip he made 
in 1886 to Europe with Hon. E. G. John- 
son, of Elyria. Many people will long re- 
member the humorous letters written by 
Mr. Johnson to home papers, giving ac- 
counts of their adventures abroad. 



T[ W. WILBUR, dealer in general hard- 
k. I ware, Wellington, is a native of Can- 
l^fj ada, born in Markham, near Toronto, 
"" Ontario, May 12, 1839. 

John Watson Wilbur, father of subject, 
was born April 14, 1811, in Scliodack, 
N. Y., whence when he had attained his ma- 
jority he moved to Canada, and for four or 
live years following farming there. He 



then removed to Ohio, stopping in Port- 
age county for a few months, after which 
lie came in 1841 to Lorain county, and 
took up a fai'Di \n Huntington township, 
where he made his home for over thirty- 
one years, at the end of which time lie re- 
tired and took up his residence in the town 
of Wellington, dying there in January, 
1891. Politically he was first a Whig, 
then a Free-soiler and finally a Republi- 
can ; lie was a strict temperance and strong 
anti-slavery man. In 1837 he married 
Miss Lucinda Chapman, a native of Can- 
ada, born near Toronto, February 23, 1814, 
and she is yet living. Five children were 
born to them, as follows: J. W , the sub- 
ject of this biographical memoir; Henry, 
born March 23, 1841, residing in Welling- 
ton township; George W., born June 7, 
1843, a farmer in Hartland township, Hu- 
ron Co., Ohio; Josiah L., born October 10, 
1845, residing in Wellington; and Martha 
M., born September 12, 1849, died No- 
vember 5, 1852. The brothers and sisters 
of John Watson Wilbur were the follow- 
ing: Clark T.. born December 24, 1804, 
now a resident of Darlington, Ontai-io; 
Mary, -born January 25, 1807, died March 
27, 1891 (she married a Mr. Leek, who 
died in Canada); Phoebe, born July 10, 
1809, died in Wellington; Eliza Ann, born 
February 23, 1813, died in Schodack, 
N. Y.; George W.. born February 8, 1815, 
died in Canada; Martha, born September 

8, 1817, residing in Sullivan, A.shland Co., 
Ohio; Israel, born Novemlier 29, 1819, 
residing in Canada; and Deborah, born 
July 13, 1823, died April 30, 1891, in 
Albany. N. Y. The father of these. 
Thomas Wilbur, was born October 18, 
1780, was a farmer, and died in New York 
State; his wife was Anna Cline, born June 
24, 1783, died August 25, 1862. John 
Chapman, the maternal grandfather of sub- 
ject, was born January 27, 1783; he mar- 
ried Margaret Fr^rris, and their children 
were as follows: Hannah, born September 

9, 1807, deceased; Jerusha C, born July 
15, 1809, died January 20, 1889; Martin 



766 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Cbapman, born August 19, 1811, living 
in Lorain; Lucinda, mother of our sub- 
ject, born February 23, 1814; John T., 
born August 17, 1816; Xathan, born 
April 3, 1819, residing in Huntington; 
Laura, born September 15, 1821, deceased; 
Lorena, born June 24, 1824, living in 
Cleveland; Lorenzo, born A'pril 8, 1827, 
living; Thomas, born December 8, 1829; 
Joseph, born January 8, 183-. 

J. W. AVilbur, the subject proper of this 
sketcli, received a liberal education at the 
common schools, after which he attended 
select school, working also on the farm till 
he was eighteen years old, when he came 
to Oberlin, attending school there some 
seven months, after which he taught school 
for some years. On June 15, 1861, he 
enlisted in Company 1, Forty-seventh 
O. V. I., and was assigned to duty in West 
Virginia. He participated in several en- 
gagements, and was ordered to A^icksburg, 
Miss., being present at both the assaults 
there. After forty-seven days siege, the 
regiment proceeded to Jackson, Miss., in 
the capture of which it participated; thence 
was transferred to Memphis and Missionary 
Ridge; took part in the Atlanta campaign, 
and marched witii Sherman to the sea. At 
Savannah it assisted in the capture of Fort 
McAllister. Here it was that the dispute 
arose between the Forty-seventh and 
Seventieth Ohio as to whose colors were 
first planted on the fort, but several of Gen. 
Hagen's staff, who were overlooking the 
entire movement, decided that the colors 
of the Forty-seventh were the first to ap- 
pear on the fort, and the captured flag is 
now in the State House at Columbus. The 
regiment set out from Ohio with 870 men, 
and at the close of the Atlanta campaign 
there were only 120; after the Atlanta 
campaign it was re-enforced by 400 drafted 
men and substitutes. Our subject was 
mustered out November 11, 1864, the re- 
giment on August 11, 1865. He entered 
the service as a private, and was mustered 
out as second lieutenant of his company; 
when he arrived at home he weighed but 



ninety pounds. After the war be resided 
in Huntington township about three 
months, at the end of which time (Febru- 
ary, 1865,) he embarked in the stove and 
tinning business in Wellington, in com- 
pany with his uncle, J. B. Lord, which he 
has since continued in. 

In September, 1865, Mr. AYilbur was 
united in marriage with Miss Anna E. 
Collins, born October 16, 1841, daughter 
of Charles and Dorcas (Abbott) Collins, 
the former of whom was born March 28, 
1811, died October 1, 1883, the latter born 
February 25, 1811, and still living, liaving 
her home with her daughter, Mrs. Wilbur. 
By this union there were three children, 
viz.: Mabel C, born August 14, 1866, 
married to D. B. Harris, now in Califor- 
nia (they have one child, Zoe); Carl C, 
born April 29, 1868, a musician, now in 
California; and Rollin A., at home. In 
his political preferences our subject is a 
Republican; socially he is a member of 
the G. A. R., I. 0. O. F., K. of H., Royal 
Arcanum and National Union. 



T W. DOANE. Columbia township 
V. I has good reason to feel proud of her 
i^/J wealthy, intelligent farming com- 
munity, of which the subject of this 
sketch is a leading member. 

Mr. Doane was born March 21, 1831, in 
Jefferson county, N. Y., a son of Isaiah 
and Betsy E. (Giddings) Doane, natives of 
New York State, whence in the fall of 
1833 they moved to La Fayette township, 
Medina Co., Ohio, making a clearing in 
the woods, and building a log cabin. 
From there the father came in 1846 to 
Columbia township, Lorain county, where 
he passed the rest of his days, dying in 
1852. He was twice married: first time 
to Betsy E. Giddings, who died in Medina 
county, in 1846; afterward to Hannah 
Jewett, who passed from earth in 1878, on 
the farm of the subject of this sketch. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



767 



Mr. Doane was a soldier in the war of 
1812; in politics he was a pronounced 
Democrat, and for many years served as a 
justice of the peace in Medina county. 
The children born to his first marriage 
were as follows: Luther W., who died in 
Medina county at the age of nineteen; 
Ilosella L., widow of Dougal McDouirall, 
of Medina county; Diana H., deceased 
wife of Levi Herrington; Frank Johnson, 
residing in Harper county, Kans. ; Mary 
M., widow of Don A. Clark, who died in 
the service during the Civil war; William 
H. H., married, and residing in Berrien 
county, Mich.; Altneda E., widow of Ben- 
jamin Chamberlain, of Cuyahoga county, 
Ohio; Orlando A., married, and residing 
in Diirand county. Wis.; J. W., our sub- 
ject; Frederick W., who enlisted in the 
Civil war in Michigan, and died some 
years ago; Lydia A., who was the wife of 
A. W. Bishop, of Medina county, and died 
in Yoik township, Medina county; and 
Martha B., wife of Gerome Osborne, of 
Benton Harbor, Michigan. 

J. W. Doane received a liberal educa- 
tion at the common schools of Medina 
county, and was fifteen years old w^hen he 
came to Columbia township, Lorain county. 
His lifework from his early boyhood years 
has been agriculture, and he is now the 
owner of a good farm of 115 acres, all in 
a higli state of cultivation, and which he 
lias imjtroved, erecting a comfortable resi- 
dence and commodious barns. 

In 1854 Mr. Doane was united in mar- 
riage, in ('olumbia township, Lorain county, 
with Miss Amelia Hitchcock, a native of 
that township, daughter of Samuel and 
Amelia ((Osborne) Hitchcock, of Connecti- 
cut, who in 1812 came to Lorain county, 
where they died. By this union two chil- 
dren were born, namely: A son that died in 
infancy, and Alice, wife of Judd Artliur 
(she died at the age of twenty-three). The 
mother of these was called from earth 
January 3, ISUO, aiul in April, lsn2, our 
subject married Mrs. Melissa Lanphier, 
widow of Austin Lanphier; she has one 



child, a daughter named Clara, married to 
Charles Hutchinson, of Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain county. 

Politically, our subject is a Democrat, 
and is now serving his fourth term as 
trustee of his township. He has been a 
delegate to conventions, and has proven a 
most useful member of the community, 
both politically and socially. For about 
eleven years he served as postmaster at 
Columbia Station. 



EiZRA S. JACKSON, for nearly three- 
score years a resident of Avon town- 
I ship, whither he had come in 1837, 

is a native of New York State, born 
in Herkimer county in 1816. He is a 
son of John and Patience (Payne) Jackson, 
also of New York State, where the father, 
who was a farmer, died in 1863; he iiad 
served in the war of 1812. His widow 
came to Avon township, Lorain county, 
and spent the remainder of her life at the 
home of her son Ezra S. Jackson, dying in 
1876. She had another son, R. P., who 
came here in 1S37, but moved to Michi- 
gan in 1SG3, and died there in 1864. 

The subject of these lines received a lib- 
eral education at the schools of Herkimer 
and Cattaraugus counties, N. Y.. and in 
the latter county learned carpentry, which 
he followed sevei'al years. In 1837 he 
came to Avon tow'nship, and erected many 
buildings in both Lorain and Huron coun- 
ties, after which he engaged in the bnsi- 
ness of millwright. In December, 1844, 
Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Cordelia 
Q. Moon, a native of Avon township, 
daughter of Al)raham and Theresa ( Dn- 
rand) Moon, early settlers of Avon town- 
ship, Lorain county, w-here they died. 
Four children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Jackson, the following being a brief 
record of same: Theresa, wife of II. A. 
Kenney, lives in Wisconsin; Jennie is the 
wife of R. E. Loveland. superintendent of 
schools at Lodi, Wis.; Ernest S., married, 



768 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



is county surveyor and resides in Elyria; 
and Lena is living at home. In 1845 our 
subject settled on liis present farm of 117 
acres prime land in Avon township, which 
he improved from the primeval forest. In 
his political sympathies he was originally a 
WhiCT, later, on the organization of the 
party, a stanch Republican; he served his 
township as trustee, and lias been a justice 
of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are 
members of the M. E. Church, in which 
he is steward. 



t /I OSES HERNER LEYAGOOD. 

^J/\ This prominent citizen of Elyria 
1] is widely and favorably known in 
J) business circles, not alone by 

reason of his public and social 
positions, but al.so for his frank, genial and 
cordial disposition and scholarly attain- 
ments. 

Mr. Levagood's ancestors came from 
England, France, Prussia and Holland 
some two centuries ago, and a more im- 
mediate progenitor served in the war of 
1812 between this atid the mother country. 
Our subject is a son of George and Sophia 
E. (Hernei'l Levagood, the former of whom 
was a nati\'e of Pennsylvania, the latter of 
New York. 

M. H. Levagood was born February 2, 
1845, in \Yilmot, Ontario, Canada, where 
he received his literary educMtion. In 
18G3 he removed to Michigan, and at the 
age of nineteen years entered into business; 
but wishing to better fit himself for a com- 
mercial career, he entered Bryant, Stratton & 
Goldsmith Business University, at De- 
troit, Mich., graduating from same April 
15, 1869. Thence proceeding to Adrian, 
same State, he taught the advanced classes 
in the science of accounts and mathematics 
in Evans Business College in that city. In 
1871 he entered the employ of Mr. B. P. 
Howe, sewing machine manufacturer in 
Detroit, as bookkeeper, and later had 
charge at Cleveland of Mr. Howe's west- 



ern correspondence, covering the territory 
west of the Alleghany • Mountains to the 
Pacific Ocean. This responsible position 
Mr. Levagood tilled with tliorough efficiency, 
but resigned in order to associate himself 
with a screw factory in Cleveland, which 
business was in 1874 removed to Elyria, 
Ohio, its present title being "The Western 
Automatic Machine Screw Co." With this, 
the second largest screw manufactory of 
its kind in the United States, our subject 
has been actively and otKciallj associated 
for twenty-one years, and its high position 
among the manufacturing interests of the 
country is largely due to his enterprise, 
good management and fidelity. The fol- 
lowing brief sketch of this prominent in- 
stitution will be read with interest: 

The Western Automatic Machine Screw Co., 
Elyria, Ohio. This establishment, which well 
merits the distinction of being one of Elyria's most 
influential and valuable trade exemplars, was 
founded in the city of Cleveland about 1870, and 
in 1ST4 was moved to Elyria. Some twelve years 
ago it was reorganized, taking the above name, and 
with abundant capital, combined with superior 
management, has become a gigantic business en- 
terprise, with large and increasing demands for its 
productions. When the additional buildings erected 
this year are fully equipped with machinery, em- 
ployment will be given to about two hundred and 
twenly-five men, who, in character and skill are 
very much above the general average. Under its 
present supervision its business growth has become 
phenomenal, so much so that it now ranks as the 
second largest screw manufactory of its kind in 
America. Screws and all kinds of special milled 
pieces are here made, and in almost endless va- 
riety, adapted to every conceivable use, and vary- 
ing in size from the infinitesimal, requiring 1.5.000 
and more to weigh a pound, to the larger sizes, 
weighing three or more pound.s each. The build- 
ings are all of brick, and present an imposing 
appearance. The main factory is 50 x 150 feet, with 
an L 4t xtlS feet, four stories high ; blacksmith shop 
22x70 feet; case-hardening shop 88 x -43 feet; en- 
gine house lGx37 feet; boiler house 34x82 feet, 
one story high; machine and tool shop 35 x 86 feet, 
and ottice and warehouse 3.i x 105 feet, two stories 
high. The power is supplied by three engines 
aggregating three hundretl and twentv-tive horse- 
power, and three boilers aggregating five hundred 
horse-power. To-day this institution is lh« pride 
of Elyria, and its business manager, Mr. Levagood, 
a respected and honored citizen of the place. 

On December 4, 1866, Mr. Levagood 
was united in marriage, at Greenwood, 
Mich., with Miss Mary J. Nichols, a 



\ 



^% 





^^-^^^^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



771 



nativeof Ontario, daiiorhter of Henry B. and 
Mary (Ayers) Nichols, both of whom were 
frojii New York. On December 4, 1891, 
was celebrateil at tlieir residence in Elyria 
the " silver wedding " of Mr. and Mrs. M. 
H. Levagood, on wliich occasion a large 
number of friends responded to the invita- 
tion to be present, to whom their host and 
hostess, iu their usual frank and cordial 
manner, gave hearty welcome. When the 
guests dispersed it was with the unani- 
mous feeling that this social event was one 
of the most enjoyable they had ever at- 
tended, while a large number of presents 
were left by them as tokens of their good- 
will and respect. 

Through all the disappointments and 
trials incident to human life, Mr. Leva- 
good is always the same genial, hopeful 
and good-natured jnan, which makes him 
an honored and valued member of several 
Fraternal Orders, and in this respect few 
in the State have greater prominence. He 
is a member of King Solomon Lodge, 
F. &, A. M.,and treasurerof Marshall Chap- 
ter No. 47 Royal Arch Masons, Elyria, 
Ohio; he is a past officer of the Knights of 
Honor, Koyal Arcanum and the American 
Legion of Honor, in which latter he lias 
held the responsible State offices of grand 
trustee and grand treasurer, served two 
terms as grand commander, is now sitting 
past grand commander, and is Ohio's repre- 
sentative to the supreme council. He 
is a member of the city council, now serv- 
ing as its first oresident; as vice-president 
and a director of the Elyria Savings and 
Loan Co., and president of the Elyria Aid 
Society. He is a trustee of the First Con- 
gregational Church Society, and is actively 
identified with other charitable and benevo- 
lent enterjirises. With a generous sym- 
pathy, kindliness and a desire to live a 
helpful life, regardless of class or condi- 
tion he has a large circles of friends, and 
has endeared himself to those in his em- 
ploy, where mutual confidence, goodwill 
and respect prevail. The natural fruitage 
of such a life, with a hearty reciprocal re- 

41 



sponse from the members of his family, 
produces the charm of his home, to which 
he retires for rest and pleasure, when the 
duties and responsibilities of the day are 
laid aside. 

The business motto of Mr. Levagood is 
"never postpone until to-morrow what 
can and should be done to-day; business 
first, pleasure afterward." With these 
characteristics governing his life, his suc- 
cess is but the fulfilling of a natural law, 
and has earned for him the prominence he 
has attained in the commercial world. 




,ILLIAM DOUGLASS, the well- 
known retired merchant of Kip- 
ton, was born June 21, 1835, in 
Camden township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, a son of Robert l^ouglass, who was 
born in Lyme, Conn., September 27, 1795. 
Robert Douglass, grandfather of our 
subject, when a young man came with 
his father's family from Scotland to Con- 
necticut, about the year 1775. He was 
there married, and reared a family of six 
children, viz.: Nancy, Lovisa, Prudence, 
Robert, William and John. The father 
of these died in Connecticut, where he was 
an extensive farmer, keeping a large dairy; 
he also owned and kept slaves to do his 
work, but finally sold off the slaves, the 
last two for the sum of eighty-five dollars. 
After his death the widow, with her six 
children, removed to Hamilton, New York. 
Rol>ert Douglass, father of the subject 
of this sketch, moved with his widowed 
mother to Hamilton, N. Y., and soon 
afterward, in 1817, he married Susan A. 
Waugli, who was born August 20, 1799, 
in Camden township, Oneida Co., N. Y. 
Li 1838 he came to Ohio, traveling by 
canal and lakes to Huron, Erie county, 
thence by road to Camden township, Lo- 
rain county, accompanied the entire trip 
by Thomas Lee and Gideon Waugli, also 
heads of families. Mr. Douglass bought 
twenty-five acres of wild land in Camden 
township at two dollars and fifty cents per 



772 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



acre, and tlie three families settled to- 
gether, at first erecting a single cabin for 
the shelter of all, until the Lee and Waush 

o 

families could be provided for. In this 
cabin two years afterward was born the 
subject of this sketch, and on this farm 
the parents passed the lemainder of their 
days, the father dying April 19, 1863, the 
mother April 9, 1856, and they now 
"• sleep the sleep that knows no wakening " 
in Camden cemetery. Their original 
twenty-five acres increased from time to 
time till the property became a farm of 
considerable size, but prior to his death 
Mr. Douglass sold off all except the 
original twenty- five acres; and the old log 
cabin was superseded by a more modern 
and comfortable residence. The record of 
the chiklren born to this honored pioneer 
couple is as follows: Lovisa, born Janu- 
ary 6, 1818, married J. G. B. Babcock, 
and died in Oswego, N. Y. ; Nancy, born 
October 2, 1819, married B. Bayless, and 
died in Kipton, Ohio; Adeline, born 
August 4, 1822, died in New York 
before her parents removed to Ohio; 
Charlotte, born January 20, 1825, mar- 
ried A. Boswell, and died in Michigan 
(she was buried in Camden cem- 
etery); Lucinda, born March 8, 1827, 
married S. B. Williams, and died at Ver- 
million, Ohio (she was also interred in 
Camden cemetery); Robert H., born April 
22, 1830, is a resident of Kipton, Ohio; 
Sally Helen, born October 9, 1832, mar- 
ried Bethel Sabins, and died in Michigan, 
where she was buried; William, sulg'ect of 
sketch, is spoken of more fully further on; 
John G., born February 2, 1838, of Cleve- 
land, Ohio; Susan A., born June 5, 1840, 
Mrs. A. L. Howe, of Cleveland, Ohio; 
Harrison, born January 13, 1843, who en- 
listed at the age of eigliteen in Company 
H, Forty third Regiment O. V. I., and 
was killed February 3, 1865, at River's 
Bridge, S. C, after having served through 
four years of the war. Politically Mr. 
Douglass was for several years an Old-line 
Whig, in later years a stanch Republican 



and a strong Abolitionist, sheltering many 
a fugitive slave on his way to freedom in 
Canada. He held several township offices, 
and was in all ways a most useful member 
of the community. As a sportsman he 
was a keen shot, and as thire was abun- 
dance of game of all sorts, including deer, 
turkeys, etc., his home was seldom without 
a well-stocked larder, and his neighbors 
were abundantly supplied by him w'ith 
wild meat. He and his wife were of the 
close communion Baptist faith, as early 
members of the churcli at Center. 

William Douglass, whose name intro- 
duces this sketch, received his education in 
a primitive old log schoolhouse situated 
about three-fourths of a mile from his 
home, and this was the only one he ever 
attended. He was reared to agricultural 
pursuits, and remained under the parental 
roof until he was twenty-one years old, 
when he found employment in the woods, 
making staves; and iieing a powerful young 
man, he was able to earn good wages. I^p 
to his twenty-fifth year he divided his time 
between helping his parents, who needed 
his assistance, and making a little money 
for himself. A land grant his father had 
secured for services in the war of 1812, and 
which consisted of 160 acres in Mower 
county, Minn., was bought by our subject, 
and he remained thereon for some time. 
In 1860 he came to Kipton, Camden town- 
ship, Lorain county, and traded this land 
for a stock of groceries, and the rent of a 
building in Kipton for two years. From 
the time he opened out his business, he 
continued in it thirty successive years, and 
not long after commencinij he bouijht also 
the building, then a frame one. His trade 
expanded so that in course of time he had 
to put up a substantial brick store, which 
he still owns. In 1888 he disposed of his 
stock of dry goods and groceries, since 
when he has been living in retirement. A 
couple of months each year he spends in 
an elegant lakeside cottage he owns at 
Linwood, Ohio, and his leisure time is 
spent in fishing and hunting. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



773 



On July 3, 1862, Mr. Douglass was 
united in marriage with Josepliine Rnn- 
8oni, born January IG, 1843, at Berlin 
Heights, Erie Co., Ohio, daughter of Rus- 
sei M. and Caroline (Tenant) R-msoin, and 
the child born to them is Cora CI., born 
July 26, 1863, wife of O. L. Wright, of 
Toledo, wlio has one child, Gnrtha D., 
born July 5, 1886. Republican in his 
political sympathies, our subject's first 
Presidential vote was cast for J. C. Fre- 
mont, and he has frequently been solicited 
to accept office, but invariably declines, his 
business interest at such times demaiidinir 
all his attention. He and his faithful life 
partner are consistent members of the 
Disciple Church. 



CHARLES ALEX. TWINING, one 
of the most prosperous and wealthy 
of tiie prominent farmers of Hen- 
rietta township, is a native of the 
State of New Jersey, born in Hunterdon 
county May 23, 182^. 

Samuel Twininj;, father of subject, was 
born February 22, 1796, in Hnnterdon 
county, N. J., and moved his family to 
Broome county, N. Y., in 1823, wiiere he 
died April 10, 1831. On September 23,1815, 
he married Elizabeth Stout, who died Oc- 
tober 17, 1882. Her people were wealthy, 
but on tlie death of her parents she lost all 
that she became heiress to. Saniuel was 
a farmer, miller, cloth-dresser and dis- 
tiller, and at the time of his death owned 
fifty acres of land near Binghamton, N. Y. 
He left five children, a mother-in-law and 
sister-in-law for onr subject to assist in 
Tjrovidinir for, and. althouoh the latter was 
but ten years old when his father died, he 
was the " main spoke in the wheel."' 

Cl)arles A. Twininir, whose name opens 
this sketch, received but a limited educa- 
tion at the subscription schools of the 
place of Ills nativity. On October 18, 
1842, he was married, by Squire Jesse 
Richards, to Miss Nellie Schermerhorn, 



and for about seven years thereafter they 
continued to reside in Broome county, 
N. Y. In 1849 they came to Lorain 
county, Ohio, and Mr. Twining, having 
saved some five hundred dollars from his 
earnings, bought a small piece of land in 
Pittsfield township, Lorain count}', where 
he resided three years. At the end of this 
time he sold out to his three brothers and 
returned to Broome county, N. Y., where 
he bought the old home farm formerly 
owned by his father. After residing iiere 
three years he sold out, returned to Ohio, 
and bought a farm in Camden township, 
Lorain county. Sold this tarm and bouLrht 
in Russia township; sold this and bought 
a farm in Henrietta township, which he 
still owns. In 1888 he built a comforta- 
ble modern dwelling, situated in Henrietta 
township, and his property has increased 
from time to time till he now owns 720 
acres of prime farm land, divided into 
seven farms, with good buihiings. He has 
owned farms in lirownhelm and West 
Henrietta, and in Erie county, in Florence 
township; three farms in West Clarksfield. 
Huron county, Brighton township, Lorain 
county, and Wakeman, Huron county, and 
resided on all of these except the one in 
Wakeman. He has given his daughter 
Sarah Ann a good farm in Camden town- 
ship, and has settled his si.\ living sons on 
good farn^s, and has also dealt quite ex- 
tensively in live stock. 

Elever^ children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Tvvinino', as follows: Mrs. Sarah Ann 
Gibson, living in Clark.sfield, Huron Co., 
Ohio; Herbert, deceased; Orlando, de- 
ceased; William T., living on the home 
farm, near his father; Gertrude E., de- 
ceased; Alva P., Floyd O., Virgil L., 
Perry E. and Fred A., on farms near their 
father; and one that died in infancy. The 
entire family are members of the Baptist 
Church, except Perry, who is a member of 
the Methodist Church, and all brongiit up 
in the ])ath of Christian rectitude, which 
they have in no instance deviated from. 
Tlie sons have never used liquor or tobacco 



774 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



in any form. Mr. Twining in his political 
aifiliations lias always been a stanch Dem- 
ocrat, and has served his county to the 
best of his ability, and held offices of trust. 
Mr. Twining formerly belonged to the 
Methodist Church, where he was class- 
leader and superintendent of Sabbath- 
schools for a number of years, and also 
held an exhorter's license. In 1866 Mr. 
Twining spent one year with his family in 
Ocean county, N. J., stopping at a pleas- 
ure resort in Point Pleasant. 



N 



// 



ATHANIEL MARTIN, who for 
the past quarter of a centurY has 
been identitied with the agricul- 
tural interests of Columbia town- 
ship, is a native of England, born 
in Devonshire in 1830. 

His parents, Jolin and Sarah (^Osborn) 
Martin, were also natives of Devonshire, 
where they spent their entire lives, the 
mother dying in 1844, the father at the age 
of eighty-eight years. They had a family 
of six children (four of whom came to 
America), as follows: Mary was the wife 
of Edward Spetigue, and died in England, 
leaving a family; Maria, who was the wife 
of John Tubb, went to Australia, and there 
slie died leaving six children; Jeremiah, 
who came with our subject to Lorain 
county, where he owned a farm, and thence 
moved to Jasj)er county, Mo.; John, who 
came to Lorain county in 1849, located 
first in Ridgeville township, then became a 
resident of Eaton township, and finally of 
Columbia (he is now living in Pennsyl- 
vania); Nathaniel, the subject of this 
Bketch; and Jane, wife of William Palmer, 
of Eaton township. 

Nathaniel Martin was reared and edu- 
cated in the land of his birth, and in 1863 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
Ann Moyse, a native of Cornwall, Eng- 
land, whence in 1867 they came to the 
United States, settling at once in Colum- 
bia township, Lorain Co., Ohio. Here 



Mrs. Martin died in 1869, leaving three 
children, viz.: John R., Elizabeth E., and 
Anna Maria, who is now teaching in Ant- 
werp, Ohio. In 1870 Mr. Martin was 
married, in Columbia township, for his 
second wife, to Mrs. Caroline (^Kuple) Heed, 
daughter of Dr. Boltis and Clarissa (0&- 
born) Rnple, natives of Connecticut, who 
in an early day came to Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain county, where the father died ; 
the mother, who is now in the ninety- 
fourth year of her age, still survives. 

Since coming to Lorain conntv Mr. Mar- 
tin has entjaaed in agriculture and he now 
owns a good farm of seventy-six acres, in an 
excellent state of cultivation. He read medi- 
cine in Columbia township, and al.so at- 
tended Cincinnati Medical College, gradu- 
ating therefrom in 1879, and subsequently 
practiced his profession for some years. 
He now conducts a general farming busi- 
ness, operating 216 acres in Lorain and 
Medina counties. In politics he is a Pro- 
hibitionist, and has been a member of the 
school board. In religious faith Mr. and 
Mrs. Martin are both members of the 
Wesleyan Methodist Church at West View. 



dlOSEPH H. MULL, junior proprietor 
of the Obeilin Citizen, has been 
) identified with the printing business 
lor the past seventeen years, rising 
from "devil" to "boss."' Eor the most 
part he was employed on local papers in 
Oberlin, and in job offices, and in 1S92 be- 
came associated with Mr. Disbro in the 
publication of the Citizen, a fiourishiug 
weekly, in Oberlin. 

Mr. Mull was born in November, 1857, 
in Dubuque county, Iowa, a son of Jacob 
and Almira (Sage) Mull, natives, the father 
of Pennsylvania, the mother of Connecti- 
cut. In the early days of Iowa as a State 
they moved thither, locating in Dubuque 
county, whence in 1860 they came to Ohio, 
where the father died in 1891 ; his widow 
is now living in Pittstield township, Lo- 



LORAIS COUNTY, OHIO. 



775 



rain county. He was a farmer by voca- 
tion, in politics a Republican, and was a 
member of tlie Chriotian Cliiirch. 

The subject of our sketch was educated 
in tiie schools of Pittsfield, and in the 
preparatory department of Oberlin College, 
after which he embarked in the printing 
business, as already narrated. In 1884 he 
was married to Olivia Stone, and they have 
had four children, two being deceased, 
Ernest at the intereslinof age of three 
years; those yet living are George and 
Julia. In his political sympathies Mr. 
Mull is a Republican ; socially he is a mem- 
ber of Oberlin F. & A. M. Lodge, No. 380. 



FLOYD M. PELTON is a son of 
David C. Pelton, who was horn 
_ February 4, 1800, in Hartford, 
Washington Co., N. Y., a son of 
James Pelton, who was among the earliest 
pioneers of LaGrange township, having 
settled there in 1S24. 

David C. Pelton married Lydia Dodge, 
who was born March 12, 1807, and they 
had six children, four of whom lived to be 
named, as follows: Maria, Martha, Mary 
and Cliarles; the last named of these came 
to Ohio with his father, and is now a 
farmer in the State of Illinois. The mother 
of these died, and in 1882 Mr. Pelton was 
married, in New York, for his second wife, 
to Hannah Smith, and in the fall of 1833 
started with his wife and one child for 
Ohio, where his father, James, had been 
livincr, as will be seen, for some few years. 
They came by way of canal and lake to 
Cleveland, and thence drove to Lorain 
county, locating in the eastern part of La- 
Grange township, near his father. He re- 
mained there eight years, and then re- 
moved to the western part of the township 
(then a very wild section, and all new 
country, the roads not being cut), locating 
on the farm where our sul)ject now resides. 
By his second wife he had ten children, 
viz.: Lydia, Mrs. Charles Crowner, of La- 



Grange; Mary, married to Manford Rip- 
ley, now of Eaton county, Mich.; Clark, 
of Cheboygan, Mich.; James K., of Wau- 
kesha, Wis.; Joim, of Rising Sun, Wood 
Co., Ohio; Grovener, who enlisted in Com- 
pany II, One Hundred and Third Regi- 
ment, and died in hospital at Hickman's 
Bridge, Ky., where he was buried; Ade- 
line, Mrs. Edward Beaver, of LaGrange; 
Hannah, Mrs. Thomas Cornell, of Eaton 
county, Mich.; Elizabeth, Mrs. Lawi-cnce 
Van Warner, of Elsie, Mich.; and Win- 
field, a farruer of Eaton county, Mich. The 
mother of these died June 30, 1852, and 
was buried in LaGrange, and for his third 
wife he married a native of New York 
State, Mrs. Mary (Tippin) Burns, widow of 
Thomas Burns. By this union there were 
five children, as follows: One that died in 
infancy unnamed; Clarissa, who married 
Augustus Vanlinder, and died in New 
York in 1885, leaving five children; Syl- 
vester, who died young in 1864; one died 
of spotted fever when seven or eight years 
old; and Floyd M., subject of this memoir. 
Mr. Pelton died on his farm February 11, 
1890, being then over ninety years old, 
and was buried in LaGrange township. 
Politically he was a Republican. After 
his death his widow resided on the home 
farm with our subject; she died September 
8, 1893, at the age of eighty-three years. 
Floyd M. Pelton was born June 18, 
1860, in LaGrange township, youngest 
of the twenty- one children of David C. 
Pelton. He attended the common schools 
of his day, and was reared a farmer hoy, 
receiving his first instnictions under the 
direction of his father, on the farm he now 
owns and resides upon. He was united in 
marriage June 18, 1879, with Miss Lottie 
Johnson, who was born September 15, 
1864, in LaGrange, daughter of Elijali and 
Lvdia (Haines) Johnson, and they have 
.had four children: Cora B., Mary E., 
Clara M. and Charles W. Since his father's 
death Mr. Pelton has had charge of the 
home farm, which he now owns, and to 
which he has added eighty acres, making 



776 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



him in all a tract of 160 acres. He has 
met with some misfortunes, having had 
his barns destroyed by fire three times, but 
he has rebuilt each time, and in 1891 he 
erected one of the finest and most conven- 
ient barns in the township. He also con- 
ducts a dairy in connection with his 
farming operations, and has at present 
thirty-eight fine Holstein cattle. He is 
also a member of the Holstein-Friesian 
Association of America. He is an ener- 
getic, hard-working man, and has been 
very prosperous. Politically he is a Ee- 
piiblican, and has held various township 
offices; in religious faith he and his wife 
are members of the Baptist Church of La- 
Grange. 



f[JfENE,Y WISE, one of the progres- 
fs^ sive German agriculturists of Graf- 
I Ij ton township, was born in Byron, 
•fj October 5, 1847, a son of Peter 

Wise, who was born November 5, 
1810, also in Byron, and married a native 
of that place in the person of Miss Louisa 
Miller, born May 18, 1817. 

In 1858 the family, consisting of father, 
mother and six children — Louisa, Fred- 
ericka, Henry, Lewis, Frederick and 
Ciiristian — set sail from Havre, France, 
for the United States, and after a voyage 
of twenty-one days landed at New York 
toward the latter part of December. From 
that port they came west to Liverpool, 
Medina Co., Ohio, by way of Hudson 
river, Erie Canal and lake Erie to Cleveland, 
from which point Peter's brother brought 
them by wagon to Liverpool township, 
Medina county, where they arrived on 
Christmas Day. In Germany Peter Wise 
had been well-to-do, but through going 
security for a friend, who afterward failed 
in business, he lost over two thousand dol- 
lars. In Liverpool township, Medina 
county, he rented a farm for a short time, 
and then removed to Columbia township, 
Lorain county, later coming to Grafton 
township, same county, where he bought 



fifty acres of wild land on credit, and here 
lived seven years, at the end of which time 
he moved to the farm whereon he died 
August 8, 1886; his wife had passed away 
June 19, 1883, and both are interred in 
Belden cemetery. In Ohio the family was 
increased by three children, as follows: 
Hannah J., born September 11, 1857; 
Catherine S., born Septetnber 12, 1859; 
and Jacob J., born July 25, 1864. The 
parents were hard-working, industrious 
people, accumulating a comfortable com- 
petence, and they were honored and re- 
spected by all. 

Henry Wise, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was six years old when his 
father and family came to America and to 
Ohio. Before leaving Germany he had 
attended a Kindergarten for a time, and 
after coming here he received the rest of 
his education at a German school, but he 
never entered an English educational in- 
stitution. While yet a lad he was put to 
work on his father's farm, where he re- 
mained until he was fourteen years old, at 
which time he commenced work for Ben- 
jamin Corning at six dollars per month, all 
his earnings being turned over to his par- 
ents to help pay for the home. On March 
28, 1870, Mr. Wise married Mary Law, 
who was born March 13, 1851, in Gi-afton 
township, Lorain county, daughter of 
Jacob Law, and children as follows were 
born to them: Twins (stillborn), Rosa, 
Bertha, Alice, Edith, Amanda, Elmer, 
Anna, Lorena, Agnes, Llenry and Ralph. 
In 1871 he and his brother Lewis pur- 
chased land, going into delit nine thou- 
sand si.x hundred dollars for it, and the 
predictions of many were that " the Wise 
boys would fail." But these ominous words 
were not fated to come true, for " the Wise 
boys "did not fail; on the contrary they 
succeeded, by dinf of hard work and judi- 
cious economy, in paying off every dollar 
of the indebtedness. At the end of thir- 
teen years (in 1886) the brothers effected 
an amicable division of the jjroperty, each 
one settling on his own share. Our sub- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Ill 



ject has an excellent piece of land and a 
good home, equipped with all modern im- 
provements, including commodious out- 
buildings. Politically he is a Democrat, 
and he and his family are members of the 
Lutheran Churcli of Liverpool, Ohio. 



T|OSEPH S. WHITNEY, retired agri- 
k. Ii cultnrist, well known and highly re- 
\^j spected in Lorain county, now re- 
siding in Uie town of Camden, is a 
typical "Green #/[ountain Laddie," born 
July 10, 1814, in Bennington county, Ver- 
mont. 

Joseph Whitney, father of subject, first 
saw the light in Westminster, Mass., Feb- 
ruary 21, 1785, a son of Elisha Whitney, 
and April 27, 1811, was married to Abi- 
gail Townes, who was born January 22, 
1791, in Andover, Vt., where she was 
married. After their marriage they con- 
tinned to live in Vermont till 1838, when 
they came to Ohio, making a settlement in 
Pittsfield township, Lorain county, the 
entire family (excepting two sons, who had 
preceded them) making the journe}' in a 
wagon, the trip occupying three weeks. 
The head of the family had in 1833 made 
a prospecting visit to Lorain county, com- 
ing by way of the lakes, and at that time 
l)ought the land in Pittsfield township to 
which the family afterward removed, as 
above related. The two sons, spoken of as 
having preceded the rest, came, Joseph S. 
in 1836 and Aaron in 1837; and in pre- 
paring the new home they cleared thirty 
acres of land, and erected a rude frame 
house in which the family lived after their 
arrival. Here the parents died, the father 
May 2, 1877, at the patriarchal age of 
nearly ninety-three years, the mother on 
May 3, 1872, and they lie buried in Pitts- 
field cemetery. Mr. Whitney was owner 
of a fine farm in Vermont, and was worth 
two thousand dollars at the time of his 
comiiiiJ to Ohio; when he died his estate 
was valued at twenty thousand dollars. 



His political proclivities were of a pro- 
nounced type, at first as a strong Whig, 
and later as a stanch Republican. He and 
his wife were members of the Congrega- 
tional Church. Their children, all born 
\n Vermont, were Hannah T. and A1)igail 
(twins), born July 5, 1812, of whom Han- 
nah married Reul)en Stone, in Vermont, 
and died in Oberlin, Ohio (Abigail died in 
infancy); Joseph S., born July 10, 1814, 
who is the subject proper of this memoir; 
Aaron T., born July 5, 1816, who died in 
1870, in CoUinwood, Ohio; Mark, born 
December 17, 1818, a farmer of Russia 
townshij), Lorain county; Augustine, born 
December 27, 1820, of Pittsfield township; 
Richard, born February 16, 1828, of Grin- 
nell, Iowa; Susan A., born July 20, 1825, 
who married John Mills, and died in Pitts- 
field; Norman, born January 20, 1828, of 
Anthony, Kans.; Ira, born September 13, 
1829, of Harper county, Ivans., where he 
owns over 1,200 acres; and Loren, born 
February 26, 1833, of Texas. 

The subject of our sketch reeejved but 
a limited education at the subscription 
schools of his native place, consisting of 
two months' tuition during a few winters; 
but what he lacked in that respect he made 
up for by after-study, and a close observa- 
tion of men and things. In 1836 his 
father sent him to Ohio to prepare a new 
home for the family, as above related, and 
in this then wild locality he did many a 
hard day's work, being a stout, active 
young man, and frequently had encounters 
with wild animals who were disposed to 
assert their prior right to the forest wilds.' 
After his marriage he and his bride settled 
on 100 acres of land in Pittsfield township, 
which he had bought on credit, and here 
they lived four years, their house being an 
old log cabin, very much the worse for age 
and exposure to the elements, and through 
the many cracks between the logs would 
often creep into " the sacred penetralia of 
the home" snakes and other reptiles. Buy- 
ing another farm near by, Mr. Whitney 
lived there many years; then for two years 



778 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



made his home in Brownhelm township, 
same county, and then returning to Pitts- 
field township lived tliere till 1870, in 
■which year he came to Camden township, 
taking up his residence at Kipton, where 
he has since lived a retired life. 

On September 19, 183'J, Mr. Whitney 
was married, in Sullivan, Ashland Co., 
Ohio, to Lucy A. Ward, who was born Oc- 
tober 7, 1818, in Orwell, Vt., a daughter 
of James and Lucy (Abel) Ward, who 
came to Ohio in July, 1836, locating in 
Pittsfield township, Lorain county. The 
children burn to this union are four in 
number, of whom the following is a brief 
record: Melva A. is the wife of Roswell 
Adams, of Wellington, Ohio; Agnes A. 
is the wife of E. Jones, of Fostoria, Ohio; 
Everetta H. is the wife of Frank Sheffield, 
of Pittsfield township; Mary M. is an 
educated young lady of Cleveland, Ohio. 
Politically our subject was originally a 
AVhig, later a Republican, and he held 
various offices of trust in Pittsfield town- 
ship. On September 19, 1889, Mr., and 
Mrs. Whitney celebrated their golden wed- 
ding; and they are yet hale and hearty, en- 
joying in their declining years the good 
will and esteem of a wide circle of friends 
and acquaintances. 



rH. FOSTER, member of the flour- 
isiiiug clothing firm of Baker & Fos- 
^ ter, Elyria, was born in Carlisle 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, Decem- 
ber 7, 184:9, a son of I. B. and Hannah 
(Taylor) Foster, natives of Tompkins 
county, N. Y., the fatiier born September 
12, 1822, died July 7, 1882, and the latter 
born March 2, 1828, in Enfield, died Feb- 
ruary 4, 1890. 

Both parents were reared on farms, and 
received common-school educations. Tiiey 
were married in their native county, and 
moved westward to Ohio, settling in Car^ 
lisle township, Lorain county, about the 
year 1847. They had four children, viz.: 



F. H.; Frederick K., now a farmer at 
Saint John's, Clinton Co., Mich.; DeWitt, 
a farmer, now residing at Oberlin, Ohio; 
and Charles H., a clerk with the firm of 
Baker & Foster. Our subject's paternal 
grandparents were both natives of Xew 
York State, where they passed their entire 
lives, and were descended from old Massa- 
chusetts stock. The maternal grandpHr- 
ents were of the same nativity, and tiie 
grandmother is yet living, now at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-four years. 

I. B. Foster, father of subject, was by 
trade a carpenter and joiner and cabinet 
maker. After coming to Lorain county 
he followed the business of contracting 
and building, was recognized as a first- 
class mechanic, and had in his employ at 
times as many as thirty hands. His health 
failing, however, he abandoned this line of 
trade, taking up fruit culture, including 
tree grafting, and also carried on a mer- 
cantile business in a small way at La- 
Porte, in Lorain county, up to the time of 
his death, which occurred at his home in 
LaPorte. He was very active in business, 
and made a success of it. In politics he 
was a strong Republican, and a pronounced 
temperance advocate and Abolitionist, 
often concealing in his house run-away 
slaves during the "Underground Rail- 
road " period. His wife was a slight, 
delicate woman, and, like her husband, 
was possessed of strong religious convic- 
tions. They were married November 
1, 1846. 

F. H. Foster, subject of these lines, re- 
mained with his parents till he was nine- 
teen years old, attending during the winter 
months the schools of LaPorte, Lorain 
county, and working in the summer sea- 
son, lie got some ideas of mercantile 
business in his father's store, and always 
had an ambition to lead a commercial life. 
At the age of nineteen he left the paternal 
roof, and proceeded to Oberlin, in the 
same county, where he entered the employ 
of J. M. Johnson & Son, with whom he 
remained two years and four months; 




i^^^^^^s^t-^^^r^^^^^^ 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



781 



then came to Elyria, and for seven years 
clerked with Starr Brothers ifc Co., general 
uierciiants. In b(jtii these houses Mr. 
Foster tilled positions with ability and 
energy in all departments, and during the 
last three or four years he was with the 
last named tirm he had charge of tiie 
clothing and manufacturing of clothing, 
becoming a thorough expert in all the de- 
partments of that branch of the business. 
Leaving the firm of Starr Brothers & Co. 
on account of their going out of business, 
he entered into an equal partnership with 
G. W. Baker, under the tii'm name of 
Baker & Foster, and in 1878 they bought 
out the clothing department of Baldwin, 
Lersch & Co. ; since then they have been 
the leading clothiers in Elyria. Both are 
admirably adapted to the trade, having 
had long experience in the business, and 
being well known to the public. They 
commenced in a careful, conservative way, 
and as business increased enlarged their 
premises, making three additions to their 
rooms; after which they bought out Cogs- 
well & Co., and added their late room to 
their own store. Mr. Foster is one of the 
best buyers and salesmen to be found any- 
where, and in discretion and judgment in 
both buying and selling he has no superior 
in the State. He does all the buying for 
the firm. 

Mr. Foster was married, Novenilier 1, 
1871, to Miss Emma Inez Prindle, a na- 
tive of Carlisle township, Lorain county, 
born October 6, 1851. She is a daughter 
of H. H. and Chiistiana Elizabeth (Spaf- 
ford) Prindle, the former of whom was 
born about the year 1S22 in Carlisle town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, where he lived 
and died, the latter born in Richfield, 
Summit Co., Ohio, January 13, 1822, and 
died at Elyria, Ohio, October 13, 1885, 
aged sixty-three years, eight months and 
twenty-eight days. Mrs. Emma Inez 
Foster was educated in the country schools 
till the age of fourteen, when she came to 
Elyria to attend the high school there, 
making her home during that time with 



her grandparents. She is the mother of 
two cliildren: Clarence H., l)orn October 
21, 1877, and Maud Inez, born December 
15, 1881. 

Politically Mr. Foster is a Republican; 
socially he is a Master Mason and a mem- 
ber of the Royal Arcanum. He is inter- 
ested in the Independent Horse and Cattle 
Company at North Park, Colo., and for 
j'ecreation and the benefit of his health he 
makes frequent trips to that place. He 
and his wife are members of the Episcopal 
Church. 




EV. J. A. SCHMIDT, pastor of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in 
Elyria, was born April 5, 1854, in 
Shelby county, Ohio, the fifth 
child of J. A. and Rosina (Bertch) 
Schmidt, both of whom were born in 
Wurtemberg, Germany. After coming to 
this country they lived in Ohio and In- 
diana; the motlier died in 1892; the father 
is now a resident of Liverpool, Ohio. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
literary education in part at Fort Wayne, 
Ind., and pursued his theological studies 
at Concordia College. St. Louis, Mo., where 
he graduated in 1877, in July of which 
year he was ordained. Coming, then, direct 
to Elyria, he took charge of St. John's 
Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. The 
appointments in the parish were poor, a 
small frame edifice serving as church, 
parochial school and pastoral residence. By 
and by Mr. Schmidt agitated among his 
fiock the question of building new accomo- 
dations for the flock and pastor, and as a 
result of his labors the Evangelical Lu- 
theran Church building, schoolhouse and 
pastoral residence are among the finest 
buildings in Elyria. The congregation 
have never solicited aid from outside 
sources, it being a princi])le of the denomi- 
nation that to donate to Church work is a 
privilege and purely a matter of religion. 
Mr. Schmidt was united in marriage, 
April 22, 1878, with Miss Johanna 



782 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 




Scliwan, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, 
daughter of Eev. H. C. Schwan, D. D., and 
Emma (Bhun) Schwan, the former of whom 
is a native of Hanover, Germany, the latter 
of Brazil, South America; they reside in 
Cleveland, Ohio. To this union have been 
born the following named fonr children: 
Stella, Flora, Esther and George. In 
politics our subject is independent. At 
Grafton, Ohio, he has a station which he 
visits monthly to preach the good tidings 
of salvation. 

ViILLIAM N. SHOOP, one of the 
foremost citizens of Grafton town- 
ship, was born May 31, 1828, in 
Fairview township, York Co., 
Penn., son of Peter and Susan (Nelson) 
Shoop, wlio were of German extraction. 

Our subject received a common-school 
education, attending school during the 
winter season, and doincr chores for his 
board, his duties being so numerous that 
he was obliged to labor very industriously 
to ])erform all the work assigned to him 
before school began. Thus he struggled 
on until he was sixteen years of age, when 
he commenced to learn the blacksmith's 
trade, working for one year under John 
Whitmer. of White Hill,"Cumberland Co., 
Penn., and then for two and a half years 
under James Denning, on Tiiird street, 
Harrisburg, Penn. He was then employed 
for a short time at Baltimore, Md., in a 
shop on Utah street, when failing healtli 
compelled him to give up the trade, and 
he obtained work in the limekilns along 
the Lebanon pike from Harrisburg, Penn. 
In 1849 his father died, and was buried in 
Fairview township, York Co., Penn., by 
the side of the mother, who had preceded 
him to the grave in 1841. They left live 
children, of whom William N. was the 
youngest; the latter was taken sick after 
his mother's death with a disease very 
much like la grippe, and during his illness 
incurred a doctor's bill of five dollars, to 
settle which he gathered roots and herbs 
after iiis recovery. 



After the death of his parents, being 
dissatisfied with his wages, Mr. Shoop con- 
cluded to micrrate to Ohio, and came to 
West Salem, Wayne county, but failing to 
find work there, walked to Westtield town- 
ship, Medina county, carrying his budget. 
He worked for twelve dollars a month un- 
til October, 1854, when he returned to 
Harrisburg, Penn., remaining there until 
the following spring, when, in company 
with three other young men, he started for 
St. Paul, Minn., traveling by rail to Galena, 
111., and thence by boat to their destina- 
tion. He found employment with a sur- 
veying corps (then laying out Stillman's 
addition to St. Paul), but after a short 
time returned to northern Illinois, work- 
ing near Freeport, Stephenson county, un- 
til the spring of 1856. He then went to 
Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where he helped to 
burn the brick for the college of that place; 
and then returning to his native State, 
remained there for some time. In the lat- 
ter part of 1858 he returned to Ohio, and 
locating in Westfield, Medina county, en- 
gaged in farm work for about one year, 
when, his health failing, he obtained a sit- 
nation with the Ohio Farmers Insurance 
Company, his former employer signing his 
bond for two thousand dollars. He com- 
menced his career in March, 1860, in 
Grafton township, Lorain county, making 
his first business call at and taking his first 
risk on the house in which he was after- 
ward married, and which subsequently 
came into his possession. Though he had 
no experience whatever in the insurance 
line, during the first year alone he in- 
creased the number of applications from 
123 (the highest number obtained by his 
predecessor) to 365. He subsequently 
worked in portions of Erie, Huron, Cuya- 
hoga, Logan, Union, Knox and Champaign 
counties, Ohio, and for various companies, 
continuing in business until 1872. 

On December 22, 1863, Mr. Shoop was 
married to Miss Sarah Thorp, who was 
born May 15, 1843, in Grafton, daughter 
of Ira S. and Sarah (Johnston) Thorp, and 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



783 



to their union has come one child: Jessie, 
Mrs. John G. Gardner, of Grafton town- 
ship. In 1867 he removed to his present 
farm, and here, since 1872, has been suc- 
cessfully engaged in general agriculture. 
In political faith he is a Repuhlican, and 
has served in various township ottices. Mr. 
Shoop is one of the representative self- 
made men of Grafton township. He is a 
leader in pulilic affairs, and his opinions on 
agricultural subjects are highly valued. As 
a citizen, he is public spirited, progressive 
and enterprising, and is ready to assist in 
every measure tending to benelit the com- 
niunity in general. 



THOMAS CHOPE,-a representative 
prosperous agriculturist of Colum- 
bia township, of which he is a native, 
was born in April, 1841. 

His parents, Thomas and Ann 
(Rowlan) Chope, natives of England, where 
they mari'ied, came in the year 1835 to 
tlie United States and to Ohio, first locating 
on the Public Square, Cleveland, whence 
they moved to Columbia township, Loraiti 
county, where they settled in the woods 
and commenced clearing a farm. Their 
first piece of land was thirty acres which 
they improved, and they added thereto from 
time to time till it is now a fine property 
of 230 acres. Here they passed the re- 
mainder of their days, the father dying in 
1884, a lifelong Whig and Republican, the 
mother in 1885. They had a family of 
four children, all now deceased except our 
subject, their names being Thomas, Will- 
iam (deceased at the age of twenty-four), 
Mary (deceased when twenty-two years 
old) and Ann (who died at the age of 
eighteen). 

Thomas Chope, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was educated at the schools of 
his native township, and learned the 
butchering business, which he followed 
for some years in Cleveland and Chicago. 
After the death of his father he took up 



farming, which has since been his life 
work, and he is now the ovrner of 125 
acres, all in a good state of cultivation: on 
it he erected, in 1890, a commodious barn, 
40 X 60, standing oti twenty posts. In 
1863 he was married, in Columbia town- 
ship, to Miss Addie Van Dorn, by whom 
he had five children, viz.: Clara, born in 
1865, married in 1891 tt) A. Koth, of Co- 
Innihia township; Charles AV., liorn in 
1867, married to Miss Ida Robins in 1891, 
and has a daughter, Florence M., born in 
May, 1892 (he resides in Strongsville, 
Cuyahoga county); Edward T., born in 
1872, married to Miss Percy Viola Hillman 
in 1890, and has one son, Clyde A., born 
in 1891 (they reside in Cleveland); one 
son, born in 1878, died at the ao-e of three 
months; Henry, born in 1882, is living at 
home. Politically ]\Ir. Chope is a straight 
Republican, and he takes a lively interest 
in all matters tending to the advancement 
of his township and county. 



<) 



\Al KELLING. The Kingdom of Prus- 
yI sia has given to the United States 
1 not a few of her steadiest, most 
progressive, useful and loyal citi- 
zens, and this volume would be in- 
complete were prominent mention not 
made of the gentleman here named, a 
native of Prussia. 

Mr. Kelling was born March 22, 1829, 
a son of John and Catherine (Schuster) 
Kelling, also natives of Prussia, farmers, 
who in 1844 set sail with their family 
from Antwerp for the New World. Ar- 
riving after a voyage of fifty-two days at 
New York, they proceeded westward to 
Ohio, reaching Sheffield township, Lorain 
county, in August, same year, and here 
they settled on the farm whereon our sub- 
ject now lives. The father died in De- 
cember, 1845. the mother in March, 1887. 
The}' reared a family of eight children, as 
follows: Georiie, married, and residinij; in 
Sheffield township; N., subject of sketch; 



784 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Michael, married, and living in Sheffield 
township, Lorain county; John, married, 
and now in Pennsylvania; Joseph, mar- 
ried, and a resident of Elyria, Ohio; Eliz- 
abeth, wile of Anton Junc^las, of Salem, 
Mich.; Anton, married, and residing in 
Elyria, Ohio; and Jacob, somewhere in the 
West. 

N. Kelling, whose name opens this 
sketch, received his education at the 
schools of his native place, and was fifteen 
years old when the family came to Amer- 
ica. In their new home in Sheffield town- 
ship he assisted in clearing up the farm, 
and converting the forest wild into smil- 
ing fields of golden grain. For a traae he 
learned tliat of carpenter and joiner, at 
which he worked some ten years in Cleve- 
land; three years at Wellington, Lorain 
county, and built a church at East Avon; 
he also worked for a time at boat building. 
In 1865 lie settled down to agricultural 
pursuits, and bought the old homestead of 
fifty-three and tiiree-quarters acres of land, 
to which he has since added till he now 
owns 120 acres, all in a high state of culti- 
vation. In 1854 Mr. Kelling was united 
in marriage, in Sheffield township, with 
Margaret Diederich, who was born in 
Prussia in 1833, and died in Sheffield 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, in 1855. To 
this union was born one child, Gertrude, 
who is the wife of Chris Laubentlial, of 
Eidgevilie, and has four children. In 
1858 Mr. Kelling married, for his second 
wife. Miss Anna Mary Diederich, who 
died in 1875, and by that marriage there 
were six children, as follows: Katie, wife 
of Tiiomas Monroe, of Elyria, Ohio, has 
three children; Margaret, married to An- 
drew Ferner, died in March, 1884, leaving 
one son; Mary, wife of Peter Sclmeider, 
of Kansas, has three children; Thursa, 
wife of Michael Sterbenc, has one child; 
John, married, resides in Elyria, Ohio; 
and Eva, in Atlanta, Ga. In 1875 Mr. 
Kelling married, for his third wife, Miss 
Ferner Kunne. a native of Prussia, and 
five sons have been born to them, named 



respectively: Andrew, Peter, Henry, Con- 
rad and Barney. In his political sympa- 
thies our subject is a Democrat, and he 
has been township trustee and supervisor. 
He has been postmaster at Crandall, 
Lorain county, since 1878, the office being 
at his residence. Mr. and Mrs. Kelling 
are members of the Catholic Church. 




D. KEEFY, M. D., a prominent 
physician of Elyria, is an Ohioan by 
birtii. He received a common- 
school education at the district 
school, which he attended three 
months in the winter, working on the 
farm the balance of the year. 

At the outbreak of the Civil war, while 
yet a boy in his " teens," he enlisted in 
Company F, Nineteenth 0. V. I., as pri- 
vate, and served from September 7, 1861, 
to November 25, 1865, with the army of 
the Cumberland. He was engaged in all 
the battles fought by that army, from Shi- 
loh to its last general battle at Nashville, 
in December, 18()4, participating, alto- 
gether, in eighty-four engagements. He 
held every rank from private to captain; 
served as adjutant of his regiment for one 
year; commanded a company two years; 
served on the staff of Maj.-Gen. Wood 
as mustering officer of the Third Division, 
Fourth Army Corps; served as ordnance 
officer of the Central Disti'ict of Texas, 
and as assistant adjutant-general on the 
staff of Maj.-Gen. Sam. Beatty. 

Immediately after the war our subject 
spent two years at school, and in 1867 he 
went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he studied 
medicine, and graduated in 1869. At 
Bellevue Hospital, N. Y., he spent half a 
year, and in 1871 graduated from Cleve- 
land Medical College. In 1873 he went 
to Europe, and studied in Vienna and Ber- 
lin, returning to Ohio in 1874, since when 
he has been in active practice at Elyria. 

In 1877 Dr. Reefy was married to Lib- 
bie Mountaine, to which union have been 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



181 



added two rollicking cliiklren, Karl and 
Bessie. In politics and religion the Doc- 
tor is strictly independent; neither party 
nor creed can liold him in alliance, but he 
acts on the impulse of his own opinion, 
caring little for the conventionalities of 
society or their influence. 



EOEGE BRYANT, retired, well 
|, known and highly respected in the 
community, is a native of England, 
born in the parish of King Stanley, 
Gloucestershire, November 1,1814. 
John Bryant, father of subject, was born 
in Wales, and was there married March 
18, 1813, to Miss Pamelia Collins, who 
bore him six children, as follows: George, 
subject of this sketch; Jane, deceased wife 
of A. H. Redington; Ann, wife of George 
Collins, of Anilierst; J. C, residing in 
Buffalo, N. Y., a member of the faculty of 
the Bryant & Stratton Business College; 
H. B., founder of the Bryant & Stratton 
Business Colle<j;e; and Pamelia, wife of 
Henry Dwight Stratton, of the lirm of 
Bryant & Stratton, proprietors of the well- 
known business colleges. The father, who 
was all his life a farmer, came with his 
family to this country in 1830, arriving in 
South Amherst, Lurain Co., Ohio, October 
18, 1880, and here bought the farm prop- 
erty owned by his son George. He died 
in 1880, aged ninety-one years and six 
months; his wife had preceded him to the 
grave in August, lsG4, when seventy-six 
years old. Her father was a clergyman in 
the Church of England in the mother 
country, very prominent as a "High 
Church'" ecclesiastic. Nathaniel Bryant, 
grandfather of our subject, was coachman 
to the Duke of Wellington for some time; 
he died at Anihcrft, Lorain county, at the 
age of eighty-nine years. 

George Bryant, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was, as will be seen, si.xteen 
jears old when the family came to Lorain 
county. With the exception of three 



weeks' schooling in South Amhei'st, he 
received all his education in his native 
])arish in England, at the same time being 
thoroughly trained to agricultural pursuits 
under the immediate tuition of his father. 
He followed farming all his active life, and 
made a thorough success of it. 

In 1836 he was married to Miss Ade- 
line L. Webb, born February 6, 1817, in 
Amherst township, Lorain county, and six 
children, as follows, were born to them: 
Ellen T., deceased wife of Darius Plumb; 
Mary D., who married James H. liedfern, 
and had one child, Lottie B., whu died 
when eighteen and a half years old (our 
subject now resides with this daughter); 
George W., who has three children — 
Maude L. (wife of John Harper), Adeline 
L. and Sadie G.; Pamelia, who married 
George Camp, and died without issue; E. 
C, who had four children — Charles, Nina 
May, Harvey (deceased) and Delia; and 
Ciiarley C, residing on the old home farm, 
who has one child, Eva. Mrs. Adeline L. 
Bryant was a schoolteacher before mar- 
riage, and afterward she aided her husband 
very materially in improving his educa- 
tion. It may be here mentioned that his 
schooling in this country was abruptly 
terminated by hiuiself, as the other boys 
''made too much fun of his (Tloucester- 
shire accent;" but in after years his clever 
wife came to his assistance, and imparted 
to him an interest in study, wliereby he 
became a great reader and one of the best 
infoi'med men in the community. Mrs. 
Bryant died February 29, 18S8. A lie- 
publican in politics, formerly a Whig, Mr. 
Bryant's first vote was cast for Andrew 
Jackson. He is now retired from active 
life, and makes his home with his daugh- 
ter and son-in law — Mr. and Mrs. James 
H. Kedfern. [Since the above was written, 
we have received information of the death 
of Mr. George Bryant, which occurred 
August 13, 1893.— Ed.] 

H. B. Bryant, brother of our sul>ject, 
was the founder of the famous Bryant & 
Stratton Business College, the nucleus of 



788 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



wliich was a small class gathered together 
by liiin for a Mr. P^olsotue in Cleveland, 
with whom he became a partner, nitiinately 
succeeding him; and from this small be- 
ginning he developed the great commercial 
school, establishing no less than forty-nine 
business colleges in various parts of the 
United States and Canada. 

James 11. Redfern, son-in-law of George 
Bryant, was born February 13, 1840, near 
Toronto, Ontario (Canada), a son of 
Robert and Ellen (McClarendon) Redfern. 
In his boyhood he came to Ohio, where, 
at Olmsted Falls, N'orth Amherst, and 
Soutli Amherst, he completed his educa- 
tion. For a trade he learned harness- 
making in South Amherst, and followed 
same till 1862, in which year he enlisted 
in Company F, One Hundred and Third 
O. V. I. He served in the army of the 
West, and participated in the following 
battles: Armstrong's Hill, Knoxville 
(Tenn.), Atlanta and Eesaca, besides 
many others; he was promoted to corporal, 
and received his discharge June 20, 1865. 
After the war he applied himself to his 
trade about one yeai', part of the time 
keeping a shop of his own, and then 
worked on a farm in Amherst township 
till 1878, when he paid a visit to Hays 
City, Kans., taking up a claim whereon he 
remained about two years, at the end of 
whicli time he returned to Lorain county, 
and engao-ed in his present coal business 
in Elyria. 



FITT McROBERTS, one of the most 
prominent citizens and well-to-do 
farmers of Pittstield township, is 
descended from a well-known pio- 
neer family of Lorain county. He 
was born December 22, 1834, in Pittsfield 
township, son of Peter and Eliza (Wait) 
McRoberts. 

Onr subject was i-eared to farm life, and 
received snch education as the common 
schools of his time afforded; the old school- 
house which he attended stood in the midst 



of a forest, which has since become a pro- 
ductive field, and now forms part of his 
farm. The father died when Pitt was but 
twelve years of age. and he then went to 
live with Orlando Hall, a wealthy farmer, 
with whom he remained several years. On 
December 12, 1860. he was united in mar- 
riage with Abbie Barnard, a native of Ver- 
mont, daughter of Wood Barnard, and 
they located in Pittsfield township on a 
farm of forty acres, which he had pur- 
chased. In 1856 they went to live with 
the widow of Orlando Hall, and here they 
have since remained. This farm comprises 
140 acres, and Mr. McRoberts owns, alto- 
gether, 239 acres, divided into two farms. 
He is an industrious, hard-working farm- 
er, and has attained considerable success 
in his life vocation. He is a man of prac- 
tical education, has a good memory, and is 
quite an extensive reader, keeping well up 
with the times. In 1892 he took a trip 
through the South, viewing southern bat- 
tle lields and other places of interest. In 
his political tendencies he is a Republican, 
and an intliiential man in his party, but 
does not dabble much in affairs of state. 



I[ ACOB KNELLMER, one of the lead- 
>■ I '"8 representative farmers of Brown- 
^^ helm township, is a native of Lorain 
county, born in Henrietta township, 
April 12, 1852, a son of Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Battenhousen) Knellmer. 

The parents were born in Germany, and 
soon after their marriage emigrated to the 

-r-r-r ^ 

Western World, making a settlement in 
Lorain county, Ohio, tirst in Henrietta 
township and finally in Brownhelm, in 
which latter township the father died at 
the age of sixty-four years; the mother is 
yet living, now aged seventy-eight. She 
is a member of the Reformed Church; her 
husband was associated with the Evangeli- 
cal Church, and in politics was a Republi- 
can. In the Fatherland he lived the Ar- 
cadian life of a shepherd, and in this 
country he followed farming. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



789 



The subject proper of this sketch re- 
ceived a liberal common-school education, 
and was reared toagricnltnreon his father's 
farm. In 187G he was married to Miss 
Mary Schnuck, who was born in 1849 in 
Brownhelm. Lorain Co., Ohio, daughter of 
Henry and Barbara (Clous) Schnuck, na- 
tives of Germany, and seven children have 
come to bless their home, viz.: Melissa, 
Benjamin Franklin, Albert, Emma, Bertha, 
Ella and Clara. After marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Knellmer settled on their present 
farm of 165 acres, where they have met, 
thanks to their industry and judicious 
thrift, with well-merited success. He is a 
Democrat, and has served his township as 
trustee and assessor. 



CHARLES STONE, a prominent and 
highly respected citizen of Lorain 
county, is a native of same, l)orn 
October 12, 1837, in Pittstield 
township. 

His father, Reuben Stone, son of Samuel 
Stone, was born in 1812, in Bennington 
county, Vt., received a common-school 
education, and aftervcard taught school. 
When a young man he married Hannah 
T. Whitney, who was also boi-n in 1S12, 
in Vermont, daughter of Joseph and 
Abigail (Townes) Whitney. Li 1835 the 
young couple came to Pittsfield township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio, and here bought 101 
acres of timber land at three dollars ])er 
acre, upon which he erected a small frame 
house. At the time of their settlement 
the country was still in a primitive state, 
and wild animals al)ounded. Here their 
children were all born, as follows: Frank- 
lin, who became marshal of Oberlin, and 
was killed in 1880, while attempting to 
arrest a colored boy; Charles, subject of 
sketch ; Eliza L.. wife of Wesley Hill, of 
Madison, S. Dak.; Betsey A., Mrs. Scott 
Mongar, of Nuckolls county. Neb.; Al- 
merou R., of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Abbie 



A., wife of Dr. R. J. Cummer, of the 
National Vapor Stove Co., in Cleveland. 
Mr. Stone became a successful farmer, and 
I'cmained in Pittsfield township until 
ISGO, when he removed to Oberlin and 
embarked in the luini)er and sawmill busi- 
ness. Mrs. Stone died in 1878, her hus- 
band in 1884, and both are buried in 
Oijerlin. In politics he was originally a 
Wiiig, then a Free-soiler and finally a Re- 
publican, and served in various local 
offices in Pittsfield township and later in 
Oberlin. He was pr)ssessed of good com- 
mon sense and sound judgment, and was 
selected to fill many positions of trust, in 
which capacity he settled up a number of 
estates, and transacted considerable busi- 
ness of a like nature. He and his wife 
were both members of the Congregational 
Church. 

Charles Stone received his early educa- 
tion in the common schools, and later at- 
tended Oberlin College, but did not cou)- 
plete a course there, though liis parents 
desired him to. For two years he worked for 
A. Whitney, of Pittsfield township, and 
while ill his employ spent a winter in the lum- 
ber regions of Mississippi and Tennessee. 
On September IS, 1860, he was united in 
marriage with Lucy H. Ives, who was born 
in 1839 in Pittsfield township, (laughter of 
John and Rebecca (McCloen) Ives. After 
marriage Mr. Stone bought 118 acres of 
land in Pittsfield township, going into 
debt for same, and went to work on this 
farm (a comparatively new one, and heav- 
ily timl)cred). which he sold, however, in a 
a few years. He then bought the ''old home- 
stead farm" from his father, and resided 
there until 1876, when he bought land one 
mile south of Oberlin in Pittsfield town- 
ship; in 1S79 he erected a fine residence 
on this place, where he has since made his 
home. In 1876 he was elected sheriff of 
Lorain county, and served during 1877 and 
1878, when faili?ig health caused him to 
retire from that office, having lu) desire to 
remain. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have one 
foster-child, Nellie L., who enjoys all the 



790 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



advautatfes of an elejjaiit home and fine 
school at Oberlin. Since his retirement 
to private life Mr. Stone has completely 
recovered his health, but does not engage 
in active farm work. He deals extensively 
in bogs and sheep, and is also somewhat of 
an auctioneer, being, altogether, a very suc- 
cessful business man. In his political af- 
filiations he is an ardent, lifelong Repub- 
lican, and is a leading, highly esteemed 
member of the community. Our subject 
is a great lover of sport, every now and 
then allowing himself a hunting expedi- 
tion in the Northwest; and he frequently 
makes a short angling tour through Mich- 
igan, being a devoted follower of Izaak 
AValton. 



to 



HAPMAN FAMILY. Nothing defi- 
nite is known of Robert Chapman, 
the first of the family under con- 
sideration in the country, previous 
his emigration hither. According to 
the family tradition, he came from Hull, 
England, to Bo>ton in 1635, from which 
place he sailed, in company with Lyon 
Gardiner, for Saybrook, as one of the com- 
pany of twenty men who were sent over 
by Sir Richard Salstonstall, to take pos- 
session of a large tract of land, aind make 
settlement near the mouth of the Connecti- 
cut river under the patent of Lord Say and 
Seal. At this time he is supposed to have 
been about eighteen years old. 

After the Indians were subdued, they 
proceeded to clear up the forests and form 
a permanent settlement. For about ten 
years afrer leaving England he kept a jour- 
nal. The colony records show that each of 
his three sons were representatives to the 
Legislature, to which he himself had also 
been elected forty- three times. The eldest 
son served there twenty-two Sessions, the 
second eighteen Sessions, and the third 
twenty-four Sessions. 

Robert Chapman seems to have been a 
soldier, as his name appears as a sentinel in 
the Pequot war in 1637. It appears from 



the records of Saybrook, that he was a 
very large landholder in the town of Say- 
brook, and East Haddam. He left at his 
decease 1,500 acres to each of his three 
sons, which had been received by him as 
one of the legatees of Uncas,an Indian chief. 
Robert himself resided on a tract of land 
in the Oyster River Quarter, about two 
miles west of Saybrook Fort, which has 
descended in the line of the youngest son 
of each family, never having been bought 
or sold, and which in 1854 was occupied 
by George H. Chapman, Esq., the young- 
est of the fifth generation. Robert Chap- 
man was a man of exemplary piety, and 
but a short time previous to his decease he 
wrote an address to his children, who were 
all members of the church, in which he 
exhorted them to a devoted life, and to 
abide by the Covenant into which they had 
entered with God and his church. Rob- 
ert's parents were Puritans, whose religi- 
ons zeal had been transmitted to him. 
There are several letters on file in the 
ofiice of the Secretary of State, written to 
Robert Chapman. 

Robert Chapman was married to Ann 
Bliss, April 2'J, 16-12. According to the 
family tradition he was born in 1616, and 
died October 13, 1687, aged seventy-one 
years. He had seven children, as follows: 
John, Robert, Anna, Hannah, Nathaniel, 
Mary and Sarah. 

Robert Chapman, Jr., the second son of 
the first settler, was born in September, 
1646, at Saybrook, Conn., and was an ex- 
tensive aiiriculturist, owning at the time 
of his decease not less than 2,000 acres of 
land. The town records show him to have 
been a man of extensive influence in civil 
affairs. He was for many years clerk of 
Oyster River Quarter, as well as commis- 
sioner and survej'or for the town of Say- 
brook. He was a member of the Legisla- 
ture from 1692 to 1711. He was also a 
member of the Assembly that drafted the 
Saybrook Platform in 1708, a work that 
has preserved the purity of the Congrega- 
tional Churches of Connecticut for 185 






■^V^^^^^i^^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



793 



years. Mr. Chapman was twice married, 
first to Sara (iriswold, of Norwich, Conn., 
July 27, 1071, by whom he had nine cliil- 
dren. This wife died April 7, 1692, and 
October 29, 1694, he was married to Mrs. 
Mary Sheather, by whom he had fourchil- 
(h-en. His children by the first marriage 
were: Samuel, Robert, Sarah, Francis, Dor- 
cas, Steven, one son that died in infancy, 
Sarah, and a son tliat died an infant. By 
the second marria^^e there were Benjamin, 
Steven, Mehetabel and Abacjail. Mr. Chap- 
man died suddenly in the Hartford court- 
room November, 1711. He was buried 
in tiie old burial ground at Hartford, 
Conn., in the rear of the Centre Church, 
where his tombstone now stands, about a 
rod north of the monument on which are 
inscribed the names of the first settlers of 
Hartfoi'd, with this inscription — " Here 
lyeth the body of Robt, Chapman who 
departed this life November ye 10th 1711 
aged 65 years. " 

Capt. Samuel Chapman, eldest son of 
Robert (Jhapmati, Jutiior, was born Sep- 
tember 12, 1672. On December 0, 1693;, 
he married Margaret Griswold, a daughter 
of Capt. Samuel Griswold, of Norwich, 
Conn., and by her he had ten children. 
Mrs. Chapman died December 21, 1750. 
Mr. Chapman was a prominent man in 
civil aniJ military affairs. He resided in 
what is now the town of Westbrook, and was 
one of the first fourteen persons organized 
into a church at that place June 29, 1726. 
The date of his death is not known. His 
children were Sarah, Martraret, Samuel, 
Martha, Temperance, Jedediah, Mehetabel, 
Caleb, Lucy and Aaron. 

Jedediah Chapman fl), the second son 
of Capt. Samuel Chapman, was bom at 
Westbrook, Conn., October 9, 1703, and 
was married to Miss Hester Kirtland, June 
5, 1723, by whom be had eight children. 
He was a very prominent man in the so- 
ciety of Westlirook in military, civil and 
religious affairs. He was a major of in- 
fantry, a lawyer by profession, and held 
the position of deacon in the church from 



1732 until his death, which took place at 
Westbrook February 10, 1764, in the 
sixty-first year of his age. The following 
were his children: Hester, Temperance, 
Jedediah, Ann, Reuben, Charity, Chloe 
and Tabitha. 

Jedediah Chapman (2), eldest son of 
Maj. Jedediah, was born at Westbrook, 
December 15, 1726, and was married to 
Miss Mary Grinnell in 175.J. He was 
deacon of the church of Westbrook from 
1771 until his death, which transpired 
February 29, 1816, a period of forty-four 
years, and was for twenty years justice of 
the peace. At his decease he was ninety 
years of age. His' children were Dan, 
Jedediah, Constant, Hester, Lucilla, Mary, 
Ann and Aaron. 

Constant Chapman, son of Deacon Jede- 
diah Chapman (2), was born at Westbrook, 
Conn., December 27, 1760, and was mar- 
ried to Miss Jemima Kelsey, of Killing- 
worth, Conn., January 27,1785, by whom 
he had nine (diildren. At the early age of 
si.xteen he entered the Revolutionary army, 
was for six years under the immediate 
command of Washington, and was for 
some time one of his body-guard. He was 
at the battle of Long Island, Germantown, 
Princeton, and Trenton, experienced all 
the rigors of Valley Forge, and was at the 
final surremler of Cornwallis at Yorktown. 
He also followed the sea for many years, 
rising to the position of captain of a 
merchant vessel, trading on the coast of 
South America, and to Lisbon, and other 
foreign ports. In 1793 the vessel, of 
which he was commander, was captured by 
the French off Porto Rico, scuttled and 
sunk, while he and his crew were carried 
i)risoners to the French Island of Guade- 
loupe, and after fotir months he was libera- 
ted. The hitler part of his life was spent in 
Brimtield, Portage Co., Ohio, where he 
died in 1850, aged ninety years. His 
children were Lydia K., Thurot F., John 
K., Anna M., Cloe P., Mary C, Josepii 
G., Jemima T. and Henry C. The chil- 
dren of Constant Chapman, it will be 



794 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Been, all had middle names, while none of 
liis ancestry were thus favored. 

Tlnirot F. Chapman, eldest, sen of Con- 
stant Chapman, was born at Old Killing- 
worth, Conn., December 7, 1789, and was 
twice married: first, November 17, 1810, 
to Lydia Andross, by whom he had one 
child; second, October 16, 1833, to Eliza- 
beth Furray, by whom he had thi'ee chil- 
dren. In the war of 1812 he enlisted in 
Col. Van Kensselaer's Regiment of New 
York Militia, crossed the Niagara river 
into Canada, and was at the battle of 
Queenston Heights, and taken prisoner 
there but afterward paroled. Mr. Chap- 
man was for some time a sailor in the 
coasting trade, and also in the business of 
codtishing off Newfoundland and the 
Straitsof Belle Isle. He was a man of ster- 
ling integrity and of the most generous im- 
pulses. The poor and the oppressed were 
never turned away empty from his door, 
and many a poor slave escaping from 
bondHge was by him fed, sheltered and 
helped on his way to freedom. Mr. Chap- 
man first set up his family home in 
Smithville, Chenango Co., N. Y., but 
emicrrated to the wilderness of the Ohio 
Western Reserve in 1817, where he followed 
clearing land a number of years, having 
chopped, cleared and fenced nearly 300 
acres of land. He here died December 16, 
1860, aged seventy-one years, a practical 
Christian of the Congregational school. 
His children were Alonzo A., a sketch of 
whom follows; Emily A., wife of Lucius 
R. Fields, of Oberlin, Ohio; Degrass S., 
who enlisted, during the Civil war, in 
Company K, Twenty-third O. V. I., was 
wounded at the battle of Antietam, and 
died six days later in the field hospital, 
aged twenty-four years; and Harlan P., 
special mention of whom will presently be 
made. The mother of the three last named 
children was born in New Durham, Greene 
Co.. N. Y., March 9, 1804, and was killed 
by accident in Oberlin June 12, 1876. 

Alonzo A. Chapman, eldest son of Thu- 
rot F'. Chapman, was born August 25, 



1811, at Smithville, N. Y., and was mar- 
ried September 30, 1832, to Miss Mar- 
garet Taylor, by whom he hiid seven chil- 
dren. He was for many years a farmer in 
Eaton township, Lorain Co., Ohio, and 
was one of the first residents of that town- 
ship, coming there with his parents in 
1817. He was called upon to fill various 
positions of trust in civil and religious 
affairs. He was a member of the M. E. 
Church over fifty years, and was a mem- 
ber of the first class organized at LaPorte, 
Ohio. He moved his family to Ridge- 
ville, Henry Co., Ohio, in 1<S66, and was 
for n)any years in the lumber business. 
Mr. Chapman died at Ridgeville Corners, 
Ohio. August 5, 1890, aged seventy-nine 
years. His children were as follows: 
William T., Mary L., Henry L. (1), 
Emory N., Pamila A., Facelia S. and 
Henry L. (2). 

William T. Chapman, eldest son of 
Alonzo A. Chapman, was born in Eaton 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, on Butternut 
Ridge, July 10, 1833, and was married 
March 21, 1854, to Miss Fidelia S. Banis- 
tee, by whom he has had three children. 
His vocation has been that of teacher, 
having entered that profession in the fall 
of 1852, and continuing therein until the 
spring of 1890, a period of thirty-eight 
years. He has taught, in all, fifty-seven 
terms in the followincr connties of Ohio: 
Eighteen terms in Lorain, one in Cuya- 
hoga, two in Defiance, two in Lucas, 
twenty-three in Henry and eleven in Ful- 
ton. In 1867 he removed with iiis family 
to Henry county, settling in Ridgeville, 
where he now (1893) resides. On August 
4, 1862, he enlisted as a private soldier in 
the Union army to assist in putting down 
the slaveholders' Rebellion, and upon the 
organization of the company he was made 
a sergeant. In December, 1862, he was 
made orderly sergeant, and in June fol- 
lowing received a commission as second 
lieutenant of Company II, One Hundred 
and Third O. Y. I.; in March, 1864, he 
was discharged for physical disability by 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



795 



order of E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 
His cliildren are Minnie E., Myra O. and 
Myrta J. 

Emory N. Chapman, second son of 
Alonzo A. Cliapnian, enlisted August 11, 
1862, in Company 11, One Hundred and 
Third O. V. I.; disciiarged September 17, 
1864, on account of wound received at 
Resaea, Ga., May 14, 1S()4. 

Henry L. Chapman, fourth son of 
Alonzo A. Chapman, enlisted December 
24, 186B, in Company F, One Hundred 
and Twenty-fourtli 0. V. I.; was left in 
tobacco shed witli the smallpox at Con- 
cord Station, East Tenn.; both feet were 
frozen so that the toes came off; discharged 
for same May 31, 1865. 

Haelan p. Chapman, the subject proper 
of this family sketch, and the youngest 
child born to Thurot F. and Elizabeth 
(Furray) Chapman, was born on Butternut 
liidge, in Eaton township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, September 6,1844. In his boyhood 
and early youth he attended the common 
schools of the vicinity, and Oberlin Col- 
lep;e two terms, in the meantime being 
reared on the farm. On August 4, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred 
and Third Regiment O. Y. I., which was 
first sent to Camp Cleveland, thence to 
Cincinnati, Ohio, whence they marched to 
Kentucky, wintering at Frankfort. In 
April, 1863, they moved across the State 
to the Cumberland river, where they liad 
several skirmishes with tile Confederates, 
and following August were placed under 
Burnside, after which they crossed the 
Cumberland Mountains into East Tennes- 
see. Mr. Chapman participated in the 
battles of Blue Spring, Knoxviile and 
Armstrong's Hill, at which latter engage- 
ment, which took place Thanksgiving Day, 
November 25, ^863, he received a serious 
wound, from which he never fnily recov- 
ered, a musket ball beino; left imbedded in 
the hip joint; after nine months' confine- 
ment to hospital, he returned home on 
furlough. Before he was ordered back to 
hospital he was married March 31, 1864, 



to Mifss Mary C. Pitkin, of Brunswick, 
Medina Co., Ohio, and he was not called 
upon for further service in the army. 
After his discharge, June 27, 1804, he 
settled on his present farm in Carlisle 
township, village of LaPorte. Here were 
born to him and his wife three children, 
viz.: Erie D., educated at Elyriaand Oi)er- 
lin; Otto B. and Oleo. Politically our 
subject is a sound Republican, and for 
three years served as postmaster at La- 
Porte; in November, 1892, he was elected 
treasurer of Lorain county, and was duly 
installed into said otfice on September 
4, 1893. 



THOMAS WILFORD, a representa- 
tive farmer of Amherst township, is 
a native of " Merrie England," born 
in Clipston, Northamptonshire, in 
1827, a son of John and Sophia 
(Falkner) Wilford, of the same county. 
The mother died at Clipston, England, in 
1835. 

John Wilford, who was a slioemaker, in 
1838 came to the United States and to 
Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, where he followed 
his trade. From there he moved to North 
Amherst with one Thomas Quirk, and to- 
gether they carried on a boot and shoe 
business till in 1840, when he bought 
Quirk out. He then went to Lorain, same 
county, where he opened out both a shoe 
store and a meat market, and passed the 
rest of his days, dying in 1872. In North 
Amherst he had married Nancy Stanton, 
and three children were born to them, viz. : 
Richard (married), living in Cleveland; 
Lucy, wife of George Peach, of Toledo, 
Oiiio; and George, married and living in 
North Amherst, Ohio. 

The subject of tliis sketch came with 
his father to the United States and to Lo- 
rain county, and received his education 
partly in the schools of England, partly in 
those of Lorain county. In 1862 he en- 
listed in North Amiierst, in Company I, 
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth O. V. I., 



796 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



for three years or during the war, and 
served on Jolinson's Island to the close of 
the struggle — twenty-one months in ail. 
Returning to Lorain county, he recom- 
menced the pursuits of peace, cultivating 
his farm, and he now owns a good property 
of sixty acres in a prime state of cultiva- 
tion. Mr. AViltbrd in politics is a Repub- 
lican, and is a strong Prohibitionist; at 
one time he joined the Murphy movement, 
and he is a strong advocate of temperance. 
He is a menilter of Rice Post, No. 148 
G. A.R.,at North Amherst. When a young 
man he sailed the lakes two or three sea- 
sons, and spent two years in Kankakee 
county, 111., working at day labor. 



J 



(AMES JACKSON, who for the 
past half century has been actively 
identified with the agricultural inter- 

O 

ests of Lorain county, Ohio, was born 
October 5, 1816, in Champion, Jefi'erson 
county. New York. 

He is a grandson of Reuben Jackson, and 
son of Daniel, who was born in 1775 in 
Pittsfield, Mass., where he learned the 
blacksmitli's trade under his father. He 
was married in his native State to Patty 
Kellogg, w'ho was born in Pittsfield in 
1785, and while residing in Massachusetts 
three children were born to them, as fol- 
lows: Jane, who married Harvy Birdseye, 
died in Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y., when 
aged eighty-four years; Pliny, born in 
1806; and Sally, who married William 
Giliett, and died at the age of thirty-six in 
Pentield, Ohio. Between 1812 and 1815 
the family removed west to Jefferson 
county, N. Y., and bought the farm where- 
on the parents passed the remaining years 
of their lives, the father engaging chiefly 
in agriculture, although he also followed 
his trade to some extent. In New York 
State were born the following named chil- 
dren: Susan, who married William Chap- 
man, and died in Chicago at an advanced 
age; Maria, who married Ferdinand Turni- 



cliff, and died in Pittsfield, Ohio; Jason, 
a farmer, who died in Champion, Jeflerson 
Co., N. Y.; Daniel, also deceased iu 
Champion, N. Y. ; James, the subject of 
this sketch; Charille, who married Hiram 
Hopkins, and died in Wellington, Ohio; 
Jesse, a farmer of Humboldt county, Iowa; 
and Belah, who died after reachino; adult 
age in Champion, Jefferson Co., N. Y. 
Mr. Jackson was a very successful farmer. 
He was a man of wonderful vitality, ac- 
tive and capable of performing a hard day's 
work to the very end of his life: he died 
suddenly, while chopping wood, in his 
eighty-fourth year. He frequeutly re- 
marked that he did nut know what it was 
to feel tired. In politics he was an Old- 
line AVhig, a stanch member of the party. 
His wife died at the age of ninety-three 
years, and lies buried by his side in Cham- 
pion cemetei-y; they were devout members 
of the Old-school Presbyterian Church, 
and he was a man so highly respected, es- 
teemed and loved everywhere, that it could 
almost be said he had not an enemy in the 
world. 

James Jackson attended the common 
schools, but in his youth cared so little for 
study that he preferred to stay at home 
and assist witii the duties on the farm. 
His first knowledg;e of ao-ricnlture was ob- 
tained under his father on the ho:ne place, 
where he remained until he was twenty- 
five years of age. In June, 18-13, he set 
out for Ohio, traveling, on the first railroad 
he ever saw, to Butt'alo, where he took 
passage on a lake boat for Black River 
(now Lorain), Lorain county, his destina- 
tion being Pittsfield, Lorain county, where 
he had a brotlier-in-law. named Turnicliif, 
with wiiom he resided for some time. 
Then, in company with his brother Daniel, 
he purchased an interest in a tract of fif- 
teen acres in Pittsfield township, which, 
after many days of hard labor, clearing and 
preparing the land, which was all in the 
woods, they sowed to wheat; but just a 
few weeks before harvest time a heavy 
frost destroyed the crops, and eighteen 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



797 



months of labor were lost. Ou February 
10, 1848, our subject was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Jael K. Coats, who was 
horn January 22, 1819, in the town of 
Amherst, Erie Co., N. Y., daughter of 
Josiah and Diautlie (Harmon) Coats, who 
came to Ohio in 1836, locating first in 
Clarksfield. Huron county, and later re- 
moving to New London township, same 
county, where the parents died and were 
buried. After marriage Mr. Jackson took 
up his home in a small trame house, 18 .\ 22, 
which he had erected, and there resided 
until 1859, when he came to Penfield 
township, and purchased, from David Cur- 
tice, 114 acres of land, which then con- 
tained no improvements but a log house 
and barn. Here he has since resided, and 
he has cultivated and improved the land, 
and put up all thefarai buildings thereon, 
as well as a comfortable residence, whicii 
was erected in 1873. Havina-had but lit- 
tie assistance in life, his present prosperity 
is all the direct result of his own efforts. 
In his political preferences he was origin- 
ally an Old-line Whii;, easting his first 
vote for William H. Harrison, and is now 
a stanch member of the Republican party, 
never missing an election, though he is not 
an active politician. In religious matters 
he is a member of the U. B. Church, his 
wife of the M. E. Church, with wiiicli she 
united in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson 
are the parents of children as follows: Al- 
bert K., a resident of Curtice, Ottawa Co., 
Ohio; Sally, who died young; Antoinette, 
who died at the age of twenty-one years; 
Charles E., of Farnam, Dawson Co., Neb., 
a carpenter by trade; and Emma L. (at 
home) and Amy E. (Mrs. August Griffis, 
of Farnam, Neb.), twins. 



'LAYTON J. BELL, a well-known 
wide-awake and go-aheail young 
farmer of Brighton township, is a 
native of same, born June 4, 1859, 

on the farm which he now owns and 

lives on. 



John Bell, grandfather of subject, was 
born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in 
1800, and in early boyhood was appren- 
ticed to a carpenter; but not liking the 
trade he ran away from his employer be- 
fore completing his apprenticeship. In his 
native land he married Miss Mary Ann 
Grundale, also born in 1800, and in 1831 
they came to the United States, bi-inging 
their little son. John, and locating near 
Clarksville, N.J. , where he found employ- 
ment, first as a common laborer, later as 
gate tender on tiie Morristown Canal, he 
doing the night work, his wife the day 
work. There were born to them children 
as follows: Mary Jane, now Mrs. Sheldon 
Clark, of Brighton township, Lorain 
county; Montgomery, a farmer of Eaton 
County, Mich.; Amanda M. (deceased), 
married to Michael Backins; Elizabeth, 
now Mrs. Newton Snow, of Bedford, Ohio; 
Henry, born in 1842. a farmer in Eaton 
county, Mich.; and Margaret (Mrs. Lucas), 
of Camden, Ohio, now forty-four years old. 
In 1842 the family, attracted hither by an 
old friend, Isaac Griggs, who .some years 
before had settled in Brighton township, 
Lorain county, followed him to that town- 
ship, where the father bought land. Here 
he passed the rest of his days, dying May 
2, 1863, and was buried in Brighton ceme- 
tery; his widow still survives him, now 
aged ninety-three years, wonderfully hale 
and hearty considering her patriarchal 
years. Mr. Bell was a iiard-working man, 
one who prospered and made his ujark in 
the community in which he lived. Politi- 
cally he was originally a Democrat, but 
during the later years of his life voted 
under the banner of the Republican party; 
in his native country he was a member 
of the Church of England, but did not 
unite with any denomination in the United 
States. 

John Bell, Jr., father of Clayton J. Bell, 
was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, 
in December, 1830, and was but aji infant 
when his parents brought him to America. 
At the age of twelve he came with the rest 



798 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



of tlie family to Ohio, and when old 
enough worked out as a farm hand, thus 
securine a fair start in life as an agricul- 
turist. Hy untiring energy, patient toil 
and judicious economy he found liimself 
the owner of 115 acres of prime land, on 
which he built a comfortable residence and 
cominodious outlionses. On March 17, 
1879, he departed this life, and was buried 
in Brighton cemetery; his wife was called 
from earth March 20, 1889. She was Miss 
Sophronia Kingsbury, born in Brighton 
township, Lorain county, of an old pioneer 
family, and their children were two sons: 
Clayton J. and Elmer, both of whom grew 
to maturity; Elmer died when twenty- 
three Years old, and was buried in Brigh- 
ton cemetery. 

Clayton J. Bell received his education 

at the common schools of the neighbor- 
ly 

hood of his place of birth, and was reared 
to farm life from early boyhood. On the 
death of his father in 1879, the charge of 
the farm fell to him, and he has ever since 
retained it, owning the entire homestead, 
and representing the third generation who 
have lived on it as owners. On November 
9, 1887, he married Ella Dugan, who was 
borii August 15, 1868, in Oberlin, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, a daughter of John and Mary 
(Coughlin) Dugan, the former of whom 
was born in 1826, in County Tipperary, 
Ireland, and died April 8, 1881, the latter 
born in 1836, in County Kilkenny, L-e- 
land. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have one son, 
"Walter J., born June 25, 1889. In politi- 
cal predilections Mr. Bell is a Democrat; 
Mrs. Bell is a member of the Catholic 
Church at Wakeman, Ohio. 



N. GARVEK, M. D., Lorain, is a 
native of Ohio, born in AVayne 
county in 1858, a son of John and 
Catherine (Shoemaker) Garver, also 
natives of Wayne county, where the 
father followed agricultural pursuits all 
his life, dying in 1871. The mother is 
now residing in West Salem, Ohio. They 




were the parents of eleven children, nine 
of whom are yet living. Grandfather 
David Garver was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and an early pioneer of Wayne 
county, Ohio, where he passed the rest of 
his life in farming. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
literary education in his native county, and 
at Lodi, ]\[edina Co., Ohio. In AVayne 
county he followed teaching for a time, 
and then, in 1876, entered AVooster (Ohio) 
Medical LTniversity, where he graduated 
with the class of 1879. The Doctor then 
commenced the practice of his profession 
in Medina county, where he continued 
until 1882, at which time he came to 
Lorain county, and here he has since been 
engaged in successful practice, his office 
being now in the "South End." His 
residence is on Bank street. 

In 1879 Dr. Garver was married, in 
Medina county, Ohio, to Miss Alice Dris- 
kell, a native of same, and daughter of 
Hugh and Florilla (Alien) Driskell, of 
Ohio, the father deceased in Medina county 
in 1876; the mother now resides with her 
daughter, Mrs. Garver. To our subject 
and wife have been born two children: 
Birt and Lou. Dr. Garver in his political 
predilections is a Republican, and he is a 
member of the K. of P. He and his wife 
are members of the M. E. Church, of which 
he is a trustee. 



T[T| ENEY MOLE. Among the repre- 
IpH sentative self-made agriculturists 
I 1 of Grafton township, who, begin- 
J) "i"g life with little or no aid, have 

reached the top round of the ladder 
of success, is the subject of this sketch, 
who was born July 20, 1824, in Devon- 
shire, EnjrlHnd, son of John and Sarah 
(Bauman) Mole. 

He was reared to the arduous duties of 
farm life, and, his parents being poor peo- 
ple, he had but limited educational oppor- 
tunities, as he could not be spared from 
the farm. AVhen a young man he was 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



799 



married March 20, 1850, in his native 
country, to Ann Gardner, and same year, 
deciding to try !iis fortune in America, 
sailed from Plymouth, England, on the 
vessel " Cornwall." During the early part 
of the voyaaje a storm arose, and the ves- 
sel put back into port until it subsided, 
but their passage to New York, which 
lasted three weeks, was very rough. They 
immediately proceeded to Eaton township, 
Lorain Co.. Ohio, and on his arrival Mr. 
Mole had about tif ty dollars in cash, which 
he had saved from his meaner earnincrs. 
Here he purchased land (going into debt 
for same), and, as the forest thereon was 
very dense, a great amount of labor was 
required to clear it for crops. After a ten 
years' residence on this farm he disposed 
of it at a profit, and bought land in other 
parts of the same township, acquiring dif- 
ferent tracts, wliicli he improved, and in- 
variably sold at a good profit. In 1870 he 
came to Grafton township, locating on his 
present farm, where he has since resided, 
successfully engaged in general agricnlture 
and dairying. To Mr. and Mrs. Mole 
were born eight children, namely: John, 
deceased; William, a farmer in Grafton 
townsliip; Henry and James, both farming 
in Michiijan; George, farming in Eaton 
township; Mary J., wife of Perry D. 
Mennell, of Grafton; Charles and Rosa. 
The mother of these children died No- 
vember 14, 1874, at the age of forty-five 
years, and for his second wife Mi". Mole 
married, April 5, 1879, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Cousins, who died in April, 1881. For 
his third wife he married, August 31, 
1881, Mrs. Melvina (Holly) Adams, who 
was born February 18, 1849, in Lake 
county, Ohio. Mr. Mole is an energetic, 
hard-working industrious man, and has 
accumulated considerable property. He 
has given each of his children a good start 
in life, expending therefor about nine 
thousand dollars in cash; but he still re- 
tains 122 acres of choice land. He has 
paid several visits to his native country, 
and in his atHuence he has not forgotten 



his relatives who have been less prosper- 
ous, as is shown by his frequent remit- 
tances to them. He is a stanch member 
of the Republican party, but does not 
mingle in politics; while not a member of 
any church, he is a devout believer in the 
principles of Christianity, and contributes 
liberally toward its support. 



/y 



MAX MOREHOUSE, senior mem- 
ber of the firm of Morehouse & 
Starr, dealers in Ladies' Furnish- 
ing Goods, Elyria, and the young- 
est merchant in the place, is a 
native of Elyria, Ohio, born ()ctober 15, 
1866. 

He received his education at the com- 
mon schools of the city of his birth, and in 
Oberlin. At the age of fifteen years he 
entered the dry-goods store of Mr. Mar.x 
Straus, a leading merchant of Elyria, with 
whom he remained until the spring of 
1890, when he commenced lousiness on his 
own account. It may be said of him that 
he literally "rose from the ranks," having 
made a beginning as errand boy, closing 
his industrious career with Mr. Straus in 
the position of head buyer and junior mem- 
ber of the firm. When Mr. Morehouse 
and Mr. Starr commenced business to- 
gether the amount of their stock did not 
exceed three thousand dollars, while to-day 
it averages fully eight thousand dollars. 

In November, 1892, Mr. Morehouse 
opened, in conjunction with Mr. Carter 
and Mr. Beese, a dry-goods store in Lo- 
rain (the leaditjg house of the kind there), 
the style of the firm being Morehouse, 
Carter &. Beese. The store is 40x80 feet 
in size, and seven clerks handle the fifteen- 
thousand-dollar stock, which is all bought 
by Mr. Morehouse himself, everything be- 
ino- under his personal supervision; and 
both enterprises are doing a good business. 
The subject of our sketch is a son of 
Andrew and Edith (Brown) Morehouse. 
His father died in 1883, since which time 



800 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



he has entirely Bupported his mother, and 
proven himself one of the kindest and most 
devoted of sons. His life has all been 
spent in Lorain coiinty, with the exception 
of a few years in Allegan, Mich., when a 
small child. 

Although leaving school at an early age, 
Mr. Morehouse has attained a liberal edu- 
cation, and a large amount of culture, by 
being a close student of men, and tlie read- 
ing of many good books He in a pro- 
nounced champion of education, particu- 
larly a practical one for all boys, and he 
hiu)self is a living example of what may 
be accomplished by solid integrity, strict 
attention to business, industry and judi- 
cious economy. Politically he is an Inde- 
pendent, believing in voting for good men 
and right principles rather than party. He 
has not yet enrolled himself in the noble 
army of Benedicts. 

His grandfather, Thomas Brown, is one 
of the oldest pioneers now living in the 
county, haviiiir settled in Lorain in 1829. 
He is remarkably well preserved, and at 
the age of eighty-six is still active, and a 
regular attendant at the county fairs. 



4^ 



Hi ENKY J. EADY, proprietor of a 
well-known and popular drug-store 
J in Elyria, is a native of England, 
born in Cottesbrook, Northamp- 
tonshire, April 28, 1846. 
Samuel Eady, grandfather of subject, 
was an innkeeper at Brixworth, a village in 
England, during good old stage times, 
where he married Elizabeth Underwood, 
by whom he had six children — four sons 
and two daughters, viz.: Thomas, John, 
Francis, Henry, Elizabeth (unmarried), 
and Mary (wife of Thomas Barker, aprotn- 
inent horse dealer of London). The sons 
were all farmers in England, farming lands 
near each other, and Erancis was not only 
a large farmer, but an innkeeper as well, 
doing a prosperous business. 



Thomas Eady, father of Henry J., was 
born, in 1806, at Brixworth, in Koitliamp- 
tonshire, where he was reared. In 1827 
he married Susan Holt, of the same vil- 
lage, where they were neighbors and chil- 
dren together. Their children, six in 
number, were: William (in New Zealand), 
John (deceased), Francis and Thomas (both 
in England), Mary Ann (wife of John 
Lantsbery, of Carlisle township, Lorain 
county), and Henry J. (the subject of this 
sketch). The father died in 1802 ; he had 
been an officeholder in the villages of 
Cottesbrook and Creaton; the mother 
passed away in 1884 at the age of seventy- 
eight years. 

Henry J. Eady, M'hose name introduces 
this sketch, received his education in the 
public schools of his native place, taking 
also a grammar-school couise at Guils- 
borough. He was reared on his father's 
farm, and in his early youth was of no lit- 
tle assistance to his parents in the maiiy 
duties incident to the cultivation of the 
soil and the harvesting of crops. In 1864, 
in company with liis sister and her hus- 
band, he came to the United States, land- 
ing in New York November 25, the day the 
attempt to set fire to that city was frus- 
trated. Soon afterward he came to Ely- 
ria, Ohio, and for a year or two worked on 
a farm, after which he entered the factory 
of Topliff, Sampsell & Ely, in the same 
town, studying evenings in the office of 
his friend. Dr. P. W. Sampsell. In 1868, 
having developed a liking for the drug 
business, he commenced learning same 
with W. H. Park, in his store in the old 
Beebe Block, now Andwur, Elyria. where 
he remained five years, at the end of which 
time he embarked in the business for his 
own account, his first store being in an old 
wooden building. No. 8 Cheapside east of 
the park. In 1870 he paid a visit to iiis 
native land, spending the winter there, and 
in the following spring returned to the 
United States and to Elyria. Since 1873 
he has been continuously in the drug busi- 
ness in the same location, and is now a 





X/yyjvy '^ 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



803 



registered pharmacist; also has held prom- 
inent positions in the State Association. 
His success has been almost phenomenal, 
and he has gradually increased his trade 
until to-day he is proprietor of the leading 
drug business in Elyria. In 1885 he 
erected the handsome three-story business 
block, on the same lot as his old store. 
Also, in 1892, he built the block, No. 16 
Chcapside, one of the handsoiriest build- 
ings in the town, the first tloor of which is 
rented for a carpet store, and the upper 
floors as his own residence. Indeed, for 
his means, Mr. Eady has done more build- 
ing than any other person in Elyria. For 
twenty years he has been a member of the 
Agricultural Association of Lorain, and 
has taken an active interest in everything 
pertaining to the farm. In 1881 he took 
another trip to P]ngland, spending the sum- 
mer among the scenes of his boyhood. 

On February 16, 1876, Mr. Eady was 
married to Charlotte Ellen ("Nellie") 
Noakes, daughter of Kev. B. T. Noakes, 
D. D., the then Episcopal clergyman at 
Elyria, now of the First Reformed Epis- 
copal Church in Cleveland. The Noakes 
family trace their lineage to Sussex, Eng- 
land, where many of the name are still 
prominent. Eev. Dr. Noakes married Miss 
Sarah Piper, and they are the parents of 
five children, viz.: Charlotte Ellen (Mrs. 
H. J. Eady), Florence T. (Mrs. N. P. 
Woo8ter,of Elyria), Fannie,(Mrs. J. S.Van- 
Epps, Cleveland), and Grace and Gertrude 
(still under the paternal roof). To Mr. and 
Mrs. Eady was born one child that died 
in infancy unnamed. Politically Mr. Eady 
is a stanch Republican, but his business 
demanding and receiving all his time, he 
is not an officeholder. Socially he is a 
member of the F. &. A. M., I.( ). O. F., and 
K. of H., of which last-named Order he 
has been treasurer since 1879; also for 
several years was treasurer of the I. O. 0. F. 
at Elyria. For fifteen years he was treas- 
urer of St. Andrews Episcopal Church of 
Elyria, of which he and liis wife are con- 
stant attendants. Mr. Eady is a strong 



advocate for the support of home indus- 
tries, and has given liberally of his means 
toward the improvement of the city of his 
adoption. He has brought around him a 
host of friends in and about Elyria, whose 
confidence he well merits, and is one of 
the best known business men of the place. 



^ EORGE L. COUCH, mayor of Well- 
ington, and a well-known furniture 
dealer, is a native of that town, born 
September 4, 1850. 

A. G. Couch, father of subject, 
was born in December, 1819, in Berkshire 
county, Mass., and in 1843 came west to 
Lorain county, Ohio, settling in Welling- 
ton, where he established the present 
business owned by his son George L. ; and 
until recent years he was interested in the 
extensive furniture factory. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary E. Durkee, who was 
l)orn in Pittstield, Mass., in 1824, and 
children as follows were born to them: 
Julia A., Ella N., George L., Walter E. 
and Nellie E. In politics the father was 
originally an Old-line Whig, and of later 
years has been a straight Republican; 
prior to and during the war of the Rebel- 
lion he was a strong Abolitionist. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
education in the public schools of his 
native township, and in early boyhood 
commenced to learn the trade of cabinet 
maker in his father's shop, which he now 
successfully operates. Some twenty years 
ago he became a partner with his father in 
the business, and eigiit years later bought 
out the entire business. In 1880 he was 
united in marriage with Miss May H., 
daughter of Rev. E. H. Bush, and two 
children have been born to tiiem, viz.: 
Treva May and Florence E. 

Politically Mr. Couch has always been 
an uncompromising Repul)lican, and since 
tiie Grant-Greelev campaign has been 
active in the interests of the party, attend- 
ing nearly every National, State and county 



804 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



convention since the Hayes administration. 
For more than ten years he was a member 
of the county committee, and in 1885 was 
elected a member of the State Central 
Committee; during the following fouryears 
he served on Gov. P^oraker's military staff. 
In municipal affairs he has always taken a 
great interest, but declined to become a 
candidate for any office until 1890, at 
which time he was elected to the office of 
mayor. So acceptably did he fill the office 
as to be twice re-elected without opposi- 
tion, which office he continues to hold. 
He is a leading man in every way, admira- 
bly adapted to the exalted position he 
holds in his native town. Socially he is 
a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encamp- 
ment, and of the Royal Arcanum. 



C. CRAGIN, the well-known farmer 
and dairyman, is one of the most 
active men of his age in Grafton 
towiisliip, where he is owner of 
eighty-one acres of fine land and a pleas- 
ant home. Though now nearly seventy- 
two years of age, he can still do a good day's 
work in the field, "holding up his end" 
with the hired men, for his health and 
strength have been preserved by consider- 
ate care and temperate habits. 

Our subject was born November 15, 
1821, in Weston, Windsor Co., Yt., a son 
of Benjamin Cragio, a farmer, who mar- 
ried Miss Mahala Boyington. In the Green 
Mountain State they had children as fol- 
lows: Lorena, who married Oliver Bell, 
died in LaGrange, Ohio; Benjamin, a re- 
tired farmer of LaGrange; Charles C, sub- 
ject of this memoir; Adna A., who died in 
LaGrange, Lorain county; Esther, who 
died at the age of eighteen; Horace, who 
died in LaGrange; Harrison, a farmer of 
LaGrange; Elizabeth (born in Ohio), widow 
of George Chamberlain, living in Milwau- 
kee. In September, 1835, the family set 
out from Vermont in a wagon for Buffalo, 
N Y., whence they proceeded by Lake Erie 



to Cleveland, Ohio, from there by road to 
Lorain county. Here, while stopping with 
an acquaintance to rest after their long 
journey, they became so impressed with the 
country that they decided to remain, and 
Mr. Cragin purchased a part of Lot No. 61, 
Grafton township, containing 155 acres of 
woodland, at four dollars per acre; there 
was no house of any kind on the place, but 
it was not long l)efore a dwelling 22x32 
feet, and one and one- half stories high, was 
erected, all the timber for it being cut by 
Mr. Cragin himself. Here this pioneer 
toiled and prospered, assisting in the de- 
velopment of the country, and witnessing 
the onward march of civilization close on 
the heels of the retiring lied Indian and 
the yet more fierce panther, wolf and bear. 
He died July 31, 1865, his wife in 1855, 
and they were buried in West Grafton 
cemetery. They were members of the 
Methodist Church, in which he was trus- 
tee, steward and class-leader, and in politics 
he was originally an Old-line Whig, after- 
ward a Republican. He was a very robust 
man, and at sixty years of age could rake 
and bind all day after a cradler in the har- 
vest fields. 

C. C. Cragin, whose name opens this 
sketch, received part of his education in 
his native State, and part in Lorain county, 
Edward Perkins being his first teacher in 
the latter. He attended about three months 
in the year, the remainder of his boyhood 
being devoted to the farm, under his 
father's tuition. For six years after his 
marriage he had charge of the home farm, 
and then bought thirty-three acres in 
Grafton township, on which there was a 
log house, where the family lived two 
years, when a more substantial residence 
was erected. In 1863 Mr. Cragin came to 
iiis present farm, bought from Josiah 
Turner, and which is a part of the original 
Turner tract. Here he built new out- 
buildings, and otherwise improved the 
property. For the past thirty years he has 
been engaged in the dairying business in 
addition to general farming. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



805 



On May 8, 1844, Mr. Cragiii was mar- 
ried to Miss Jane Wilkins, who was born 
April 18, 1826, in western Vermont, a 
daughter of Silas and Hannah (^Tenney) 
Wilkins, wiio came with tlieir family to 
Ohio in 1884, driving to Troy, N. Y., 
thence taking canal to Buffalo, lake to 
Cleveland, and wagon to LaCTrange town- 
ship, Loraiti county, where Miss Wilkins 
was wooed and won by our subject. The 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. 0. C. Cra- 
gin were four in number: Andrew J., who 
died at the age of thirteen years; Estlier 
LL., who died when thirteen months old ; 
Ellen A., who died when three years old; 
and Juliette, residing with her parents. 
Politically our subject is a stanch Repub- 
lican, although his first Presidential vote 
was cast for a Democrat, and he has held 
several township ofKces, such as assessor, 
declining many others. Mrs. Cragin is a 
member of the Methodist Church at Bel- 
den, and they are respected far and near 
as good neighbors and kind-hearted people. 



ri( RTHUR W. NICHOLS (deceased) 
f/_| \ was born in Eaton township, Lo- 
fr%, rain Co., Ohio, July 2, 1854, a son 
■fj of Mason E. and Joann (Mead) 
Nichols, the father a tjative of 
Crown Point, Lake Chaniplain, whence in 
1832 he came with his parents to Portage 
county, Ohio, to Eaton township in 1851, 
and to Elyria in 1876. He was a farmer 
by vocation, a Republican in politics, and 
a member of the Disciple (Jhurch. He 
married Miss Joann Mead, who was born 
in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., July 16, 
1833, and they had a family of live chil- 
dren, of whom one died in infancy; the 
others are all living, with the exception of 
the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Joann 
Nichols died November 9, 1864, and in 
1865 Mason E. Nichols was unit(Ml in mar- 
riage with Mahala Cousins. 

Arthur W. Nichols received his elemen- 
tary education at the common schools of 
his native township, after which he at- 



tended school at Oberlin and Delaware, 
Ohio. After pursuing a law course in Chi- 
cago, 111., he located in Elyria, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where, in 1880, he commenced the 
practice of law, carrying on at the same 
time an insurance and money- loaning busi- 
ness; and had he lived he would have made 
his mark in the legal profession. He died 
December 26, 1886. Mr. Nichols was a 
member of the 1. O. O. F., Royal Ar- 
canum, Chosen Friends and Good Temp- 
lars, in which latter Society lie was grand 
secretary of the State Lodge for several 
years, and he visited Washington, D.C., and 
Toronto, Canada, as a delegate of the Order. 

T 1 • • 

In religious connection he was a member 
of the M. E. Church. 

On October 18, 1882, Mr. Nichols was 
united in marriage with Miss Nettie 
Squires, of Lorain county, Ohio, born in 
1862 near Elyria, a daughter of Anson and 
Lydia (Richardson) Squires, the father 
born on the Canadian shore of Lake Cham- 
plain, N. Y., in 1822; when a small boy 
he came with liis parents to Lorain county, 
Ohio, where he passed the rest of his days, 
dying April U, 1872, in Elyria, to which 
town he had retired from his farm. He 
was a Republican in politics, and a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Ni- 
chols has one child. Mason A., a bright and 
interesting boy, who was born September 
9, 1883. 

If S. METCALF. This gentleman, a 
resident of Elyria, now some five or 
_[ six years retired from active business, 
the father of a large and highly re- 
spected family, comes of old Puritan stock 
on both sides of the house. Tiie first, in 
this country, was Michael Mctcalf, who 
came in 1637, settling near Boston, Mass. 
His forefathers, of an old Saxon and Dan- 
ish family, were originally Roman Catho- 
lics, and lost their property and titles in 
the time of Queen Elizabeth, being ad- 
herents of Mary, Queen of Scots; but 
afterward they seem to have become rigid 
Puritans. 



806 



LORAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



The subject of this sketch was born 
January 29, 1822, in Worcester coiiuty, 
Mass., a sou of Isaac and Anna (Stevens) 
Metcalf, the latter of whom died in Elyria, 
Ohio, at the age of seventy-eight years. 
The father was also a native of Worcester 
county, Mass., and was there reared and 
educated. After leaving school he became 
a teacher iu his native State, for a time 
having an excellent private school in Bos- 
ton, in which city lie died in 1831. at the 
age of fifty years, leaving seven children. 
The son, I. S., pasted his boyhood in Bos- 
ton, whence he moved to Bangor, Maine. 
At Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine, 
he graduated in 1847, after which he pur- 
sued civil engineering on railroad surveys 
and constructions for ten years, in Massa- 
chusetts, New Hampshire and Illinois. 
He came west in 1850, to take part in the 
first survey of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road. In 1856 he settled in Elyria, where 
he has ever since been somewhat promi- 
nently connected with most public inter- 
ests, moral and religious, in matters of 
education and business. 

Mr. Metcalf has been twice married: 
first time July 5, 1852, in Dunbarton, 
N. H., to Miss Antoinette Putnam, a na- 
tive of that town, to which union nine 
children were born, as follows: W. S., now 
in business in Lawrence, Kans. ; Charles, 
with his brother W. S. ; Marion, for about 
ten years a teacher in Wellesley College, 
Mass., now in Hampton, Va., trainiug 
colored students for the ministry; Anna, 
wife of PnTfessor Root, of Oberlin; John 
M. P., professor in the Theological Semi- 
nary, Oberlin; P. H., who studied theology 
at Oberlin, and is now assistant pastor of 
the First Congregational Church of Des- 
Moines, Iowa (he is a musician of repute); 
Grace Ethel, a graduate of Oberlin, and 
now studying at Moody's School, in Chi- 
cago, 111., for missionary work; Henry M., 
a graduate of Oberlin, now clerking for 
his brother in Lawrence, Kans.; and An- 
toinette P., a graduate of Oberlin, spring 
of 1893. Tbe mother of this family died 



August 14, 1875, and March 25, 1878, 
Mr. Metcalf married, for his second wife, 
Miss Harriet Howes, of English parentage, 
to which union six sons have been born, 
viz.: Ralph Howes, Joseph Mayo, Eliab 
Wight, Isaac Stevens Jr., Keyes De Witt 
and Thomas Nelson. Eight of Mr. Met- 
calf's children are college graduates, either 
of Oberlin, Ohio, or of Wellesley, Mass., 
and at least two more are now studying 
with a view to a similar education. Po- 
litically our subject was originally a Whig, 
and since the formation of the party has 
been a stanch Republican. He i-s a con- 
sistent member and for more than thirty 
years an officer of the Congregational 
Church, and is a strictly conscientious ad- 
vocate of the principles of temperance. 



FREDERICK S. REEFY (original 
spelling Riffe) is a native of the 
_^ Canton of Bern, Switzerland, born 
September 1, 1833, in the village of 
Boezingen. 

In the following year the family immi- 
grated to America, making their first 
home in the L^nited States on a farm near 
Mt. Eaton, Wayne Co., Ohio, where 
young Frederick passed his boyhood, work- 
ing in the fields during the summers, and 
attending the common schools of the 
neighborhood in the winter months, at 
the same time receiving instruction from 
his parents in German. Being an apt 
and studious scholar, he made rapid prog- 
ress with his books, and in a few years 
mastered the branches taught in the dis- 
trict schools. In 1848 the family moved 
to Tuscarawas county, same State, near 
Wilmot, and here for four years more our 
subject attended school and worked on the 
farm. He also began teaching in the win- 
ter, during the suiumer pursuing the 
higher branches of education, which course 
— teacher and student alternately — con- 
tinued seven years, and thereby he ulti- 
mately became a successful educator. 








;f< 




u^^^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



809 



In the spring of 1860 Mr. Eeefy went 
to Roanoke, Ind., where he organized the 
Roanoke Educational Society, and by its 
aid founded Roanoke Seminary, at the 
head of which he remained eight years, 
dining wiiich time it was one of tlie most 
popular schools in northern Indiana. In 
1S6S, on account of failing health, he 
abandoned teaching for a time, and subse- 
quentiy inoved to Blufi'ton, Ind., organ- 
ized the graded schools of that place, and 
remained in charge as superintendent un- 
til 1872, when be resigned, and with his 
family removed to Elyria, Ohio, where lie 
became editor and proprietor of the Elyria 
Constitution, now the Elyria Democrat. 
In 1862 Mr. Reefy was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Mary Shearer. 



IfAMES JEWELL. In all the great 
k. I "Buckeye State" there is no county 
\J^ that, for its population, can boast of 
a greater number of self-made men 
who have risen to comparative opulence than 
Lorain, and among this class stands no one 
more prominent than the subject of this 
sketch. 

Mr. Jewell is a native of Ohio, born 
May 18, 1828, in Belmont county, thirteen 
miles west of Wheeling, W. Va. He is 
a son of Parkinson Jewell, who was a son 
of Zachariah, whose father was the first of 
the family to land on the shores of Amer- 
ica. This earliest known progenitor of tiie 
Jewell family came from England prior to 
the Revolutionary war, in which he served, 
being killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, 
just seven years after his arrival in the 
New World. He left a widow and three 
sons and two daughters, and in cour.se of 
time the sons were "bound out" as ap- 
prentices to various trades. 

Zachariah, one of these sons, found his 
lot cast with a Southern [ilanter, who took 
him to his estate in Virginia, and placed 
him as overseer of some 300 slaves owned 



by him, and who labored on his plantation. 
Here Zachariah remained some 3 ears, in 
the meantime losing sight of all his broth- 
ers and sisters — never again hearing of 
them. While in \^irginia he married, 
and some children were there born to him. 
In 1805 he migrated west, coming to Ohio, 
and had his residence some years in Bel- 
mont county, thence moving to Tuscar- 
awas county, later to Coshocton county, 
and finally to Lorain county, where in 
Brighton township he died at an advanced 
age. 

Parkinson Jewell, a son of Zachariah, 
was about four years old when his parents 
came to Ohio, and he was reared near 
Stillwater creek in Belmont county. There 
he married Jane Clark, who bore him seven 
children — five daughters and and two sons. 
From Belmont he moved to Tuscarawas, 
thence in 1837 to Coshocton, from there 
in 1848 to Lorain, and finally to Paulding, 
all counties in Ohio, and in each he fol- 
lowed farming. In the last-named county 
he and his wife died, and their remains 
were laid to rest in Antwerp cemetery. A 
brief record of their children is as follows: 
James is the subject of this memoir; Mar3' 
died July 20, 1872, at the home of our 
subject (she was the wife of Dennison 
Hughes, who now lives in Kansas); Re- 
becca married James Hayes, and died iu 
Defiance county, (_)hio; Martha J. was first 
married to Jacob Brnner, who was killed 
in the Rebellion, and she is now the wife 
of John Miller; Sarah is married and re- 
sides in Michigan; Nancy E. is the wife 
of Zene Hart, of Paulding county. 

James Jewell, of whom this sketch more 
particularly relates, received such educa- 
tion as the subscription schools of his boy- 
hood days afforded, limited at the most to 
a few months attendance during the win- 
ter seasons. On reaching his majority he 
hired out as a farm hand, his wages vary- 
ing fi'om ten to twelve dollars a month. 
After his marriage he removeil to Paulding 
county, Ohio, where he had bought 163 
acres of unimproved land at seventy-five 



810 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



cents an acre, which after a few years, hav- 
ing improved the property, he sold at a 
profit. He tlien came to Lorain county, 
where in Ilutitington towushij) he pur- 
chased sixty-two acres of wild land; later 
moved to Spencer township, Medina 
county, from where, in 1870, he came to 
Koehester township, Lorain county, buying 
his present farm of Thomas Oummings, and 
here he has since carried on general farm- 
ing and stock raising. This fine property 
he has groatly enhanced the value of, hav- 
ing in addition to other improvements 
erected substantial and commodious out- 
buildings. 

On October 30, 1851, Mr. Jewell was 
married to Mary Ensign, of Huntington 
township, Lorain county, and children as 
follows were the result of this union: 
Florence E., now Mrs. Nathan Snyder, of 
New London, Huron Co., Ohio; Cariie M., 
Mrs. Joel Snyder, also of New London : Cora, 
Mrs. Calvin Hill, of New London; Alice, 
Mrs. Samuel Landis, Jr., of Kuggles town- 
ship, Ashland Co., Ohio; and Harley and 
Calvin, Iwth at home. Mr. Jewell is a 
conservative Ivepnl)lican, as quiet in liis 
political manifestations as he is in his do- 
mestic circle, and he is respected and hon- 
ored by all who know him. He and his 
amiable wife, as well as their children, ai'e 
exemplary members of the Congregational 
Church. 



ELNATHAN PEABODY. In No- 
vember, 1833, there migrated to 
, Henrietta township, Lorain Co., 

Ohio, from New Hampshire, one 
Andrew Peabody, who was born about the 
year 1795, and was one of the nation's de- 
fenders in the war of 1812. He was a 
militiaman, and while not in active service 
stood ready to respond to his country's 
call. A brother was mustered into the 
service at Plattsburgh, N. Y., when but 
twenty-tliree years of age, and served 
through all the notable encounters of that 
memorable war. 



Andrew Peabody was a shoemaker, and 
while yet a resident of New Hampshire he 
married, and reared a number of children. 
The first few years of his life in "the 
woods " of Lorain county he was employed 
at his trade, and by exercising great care 
and economy he was in 1836 enabled to pur- 
chase a small heavily- wooded piece of wild 
land. The greater share of the labor of 
clearing this piece of land fell upon his 
sons. During the winter season and earlier 
months of spring the timber was felled, 
and then in August the brush was fired. 
Grain was planted in the clearing, amid 
the stumps of the fallen trees, and when it 
was ripened it was cut with the cradle and 
threshed with the fiail. At this time a yoke 
of oxen brought the maonilicent sum of 
forty dollars, while dairy animals brought 
ten dollars, chiefly in orders upon some 
neighborintr mercantile establishment, as 
money was a scarce commodity. Andrew 
Peabody married Asenath Gillis, a lady of 
Scotch descent, and a nativeof New Hamp- 
shire, and to them were born ten children, 
of whom those living are Elnathan, Os- 
man, Frederick, M. BT, Mary, Melissia Gill 
(a widow) and Clara J. Pety, all residents 
of Henrietta township, Lorain county. The 
father of these died in 1878, the mother 
in 1846. 

Elnathan Peabody was born October 23, 
1830, in New Hampshire, on the Merri- 
mac river. Wiien he was but three years 
old his parents removed to Ohio, and he 
was therefore reared in the "Buckeye 
State." His early boyhood was passed in 
lending all assistance possible to his par- 
ents, and in attending such schools as the 
period afforded, which being but meager, 
his education was necessarily limited. His 
first schoolbooks consisted of an English 
reader, United States history, and the 
Bible. In 1855 he married Elizabeth 
Petty, a daughter of Thomas Petty, who 
was a pioneer of Lorain county, and of 
English nationality. The children born to 
their union are H. B., in Henrietta town- 
ship; L. F., at home; C. M., near Oberlin; 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



811 



Mary A. (Mrs. Aruett), residing near 
Oberlin;an(i Caj)itola V. Rliodos, livirii; 
two miles east of Oberlin. At about the 
age of twenty-three onr sultject possessed 
but one hundred and forty dollars, with 
which he in part paid for twenty-tive acres 
of land, going in debt for the balance. This 
land he cleared, and had just finished pay- 
ing for same, when the Civil war broke out; 
he enlisted in August, 1864, in Company D, 
One Hundred and Seventy-eighth (). V. I., 
Capt. Ed. Eickey, and served till the close 
of the conilict. He wa.s one of those called 
"Tennessee Woodticks," who rendered 
such valuable service n«?ar New Berne, 
N. C. Mr. Peabody is a Eepubiican, and is 
now a member of the United Brethren 
Church, altliough while in the service he 
was an adherent of Methodism, was a 
regular attendant at the services held by 
Chaplain James Mitchel. 




,^ILLIAM M. FRENCH, for near- 
ly threescore years a farmer citi- 
zen of Columbia township, is a 
native of Herefordshire, England, 
born in 1824. 

John French, father of subject, who 
was born in Gloucesfershire, England, mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Morton, a native 
of Herefordshire, wliose mother was 
Welsh. In 1842 the family emigrated to 
Canada, whence in June, following year, 
they moved to the United States and to 
Ohio, ^ettling on a farm in Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain county, where they cleared a 
farm, and lived the rest of their lives. The 
mother died in January. 1855, the father 
in August, same year. Their faniily num- 
bered three children, as follows: William 
M.; Thomas, who went west some years 
awe; and Sarah Esther, Mrs. N.Jl. Ingalls, 
of LaGrange, who died in May, 1891. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
education in his native land, and came with 
the rest of the family to America. At the 



age of twenty- two he commenced to learn 
the trade of cooper in Cleveland, where he 
followed it nine years, and afterward for 
some years in Columbia township, Lorain 
county. In 1852 he bought in that town- 
ship thirty-five acres of land, to which he 
added from time to time, until he now 
owns ninety-five acres in Columbia and 
forty acres in Olmsted township, Cuyahoga 
county. In 1852 Mr. French married, in 
Cleveland, Ohio, Miss Rosina Ma.xfield, 
a native of Ireland, and to this union were 
born six children, of whom the following 
is a brief record: William Morton, mar- 
ried, who died in 1880; Sarah I^lizabeth, 
wife of Perry I). Spencer, of LaC range, 
has four children — Demby Morton, Rosa, 
Laura and an infant; Lucy, wife of Luther 
Blodgett, of Olmsted township, has three 
children : Lee G., Gertie and Edith ; (ieorge, 
a physician and surgeon of Columbia Sta- 
tion, Lorain Co., Ohio, who is married and 
has one child — Emma; Alice, wife of John 
T. Sheer, of Olmsted, has four children — 
Allie, Essie, Ray and an infant; Park M., 
married, resides on the home farm. Polit- 
ically our subject is a Republican, his first 
Presidential vote being cast for John C. 
Fremont; he has served on the school 
board with zeal and fidelity, and he is a 
member of the Baptist Church at Colum- 
bia Center. 



rC. SMITH, than whom there is no 
more industrious or honorable citi- 
_^ zen in Grafton township, was born 
July 7, 1842, in Liverpool township, 
Medina Co., Ohio. 

Frederick Smith, father of subject, was 
a native of Baden, Germany, wjiere he 
learned the trade of harness maker and 
whence, when a young man, he came to 
America, the voyage to New York occu- 
pying six weeks. From there he came to 
Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked at his 
trade till 1835, in which year he came to 
Liverp(jol township, Medina county, buy- 
ing land there two miles south of the cen- 



812 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



ter. In Cleveland he had married Barbara 

, and the children Ijorn to them in 

that city were Louisa (^married to Adolph 
Ganzart, a farmer, now deceased), and 
Caroline (now Mrs. William Zizelman, of 
Cleveland, Ohio). In Liverpool township 
the family was increased by three mcire, 
namely: Frederick C. (subject of sketch); 
Adolph (who was a member of Coinpany H, 
Eighth O. V. I., in wliich he served three 
and one-half years; he died in LaGrange 
township. Lorain Co., Ohio); and Mary (de- 
ceased when young). In 1858 the mother 
of these died and was buried at LaG range. 
This event broke up the family, and the 
fatlier afterward made his home among his 
children, chiefly with Mrs. Ganzart and 
our subject. He died in 1885 at the resi- 
dence of the latter, and was buried in Nes- 
bit cemetery. Politically he was a Whig 
and Republican. 

The subject of this memoir received his 
education in the district schools of the days 
of his boyhood until the age of thirteen, 
when he left home and found work with 
F. W. Preston, who lived near Rawson- 
ville, receivinij for his services four dollars 
per month. On leaving there he worked 
at various places until his enlistment in 
Elyi'ia, Ohio, August 15, 18(52, in Company 
II, Eighth O. V. I., from which he was 
transferred as sergeant to the One Hundred 
and Twenty-fourth O. Y. I., Company E. 
They were sent to Kentucky and tlien to 
Tennessee, where our subject was shot 
through the leg. May 11, 1804. He was 
sent to Cleveland Hospital, where he lay 
six months; was discharged February 6, 
1805, and returned to Grafton, where he 
found work witii his former employer. F. 
Preston. On the latter's leaving for To- 
ledo, Ohio, Mr. Smith took control of the 
farm, and conducted it five years on his 
own account, at tlio end of which time it 
was sold, he buying forty acres of it. Here 
he lived until his removal in 1872 to tiie 
town of Grafton, where in 1874 he built 
bis present elegant home. He now conducts 
a livery, coal and ice business, in addition 



to carrying on his farm, and in all his un- 
dertakings he has met with well-merited 
success. 

On January 8, 1868, Mr. Smith married 
Miss Alfarette Ackley, born in Cuyahoga 
county, Ohio, in 1849, daugiiter of Henry 
and Mary (Dickson) Ackley, and children 
as follows have been bui-n to thetn: Charles 
H., bookkeeper for the Walter A. Wood 
Harvester Co., Chicago; Hattie M., James 
D., Clara A., Ida E. and Clayton F., all at 
home. Politically he is a stanch Republi- 
can, has served as township trustee six 
years, and in the town of Grafton has been 
treasurer of both the schools and the cor- 
poration, serving with credit to himself and 
satisfaction of his constituents. He and 
his family are members of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 



FJRED NORTON SMITH. The 
manufacturing interests of Elyria 
^ are well represented by this gentle- 
man, who is one of the most active 
and pushing men in the county. He is 
a son of William L. and Juliette (Hamlin) 
Smith, the former a native of England, 
and at the present time a resident of the 
State of Washington, the latter a daugh- 
ter of Judge Hamlin, one of the early set- 
tlers of Elyria. 

Fred N. Smith was born in Mowsley, 
Leicestershire, England, August 18, 1848, 
and first came to this country with his 
father when less than one year old, return- 
ing again to his birthplace at the age of 
fourteen. The following six years were 
chiefly, spent in school, after which he 
again returned to the United States, where 
he completed his education in Oberlin 
College, his father having graduated from 
this well-known institution in 1847. Af- 
ter teaching school about one year, on the 
1st of April, 1873, he accepted a situation 
as bookkeeper with Topliff & Ely, manu- 
facturers of carriage hardware in Elyria. 
In 1887 this tirm sold their business to a 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



815 



stock company of which Mr. Smith was 
one of the incorporators. He was elected 
secretary and treasurer of the new com- 
pany (The To])litl'& Ely (!o.), and I'etained 
this position until ls;)2, when he resigned 
to till a like position intheGarford Manu- 
facturing Co. 

In 1889 he became a partner with Mr. 
A. L. Garford and Mr. II. S. Foliansbee, 
in a business known as the Garford Manu- 
factnring Co., and has since been actively 
identified with its growth. Since the in- 
corporation of the Garford Manufacturing 
Co., in 1891, he has been its secretary and 
treasurer. 

Tiie present building occupied by this 
company is 100 feet by 40 feet, three sto- 
ries and basement. This factory was com- 
pleted about January 1, 1893, employs 
upward of one hundred men, and has a 
capacity of about one thousand saddles 
per day. The plant is fitted up with new 
and modern machinery tlirougliout, and is 
undoubtedly the most complete saddle fac- 
tory in existence to-day. 

In 1880 Mr. Smith was married to Miss 
Louise M. Porter, principal of the Elyria 
High School, by whom he has one child, 
Caryl Porter. Mr. S.mith is a Republi- 
can, and a thorough Protectionist. 



CHARLES W. COTTON, a leader 
among the native-born agricultur- 
ists of Lorain county, was born in 
Sheffield township May 7, 1826, a 
son of George AV. and Rachel (Smith) 
Cotton. 

Benjamin Cotton, grandfather of Charles 
W., was born May 1, 1758, in Coos (now 
Grafton) county. New Hampshire. On 
October 12, 1785, he married, in Went- 
worth, N. 11., Dolly Smith, also a native 
of New Hampshire, burn Ajiri! 3, 1706, 
and the names and dates of birtii of their 
children are as follows: Hannah, April 11, 
1786,; Benjamin N., August 25, 1787; 
Solomon, February 11,1789; Dolly, Sept- 



ember 24, 1790; Lydia, June 4, 1793; 
Abigal, March 22, 1795; Jonathan, De- 
cember 8, 1796; George AV., September 
18, 1798; David, April 27, 1800; Tlieo- 
dore, September 24, 1802; "Wiseman, 
July 23, 1803; Elizabeth, June 13, 1805; 
Joseph, April 6, 1807; and William, No- 
vember 18, 1810. About tlie year 1834 
tiie grandparents of our subject came to 
Ohio, first settling in Medina county, and 
they died in Wayne county, each at the 
age of eighty-seven years; lie was a sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary war. 

George W. Cotton, father of subject, 
was born in New Hampshire, whence in 
1817 he came to Ohio, locating in Shef- 
field township, Lorain county. His wife, 
Rachel (Smithi, was a daughter of Joshua 
and Martha (^Hall) Smith, and all were na- 
tives of Berkshire county, Mass. They 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, settling in 
Sheffield township in 1812, and here 
Joshua Smith died in 1810; he was the 
first white man buried in that township; 
his wife died in 1859. On March 26, 
1833, George W. Cotton moved to Elyria 
township, and there died in April, 1865, 
his wife in 1849. Their family numbered 
five children, as follows: Jerome (deceased 
in 1852), Charles W. (subject of sketch). 
Martha (widow of Frank Younglove, of 
Virginia), N. L. (of North Amherst, Lo- 
raiu county) and George J. (residing in 
Lansing, Michigan). 

Charles W. Cotton received a limited 
district-school education, and learned the 
trade of carpenter and joiner, which he 
followed some years. In 1872 he was 
married to Miss Catherine Arman, a na- 
tive of Lorain county, Ohio, and daughter 
of J.acob Arman, of German birth. To 
this union were born five children, viz.: 
George W., Edwin, Erman, Dora and 
Daisy. In 1887 Mr. Cotton bought a 
farm in Elyria township, and has since been 
successfully engaged in general farming 
and fruit growing. In August, 1S62, he 
enlisted in Battery E, First Ohio Liglit 
Artillery, for three years, and was attached 



816 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



to the army of Tennessee. He partici- 
pated in tlie battles of Cumberland Gap, 
Perryville, Murfreesboro, and many other 
minor engagements. In 1865 he was dis- 
charged at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and re- 
turned home to the pursuits of peace. 
Politically he is a strong Republican; he 
is a member of Richard Allen Post Ko. 
65, G. A. R., Department of Ohio. 



^/ 



H{ D. ROOT. This gentleman, who 
has been a shipbuilder for the past 
forty years, and whose name is 
" familiar as household words " 
among mariners and others, is a 
native of Lorain county, Ohio, born in 
Elack River township in 1833. 

He is the younger of two children born 
to Oresten and Julia Ann (Dutton) Root, 
natives of Farmington, Conn., the father 
born in 1800. Oresten Root was well edu- 
cated in the schools of his place of birth, 
and early in life went to Georgia, where 
he was in business for a time, after which he 
moved to Buffalo, N. Y., where he married, 
and there remained until 1828, in which 
year he proceeded to Cleveland, thence to 
AVellington, Lorain county. He had bought 
land in the Reserve, and in 1830 he settled in 
131ack River township, on what is known as 
the Gregg farm. Later he was engaged for 
several years in the commission and for- 
warding business, having a warehouse at 
Black River, near the lake. He also owned 
an interest in the schooners "President" 
and " Vincennes," and was entire owner of 
the " Equator," built in 1842, which was 
lost on the lake, near Buffalo, uncovered 
by insnrance. He was drowned in 1852 
when the propeller " Henry Clay " was 
lost. Mr. Root was an Old-line Whio;, ac- 
five in politics, and was a justice of the 
peace for many years. His widow died in 
Lorain in 1871. They had another son 
besides our subject, Samuel J., who was 
born in Lorain county, educated in Lorain, 
was a sailor all his life, and served as a 



man before the mast up to captain. In 
1889 he was skipper of the yacht "Leo," 
which was lost that year in Lake Erie, 
near Cleveland, with all on board — nine 
in number; he left a widow and three 
children. 

H. D. Root, whose name opens this 
sketch, received his education at the schools 
of Lorain, and at about the age of fifteen 
commenced the life of a sailor; at twenty 
he was captain, and he sailed the lakes 
continuously for thirteen years. He 

learned shipbuilding under William Jones, 
one of the earliest shipbuilders of Lorain, 
and in 1853 embarked in that business at 
the same place, since when he has built 
the following vessels there: First scow, 
"Cousin Mary;" 1857— "E. S. Taylor;" 
1861— "E. K. Kane;" 1862— " Conrad 
Reid;" 1863— " H. D. Root;" 1865— 
"Henry Chapman;" 1866-67— brig "E. 
Cohen;" 1867 — scow "Fannie L. Jones," 
and another scow; 1868 — schooner " Ver- 
nie Blake;" the "Ida J. Root;" "Ger- 
man;" "Growler;" and rebuilt scow 
"Ferret;" 1873 — steam barge "Mary 
Groh; " 1873-74— schooner " Three Broth- 
ers;" 1874-75 — schooner "Our Son;" 
1875 — tug "Myrtle;" 1876— the "Theo- 
dore Voyes;" 1877— the "Col. Gates;" 
1878 — tug " Telephone " and schooner 
" Ohio Grover; " 1879 — steam barge " Lu- 
ella Worthington " and tug " George W. 
Lorimer; " 1880— " W. H. Doon " and 
schooner "Conrad Reid;" 1881 — rebuilt 
the "C. L. Hutchinson " tow-barge; 1881- 
82 — the "DeGinty" and tow-barge " R. 
Botaford;" 1882— steam barge " H. S. 
Hubbell" and tugs "C. E. Bolton" and 
"Chamberlain." At Vermillion, Erie 
county, he built the following: 1882 — tug 
"J. F. Weyland," the "Marquette," the 
"J. S. Petton." At Cleveland he built 
the steam barge " J. P. Farnhani," the 
" Margaret," the " Olwell " and the " Fire 
Tug." At Lorain he rebuilt the steam 
barges "John Martena," the " W. T." and 
the "Albert Y. Gowen;" built the "Fair- 
port " and the tug " Daisy Moore," for 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



817 



self; 1891— the tug "J. E. Erwin;" 1892 
— tlie tug " Susie B.," besides doina a vast 
amount of repairing, keeping employed as 
many as eighty men at one time. 

In 1855 Capt. Root was married in 
Cleveland. Ohio, to Jeanette A. Fuller, a 
native of Sheffield township, Lorain county, 
a daughter of W. A. and Chloe (McNeil) 
Fuller, of Connecticut, and of Scotch an- 
cestry, the mother a distant relative of 
John Quiucy Adams. In about 1820 they 
came to Lorain county, where the mother 
died; the father passed away at Arcadia, 
Neb. To Capt. and Mrs. Iloot were born 
three children, viz.: Ernest, who died at 
Lorain in 1SS5, leaving a widow and six 
children; W. O., married, and residing in 
Cleveland, where he is head draftsman for 
the Hill Clutch Works; and Nettie K, 
wife of Walter Goodell, of Lorain. In 
politics Capt. Root has been a lifelong 
Republican, his tirst vote being cast for 
John C. Fremont, and he has served in 
the town council of Lorain- He is a mem- 
ber of Tent No. 1, K. O. T. M.. and of the 
M. E. Church, with which the entire fam- 
ily are associated. 




f 



)\ J. KREBS, an inftiiential, lead- 
ing citizen of Pentield township, 
was born December 13, 1816, in 
Orange township. Ashland Co., 
Ohio, a gramlson of Christian Krebs. 

His father. Daniel G. Krebs, was born 
July 14, 1814, in Columbiana county, 
Ohio, and was reared to farm life. He 
was married, in Orange township, Ash- 
land county, to Catherine Rickett. who 
was born May 27, 1818, in East Bethle- 
hem township, Washington Co., Penn., 
daughter of Christopher Rickett. also a 
native of that place, where he married 
Mary Horn; they came to Ohio in June, 
1823, and were the third family to settle 
in Oranire township, Ashland county. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Krebs were born seven chil- 
dren, of whom W. J. is the second son and 
third child. Mr. Krebs died January 19, 



1857, of typhoid fever, and was buried in 
St. Luke cemetery. Orange; township. In 
politics he was a Democrat. His widow, 
who is still living, makes her home with 
a daughter, Mrs. J. H. Crawford, of Lodi, 
Medina Co., Ohio. 

After the father's death the family were 
left in limited circumstances, and Mrs. 
Krebs, who had learned the weaver's trade, 
was engaged in the summer season inak- 
inghomespun, thussupporting the younger 
children. At this time our subject left 
home to work for Peter Snyder, a farmer, 
receiving five dollars a month for his serv- 
ices, and he continued to follow farming 
during the summers, one- half of his wages 
going to his widowed mother, and in the 
winter seasons attending the common 
schools of the period. He was a very in- 
dustrious youth, and worked at any honest 
labor he could iind, practicing economy 
and savino- all he could. He remained in 
Orange township, Ashland county, until 
the spring of 1864, when he moved with 
his motiier to Rochester, Lorain Co., Ohio. 
On November 17, 1872, he was united in 
marriage, in Rochester township, Lorain 
county, with Miss Sarah H. Andrews, who 
was born August 4, 1850, in Wiltshire, 
Encrland, daughter of Thomas Andrews, 
who came to the United States in 1S52, 
locating in Spencer township, Medina Co., 
Ohio. After marriage Mr. Krebs removed 
to a farm in Rochester townshij), which he 
rented from A. B. Strodger, and there re- 
mained three years, when, having sold to 
his brother, K. W., a one-third interest, 
which he had at the time of his marriage, 
in 140 acres of land (whereon the family 
had removed in 1867), he purchased ninety 
acres and made his home thereon one year, 
when, anticipating a decline in the value 
of land (which actually came), he sold it. 
On March 1, 1877, he came to Pentield, 
Lorain coutity, where, in company with 
his brother R. B., he embarked in the 
mercantile business, conducting same with 
well-earned success for twelve years, since 
when he has lived a semi-retired life. 



818 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



During Hayes' administration Mr. Krebs 
was appointed postmaster at Pentield, 
serving as such for a period of six years, 
and on July 21, 1^93, he again received 
the appointment, under Grover Cleveland. 
In State and National contests Mr. Krebs 
is a stanch adherent of the Democratic 

Earty, but in township and county affairs 
e is influenced more by the ability and 
fitness of candidates than by party lines. 
He is strictly temperate in his habits, 
never using either tobacco or liquor in any 
way. In religious connection he and his 
wife are active members of the M. E. 
Church, in which he is trustee, and where 
he has also held other offices; for some 
time he was secretary of the Sunday- 
school. Mr. and Mrs. Krebs have two 
children, namely: Stella, a popular young 
lady teacher, connected with the primary 
department of the Pentield graded schools, 
where she was the first instructor; and 
Carrie M., at home. 

Though a resident of Penfield township 
for a comparatively brief space of time, 
Mr. Krebs has made an enviable record, 
and fully merits the respect and esteem 
which are everywhere accorded him. He 
was elected township clerk of Penfield 
township in 1880, and so satisfactorily did 
he discharge the duties of that office that 
he was re-elected ten terras in succession. 
He was also elected justice of the peace in 
1883, and has held that office ever since. 
He is now serving his toixrth term as jus- 
tice with credit to himself and to his con- 
stituents. J5y his faithful attention to 
business, hard work and economy he has 
accumulated property, aTid has placed him- 
self in good, comfortable circumstances. 



LB. PRATT, retired, having his resi- 
I dence in the town of Wellington, 
\ where in 1883 he built a comfortable 

home, is a native of New York State, 
born in Deertield, Oneida county, Novem- 
ber 27, 1821. 



Benjamin Pratt, father of subject, was 
born in New Jersey, whence in his youth 
he moved to New York State, making a 
settlement in Oneida county, where he 
married Miss Lucy Biddlecomb, a native 
of that county, who bore him four children, 
viz.: Daniel, who resided in Huntington, 
where he purchased a farm and passed the 
greater part of his life, dying near Medina, 
in Medina connty, Ohio; Caroline, who 
married Louis Gill)ert, of Oneida county, 
N. Y., and now lives near Utica, same 
State; Benjamin, a farmer in Huntington 
township, and L. B. Mr. Pratt conducted 
a meat market for several years in Deer- 
field, Oneida county, where he and his 
wife both passed away, he in 1828, she in 
her forty-fifth year. 

L. B. Pratt, of whom this sketch more 
particularly relates, was seven years old 
when he lost his father, and as a conse- 
quence his school advantages were some- 
what limited; but, nevertheless, he suc- 
ceeded in receiving a good practical ele- 
mentary education. He was reared to 
agricultural pursuits, which he followed 
in his native county till 1844, in which 
year he came west to Lorain county, Ohio, 
and bought a piece of wild land in Hunt- 
ington township, which he cleared up and 
converted into a fertile farm. With his 
grandfather, Daniel Biddlecomb. in Oneida 
county, N. Y., he had commenced the 
study of veterinary surgery, a profession 
be pursued during recent years. His first 
experience was with a disease among cat- 
tle known as " bloody murrain," and he 
was so successful in his treatment of it 
that he was encouraged to continue the 
study, finally becoming as skillful a veter- 
inarian as any in the county. In 1885 he 
retired from the farm to take up his resi- 
dence in the town of Wellington, where to 
some extent he still practices his pi-ofession. 
Mr. Pratt has been twice married, first 
time to Miss Bachel Camilla Warner, by 
which union there is one child, a son, 
Otis, a gifted artist in sculpture, who 
studied with Hiram Powers and Larkin 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



819 



Mead; he lias traveled over the world, and 
resided four years in Paris; he now lives 
in Ocean ville, N. J. This wife died in 
1879, and for his second our subject mar- 
ried, in 1883, Miss Hattie Johnston. Po- 
litically Mr. Pratt is a Democrat, formerly 
a Republican. 



LJ. HART, one of the youngest and 
j most enterprising of the business 
[ men of Elyria, and member of the 

tirm of Hart & Tucker, proprietors 
of planing- mills and lumber yard, in that 
town, is a native of Lorain county, Ohio, 
horn June 30, 1865, a son of John W. and 
Caroline (Bassett) Ilart. 

Our subject received his literary educa- 
tion in the high schools of Elyria, after- 
ward taking a course at the Business Col- 
lege in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. On his re- 
turn home he joined his lather in the stone 
quarry business at Grafton, in Lorain 
county, but selling out his interest in this, 
he and his brother-in-law, Charles E. 
Tucker, bought the present lumber busi- 
ness and planing-mill from John liart, 
subject's father, and they have since suc- 
cessfully operated same, the style of the 
firm being Hart & Tucker. \n connec- 
tion with their interests in this they do an 
extensive contracting and building busi- 
ness, altogether employing an average of 
one hundred hands. Politically Mr. Hart 
is a Democrat, and socially he is a mem- 
ber of the Knights of Pythias. 



JOSEPH BLANTERN. England has 
given to the United States a large 
proportion of her industrious, loyal 
and prosperous citizens, among whom 
may be justly numbered the gentleman 
whose name here appears. 

Mr. Blantern is a native of Shropshire, 
England, born August 28, 1827, a son of 
Robert Blantern, also an Englishman by 
birth, born January 30, 1772, and who was 



reared a farmer boy. When yet a youth 
he left the paternal roof to make his home 
with a wealthy bachelor uncle, a Shrop- 
shire farmer, and with him he lived until 
his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Turner, 
who was born in England in June, 1787. 
He then located on tliirty acres of land in 
Shropshire, to which he had fallen heir 
through the death of a relative. While 
living on this farm children were born to 
him as follows: Hannah, residing at Graf- 
ton, widow of Thomas Hopwood, to whom 
she was married in England; ]\Iary, who 
was married in England to Richard Ridge- 
way, and died in Ridgeville township, 
Lorain county; a son who died in infancy; 
Fannie, wiio was married in Lorain county, 
Ohio, to Henry Swartz, a tailor of Elyria, 
and died in Toledo; Robert, a tatmer, of 
Litchfield, Medina county; Sarah, who 
married Samuel Lynds, and died in 1891 
in Paulding county, Ohio; Martha, widow 
of John Pierce, residing in York township, 
Medina county; a son who died in infancy; 
and Joseph, subject of this memoir. 

Having decided to come to the United 
States, our subject's father had to get a 
decree from the English Government to 
sell his land, on account of the "law of 
entail." Having settled evei-ything, in 
March, 1831, he and his family set sail 
from Liverpool on the vessel " Ceres," 
which experienced a lengthy voyage, some 
six weeks, during which she was driven so 
far north that Greenland was visible from 
her masthead, and the passengers saw sev- 
eral whales spouting and sporting in the 
water. The sailors caught a porpoise, and 
our subject, then not four years old, dis- 
tinctly remembers seeing it cut up for the 
cook's "kettle." On the ocean Robert 
Blantern's youngest child was born, and at 
the request of the Captain was named 
" Ceres," after the vessel ; two years and 
nine months afterward the little one was 
carried off by scarlet fevei'. From New York 
the family journeyed to (Cleveland via the 
Hudson river, Erie Canal and Lake Erie. 
Here Mr. Blantern was informed by a Mr. 



820 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



Dryer, tliat Grafton township, where his 
home was, would be a good place to locate, 
and offered to convey thither the entire 
family and chattels, which offer was read- 
ily accepted. After arrival Mr. Blaotern 
purchased eighty-live acres partly cleared 
land, having thereon a log cabin, that after 
two years gave place to a better one, which 
the subject of this sketch utilizes as a 
granary. Here the parents passed the 
rest of their pioneer days, the father pass- 
ing away February IJ, 1849, his widow on 
December 1, 1879, aged over ninety-two 
years, having lived with her son Joseph 
from tile time of the death of her husband. 
They were consistent members of the 
Methodist Church. 

Joseph Blantern, of whom this slietch 
moi'e particularly relates, received his edu- 
cation at the early schools of Grafton town- 
ship, which, however, he attended but four 
months in the year, as his services were 
too valuable at home in assisting in clear- 
ing up the land. His father for many years 
before his death was a sufferer frouj rheu- 
matism, and on young "Joe" devolved a 
great deal of the hard work, especially as 
his only brother, Rol)ert, had left home to 
learn a trade. At odd times wiiile on the 
farm he picked up carpentry, at which 
he worked for a time in Grand Rapids, 
Mich., and while there he married, 
July 24, 1852, Miss Laura Ames, of that 
place. To this union were born four chil- 
dren, as follows: Elmer, a barber of To- 
ledo, Ohio, formerly superintendent of 
Leetonia (Ohio) school", Charlotte, who 
died when aged live years four months and 
two days, and was buried in Nesbit ceme- 
tery; Sarah, Mrs. William Mole, of Graf- 
ton; and Llewellyn, a farmer and school- 
teacher of Grafton township. After mar- 
riage the young couple lived on the home 
farm in Grafton township some years, of 
which he still owns thirty-five of the 
original eighty-five acres bought by his 
father, having paid off all the legacies. 
For the past fourteen years he has lived 
on his present place, on which in 1882 he 



erected a pleasant and commodious resi- 
dence, and he now owns iti all 182 acres 
of as fine land as can be found in the 
county, all accumulated by incessant toil 
and assiduous perseverance. In addition 
to this he has assisted the several members 
of his family to good homes of their own, 
and a fair start in life. Mr. Blantern and 
his first wife were divorced in 1878, and 
in 1879 he married Miss Helen Ferry, 
who was born in New York State. Polit- 
ically he is a Democrat, but in township 
matters he invariably votes for the man 
best suited to the position, regardless of 
party. He is a well-known and highly re- 
spected citizen, his religion being the 
" Golden Rule of Life," has never had a 
lawsuit, and deals "fair and square" with 
every one. 



S. NICHOLS, proprietor of meat 
market, Elyria, was born August 
21, 1829, in Cortlan.l county, N.Y., 
a son of Asa and Harriet (Smith) 
Nichols, natives of Hartford, Conn., where 
they were married and where some of their 
children were born. 

In 1885 they came west from Cortland 
county, N. Y., where they had followed 
farming, and settling in Lorain county 
the father there carried on a stone quarry- 
ing business. He was born in 1792, and 
died at the age of eighty years; a Whig 
originally in politics, he afterward voted 
the straight Republican ticket. The mother 
lived to be seventy-live years old. They 
were the parents of ten children (nine of 
them grew to maturity, four yet survive), 
of whom the subject of this sketch is the 
fifth in order of birth. 

O. S. Nichols received his elementary 
education at the district schools, finishing 
at select school. His first work was on a 
farm, but disliking agricultural pursuits 
he ran away from home, and making his 
way eastward to the seacoast, at New Bed- 
ford, Mass., being fond of adventure, he 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



821 



resolved to go to sea. Shipping aboard a 
merchantship, his first voyage was into the 
Indian Ocean and to tiie Sandwich Islands; 
thence sailed to the Behring Sea, and the 
Arctic Ocean; thence to China, and home- 
ward again by way of San Francisco, at 
which port he concluded to remain. Here 
he resided for some years, working at first 
in the capacity of stevedore. He 'then as- 
sisted in fitting out the first ship for a line 
running between San Francisco and China. 
In 1861 he returned to liis old home in 
Lorain county, Ohio, and same year came 
to Elyria, where in 1864 he opened out his 
present prosperous meat market. 

Mr. Nichols was married April 14, 
1862, to Miss Delia Rockwood, and two 
children have been born to them: James 
and Dora. In his political preferences our 
subject is a Republican, and he is a member 
of the F. & A. M. He is possessed of 
good business ability, has an e.xcellent 
trade, and enjoys the respect and con- 
fidence of the public at large. He claims 
lineal descent from " Mayflower " Puritans, 
and his grandfather Nichols fought val- 
iantly in the war of the Revolution. 



DM. ADAMS, who for many years was 
one of the leading stock buyers of 
. the southern part of Lorain county, 

was born February 11, 1819, in 
Hector, Seneca county. New York. 

Our subject is the second son and fourth 
child of John M. Adams, who was born in 
1785, son of Benjamin Adams. The fam- 
ily came originally from England, lo- 
cating^ first in Massachusetts, then in 
Litchfield county. Conn., and thence mov- 
ing to New York State, where they first 
lived in Dutchess county, and finally set- 
tled in Danby, Tompkins county. Benja- 
min Adams was a distant relative of John 
Adams and John Quincy Adams. He was 
a tailor by trade. John Murray Adams, 
father of our subject, was also a tailor, and 



moved about" with his father, Benjamin, 
from place to place. He was married, in 
Connecticut, to Polly Ann Wheeler, and 
they had twelve children, five of whom are 
yet living, viz.: D. M., subject proper of 
this sketch; Elizabeth Ann, widow of 
Orrin Parsons, of Wardsborough, Wind- 
ham Co., Vt.; Eveline M., widow of Henry 
Murphy, also living in Wardsborough, 
Windham Co., Vt.; Charles B., a farmer 
of Lawrence, Kans. ; and Maria A., re- 
siding in Chicago, III., widow of John W. 
Starr, who was a real-estate broker, and 
died in Washington, D. C. John M. 
Adams died of cholera during the epi- 
demic, on August 10, 1854, in Shlloh, Rich- 
land Co., Ohio, while on a visit to his son, 
Benjamin. His widow passed away No- 
vember 4, 1872, in Breckenridge, Mo., a 
member of the M. E. Church. The Adams 
family is an illustrious one, and among the 
prominent members thereof we mention 
Alonzo W. Adams, who enlisted in the 
Black Horse Cavalry, and during his serv- 
ice rose from the ranks to general. He 
subsequently practiced law in New York 
and in Washington, D. C, but being taken 
sick in the latter place came to the home 
of our subject to recuperate; however, he 
died in Cleveland on the return trip to 
Washington, and was buried in LaGrange 
cemetery, Lorain county, Ohio, in a lot pro- 
vided by Mr. I). M. Adams. 

D. M. Adams passed his earlier years on 
a farm in Tompkins county, N. Y., whither 
he had been brought when an infant, and 
where he remained until si.xteen years old. 
He received his education at the comniDn 
schools; he was naturally a bright scholar, 
and was also possessed of considerable me- 
chanical genius, being able to work at al- 
most any trade, and proving especially 
adept at painting and carpenter work. 
When he was sixteen years of age his par- 
ents came to Cleveland, Ohio, where the 
father commenced to work at his trade of 
tailor, and later came to Eaton township, 
Lorain county, remaining, however, but a 
short time, when he aorain resumed his 



822 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



trade in Cleveland. Our subject remained 
for some time in Eaton township, and then 
went to the town ot Boston, in Cuj'ahoga 
county, where with a capital of two hun- 
dred dollars he opened a grocery store, and 
also carried on a hat store. Subsequently 
he traded his business to a man from New 
York named Perry, for a farm of one hun- 
dred acres in Sullivan county, N. Y., and 
went east to look after his farm, which he 
lost, as the title proved to be worthless. 
Not discouraged by this experience, he be- 
gan again, and in 1839 started on the 
return trip to Ohio, stopping en route at 
Erie, Penn., where he worked at the car- 
penter trade for a year. He then came to 
Fortage county, Ohio, where he was mar- 
ried, in October, 1840, to Jane A. Trotter, 
born December 25, 1819, in Messina vil- 
lage, Jefferson Co., N. Y., a daughter of 
Richard Trotter, who afterward came to 
Portage county, Ohio. The young couple 
commenced housekeeping in Aurora town- 
ship. Portage county, where he purchased 
130 acres of land, on which they resided 
until 1850, when he sold out and came to 
LaGrange township, Lorain county. Here 
he purchased from Z. Ensign his present 
farm, comprising 225 acres of good land, 
upon which, in 1859, he built at a cost of 
seven thousand dollars a very comfortable 
residence, then the finest in the township; 
he drew the plans for this house himself, 
made all the l)rick, and took upon himself 
the overseeing of the building, there being 
no contract work on the place. While en- 
gaged in the business, and while residing 
in that place, he bought and sold more 
stock than any other man in the business 
in Lorain county. He was among the 
original promoters and stockholders of the 
Lorain Plank Road, had a contract for 
seven and a half miles of same, and it was 
mainly through his efforts that LaGrange 
village secured this road; otherwise it 
would have gone by Grafton. He was 
superintendent of this road five years, and 
also served the same length of time as 
manager and collector. He had made many 



trips to New York City, and itwasduring 
one of these that be met with the accident 
— falling through a railroad bridge — 
which caused him to give up the business. 
He had a most extensive acquaintance. 

To the union of D. M. and Jane A. 
Adams came children as follows: Velorias 
L., of Belden, Lorain Co., Ohio; Benjamin 
F., a farmer of LaGrange; Eliza J., now 
Mrs. L. G. Parsons, of Greenville, Ohio; 
and Ella A., now Mrs. D. D. Gott, 
of Greenville, Ohio. The mother of 
these died October 31, 1877, and 
was buried in LaGrange cemetery, and 
on August 4, 1880, Mr. Adams was mar- 
ried to Miss Ella M. Moorehouse, of Cort- 
land, N. Y. Politically he was originally 
a Whig, then a Republican until 1872, 
when he became a Democrat, and in 1S92 
he joined the Farmers Alliance; he takes 
little interest in party aifairs, and has re- 
fused various township offices. He is a 
very temperate man, and never uses either 
tobacco or intoxicating liquor in any form. 
Owing to his eminent qualities as a busi- 
ness manager, Mr. Adams acts as guardian 
for a number of orphans, and has settled 
up various estates; he is now engaged in 
collecting the celebrated Award in favor of 
the La Abra Silver Mining Company, of 
the city of New York, against the Re- . 
public of Mexico. 



'jr^jICHARD De WITT PERRY, 

li*^ superintendent of The Western 

I ^ Automatic Machine Screw Co., Ely- 

^ ria, is a representative self-made 

man, and a living example of what 

willing heart and hands and indomitable 

perseverance can accomplish. 

He is a son of Clinton DeWitt and 
Celia (Spencer) Perry, and was born in 
South Manchester, Conn., January 12, 
1857. His parents are also natives of the 
Nutmeg State, the father born in North 
Manchester, the mother in South Man- 
chester, and after marriage they wereresi- 





OJ^' 




LORAIiT COUNTY, OHIO. 



825 



dents of Hartford, where the father was 
engaged in general business; they still re- 
side there. The paternal grandfather of 
subject was a physician, and the patro- 
nymic of his maternal grandparents was 
Spencer (the grandmother's maiden name 
being Hollister). C. M. Spencer, uncle 
of Richard DeW. Perry, was the inventor 
of the widely-known Spencer ritle, and also 
of the Spencer automatic machine screw. 

The subject of these lines was educated 
in his native town, and learned his trade 
with the Hartford Machine Screw Com- 
pany, with whom he remained many years, 
tilling nearly every position in the me- 
chanical department, and becoming thor- 
oughly efficient in each. In 1883 he 
w'as appointed manager of The AVestern 
Automatic Machine Screw Company, at 
Elyria, and has ever since had charge of 
all the mechanical work done in that in- 
stitution, which is by far the largest manu- 
facturing concern of its kind in the West. 
Since Mr. Perry's connection with it, its 
trade has expanded vastly, and new build- 
ings have been added to accommodate the 
fast increasing business, all of which de- 
velopment is mainly due to his thorough 
knowledge of the Inisiness, and his nat- 
ural energy and progressiveness. 

In 1883 Mr. Perry was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Jennie Swan, and three 
children have been born to them, viz.: 
Philip W., Hester and Richard De Witt, 
Jr. In his political preferences our sub- 
ject is a Republican, and in the spring of 
1893 he was elected a member of the 
board of education of Elyria. He has re- 
cently erected a handsome residence on 
West Third street, which has been equipped 
with all modern improvements. 



EiRASTlIS BRADLEY, who in his 
lifetime was a well-to-do farmer of 
I Pittstield township, was born July 

6, 180G, in Lee, Mass. His father, 
Jesse Bradley, was born December 9, 1703, 
at New Haven, Conn., and on December 9, 



1790, married Lucy Munson, by which 
union there were nine children, of whom 
Erastus was the seventh in order of lurth. 

Our subject received a common-school 
education, and, as his father's family was 
a large one, w-as obliged to begin life for 
himself at an early age, going to New 
York, where he learned the trade of cloth 
dresser. Mr. Bradley was twice married 
in New York State, but of the children 
born to both marriages none lived to adult 
age. About 1840, his brother Jesse having 
died in Knox county, 111., Mr. Bradley 
made a journey thither to settle up the 
estate, and while en route made a short 
visit in Pittstield township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where he met the lady who sub- 
sequently became his wife. After adjust- 
ing the affairs of his brother in Knox 
county. 111., he returned to Pittstield town- 
ship, where on August 23, 1842, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Orpha I. 
Phelps, who was born February 27, 1814, 
in Norfolk, Litchfield Co., Conn. In 1836 
her parents, Bethuel and Levina (Norton) 
Phelps, migrated from Norfolk, Litchtield 
Co., Conn., to Ohio, coming by way of 
canal and lake to Cleveland, thence to Lo- 
rain county, where they settled on a farm 
on the north and south center road, two 
miles south of the center of Pittstield 
township; here the father died in 1880, at 
the age of ninety-three years. After his 
marriage Mr. Bradley lived for some time 
with his father-in-law, and theti bought a 
farm in Huntington township, returning, 
however, to Pittstield township, where in 
later years he bought the farm whereon 
he died, and where his widow still resides. 
By this union there were children as fol- 
lows: Mary, born July 13, 1843, who died 
when three years old; and Delphine, born 
May 6, 1845, who died when aged twenty- 
seven years. 

Mr. Bradley passed from earth April 
1(), 1888, and was buried in the South 
cemetery of Pittstield township. In poli- 
tics he was a Republican, and took con- 
siderable interest in local affairs, serving 



826 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



as treasiii-er and iu other positions of trust 
ill his township. Though not engaging in 
active farm work to any great extent, he 
conducted successfully a general farming 
and dairying business, which his widow 
now manages, and she has proved herself 
a woman of unquestioned business sagac- 
ity. She is one of the oldest members of 
the Episcopal Church at Oberlin, as was 
also her husband. Mrs. Bradley is one of 
the most highly respected and intelligent 
ladies of Pittsfield township, and though 
already past her threescore years and ten, 
is still in full possession of her mental 
faculties; she takes great delight in 
reading. 



rW.' EDISON, proprietor of the 
leading hardware store in Lorain, 
_^ uncle of Edison, the world-famed 
electrician and inventor, is a Cana- 
dian by birth, having first seen the light 
in the county of Elgin, Ontario, in July, 
1832. 

His father, Samuel Edison, was born in 
Newark, N. J., March 5, 1761, of Holland- 
Dutch (Amsterdam) ancestry, and in 1805 
removed to Nova Scotia, thence to what is 
now the Province of Ontario, Canada, where 
he died March 27, 1865. He was twice mar- 
ried, his second wife being Elizabeth 
(Yocuin), by whom he had five children, 
our subject being the youngest but one; 
she was born in Philadelphia May 8, 
1799, and died in March, 1891. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
education in the common schools of his 
native place, and served an apprenticeship 
at the tinner's trade. In 1854 he came to 
the United States, where for nearly fifteen 
years prior to his marriage he was a jour- 
neyman tinsmith, in the literal sense, for 
he traveled continuously all over the conn- 
try, working at his trade. At the time of 
the breaking out of the Civil war he was 
in Kentuckv, and from there came nortli, 
at various tunes visiting and sojourning 
in Port Huron (Mich.), Cleveland and 



Detroit. From the latter place he re- 
turned in 1865 to his home in Canada, 
and married an old schoolmate. Miss Emily 
Johnston, who was then teaching school; 
on the day of her wedding, she taught 
school up to noon, and at two o'clock was 
married! The young couple then resided 
in Port Huron, Cleveland and Detroit, re- 
spectively, until March 15, 1872, when 
they came to Lorain, where Mr. Edison 
opened out a tin- shop, and commenced a 
flourishing business; in 1878 he put iu a 
full line of hardware, etc., having now one 
of the best assorted stocks of the kind in 
the county. Mrs. Emily Edison died in 
1881, the mother of three children: Ho- 
mer, Harry and Grace, and in 1884 our 
subject married, in Michigan, Martha 
Bell. Politically he is a Republican ; he 
is a Chapter Mason, and a member of the 
Knights of the Maccabees and the Order 
of Tonti. 



rjf EM AN BAREOWS (deceased), who 
tsH had been a resident of Avon town- 
I 1 ship, since early childhood, was 
Jj born in 1826 in Riga, Monroe Co., 

]S. Y., a son of Adnah and Clar- 
issa (Day) Barrows, the former of whom 
was a native of Connecticut, the latter of 
Bennington, Vermont. 

Adnah Barrows, who was born January 
17, 1797, when a youth removed to New 
York, in which State he remained until 
1828, when he came by water to Avon 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, taking up a 
farm in the woods of Section 10, near 
French Creek, where he passed the rest of 
his days. He died October 3, 1856, a 
stanch Democrat in politics; his wife, born 
October 3, 1800, died November 26, 1882. 
They were the parents of six children, as 
follows: James R., married, who resides in 
Avon township; Lyman, who died in 
Michigan about 1889; Heman, subject 
proper of this memoir; Lydia, widow of 
Jacob Walker, of North Amherst; Mary, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



827 



who died about 1836; and Eliza, wife of 
Edward S. Fitch, of Avon township. 
Grandfather Benjamin Day, who was a 
native of Vermont, was a soldier in the 
Revolution, serving with General Wash- 
ington; was with liim at Valley Forge, in 
Pennsylvania, and saw Major Andre exe- 
cuted; he also served in the war of 1812. 
He died in Bennington, Vt., at the age of 
ninety-three. 

Ileman Barrows, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was two years of age when 
brought by his parents to Avon township, 
where he was educated in the log-cabin 
schools of the da}'. He was reared on the 
home farm to agricultural life, in which he 
has always continued, and he now owns a 
fertile farm of twenty-live acres, in a good 
state of cultivation, where he has resided 
since 1888. On September 23, 1843, he 
was married, in Avon township, to Miss 
Cordelia Gillett, a native of same, dautriiter 
of Gresliam and Betsy (Moe) Gillett, early 
pioneers of the township, where both died. 
To this union were born children as fol- 
lows: Chester, who was born August 9, 
1845, and died in Avon township May 15, 
1868; Frank, born November 30, 1847, 
now residing in Huron, Erie county, is 
married and has four children — Eugenia, 
Samuel, Nona, and one whose name is not 
given; Miles, born August 15, 1852, died 
September 6,1853; Horace, born in 1854, 
married January 1, 1877, Sarepta Moon, 
and died January 31, 1879, in Avon town- 
ship; Charley, born April 18, 1859, died 
November 9, 1860; and Ada, born De- 
cember 28, 1863, wife of Arthur Buck, of 
Atchison county, Kansas. The mother of 
these died in 1872. and June 14, 1884, our 
subject was again married, this time to 
Mrs. Sarepta Bari'ows, a native of Van- 
Buren county, Mich., daughter of John L. 
and Mary Anna (^Bonsor) Moon, the father 
a native of Avon township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, the mother of England, from which 
country she came when eight years old; 
both died in Avon township. To this sec- 
ond marriage was born October 24, 1889, 



one child, Clara Day. John L. Moon was 
born April 9, 1829, and died June 16, 
1886; JIary Anna Bonsor was born Feb- 
ruary 13, 1836, and died July 30, 1882. 
Tiiey were married September 18, 1858, 
and six children were born to them, as fol- 
lows: (1) Sarepta, (2) George H.,(3) Ellen 
R., (4) Lucy A., (5) John L. and (6| 15ird. 
Of tiiese, (2) George H. was married in 
1887 to Miss Flora llalliday, and two chil- 
dren were born to them: Hazel, who died 
at the age of nine months, and Howard 
J., born in 1892. (3) Ellen R. was mar- 
ried to Charles A. Pardee in 1879, and 
died December 17, same year; they had 
one child named Nellie Moon. (5) John L. 
married Miss Mary Halliday November 
16, 1888. 

Heman Barrows, the subject of this 
sketch, died November 26, 1893. He was 
a well-known character in the town in 
which he lived, and had an extensive ac- 
quaintance throughout the country. He 
held many offices of public trust, and in 
all of them did he perform his duty with 
fidelity. He was a man of more than or- 
dinary natural ability, and he had made 
good use of his opportunities. Respected 
by all his acquaintances while living, his 
memory will be honored by them now that 
he has passed away. In politics he was an 
active member of the Democratic party, 
and he served as justice of the peace ia 
Avon township for twenty-four years; as 
assessor, ten years; real-estate assessor, 
two terms; and as township trustee, twenty 
years. He was also a notary public in the 
township for years. 




(ALKER S. TERRY, farmer of 
Grafton township, is a son of 
Eleazer Terry, a native of New 
Hampshire, born in 1791 in the 
town of (Jolel)rook, whence he moved to 
New York State and then to Ohio, in 
both of which States he followed farming. 
He married Miss Hannah Sawyer, born in 



828 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1794, and the children born to them be- 
fore coiniuij to Ohio in 1834 or 1835 were 
as follows: Ransom, deceased in Michigan; 
Lewis and Orrin, both of whom died in 
California; Philinda, married to J. M. 
Doan, and died in California; Lucinda, 
an invalid, living with our subject; Austin, 
deceased in Michigan; Lois, now Mrs. 
William Johnston, of California; Amanda, 
married to Frank Doan, died in 1853 en 
route to California; and William, who 
died in Texas. After coming to Ohio 
three children were added to the family, 
all of whom were born in Grafton town- 
ship, to wit: Gardner A., now living in 
Michigan; Walker S., and Jonathan, the 
latter of whom died in Grafton. The father 
departed this life in 1871, the mother on 
October 5, 1881, and they sleep their last 
sleep in Belden cemetery. Prior to com- 
ing to Ohio Eleazer Terry had worked in 
an eastern distillery, and when he arrived 
here had but limited means, but when he 
died was comparatively opulent. In Lo- 
rain county he settled on a farm in Grafton 
township, where our subject now lives, the 
place at that time being wild woodland. 
He served in the war of 1812, and was 
present at the battle of Plattsburgh; was 
a Democrat in politics, and the entire 
family were looked upon as unassuming 
Christian people. Asa Terry, father of 
Eleazer, was a Revolutionary soldier. 

W. S. Terry, the subject proper of this 
memoir, was born February 7, 1836, and 
received his education, during the winter 
months, in the public schools of the early 
days of Grafton township, np to the age of 
fifteen. He was reared a true pioneer 
farmer boy, and remained under the pa- 
rental roof until he was eighteen years of 
age, when he went to Michigan, where, in 
St. Joseph county, he worked in a sawmill 
nine years, at the end of which time he re- 
turned to Ohio. In 1857 he married 
Eowena D. Benton, and, then, with his 
young wife, once moi'e proceeded to Michi- 
gan, this time working at the milling 
business and on a farm, also buying land 



there. In 1870 he returned to Ohio, and 
has since been carrying on general farm- 
ing, being now owner of the homestead 
farm in Grafton township, Lorain county, 
in connection with which he operated a 
threshing machine for several years. In 
December, 1863, Mr. Terry enlisted at 
Leonidas, Michigan, in the Eleventh 
Mich. V. I., and was sent to recruit the 
ranks of that regiment thinned by the 
bullet and disease; he was assigned to 
Company F. They were ordered to Chatta- 
nooga, participated in the battle of Resaca, 
and the march to Atlanta with Sherman; 
then returned to Chattanooga as a detach- 
ment. After a service of twenty-two 
months Mr. Terry was honorably dis- 
charged, and returned to Michigan. 

By his first wife there were no children, 
and she died in 1889. In 1891 he mar- 
ried Florence Giesey Benton, who was 
born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1864, daugh- 
ter of Frederick Giesey, a native of Paris, 
France, where he was educated for the 
priesthood. Politically W. S. Terry is a 
Populist, formerly a Republican. 



L 



EONARD G. HAMILTON. In 

March, 1647, there was born in 
Glasgow, Scotland, one Sir William 
Hamilton, who came to America in 
1668, married an English girl named 
Mary Berry, and settled in North Kings- 
ton, Rhode Island. 

Their children were as follows: Eliza- 
beth, who married a Mr. Roberts, and died 
at the age of one hundred and two years; 
Joseph, born in 1693, died in Redding, 
Conn., aged eighty-six years; Thankful, 
married to a Mr. Sweet, and died aged one 
hundred and two years; William, Jr., who 
settled in Rhode Island, and died when 
ninety-eight years old; David, born in 
North Kingston, Conn., April 11, 1697, 
died in Sharon, Conn., in 1779, at the age 
of eighty-two years; Benjamin, born in 




^^ 




-^■^-^-i 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



831 



1701, died aged ninety-five ; Elisha, drowned 
at an early age; Nathaniel, killed by a fall 
from a tree; John, died young. The father 
of these children, like the majority o! 
them, lived to a patriarchal age, dying 
when five score and two years old. 

William Hamilton, Jr., eldest son of 
Sir William, had five children, viz.: Will- 
iam, who married Sarah Bene<lict; Silas, 
married to Elizabeth Knapp; Joseph (2), 
born in 1730, married to Thankful Taylor; 
Ruth, wife of John Knapp, and Catharine, 
wife of Nathaniel Gregory. Of these Silas 
and Joseph (2) settled in Danbnry, Conn., 
and Joseph and Thankful (Taylor) Hamil- 
ton had children as follows: Joseph, Jr., 
Eden (grandfather of the subject proper of 
these lines, L. G. Hamilton), Asel, Eliakim 
and Ezra. 

Eden Hamilton, son of Joseph, Jr., was 
born in New Fairfield, five miles north ot 
Danbnry, Conn., in 17G3, and was an eye- 
witness to the burning of that town by the 
British during the Revolutionary war. 
He married Zilla Lindsley, and removed 
to North Harpersfield, Delaware Co., N. Y., 
■where he remained till 1S20, in which year 
he came as a pioneer to Medina county, 
Ohio, where he carried on agricniture. 
He was born in 17G3, and died in 1850; 
his wife was born in 1700, and died in 
1828. He was an Old-line Whig in poli- 
ties, in Church connection a Bapti'st. The 
following are the names and dates of birth 
and death of their children, who were all 
born in Harpersfield, N. Y.: Talmon, born 
September 18, 1782, died October 20, 
1878; Ira, born 1784, died September 28, 
1795; Anson, born 1780, died May 18, 
1860; Adna, born 17!J0, died 1850; Arsa, 
born 1792, died October 22, 1838; Phwbe, 
born 1795, died July 26, 1846; Matthew 
Lindsley, born January 20, 1797, died 
Novembers, 1881; Elizabeth, born 1800, 
died 1822; Eden (father of subject), born 
1802, died September 17, 1849. 

Eden Hamilton, Jr., youngest in the 
family of Eden and Zilla (Lindsley) ILam- 
ilton, grew to manhood in his native town, 



where he was educated and reared to farm 
life. About the year 1820 he migrated to 
Ohio, wliere he made a settlement in the 
wilds of what is now Medina county, and 
here followed farming to the close of his 
life. He was among the first settlers in 
that section (the first being Zenos Hamil- 
ton, his cousin, who came in 1S14), iiis 
nearest neighbor, for some eighteen months 
after his location there, being seven miles 
distant. Eden, Jr., married Miss Celestia 
Fletcher, and the children born to them 
were as follows: Leonard G., Hiram F., 
Marcus N. and Nancy A. Li politics 
Eden, Jr., was an Old-line Whig, and he 
was a member of the Baptist Church. 
Several of the Hamilton family moved to 
Ohio, amono; them beine Matthew Linds- 
ley Hamilton (uncle of subject), who came 
in 1816 and took up land, returned to his 
old home to be married to Achsa Beardsly, 
and made his final settlement in ^ledina % 
county, in 1817. Li fact, all of subject's 
uncles, excepting Talmon, removed to Me- 
dina county between the years 1816 and 
1820, and his aunts located on the Cleve- 
land and Wooster stage road, all in about 
the same neighborhood. Hamilton's Cor- 
ners, about four miles north of the town of 
Medina, was named for them. 

Leonard G. Hamilton was born Novem- 
ber 26, 1828, at Hamilton's Corners, Me- 
dina Co., Ohio, and received but limited 
school advantages. He worked from boy- 
hood on his father's farm until twenty 
years of age, when he returiu-d to the old 
home of iiis people — North Harpersfield, 
Delaware Co., N. Y. — where he attended 
select school during the winter. In the 
following summer he chopped wood in 
order to earn sufficient money to take him 
to Albany, N. Y., where he was in hopes 
of finding an opportunit}' to learn the car- 
penter's trade, or get some kind of 
work. Failing, however, in his expecta- 
tions, he returned to North Harpersfield, 
working all the way, his route being over 
the Catskill Mountains; then set out, 
again on foot, for Binghamton, N. Y., 



832 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



fully expecting to fiud work on the Erie 
Railroad, which was then in course of con- 
struction, but walked, instead, down to 
Owego, where lie hired out as a raftsman 
on the Susquehanna river. At Peach 
Bottom he received an injury while raft- 
ing, from which he has never fully recov- 
ered. The river was so shallow that the 
raftsmen had to temporarily abandon their 
work, and he was trying to pull a boat out 
of a shoal, the rope being fastened round 
his waist, when by some means he got 
hurt. In those days he was a powerful 
man. At Port Deposit, at the mouth of 
the Susquehanna river, they made their 
rafts into floats, which they took up Elk 
river and Back creek to Chesapeake City, 
Md.; thence (after having converted the 
floats into lockins — which form they were 
made into so they could be towed through 
the locks of the canals) via the Chesapeake 
and Delaware Canal, and thence (having 
put all the timber into floats again) up the 
Delaware river with the tide to Philadel- 
phia, thence to Bordentown, N. J. At that 
place they entered the Rarideu Canal 
which carried tlieir timber to the city of 
New Brunswick (where subject was seized 
with cholera), where it was again made 
into floats on the river Rariden, down 
which it was floated to Ainboy Bay, thence 
by the tide up Staten Sound to New Yoik, 
where it was finally marketed. Mr. Ham- 
ilton remained in that city a short time, 
and then proceeded to Danbury, Conn. 
While there his father died, and our sub- 
ject then came west to Medina county, 
Ohio, and worked on the home farm for a 
few years, but had to abandon it on ac- 
count of his old hurt troui)ling him. 
From Medina county Mr. Hamilton pro- 
ceeded to Randolph, Cattaraugus Co., 
N. Y., where for two terms he attended 
school and an academy. Again coming to 
Medina county, he became salesman for 
his uncle, J[ohn Fairchild, who was a man- 
ufacturer of wooden bowls; but in 1852 he 
went to Iowa and took up 680 acres of 
land in Washington county, which he 



held about thirty years. On his return 
home, his uncle (just referred to) gave him 
an interest in a bowl manufactory at Berea, 
Cuyahoga, Co., (Jhio, and he had just got 
down to business when the premises were 
burned to the ground. Commencing 
anew, however, he carried on the business 
several years, at the end of which time he 
closed out and embarked in the general 
mercantile business. While he and his 
uncle were carrying on the bowl industry, 
Mr. Hamilton would make trips westward 
to sell the wares, and in the course of his 
travels met with many adventures. He 
passed two summers up and down the 
Missouri river with teams, selling his bowls 
among the so-called " border rutflans"; on 
his return east he fitted up an old-fashioned 
flat boat at Pittsburgh, Penn., which he 
loaded with bowls and grindstones, and 
took down the river to New Orleans, two 
thousand miles; at Jeffersonville, Ind., 
where he had a shop, he filled up his boat 
and went to luakingr sales at all the towns 
along the river, he himself piloting the 
vessel from about six miles above Wlieel- 
ing, W. Va. He reached New Orleans 
just about the breaking out of the Civil 
war, and there sold the balance of the ven- 
ture at wholesale, getting good prices. 
Our subject then returned northward, by 
boat, via the Mississippi river. The firm 
of Fairchild & Hamilton had bowl fac- 
tories opened out at Berea, Ohio; Colum- 
bia, Lorain Co., Ohio; Jeffersonville, Ind.; 
St. John's, Mich.; and Chatham, Canada. 
Having been appointed treasurer of the 
Berea Savings and Loan Bank, he held 
that position with ability and sntisfaction 
four years, at the end of which time (1884) 
he came to Elyria and bought out his 
present furniture business. Before coming 
to Elyria he was the assistant of the treas- 
urer of Cleveland. 

Leonard G. Hamilton and Miss Cassie 
A. Marsh were united in marriage, in 
May, 1802, and five children were born to 
them, as follows: Carrie C; May B., wife 
of Henry Ingersoll, an attorney at law in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



833 



Elyria, Ohio; Leonard Walter, in business 
with his father; Eden, deceased; and 
Harry G., at sciiooL In politics, Mr. 
Hamilton is a Republican, and he is a 
member of the I. (). C). F. 

From another branch of the family 
comes David, whose son, Alexander, was 
born January 11, 1757, in the island 
of St. Ohristofer, "West Indies. The Ilani- 
iltons can be traced back to the twelfth 
century, producing some eminently scien- 
tific men, dukes and lords of Scotland and 
England, and martyrs of the Keformation. 



E 



LIZEK G. HASTINGS, a lifelong 
farmer of LaGrange township, is a 
J native of same, born June 20, ls27, 
a son of Curtis H. and Pattie 
(Graves) Hastings. 

Our subject received an education in 
the common schools, and was reared to 
agricultural life, receiving his first train- 
ins in that direction under his father. 
He remained on the hotne farm till 
twenty-three years of age, and then went 
to work for Mathew Starr, receiving for 
his services twelve dollars a month. In 
December, 1850, he was married, in La- 
Grange, to Miss Hannah Crane, and they 
had three children, viz.: Susan, Mrs. 
Almon Taylor, of Saiulusky, Ohio (her 
first husband was Royal Merriam) ; George, 
a farmer of LaGrange; and Evaliue. now 
Mrs. David McFadden, of Sandusky, Ohio. 
In 1851 Mr. Ilastinirs went to work for 
Adison Foster; in 1852 he worked for 
Richard Loomis; in 1853 he was in the 
employ of Darius Iloicomb, and in 1854 
lie worked at the car[)enter trade. In 
1855 he moved onto a piece of land owned 
by his father, and which he worked on 
shares, he having one-third. In 1858 Mr. 
Hastings moved with his family to Van- 
Wert county, Ohio, l)Ut ague and bilious 
fever being prevalent there, they had to 
return to their native place. In 1861 he 



moved onto the old farm, which he worked 
on shares until the death of his father, 
which occurred December 22, 1877. Our 
subject now owns 142i acres and a com- 
modious house; he has erected various 
outbuildings on the place, and a new 
dwelling across the road from his own. 

Mrs.Hannah Hastings died May 7, 1870, 
and Mr. Hastings was married, January 
27, 1875, to Mrs. H. L. Davis, who was 
born February 11, 1829, in Hampshire 
county, Mass. Our suliject has been an 
active, hard working man, and has always 
been fond of his home. In 1883 a sick 
spell left him almost a physical wreck, and 
since then he performs only light farm 
labor, the remainder of the work being 
attended to by his son George, who was 
married to Miss Hattie Barnes, of Pen- 
field, Lorain Co., Ohio. Mr. Hastings is 
a Democrat in his ])oiitical prefei-ences. 



JOHN ALEXANDER. This gentle- 
man, one of the leading agricultur- 
ists of Eaton township, is a son of 
Samuel and Sarah (Frankum) Alex- 
ander, natives of Gloucestershire, England, 
who immigrated to tiie United States in 
1830, locating first in New York State. 

In 1838 they moved to Elyria, Lorain 
Co., Oliio, where they remained some time, 
thence removing to (rrafton township, 
same county, and in 1844 to Eaton town- 
ship, where they were well-known agricul- 
turists; the home farm is still in the fam- 
ily. Samuel Alexander died in 1880 at 
the age of eighty; his wife died in 1883, 
aged seventy-nine. Politically he was a 
Whig and Republican. They had a family 
of eigiit children, as follows: Martha, who 
married Edwin Martin, and died in La- 
Porte, Lorain county, in 1884; Samuel, 
who married Barliara Slatershiue, of Mich- 
igan, and is a resident of Carlisle town- 
ship, Lorain county; Ann, wifeof AVilliain 
Lawson, of Grafton township, Lorain 



884 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



county; Sophia, wife of Cyrus Wallace, of 
Winnebago county, 111.; John, subject of 
this sketch; Job, a farmer of Eaton town- 
ship, Lorain county, who married Ann 
Pierce; Albert, who married Addie Goland, 
and who resides in Eaton township; and 
Amanda, who died in her youth. 

John Alexander, whose name opens this 
sketch, was born November 12, 1836, in 
Grafton township, Lorain Co., Ohio, and 
received his education at the country schools 
of Eaton townsliip. In 1873 he bought 
one hundred acres of land in Eaton town- 
ship, which he has since much improved, 
having erected a comfortable residence, 
commodious barns, etc., and has increased 
the area of his farm till it now comprises 
186 acres, fifty-four of which are in Carlisle 
township. 

On October 6, 1876, Mr. Alexander was 
married, in Oberlin, Lorain county, to 
Miss Hannah Diniick, who was born in 
New York State, a daughter of Alanson 
and Ilannali (Hill) Dimick, tlie fatlier a 
native of Vermont, who died at the age of 
one hundred years, the mother a native of 
Connecticut, who died at the age of eighty- 
five, both passing away within a year, at 
the home of the subject of our sketch. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander has been born one 
child, Grace. Politically our subject is a 
Republican. 



T^ C. GRISWOLD. The family, of 

r^ which this gentleman is a prominent 

IL^i member, claim German descent, the 

first of tiie ancestry, of whom there 

is record, having come to England with 

the Prince of Orange. The name was 

originally spelled Griswolde. 

Edward and Matthew Griswold (the lat- 
ter of whom was the direct ancestor of 
the two Governors Griswold) were brothers. 
They resided in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, 
England (the ancestral seat being known 
as Malvern Hall, the coat-of-arms two 
greyhounds eourant), where another 
brother, Thon:as, also lived. In 1639, in 



a vessel sent out by Mr. William Whiting, 
they came to America, in company with 
Rev. Epliraim Huit and several other mem- 
bers of his congregation, who settled in 
Windsor, Connecticut. 

(1) Edward Griswold, born in England 
in 1607, married, while young, Margaret 
— . After his arrival in America he 
located in a part of Windsor called Po- 
quonnack, but afterward became one of the 
first settlers of Killingworth, Conn., where 
he appears to iiave been a man of much 
enterprise and influence. In March, 1663, 
he was appointed one of a committee to 
lay out the undivided lands in Massaco 
(Simsbui-y) to each of the inhabitants of 
Windsor as desired or needed. In Killing- 
worth he was a commissioner and large 
landholder. His first wife died in Kiliincr- 

o 

worth August 23, 1670, and he then mar- 
ried Sarah, widow of James Bemis, of New 
London. He died about 1690. His chil- 
dren were Francis, George, JohnandSarah, 
all four born in England (Sarah was twice 
married, first to Samuel, son of William 
Phelps, November 10, 1650, and second 
to Nathaniel, son of Humphrey Piniiey, 
July 21, 1670); Anne, born in America, 
June 19, 1642; Mary, born October 5, 
1644 (married Timothy, son of AVilliam 
Phelps, March 19, 1661); Deborah, born 
June 28, 1646 (married Samuel, son of 
William Buel, and went to Killingworth); 
Joseph, born March 2, 1647; Samuel, born 
November 13, 1649. died at Killingworth 
July 6, 1672; John, born August 15; 1652. 

(2) Geoi'ge married Mary Holcomb Oc- 
tober 3, 16 — ; she died April 4, 1708. He 
settled in Windsor, was holder of con- 
siderable land, part of which he bought of 
the Indians, and was a man of high re- 
spectalnlity. His children were Daniel, 
born October 1, 1656; Thomas, born Sep- 
tember 29, 1658; Edward, born May 19, 
1060; Mary, born September 28, 1663; 
George, born December 3, 1665; John, 
born September 11, 1668; Benjamin, born 
August 16, 1671; Deborah, born May 20, 
1674 (married Thomas Moore December 




/ V^^'V^^f 1^^^ 



r^-^^Jc^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



837 



12, 1695); Abigail, born October 3, 1676, 
died March 7, 1682; Samuel, l)orii No- 
vember 5, 1681, died June 1, 1682. 

(3) Daniel, born October 1, 1656, mar- 
ried Mind well, daughter of Nathaniel 
Bissell, February 3, 1680, who died De- 
cember 31, 1728. Their children were 
David and Nathaniel (twins), born Feb- 
ruary 14, 1684; Peletiah, born September 

13, i689; Mary, born 1692; Edward, born 
March 8, 1696; Deborah, bt)rn November 

7, 1698; David, born August 6, 1701. 

(4) David, born August 6, 1701, mar- 
ried Huldah Brown, 1731. Their children 
were David, born May 25, 1733, died 
March 6, 1736; Joel, born 1734; Ezekiel, 
born February 21, 1737; Huldah, born 
April 23, 1739; Sybil, born April 17, 
1742; Deborah, born March 15, 1745; 
David, born February 15, 1748; Asinah, 
born September 6, 1750. 

(5) Joel, born 1734, married May 11, 
1758, Mary Ebens. Their children were 
Joel, born November 4, 1758; Elijah, 
born August 20, 1762; Luther, Ealph, 
and Rufus. 

(6) Elijah, born August 20, 1762, mar- 
ried July 6, 1787, Lydia Adams, born 
August 30, 1767. Their children were 
Elijah Finder, born June 12, 1788; Lydia, 
born July 24, 1790; Chauncey Gay, born 
September 16, 1792; Sophia, born Jan- 
uary 4, 1794; Julia, born March 17, 1796; 
Fanny, born March 5, 1798; Thirza Maria, 
born December 29, 1800; Edwin Elijah 
(father of the subject of this sketch), born 
August 20, 1802; Edson Adams, born 
June 27, 1804; Mary Catherine, born May 

8, 1806; Luther Dwight. born February 
7, 1809. 

Edwin Elijah Griswold, the last but 
three mentioned in the above genealogical 
record, was born in the township of Sims- 
bury (of Old Windsor, now Bloomfield), 
Coun., and received his education at the 
subscription schools of the vicinity, and 
also in a private school. He was a cler- 
gyman of the MethodistEpiscopal Church, 
and filled incumbencies in Connecticut, 



New York State and New York City, 
many of his appointments being the best 
held in the several localities. Daniel 
Drew and the well-known publishers. 
Harper iirothers, were among his parish- 
ioners. For seventeen years he was pre- 
siding elder, part of the time officiating in 
New York City. After nearly forty-five 
years of active service in the ministry of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, at his 
own request he was released from his du- 
ties, and returned to his home in Danbury, 
Conn. He was a D. D. of Mt. Union Col- 
lege. On April 20, 1825, he married 
Miss Nancy Webster, who was descended 
by direct Hue from John Webster, one of 
Hartford's early settlers and the fifth Gov- 
ernor of Connecticut Colony, and the rec- 
ord of their children is as follows: Fanny 
F., born February 22. 1826; E. C. (sub- 
ject of sketch); Harriet W., born Feb- 
ruary 23, 1830, died May 5, 1893; Ann 
Augusta, born September 18, 1836; atid 
Mary Victoria, born November 27, 1838, 
died November 8, 1839. Mrs. Griswold 
died April 3, 1870, and Mr. Griswold was 
subsequently married to Artemesia W. 
Pease (widow of a preacher), who still 
survives. He died April 3, 1878. 

Edwin Chauncey Griswold was born in 
Farmington, Conn., May 18, 1827, and 
received his elementary education in a 
preparatory school, after which he took 
a course of study at the Wesleyan Uni- 
versity, Middlet'own, Conn., where he 
graduated in 1847, being then twenty 
years of age. After teaching school for a 
time, he became connected with the Peo- 
ples Line of Steamers of the Hudson river, 
and was in that service some four years. 
He then became connected with the 
Methodist Book Concern, in New York 
City, having charge of the mailing depart- 
ment, but his health becoming impaired, 
he concluded to move westward. Accord- 
ingly, in February, 1854, he came to 
Elyria, Ohio, and established a book store, 
which he carried on for about twenty-four 
years, or until 1877, when he sold out. He 



838 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



has since been connected with various 
business enterprises, among which may be 
mentioned the Lakeside Company, of which 
he is president, and one of its heaviest 
stockholders; had also at one time charge 
of their hotel at Lakeside. He owns grape 
growing and farming interests, and oc- 
cupies much of his time in assisting to 
manipulate stock companies of various 
kinds. 

On February 2, 1852, in Hartford, 
Conn., Mr. Griswold was married to Miss 
Anne Sweetland, a native of Hartford, 
Conn., where and at Mt. Holyoke Serai- 
nary, Massachusetts, she received her edu- 
cation. The following is a brief record of 
their children: (1) Ellen Augusta, born 
November 23, 1852, in New York City;^ 
after graduating at Elyria High School 
she entered upon a course of study at 
Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio, and had 
reached the Senior class, when failing 
health caused her to leave; she afterward 
graduated at Cleveland Normal School; 
she was married to Rev. Lucius C. Smith, 
July 12, 1878, and died December 28, 
1878, in Copiapo, Chili, S. A., her hus- 
band being a missionary of the M. E. 
Church, one of the "Taylor missionaries." 
(2) Edwin Luther w-as born February 11, 
1855, and died September 2G, 1881; he 
entered upon a course of study at Wesleyau 
University, Middletown, Conn., but un- 
avoidable circumstances prevented his 
completing the course; he was engaged in 
the book business with his father, and 
later in Cleveland. (3) Fannie Martha, 
born September 4, 1857, graduated at Ohio 
Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, 
was married, March 29, 1882, to G. W. 
Rice, and now resides in Hamilton, Ohio; 
(4) William Sweetland was born June 20, 
1862, and was educated at Ohio Wesleyan 
University at Delaware, Ohio, then one year 
in Berea, Ohio, and afterward at the Case 
School of Applied Science, Cleveland, 
Ohio. He is now in Lansing, Mich., where 
he is engaged in the artificial stone busi- 
ness and selling coal. He was married 



October 7, 1885, to Miss Martha H. Wales, 
of Sandusky, Ohio, and they have two 
children, viz. : Edwin Chauncey, borti June 
9, 1887; and Marie Sweetland, born Sep- 
tember 17, 1892. 

Mr. E. C. Griswold is a strong Republi- 
can; he served as clerk of Elyria township 
thirteen years, and for years was also town- 
ship trustee ; for several years he was a mem- 
ber of the board of education and clerk of 
the same. In 1876 he was a member of 
the M. E. General Conference that met in 
Baltimore, Md., and has for many years 
been an active member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church in Elyria. He also 
holds important relations with several 
educational institutions. 




|ILLIAM GREEN, a prominent, 
well-to-do farmer of Pittsfield 
llj' township, was born October 4, 
1848, in Lincolnshire, England, 
son of William and Mary (Marshall) Green. 
William Green, Sr., was a shoemaker, 
and followed the trade exclusively in Eng- 
land, where he married and had three 
children: Henry, who died in England; 
Ann, who died in Wood county, Ohio, 
wife of William Bailey, and William. In 
1854 the family embarked at Liverpool, 
and after a voyage of seven weeks landed 
in New York City. They at once pro- 
ceeded to Pittsfield township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where William Marshall, brother of 
Mrs. Green, had previously located, and 
there purchased a partially improved tract 
of fifty acres, where the father began farm- 
ing. Here they passed the remainder of 
their lives, Mrs. Green dying in 1877, her 
husband in 1884, and they both rest in 
Pittsfield cemetery. Both were members 
of the Methodist Church, and in politics 
he was a Republican. 

Our subject received a common-school 
education, and was reared*to farm life, re- 
maining at home with his parents until 



LOR Am COUNTY, OHIO. 



839 



his marriage. On October 5, 1871, lie was 
7iiarried to Rowena Cole, who was bom 
in Wellington township, Lorain county, 
daughter of Horace Cole, and to this union 
were born two children: Lou Emma, Mrs. 
Frank Whitney, of Pittstield township; 
and Mary Ann, who died in infancy. Tiie 
mother of these children died in November, 
1878, and was buried in Pittstield ceme- 
tery. For his second wife Mr. Green mar- 
ried January 1, 1880, Miss Anna Jordan, 
who died February 3, 1883. some time 
afterward, without issue. In 1884 Mr. 
Green married Catherine Rogers, and to 
this union has come one child, Walter 
Henry. After marriage our subject lo- 
cated on the home farm, and there re- 
mained until 1883, when he removed to 
his present farm, in the center of Pitts- 
field township, which he had purchased the 
preceding fall. Here he has since resided, 
carrying on general agriculture and dairy- 
ing, and he has met with a considerable 
degree of success, being an energetic, sys- 
tematic farmer. Politically he is a Re- 
publican, and in religious faith he is a 
member of the Methodist Church, in which 
he has served as trustee and in various 
other positions. 



FLAVIFS A. HART, proprietor of 
a leading furniture establishment in 
^ Oberlin, and undertaker, comes of 
English ancestry. The first of this 
branch of the family in America was one 
of three lirothers who came from England 
in 1646 or '48, one of whom settled in 
Connecticut, one went west and was never 
heard of again, and the third, from whom 
our subject descends, made a settlement 
in Lynn, Massachusetts. 

Sylvester Hart, father of Flavins A., 
was born, in 1806, in Vermont, the eldest 
son of Georcro Hart, and came to Lorain 
county, Ohio, in 1832, settling in Carlisle 
township, where he carried on farming 



operations. He died in 1874, a stanch Re- 
publican, having originally been an Old- 
line Whig. He married Miss Relief 
Baldwin, also a native of Vermont, born 
in 1806, and died in 1892. They had a 
family of five children, of whom Flavius 
A. is the youngest. 

Our subject was born in Carlisle town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, December 2, 1849. 
When si.x years old he came to Oberlin, 
where he received his education, first at- 
tending the public schools and then Oberlin 
College. For a time he read law in that 
town, in order the more thoroughly to 
qualify himself for business, and then 
turned his attention to agriculture, which 
he followed till some sixteen years since, 
and he still owns a farm in the township. 
On givintr up agricultural pursuits he 
opened out a furniture factory in Oberlin, 
and also a store for sale of the products. 
The factory he carried on three years, 
since when he has confined himself to the 
retail business and undertaking. He car- 
ries a large stock of furniture, and enjoys 
a wide business connection. 

In 1877 Mr. Hart was married in 
Oberlin to Miss Olive A. Grain, who 
was born in Florence township, Erie 
Co., Ohio, to which union three children 
have been born: Burton S., Merton S. and 
Eugene A. In politics our subject has 
been an ardent Democrat ever since he 
first exercised his franchise at the ballot, 
and has twice been Democratic candidate 
for county treasurer, also Democrat candi- 
date for mayor of Oberlin. On December 
20, 1893, he was appointed postmaster at 
Oberlin by President Cleveland; confirmed 
by Senate January 9, 1894, and commenced 
his duties as postmaster February 1, 1894. 
lie is past master in the A. F. v.\: A. M., 
and past noble grand in the I. O. O. F.; 
is a member of the Oberlin Society which 
(Toverns the Congregational Church. 

Zerubable Hart, paternal great-grand- 
father of the subject of tills sUetcli. was a 
native of Lynn, Mass. He owned the best 
yoke of oxen in the neighborhood of Bos- 



840 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



ton, and prior to the battle of Bunker Hill 
lie hauled hogsheads of sand up that and 
Breed's Hill for the making of military 
breastworks; his brother, John Hart, was 
one of the Signers of the Declaration of 
Independence; their father, Jonathan Hart, 
was captain of a privateer, and was captured 
on the Mediterranean Sea by the Moors. 
He had to work as a slave in the mines of 
Africa for nine long years without ever 
seeing the light of the sun; but one day 
he and two other prisoners succeeded in 
escaping by first killing the overseer with 
their picks, and another man with the guard's 
gun. Havinsf now regained their liberty, 
they put to sea in an open boat, and were 
picked up by a Portuguese vessel, and ulti- 
mately reached their respective homes. 



rJRANK A. COATES. Among the 
more intelligent and highly re- 
spected citizens of Henrietta town- 
ship, this gentleman must certainly 
be classed. 

He is a son of Stephen Coates, M'ho was 
born in Rutland county, Vt., in 1812, and 
was there reared to manhood. His school 
advantages were much limited, and his 
education, therefore, consisted of but the 
common branches. During his youth he 
learned the trade of shoeniaking. In 1845 
lie migrated to Lorain county, Ohio. Sub- 
sequently he married Caroline Bodfish, a 
daujjhter of JSathan Bodfish and a native 
of Vermont, to whicli union were born six 
children, as follows: Delia, Janet, Au- 
gusta, Frank A., Caroll and Herbert, of 
whom there are living, Augusta, now the 
wife of M. William Thomas, of Oberlin; 
Herbert, a farmer of Huntington, Lorain 
county; Caroll, the well-known landlord 
of a popular hotel in Sullivan, Oliio, and 
Frank A. Upon the location of the family 
in their new home in Ohio, the father 
found employment at his trade, and by 
careful manai^ement and observance of 
rigid economy, he was enabled to save a 



portion of his earnings. After a few years 
lie purchased a small plat of land, which 
he cultivated, and worked at his trade. 
This bit of land he subsequently sold, and 
bought 200 acres which he divided equally 
between the four children at the time of 
his removal to Oberlin. His career was 
in every respect eminently successful, and 
at his death he was possessor of more than 
200 acres, the clearing of which was nearly 
all his own handiwork. Some years prior 
to his death he purchased a large farm in 
Henrietta township, upon which he resided 
for a number of years, keeping a dairy, 
cuttincr timber, etc. He then removed to 
Oberlin, where he departed this life in 
March, 1889, at the age of seventy-six 
years. Politically he was a Democrat, 
and foi- a number of years he filled the 
office of justice of the peace of Henrietta 
township. His wife had preceded him to 
the grave in 1887; she was a member of 
the Baptist Church. 

Frank A. Coates, the subject proper of 
these lines, was born in Birmingham, Ohio, 
March 4, 1846, and was there reared, 
accompanying his father to his various 
locations as above recorded. He was the 
recipient of a superior education, having 
at one time attended Oberlin College. In 
1867 he married Miss Mira Thomas, 
daughter of William Thomas, Sr., who 
died in Vermont; his widow came to Ohio 
in 1855. To our subject and wife have 
been born the following children: Nellie, 
Carrie (Mrs. Cor. Courier), Jennie (Mrs. 
Arthur Court), Lizzy and Harold. At the 
age of twenty-one our subject was the pos- 
sessor of fifty acres of land, bequeathed to 
hin^ by his father, upon which he erected 
buildings, and added all improvements; 
his handsome brick residence was erected 
in 1877. Mr. Coates" children have all re- 
ceived exceptional educations, Mrs. Courier 
{nee Carrie) being a graduate of Oberlin 
Conservatory of Music. 

Politically Mr. Coates is a Prohiljition- 
ist, and is now occupying the office of 
justice of the peace. He is a prominent 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



841 



member of the Baptist (llinreh. Wlien 
but a boy of fifteen years he sufiereil an 
illness which left him a cripple for life, 
yet tlespite this physical disadvantage his 
success has been indeed marked. He suc- 
cessfully cultivates his farm of seventy- 
nine acres, and devotes much attention to 
the cultivation of small fruits. 

Mrs. Coates and her daughters are justly 
popular ladies in their community, and 
their many e.\cellent qualities are highly 
appreciated by their large circle of friends. 



FW. KOCKWOOD, a prosperous, 
intelligent farmer of La Grange 
_^ township, is a native of the "Em- 
pire State," born January 18, 1817, 
in Champion, Jefferson county. 

His father, David Kockwood, was born 
in 1777 in New Hampshire, and was reared 
to farm life. When a young man he came 
with some of liis older half-brothers to 
Cherry Valley, N. Y., and as they kept 
"bachelors' hall" he was their cook. In 
later years their pai-ents came to New York 
State, also locating in Cherry Valley, 
and David and his half-bi-other, William, 
moved into Jefferson county, N. Y., and 
bought land. Here David Rockwood was 
united in marriage with Miss Ruby Rounds, 
a native of Westchester county, N. Y., 
and while living in New York State they 
had six sons and one daughter, viz.: 
Henry, of Elyria; Benjamin S., who went 
west years ago, and has never since l^een 
heard from; Emeline, widow of David 
Gott; F. W., subject proper of this sketch; 
Giles C, of Wood county, Ohio; David 
P., of La Grange Center; and Almon A., 
of California. Another child, Pauline, 
now the widow of Hiram Buswell, was 
born in Lorain county, Ohio. Mr. Rock- 
wood was a well-to-do farmer in New 
York, and traded his farm there for (500 
acres in La Grange township, Lorain ('o., 
Ohio, for which place he set out in June, 



1826, driving a team of horses. P^ive 
sons and the daughter came with tiie par- 
ents, the other son traveling by the water 
route with the household goods. Asal 
Rockwood, a brother of David, came at 
the same time. The journey from New 
York occupied ten days, and they came 
via Cleveland, where at that time there 
was no bridge across the Cuyahoga river, 
and where lie was offered land — now 
the site of the Public Square — at four 
dollars an acre, or land on the west 
side of the city at twenty shillings an 
acre. However, they pushed on to Ely- 
ria, and thence to La Porte, where the 
family remained while the father went 
out to look over the land he had bargained 
for at LaGrange. Upon seeing this he was 
so disappointed that he concluded to re- 
turn to Cleveland, and invest in land there, 
Init was dissuaded from this by Belden, 
Ingersol and Meunels, three of the leading 
men in Grafton township, who induced him 
to remain in LaGrange in order to more 
thoroughly settle up the country. He re- 
mained on the 600-acre farm, a portion of 
which he traded to Nathan Clark for a like 
amount in Lot No. 49, and built thereon a 
a rude house of logs, covered with elm- 
bark, into which he moved. This was 
shortly afterward supplanted by a better 
one. Mrs. Rockwood died and was buried 
in LaGrange township, and he married, 
for his second wife, Polly Graves, who bore 
him five children, all of whom died young. 
He was always a farmer, and after moving 
on his farm in the northwest corner of 
LaGrange township, sold some of it, giving 
it out for work on other parts of the tract. 
He was stirring and energetic, and was 
active up to the age of sixty-five, when he 
retired. His death, which occurred in 
1877, when he was one hundred years and 
one month old, was the result of old age. 
In politics he was originally a Whig, later 
a Democrat, and in religious connection 
he was a member of the Christian Church. 
F. W. Rockwood received his education 
iu the common schools of his boyhood days, 



842 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



when eleven years old corning to Ohio, 
where he also attended the schools, wliich 
were held in log buildings. From early boy- 
hood he was reared to farm life, doing any 
woi'k he could about the place, and when 
fifteen years old went to learn the trade of 
cabinet maker nnder his brother Henry, in 
LaGrange, remaining there five years, and 
then working as a carpenter and joiner. 
On October 27, 1840, he was married to 
Miss Clarissa Wack, who was born Feb- 
ruary 22, 1821, in Danby, Vt., daughter of 
Frederick A¥. and Hannah (Loomis) Wack, 
natives of Connecticut, who came to Lo- 
rain county, Ohio, in 1834, locating in Car- 
lisle township. After his marriage he 
moved into Oberlin, where he followed his 
trade for three years, and then came to his 
present farm, where he himself erected a 
house, and has since made his home. He 
has two children, namely: Edgar D. and 
William W. For the last twenty years he 
has given up his trade, but previous to 
that time did much of the building in his 
section. He now owns 460 acres of land, 
situated in various parts of the country — 
Ohio, Iowa and South Dakota; his farm 
in Ohio is one of the most valuable in Lo- 
rain county, as it contains an exceedingly 
good deposit of building stone. In pol- 
itics he is a stanch Republican, and has been 
a party leader in his section. He has a very 
pleasant home, rendered doubly attractive 
by the presence of Mrs. Rockwood, who is 
a most estimable, kind-hearted lady. Mr. 
Rockwood keeps himself well informed on 
the leading questions of the day, both by 
reading and observation. 



T' H. MUMFORD, a prominent, highly 
respected citizen of Russia town- 
ship, was born in 1840 in Darling- 
ton county, South Carolina. 

In July, 1857, he left his native 
and he has since been identified 
■with the interests of Lorain county, Ohio. 
He attended the Union schools at Oberliu, 



State, 



and for some time thereafter followed the 
trades of painting and paper hanging. In 
1862 he enlisted in the Fifty-fourth Mass- 
achusetts Infantry, and in 1864 reenlisted, 
this time in Company D, One Hundred 
and Seventy-eighth O. V. I., for one year or 
during the war, being assigned to the army 
of the Cumberland. He participated in 
the engagements at Nashville (Tenn.) and 
Kingston (N. C), and was also in many 
skirmishes. In 1865 he received an hon- 
orable discharge at Charlotte, N. C, and 
returned to Oberlin, where he has since 
continuously resided. 

Mr. Mumford was married at Oberlin, 
October 5, 1865, to Miss Evelene Oswalt, 
and they have had three children, namely: 
William D., Sumpter Marion and Zula. 
In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Mumford 
are both members of the First Conareo-a- 
tional Church. In politics he is a Re- 
publican, deeply interested in the welfare 
of his party, and he has held the office of 
township trustee for the past seventeen 
years, having been first elected in 1876. 
Mr. Mumford takes an active part in every 
project tending toward the improvement 
and advancement of the interests of Lorain 
county. He is a member of Henry Lincoln 
Post iSfo. 564, G. A. R. 



J 



ACOB LAW, a leading and successful 

agriculturist of Grafton township, is 

a German by birth, having first seen 

the light of day November 17, 1828, 

in Wittenberg, Prussia. 

He is a son of Mathias Law, a shepherd 
in the Fatherland, who married Mary 
Metzger, by whom there was one child, the 
subject of this sketch. The young mother 
was called from earth when Jacob was but 
a child, and the father afterward married 
Margaret Ritchley. Deciding to seek a 
new home in the Western World, the fam- 
ily, at that time consisting of our subject 
and his father and stepmother, in 1834 set 
out from Wittenberg for the port of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



843 



Bremen, a journey of fourteen days, and 
there on April 1, same year, set sail on a 
'' full-rigged ship '' for the shores of Amer- 
ica. After a voyage of about forty-three 
days they landed at New York, whence 
they proceeded westward by the Hudson 
river and Erie Canal to Buffalo, from there 
sailing on Lake Erie to Cleveland, re- 
maining in that town one week. Mr. Law 
there bought, for four dollars per acre, 
thirty-two acres of unbroken land in 
Liverpool township, Medina county, with- 
out a house or cabin of any kind on it, but 
with some five hundred feet of lumber and 
three cut forked sticks he soon erected a 
rude shanty under the branches of a noble 
beech tree, where the little family made 
their home from June 18 to October, same 
year, by which time a commodious and 
substantial log house was erected. Mr. 
Law had but a small capital to start on — 
one hundred dollars — and many difficul- 
ties to contend against in clearing the land, 
not the least of which was the continual 
encroachments of wild animals on his lit- 
tle domain. In the fall of 1834 he sowed 
his tirst wheat, which was harvested the 
following year, and the prospects after 
1836 (which was a bad year for farmers) 
began to brighten. In 1842 the log house 
gave place to a frame one, and to the farm 
fifty acres were added, lying in the east- 
ern part of lot No. 70, Grafton township. 
In 1877 this honored pioneer passed from 
earth after a brief illness, his wife in Feb- 
ruary, 1889, and they lie buried in Liver- 
pool cemetery, Medina county. 

Jacob Law, whose name opens this 
sketch, as will be seen was ten years old 
when he came to America, so had at- 
tended sciiool for some four years in his 
native land; after his arrival in Lorain 
county he liad the benefit of sucii English 
education as the then primitive schools af- 
forded. His early youth was passed in 
hard work on his father's farm, and when 
but sixteen years of age he worked on a 
canal at Coshocton, Ohio, all his earnings 
being given his father; he also labored on 



other canals. After his marriage, which 
will be spoken of presently, his father gave 
him thirty acres of land in Grafton town- 
ship, where he resided up to 1863, in 
which year he came to his present farm in 
the same township. At one time he owned 
468 acres, but having given much of it to 
his children, has now 215 acres. 

On June 13, 1848, our subject was mar- 
ried to Airiies Lanndenberger, also a native 
of Wittenberg, Germany, born August 20, 
1830, daughter of Thomas Lanndenber- 
ger, who came from Bremen to the United 
States in 1833, arriving; in New York af- 
ter a lengthy passage of ninety-one days. 
From there he proceeded westward to 
Canton, Stark Co., Ohio, where he fol- 
lowed his trade, that of blacksmith, as well 
as farming. Later he came to Liverpool 
township, Medina county, where Mr. Law 
met his daughter Agnes for the first time. 
The children born to our subject and wife 
were as follows: John, a farmer; Mary, 
Mrs. Henry Wise; Henry, a farmer; 
Catherine, Mrs. Louis Wise; Carrie, de- 
ceased; August, a harness maker, of 
Erhert, Ohio; Jacob, a farmer; Louisa, 
deceased; William, a farmer; and Joseph, 
residing at home. Politically Mr. Law is 
a Democrat, and he is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, in which he has held 
office some years. He and his esteemed 
wife are highly respected in the commun- 
ity in which they live, and he is recognized 
as a leader among the sturdy and prosper- 
ous yeomen of Lorain county. 



j)ETER SCIIULLER, one of the pro- 



gressive agriculturists of Sheffield 



p 

I township, is a native of Lorain 

y) county, Ohio, born May 17, 1853, in 
Sheffield township. 
Matthias Schuller, his father, who was a 
German by birth, was married in his na- 
tive land to Miss Katherine Klein, and two 
of their children were born there. Coming 
to the United States, the family settled oil 



844 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



a farm in Sheffield township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where the father died in 1871 at the 
age of sixty-tliree years, the mother on 
March 4, 1885, aged seventy-two. They 
were members of the Catholic Church, and 
in politics Mr. Schiiller was a Democrat. 
They were the parents of three children, 
two of whom are yet living, viz.: Michael, 
born in Germany, now living in Sheffield 
township, and Peter. 

The subject of our sketch received his 
education at the public and parochial 
schools of his native township, and was 
reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1880 
he was united in marriage with Miss Mag- 
gie Kelling, and to them seven children 
were born, as follows: George, Henry, 
John, Matthias, Minnie, Frank and Julia. 
Mr. Schuller takes an active interest in 
politics as emphasized in the principles 
embodied in the platform of the Demo- 
cratic party, and is a member of the school 
board; was also for some live or six years 
road supervisor. He is a member of the 
Catholic Church. Owner of a good farm 
of eigbtj-six acres, Mr. Schuller does a 
successful general agricultural business. 




R. WEBBER, prosecuting attorney 
for Lorain county for six years (his 
term ending January 2, 1894), is 
a native of Ohio, born in Hinckley, 
Medina county, January 21, 1852, 
of old English stock, his great-grandfather 
and family having been immigrants from 
the mother country to the New Eno-land 
States many years ago. His grandfather, 
Richard Webber, was a pioneer of Hinck- 
ley, and a man of great worth, a preacher 
of rare gifts and power, wielding great 
influence in his community. 

George E. Webber, father of subject, 
was a native of Massachusetts, a son of 
Richard Webber, and a molder by trade. 
At the age of fourteen he moved westward 
to Ohio, with his father, locating in 



Hinckley, in Medina county, where he 
aided in clearing the forest to make way 
for farms, and cutting out the public high- 
ways. When eighteen years old he re- 
turned to Massachusetts and learned the 
trade of molder, which having completed 
he again came to Medina county, and 
started a foundry in the town of Hinckley, 
operating same for twenty years. After 
this he farmed for six years, owing to 
poor health, and then moved into the town 
of Medina, where he opened out the pres- 
ent Hollow-ware foundry, for the manu- 
facture of iron hollow-ware, which now 
employs sixty Ave men. He is a man of 
great push and force of character, and ex- 
tensive reading. He was married to Miss 
Jane Woodruff, a native of New York, 
who taught school for many years in 
Hinckley, and was ever known for her 
sweet disposition and deeds of charity and 
kindness. They had a family as follows: 
Julius F. Webber, A. R. Webber, Julia 
Walker, Lana Webber, H. B. Webber and 
John Webber. Julius and Lana are dead; 
John and Julia reside in Medina; H. B. is 
an able attorney in Canton, Ohio. 

A. R. Webber received his education at 
the schools of his native town, and at 
Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio. He then 
commenced the study of law in the office 
of Judge Lewis, Medina, Ohio; was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1876, and at once 
opened a law office in Elyria, Lorain coun- 
ty, in partnership with a Mr. C. H. Brint- 
nall, which copartnership continued for 
some six months, when it was dissolved. 
Mr. Webber's next partner was Mr. C W. 
Johnston, at one time prosecuting attor- 
ney, and this copartnership terminated at 
the end of two years, the next partner 
being Hon. George P. Metcalf, for some 
years prosecuting attorney for Lorain 
county. Since the latter's death in 1887, 
Mr. Webber conducted the business of his 
office alone till two years ago, when he 
formed a partnership with Lee Stoup, a 
young man who read law in his office. In 
1887 he was nominated and elected to the 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



847 



position of prosecuting attorney, taking 
ottice in January, 1888. Mr. Webber does 
a general practice, and has a very large 
clientage. 

A. K. Webber and Miss Ida C. Finch 
were united in marriage May 17, 1875, and 
two children have come to brighten their 
home: Gilbert G. and Lawrence 11. Mrs. 
Webber is a lady of culture, and among 
the foremost in works of ciiarity and tem- 
perance in her city. Our subject is a Re- 
publican in politics, and a member of the 
Royal Arcanum and Knights of the Macca- 
bees, lie is a stockholder in the Savings 
Bank, and in the Republican newspaper 
company. He enjoys the enviable dis- 
tinction of being one of the ablest and 
best informed lawyers in Lorain county; is 
a close student, ever keeping well abreast 
of the times; was a strong prosecutor and 
is an able jury lawyer, as well as a reliable 
and safe counselor. lie has but few peers 
in the county, and certainly no superior. 




\ILLIAM SHERMAI^ POWELL 
was born July 28, 1833, in Char- 
lotte, Chittenden Co., Vt., in 
which State his j^^rents were 
also born. 

Calvin Powell, father of William S., was 
born August 19, 1799. On January 6, 
1819, he was married in Charlotte, Vt., to 
Maria Gray, who was born September 29, 
1801. In Charlotte they resided until 
1838, when they sold out and came to 
Lorain county, Ohio, with their family. 
The journey from Yermont, a distance of 
seven hundred miles, was made in a covered 
wagon with four horses attached, the trip 
taking four weeks. Here they purchased 
134 acres of heavily timbered land. Mr. 
Powell by hard labor and perseverance 
cleared up the entire farm, and he resided 
there until his death. The children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Powell were as 
follows: Alma M., born February 27, 



1821, died March 3, 1880 (wife of J. W. 
Rockwell); Henry Sherman, born July 25, 
1823, died April 25, 1888; Harriet, bora 
September 20, 182G, died May 4, 1893 
(wife of C. J. Case); Polly Ann, born No- 
vember 10, 1828 (Mrs. William Rockwell, 
residing in St. Louis, Mo.); Elvira, born 
May 9, 1831, died June 14, 1890 (wife of 
Albert Eldred); William S., subject of 
sketch; Lorenzo C, born June 23, 1837, 
a resident of Frankfort, Kans. ; Amelia, 
born August 12, 1839 ('Mrs. George Hub- 
bard, of Decatur, Mich.); and Mary, born 
October 9, 1842 (Mrs. M. Tuscott, of La- 
nark, 111.). Calvin Powell was a man of 
prominence, and held various township 
offices. He was a member of the Baptist 
Church of Elyria, a constant attendant and 
earnest supporter. He died January 26, 
1860. Mrs. Powell was also a faithful 
member of the same church. Her death 
occurred August 17, 1883, at the home of 
her youngest daughter, in Lanark, Illinois. 
W. S. Powell, the subject of this sketch, 
spent his early life in Amherst township, 
whei'elie attended the common schools, first 
in the log schoolhouse, afterward at the 
select schools, where he obtained a practi- 
cal education. He remained at home until 
he was twenty- two years of age. He then, in 
1856, went to Illinois, where he remained 
five months, and then returned to Ohio, 
where he has since resided. On Novem- 
ber 25, 1856, he was married to Miss 
Betsey M. Bender, daughter of Peter 
Bender, a resident of Elyria. After his 
marriage he remained on the home farm 
two years, then rented a farm on Lake 
Avenue, where he remained one year. 
When his father died he again rented the 
home farm, which he carried on two years. 
He then purchased a farm in the southwest 
part of Amherst township, and here re- 
sided four years, at the end of which time 
he sold, and bought a farm of one hundred 
acres three miles north of Oberlin, where 
he lived eight years, in the meantime 
adding fifty-two acres of land. He then 
sold, and removed to his present farm. 



848 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



which contains about 150 acres, and is re- 
garded as one of the finest farms in Lorain 
county, sixty- two acres being iu the cor- 
poration of Elyria. 

His children were as follows: Ella M., 
born June 18, 1861, died June 2, 1863; 
Orpha E., born October 10, 1864, married 
March 17, 1886, to John Stang, and now 
living in Elyria township (they have one 
child, Herbert Ralph, born June 15, 1890); 
Elnora T., born November 12, 1866, mar- 
ried March 17, 1891, to M. B. Sonnels, 
who holds a position as locomotive en- 
gineer on the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern Railroad, and they reside in 
Elyria; Mary May, born November 20, 
1871; Edwin Sherman, born August 21, 
1873; and Arthur William, born Septem- 
ber 7, 1878. 

Mr. Powell is a self-made man, having 
made his own financial success. He is 
now carrying on his farm, and although 
Bixty years of age is vigorous and active. 
For many years lie has been prominent in 
all public affairs relating to both the town- 
ship and county of his residence. He has 
always been a pronounced Democrat of the 
Jacksonian school, ready at all times to 
express his opinions, but at the same time 
disposed to be charitable to his opponents. 
Equipped by nature witli strong intel- 
lectual endowments and rugged physical 
powers, possessing a sterling honesty 
which characterizes his conduct in all the 
otfices of life, lie has won a high place in 
the esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. 



I P. BYRD is one of the most pros- 
k. I perous and substantial agriculturists 
\yj of Brownhelm township, whither he 
had come in 1866. He was born 
in Huntsville, Ala., in 1833, a son of John 
and Susan (Page) Byrd, natives of Eng- 
land and France, respectively, in which 
latter country they were married. 

In an early day they immigrated to 
Richmond, Va., thence moving to near 



Huntsville, Ala., where John Byrd was a 
planter, and where he died in 1840, as did 
also his wife some years later, at the age 
of seventy years. Grandfather Page was 
a native of France, and coming to this 
country served in the Revolutionary war 
under LaFayette; at the time of his death 
he was a senator from Albemarle county, 
Va., of which State he was a pioneer. 

J. P. Byrd, the subject of this memoir, 
received his education at the public schools 
of the vicinity of Huntsville, Ala., and 
learned thetradeof merchant tailor. When 
a young man he came north, and in 1862 
located in Cincinnati, Ohio, whence in 
1866 he came to Lorain county, as already 
recorded, and after marriage settled on a 
farm in Brownhelm township, which now 
comprises 111^ acres of land, where he 
carries on general agriculture, including 
the breeding of high-grade Shorthorn 
cattle. He has an excellent stone resi- 
dence, two stories high, 28 x 30 feet. 

In 1865 Mr. Byrd was miirried in Ely- 
ria fo Miss D. E. Cable, a native of Brown- 
helm, Ohio, daughter of O. A. and 
Caroline (Peck) Cable, the latter of whom 
was born in Stockbridge, Mass., and came 
to Ohio with her parents when she w^as 
eight years old. Stephen Cable, grand- 
father of Mrs. Byrd, was a native of Ver- 
mont, whence he came to Ohio, locating in 
Cleveland, from there comins to Lorain 
county, settling in Ridgeville township in 
1811. O. A. Cable, his son (Mrs. Byrd's 
father), was born in 1813, in Ridgeville, and 
was the first white male child born in the 
county of Lorain. He was about one year 
old when his father moved to Amherst, 
where he lived al)out three years, and then 
moved to Henrietta township, where 
Stephen Cable died when O. A. was 
about eight years old. The latter died in 
Brownhelm in 1879; his wife, Caroline P. 
Cable, died in the same township in 1887. 
Mrs. Byrd's grandfather, Elisha F. Peck, 
came to Brownhelm in 1817, and took up 
480 acres of land — three quarter sections. 
He was a native of Connecticut, born in 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



849 



Berlin. His grandfather came from Eng- 
land. Mrs. Byrd was educated in Ober- 
lin, and graduated in the class of 1861; 
later she taught school in Pittsfield and 
LaGrange townships, Lorain county. 

To Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Byrd were born 
three children, as follows: Nina P., now 
wife of Harry E. Sage, of Brownhelin 
township; Leon F. and John O. Politi- 
cally our subject is a Republican, but 
in municipal matters he invariably votes 
for the best man, irrespective of party 
principle. 



DE GRASSE AND HARRIET 
THOMAS. The Thomases were 
' of old New England stock. De- 

Grasse Thomas was the oldest child 
of Edraond and Asenath Thomas, and of a 
family of six — two boys, De Grasse and 
Orrin, and four girls. Mannett, Jeanett, 
Julia M. and' Jane. 

Edmoiid Thomas was born in the town 
of Rutland, Vt., one of a large family 
born to Wesson and Patience (Hall) Thom- 
as^ who came to Vermont from Massachu- 
setts. Wesson Thomas was a soldier and 
pensioner of the Re\olution. Originally 
the Thomases came to Massachusetts from 
Wales. When Edmond was about twelve 
years of age his father moved to the town 
of Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he 
grew to manhood and where he married 
Asenath Crapo, daughter of Jonathan 
Crapo, a soldier of the Revolution, of an 
old and honorable family in the old Com- 
monwealth, originally from France. In 
1835 Edmond moved his family, then con- 
sisting of wife and live children, to Ohio, 
coming by lake from Sacket's Harbor to 
Genesee, thence on a primitive railroad, 
where the cars were drawn liy horses, to 
Rochester, N. Y.; from there to Buifalo 
by the Erie Canal, and by steamer to 
Cleveland, from that point to Pittsfield by 
wagon. Settling in that township, a farm 
was cleared out of the woods, and after 
nine years the family moved to the western 



part of Rochester township, wliere another 
farm was hewn from the forests, which 
then covered all that country in every 
direction except only where farms were 
being cut out here and there. Here the 
two sons took land for themselves, cleared 
them up, and day by day, year by year, 
have grown old together with the neigh- 
borhood their work has done so much to 
redeem from the forest. Here the good 
old mother was found on May 18, 1877, 
by the silent Reaper, in the eighty -first 
year of her age, and here the father lingered 
until January 19, 1889, passing away in 
his ninety-second year; he was a soldier 
and pensioner of tlie war of 1812. 

Harriet Thomas, the daughter of James 
and Sarah Fancher, was born in the town 
of Mendon, Monroe Co., N. Y., Septem- 
ber 21, 1822, one of a family of thirteen 
children. John Fancher, the father of 
James, was a soldier of the Revolution, 
and married a niece of Gen. Daniel Schuy- 
ler; they lived in the township of Florida, 
near Albany, N. Y., where James was born 
and where he married Sarah Doty, of Spen- 
cer township, whose father was also a 
soldier of the Revolution, and of Dutch 
descent. When Harriet was nine years 
old the mother left Mendon for Ohio, to 
join her husband, who had preceded her. 
She traveled with the children from Pitts- 
ford to Buffalo by canal, then on Lake 
Erie by steamer to Huron, Erie county, 
wliere the father met them and took them 
to a temporary home in New London, 
Huron county, whence they soon moved 
to the neighborhood known as East Creek, 
in the eastern part of the township, where 
other children were born to them. Here 
the final summons found the father in the 
eighty-fourth year of his age. James 
Fancher was a soldier of the war of 1812 
and a pensioner. At the old home in 
Mendon they were near neighbors of 
Eber Ivimbail, Joseph Smith and Brigham 
Young. Before her seventeenth year Har- 
riet married Gustavus Noble, to whom she 
bore live children, four of whom grew to 



% 



850 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



maturity: Sarah A., the wife of George 
Chadwick, by whoiu she had one child, a 
son, Frank; Eliza, tiie wife of Ho- 
mer E. Barrett, to whom has been born 
one child. Earl; Perry A., who married 
Ella J. Mann, daughter of Bradley Mann, 
of Rochester, and whose family consists 
of three girls, Grace, Bertha and Mary, 
and two sons, Wayne and Perry Allen; 
and Mary, who became the wife of AVilbur 
W. Hall, and who after a few brief years 
passed on to another world, leaving, to 
mourn the loss of a sweet mother, two 
children — Clayton G. and Kate. 

Harriet Fancher Noble married De- 
Grasse Thomas, and to this union have been 
born three children, two of whom grew to 
maturity: Alma M., wife of Walter D. 
Hall, to whom have come two chihlren — 
Ethel and Ford; and Fred Fancher, a 
sketch of whom follows. 



rRED F. THOMAS, the subject of 
tliissketcli,sonof DeGrasse and Plar- 
_^ riet Thomas, was born Sunday, May 
29, 1859, on the homestead farm in 
Rochester townshij), Lorain county. He 
attended the school of his district until 
his fourteenth year; then the graded 
school at liochester until the fall of 1876, 
when he entered the Wellington High 
School. The superintendent was W. R. 
Wean, a strict disciplinarian and excellent 
instriictor; the principal was Mrs. Wean, 
a lovely lady and good teacher, to whom it 
was a delight to recite, and whose memory 
is cherished. At the beginning of the 
winter term of 1877 he entered the Prepa- 
ratory Department of Oberlin College, 
and remained in that institution until the 
spring of 1879, when impaired health com- 
pelled him to suspend for a time work of 
that kind. After a summer spent at home 
on the farm, he entered, in the fall of that 
year, the law office of George P. Metcalf 
and Amos R. Webber. Here the time 
passed swiftly and pleasantly until the 



winter of 1881, when he matriculated at 
the University of Michigan. The follow- 
ing fall he entered the class of 1882 Law 
Department, and, carrying tlie work of two 
years in one, graduated with the class. 
On the organization of the class he was 
elected secretary, and on graduation was 
chosen alternate Alumni Orator. 

Returning to Elyria, he opened an ofhce 
in the old Snearer building, where Sharp's 
block now stands. Here he remained, 
slowly but surely gaining business until 
the winter of 1885, when, becoming con- 
vinced that there were superior advantages 
for getting on in the world offered young 
men in the South, he moved to Monroe 
county, Ark., and engaged in cattle ranch- 
ing on Grand Prairie. This venture not 
proving a success, in November, 1887, he 
accepted the position of attorney for the 
U. S. Antimony Co., a mining corporation 
composed of Philadelphia capitalists. Re- 
signing this position in December, 1888, 
he returned to the prairie country, and 
after several months opened an office for 
the practice of law in the Fourth Judicial 
District of Arkansas. His health becom- 
ing impaired on account of malaria so 
prevalent in that climate, he determined 
to move back to Ohio while yet there was 
time to re-establish himself in his profes- 
sion at his old home. 

On the first day of January, 1893, he 
opened an office in Elyria for the second 
time, and was happy to be once again 
among such people as compose the inhabi- 
tants of the Western Reserve. Entering 
the contest for the nomination to the office 
of prosecuting attorney, on the Republican 
ticket, he was, after a spirited contest, on 
the third day of June, 1893, nominated in 
what up to that timewas the largest county 
convention ever held in Lorain county, re- 
ceiving on the seventh ballot 153 votes out 
of a total of 217, and the nomination, which 
on motion of Charles A. Metcalf, his strong- 
est opponent, was made unanimous. 

Mr. Thomas' ancestors were of old New 
England stock, his great-grandfathers 




^y ^/^l^. 



a4y^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



853 



being soldiers of the Revolution, and bis 
grandfathers soldiers and pensioners of the 
war of 1812. He is a Kepublican and 
Protectionist of the most pronounced type, 
believing America should so shape its in- 
dustrial policy as to afford American citi- 
zens the opportunity to supply American 
markets with American manufactures, and 
the products of American farms at Ameri- 
can prices. He is not a member of any 
church or sect, reserving to himself, as he 
grants to all others, perfect freedom of 
belief. He is a member of Wellington 
Lodge ISTo. 127, F. ct. A. M., and a char- 
ter member of Myrtle Lodge No. 61, 
K. P., of Stuttgart, Arkansas. 

On the evening of October 28, 1885, at 
the family home in Elyria, Mr. Thomas 
was united in marriage with Fannie E. 
Smith, daughter of William L. Smith and 
Frances (Pen-y) Smith, the latter a daugh- 
ter of Horatio Perry, one of the old set- 
tlers of the Western Reserve. There is 
one child from this marriage: Mary Smith 
Thomas, born at the old homestead in 
Rochester, March 26, 1889. Mrs. 
Thomas is an alumna of Lake Erie Semi- 
nary, graduating with the class of 1879, 
and a member of Elyria's oldest literary 
society — "The Fortnightly." 



1815, 



Iff ENRY HOBART HITCHCOCK 
fp4 was born in Montville township, 
I 1| Medina county, Ohio, December 
Z' 14, 1843, a sou of Daniel B. Hitch- 

cock, who was born January 13, 
and came from Oswego county, 
N. y., to Ohio in 1S36. He was a wheel- 
wright and chair maker by trade, wliich 
businesses he followed after coming to 
Ohio. He settled on a farm he had bought 
about five miles south of Medina, and 
tilled the soil in connection with his other 
vocations. 

Daniel B. Hitchcock married Miss 
Sarah E. Welton, March 14, 1841, and the 



children born to them were Henry H., and 
Mary (now Mrs. Samuel C. Rosenbnry, of 
Kalamazoo county, Midi.). The father 
died in Montville, Ohio, in 1865, at tlie 
age of fifty years, the mother in Kalama- 
zoo county, Mich., in 1885, at the age of 
seventy-four years, and they are buried in 
Montville township cemetery. They were 
both consistent members of the First 
Episcopal Church at Medina, where they 
and their family regularly attended wor- 
siiip. In politics he always stood with 
the Republican party. 

Henry H. Hitchcock, whose name opens 
this sketch, attended the school in the dis- 
trict at home until attaining years of ma- 
turity, when he finished his education in 
the Medina schools. He was reared in 
agriculture, and after finishing school ap- 
plied himself to its pursuits. On August 
17, 1867, he was married to Eleanor S. 
Breckenridge, youngest child of Justin and 
Elizabeth K. Breckenridge. Eleanor S. 
was born July 4, 1844, in Grafton town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, and always lived 
at the place of her birth, excepting about 
two and one-half years she spent in Mont- 
ville after her marriage. 

Justin Breckenridge was born in Ben- 
nington, Vt., August 7, 1798. In early 
life he went to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., 
where he lived until the spring of 1841, 
when he moved to Pittsfield township, Lo- 
rain Co., Ohio; in July, same year, he 
came to Grafton, Lorain Co , Ohio. On 
January 13, 1824, he was married to 
Elizabeth K. Pohlman, of St. Lawrence 
county, N. Y. Justin Breckenridge died 
January 80, 1874, aged seventy-five years 
and six months; Elizal)eth K. Brecken- 
ridge died March 17, 1872, aged sixty- 
eight years. They are buried in the Nes- 
bitt cemetery, three-fourths of a mile east 
of tlieir former home. 

To Henry H. and Eleanor S. Hitchcock 
have been born four sons, viz.: Clarence 
P., born August 30, 1868, in Montville 
township, Medina Co., Ohio (he is follow- 
ing insurance as a business); Willis N., 



854 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



born October 14, 1870; Howard II., born 
June 18, 1874; and DwightB., born April 
19, 1880. After their marriage our sub- 
ject and wife located in Montville town- 
ship, Medina Co., Ohio, on the farm 
formerly owned by his fatlier, and which 
after tlie latter's decease was purchased by 
said Henry H. Hitchcock, he buying the 
interests of the other heirs. Here Mr. 
and Mrs. Hitchcock made their home un- 
til April 10, 1870, at which time they lo- 
cated on the Breckenridge homestead at 
Grafton, consisting of 225 acres where they 
still reside, having bought the farm from 
Justin Breckenridge. In the year 1892 
were added twenty acres more by purchase, 
on the north end of the farm. Henry H. 
Hitchcock has held township office, for 
six years as trustee. In politics he is a 
Ilejniblican, and in Church denomination 
a Congregationalist. He is a thrifty, well- 
to-do farmer, living one mile east of Graf- 
ton, Lorain Co., Ohio. 



'APTAIN JOHN BOOTH, a promi- 
nent representative citizen of Car- 
lisle township, was born July 30, 
1823, in Lancashire, England, of 
which country his parents were also natives. 
His father, John Booth, born in 1777, 
was united in marriage, in 1798, with 
Miss Betsy Lord, who was born ISTovem- 
ber 27, 1781, and they became the parents 
of eleven children, as follows: Eliza, wife 
of William Woodward, of Cottage City, 
Martha's Vineyard; Sarah, Mrs. Husband, 
of Providence, R. I., deceased; Jane, wife 
of Thomas Featherston, of Providence, 
R. I.; Mary, Mrs. Brown, deceased; Ann, 
residing in Oberlin, Ohio; William, wlio 
died in Lorain county, Ohio; James, who 
died at Cape Cod, Mass.; Richard, who 
died in Texas; a son and daughter who 
died in infancy, and John, the subject of 
this sketch. This family of eleven left 
England in July, 1827, landing in Boston 
in August. They lived in Pawtucket and 



Smitlifield a short time, then moved to 
Taunton, Mass., where they resided for 
twelve years, when, in 1839, they moved to 
East Liverpool, Ohio. The father died in 
April, 1863, when aged eighty-six years; 
the mother died in 1872, when in her 
ninety-second year. In religious faith 
they were Ijotli members of tlie Episcopal 
Church. Grandfather John Booth was a 
farmer, and passed his entire life in Eng- 
land, his native country. 

Capt. John Booth, the subject proper of 
this memoir, received part of his educa- 
tion at the Bristol County Academy, whicli 
he attended until fifteen years of age. He 
was reared to farm life. During the Civil 
war he enlisted in Company H, One Hun- 
dred and Third Regiment O. V. I., was 
mustered into the service as lieutenant, 
and served in Kentucky and Tennessee, 
participating in the battles of Blue 
Springs and Knoxville, and in many minor 
engagements. In 1863 he was commis- 
sioned captain, and was mustered out in 
April, 1864, owing to physical disability, 
immediately returning to Carlisle town- 
ship, Lorain county, Ohio (whither he had 
come from East Liverpool), where he has 
since resided. 

In 1868 Capt. John Booth was married 
to Miss Nellie King, and they have three 
children, namely: John, Mary and Bessie. 
Our subject has been extensively engaged 
in general farming and stock raising, and 
was formerly engaged in buying sheep, 
which were driven from Columbiana 
county, Ohio, to Missouri, in 1844, thence 
from St. Louis county, in 1845, to Saline 
county, in the western part of the State. 
He takes an active part in politics. 



OLONEL J. W. STEELE, the ge- 
nial and popular postmaster at Ober- 
lin, was born at Middlebury (East 
Akron), Ohio, December 21, 1836, 
a sou of Alexander and Maria (Whedon) 
Steele. The father was a native of New 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



855 



Hampshire, and died April 6, 1872; the 
mother, a native of the State of New York, 
is still living at Oberlin. 

Alexander Steele received his elemen- 
tary education at the public schools of his 
native place, after which he attended a 
medical school at Castleton, Vt., from 
which he graduated M. D. In 1835 he 
came to Ohio, and commenced the practice 
of his profession in Middlebury (East 
Akron), from which place he came to 
Oberlin, Lorain county, when the subject 
of this sketch was about three months old. 
Here, the first regular practitioner in the 
town, he practiced until 1872. 

The subject of our sketch received liis 
education at Oberlin, and after leaving 
school read law in the office of Judge G. 
M. Barber, in Cleveland. In 1859 he 
graduated at the Cleveland Law School, 
after which he continued to reside in Cleve- 
land until the spring of 1861, when he re- 
turned to Olierlin. On September 16 of 
that year, he enlisted in Company H, 
Forty-first O.V. I., raised in Lorain county, 
which was attached to the army of the 
Cumberland. For the first year he served 
with his regiment, and was then placed on 
Gen. J. M. Palmer's stafi", as judge advo- 
cate, also as engineer officer. By President 
Lincoln he was appointed aide-de-camp with 
rank of major, and assigned to duty with 
Gen. D. S. Stanley, commander of the 
Fourth Army Corps. In July, 1865, he 
was sent to Texas to oppose Gen. Kirby 
Smith, and in his entire service he par- 
ticipated in the battles of Shiloh, Perry ville. 
Stone River, Chickamanga, etc., the At- 
lanta Campaign, engagements at Franklin, 
Nashville, and others. On March 23, 
1866, he was mustered out of the service 
with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and 
A. D. C, U. S. v., and returned home. 

In 1867 he was elected probate judge of 
Lorain county, and reelected in 1871, 
serving about one year of ids second term, 
at wdiich time he resigned on account of 
impaired health. He then commenced the 
business of railroad contractor, construct- 



ing sixty-five miles of the Canada South- 
ern Railway, which occupied about one 
and one-half years, and on completion of 
this he was engaged on a survey in South 
America, for a railway thi-ough the valley 
of the upper Amazon. Following this he 
contracted on other railroads in the north 
and west. In 1888 the Colonel was«ap- 
pointed postmaster at Oberlin, under the 
Harrison administration, and has since 
tilled the position with eminent ability. 

In 1867 Col. J. W. Steele and Miss 
Ella F. Clark were married. They have 
had born to them four children, as follows: 
Ella Louise, a teacher in Oberlin college; 
Margaret and Marion, hoth at school; and 
John, living at home. Our subject is a 
member of the G. A. R., and secretary of 
the Society of the Cumberland, to which 
position he was elected in 1870. 



ff^ EV. J. P. BARDWELL, who in 

l^^ his lifetime was one of the well- 

I ^ known and prominent citizens of 

^ Oberlin. intimately connected with 

its early history, was born in the 

town of Edmiston, Otsego Co., N. Y., 

September 16, 1808, of English lineage. 

Mr. Bardwell was converted under the 
preaching of Rev. Spalding, and in order 
to qualify himself for the ministry came 
to Oberlin, where he attended the college, 
and studied theology under Rev. Finney. 
In 1835 he married, in New York, Miss 
Cornelia C. Bishop, a lady of English an- 
cestry, and they went out as missionaries 
to the Indians, their station being at Leech 
Lake, northern Minnesota. Prior to this, 
however, he had spent some time in the 
South locating teachers among the negroes, 
and he was frequently assaulted and in- 
sulted while in the discharge of his good 
work, at one time a friend losing his life 
in an endeavor to protect him. He was 
connected with the A. M. A., and collected 
funds for the same, besides working hard 



856 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



for the cause, so mucli so that his health 
became much impaired. His death oc- 
curred, in 1872, at Leech Lake (his last 
illness being brought on by hardship and 
exposure), and his body was brought to 
Oberlin for burial. Tliree children were 
born to Rev. and Mrs. J. P. Bardwell, as 
follows: (1) John N., who is married, and 
had two daughters, the elder one being 
dead; (2) Cornelia E., wife of Henry 
Chapman, of Cleveland, Ohio (they have 
three children: Henry Bai'dwell, a grad- 
uate of Oberlin and Cambridge Colleges, 
now in Cleveland; Harriet, a graduate of 
Wellesley College, and who also attended 
Oberlin College; and Willie, now in col- 
lege); and (3) Alonzo, who died at the age 
of eleven years. 




LTON HENRY MOOERS, a rep- 
resentative self-made man, an hon- 
ored and respected citizen of Elyria, 
and proprietor of the chair factory 
in northern Ohio, is a native of the 
State of New York, born in Ithaca, May 
2, 1830. 

Phineas Mooers, father of subject, was 
a native of New Jersey, born of Scotch 
ancestry, the first of whom to come to this 
country (in 1730) settled in New York. 
The names and places of settlement of the 
brothers and sisters of Phineas Mooers 
are: James, in Kingston, Canada; Jona- 
than, in Wilkes-Barre, Penn.; Henry, in 
Toledo, Ohio; Daniel, in New Orleans, I^a. ; 
Kate (Mrs. William Young), in Toledo; 
Nancy and Mary, spinsters, passed all 
their lives in Ithaca, N. Y., dying thereat 
over ninety years of age; Julia A. (Mrs. 
Armstrong) lived at Niagara Falls. In 
the order of birth Phineas comes ne.xt to 
Jonathan. He passed his early life in 
New Jersey, receiving his education at 
the public schools of that locality. While 
yet a youth he moved to AVatertown, N. Y., 
where he learned the trade of chair maker, 
becoming a journeyman, and from there 



in course of time he moved to Ogdensburg, 
same State. Here in 1825 he married 
Elizabeth Shaw, a native of that town, and 
soon afterward the young couple made 
their home in Ithaca, Mr. Mooers carrying 
on a shop there for his own account; but 
after some time they proceeded to Water- 
town, remaining there some five years. 
From Watertown they came by canal, 
lake and team to Birmingham, Erie Co., 
Ohio, where he opened out a chair factory, 
carrying same on till 1839, in which year 
they removed to Sandusky City. Here 
Mr. Mooers carried on the same business 
ten years, but on account of cholera break- 
ing out there, he returned to Birmingham, 
whence after a two years' residence they 
came to Ridgeville township, Lorain 
connty, passing the rest of their days in 
peaceful retirement at the home of their 
son, A. H. The father died January 26, 
1855, the mother September 30, 1879. 
Mr. Mooers in his political predilections 
was originally a Democrat until the elec- 
tion of Van Buren for President, when he 
united with the Whig party, later becom- 
ing, on its organization, a stanch Repub- 
lican, remaining in the ranks of the party 
the rest of his life. He served as a justice 
of the peace in Erie county. The follow- 
ing is a brief record of the children born 
to Phineas and Elizabeth (Shaw) Mooers: 
Oscar D. is deceased; Matilda T. married 
Jonathan Taylor; Julia B. married Han- 
son S. Mitchell; A. H. is the subject 
proper of this memoir; Mary J. married 
Charles Arbogast; Charles is a resident 
of Chicago, 111.; Carrie is the wife of 
William H. Tucker; George, who enlisted 
in the Indiana Heavy Artillery, three-years 
service, was killed at the battle of Port 
Hudson; Frank enlisted in the Twelfth 
Ind. V. I., was wounded at the battle of 
Chickamauga, and died at Danville, Va.; 
Emeline and AVilliam are both deceased. 

Alton H. Mooers recei%'ed a liberal edu- 
cation at the schools of his native town, 
and in his father's factory learned chair 
making. At the age of twenty-two he 




^J^ ^^^ 



'>^TZ^-^^2^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



859 



came to Elyria, and there followed his 
trade until 1853, in which year he came 
to Ilidgeville, and emharked iu his present 
business. The chair factory, probably 
the most extensive of any kind in the 
county, has a capacity of eighty thousand 
chairs per auiuini, and is still growing, 
promising to become in the near future an 
establishment of mammoth proportions. 

In September, 1854, Mr. Mooers was 
united in marriage with Miss Arlette, 
daughter of Wyllys Terril, of Kidgevillc 
township, and children as follows were 
born to them: Etta (Mrs. Charles Inger- 
8ol), deceased; Nettie (Mrs. B. H. Starr); 
Frank C. (Mrs. Clayton Chapman); 
Phineas, who died at the age of three 
months; Fred, deceased when ten days old, 
and one that died in infancy. In politics 
Mr. Mooers was a Democrat until 1885, 
when he joined the Kepublican party. He 
has held various township offices; was 
school trustee seventeen years, and presi- 
dent of the board of education five years; 
was township trustee and treasurer five 
consecutive years each, and was superin- 
tendent of roads two years. For fourteen 
years he has been a member of the Lorain 
County Agricultural Society — eight in the 
capacity of president, and one as treasurer. 
In religious faith he is a member of the 
Congregational Society at Ridgeville, of 
which he has been a trustee eighteen years. 

An active, enterprising citizen, and a 
man of the steadiest probity, Mr. Mooers 
commands the respect of every one with 
whom he comes in contact. 



/^ 



HORACE J. CLARK, dealer in gen- 
eral merchandise, and one of the 
prominent and influential citizens 
of Oberliu, is a native of Ohio, 
born in Medina county January 27, 
1839, a son of John and Betsey (Tyler) 
Clark, and of Massachusetts descent 
through his paternal grandfather. 



John Clark, father of subject, was born 
in New York State, whence in the pioneer 
days of Ohio he came to Medina county, 
where he passed the rest of his days in 
agricultural pursuits. He was a very ac- 
tive, aggressive and prosperous man, a 
Whig in politics, and in religion a Con- 
gregationalist. He married Miss Betsey 
Tyler, a native of Poultney, Yt., who with 
him and their children came west to Ohio, 
driving an ox-team. After his death in 
1845 Mrs. Clark with her children re- 
visited the old home, traveling the same 
route, this time with a horse team. Mrs. 
Clark lived to be seventy-seven years old, 
the mother of nine children, five of whom 
— William P., Mary E., Merrit, Lucinda 
B. and Horace J. — reached mature age, 
and of these the following is a brief record : 
William P., who now lives on the old home- 
stead in Medina county, Ohio, for many 
years owned and conducted a select school 
at Medina, and afterward was superintend- 
ent of Norwalk (Ohio) public schools, and 
also of the public schools at Hillsdale, 
Mich.; Mary E. is unmarried, and now 
lives on the old homestead with her 
brother; Merrit married and settled in 
Covington, Ohio, where he died in 1852; 
Lucinda B. died in 1846 at Medina, Ohio, 
at the age of twenty-four years. 

Horace J. Clark, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received his elementary edu- 
cation in the select school of his brother 
at Medina, Ohio. At the age of nineteen 
he entered Wastern Reserve College, 
where he graduated in the class of 1861. 
After this he had charge of the Shaw 
Academy at East Cleveland two years; 
then had charge of the Tallmadge (Ohio) 
Academy, four years, at the end of which 
time, huding his health impaired, he 
abandoned teaching for a time, and em 
barked in the business of manufacturing 
stoneware, building the first works of the 
kind in Tallmadge, Ohio. On regaining 
his health at the end of two years, he ac- 
cepted the positi(Ui of principal of the 
Poland (Ohio) Union Seminary, an in- 



46 



860 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



cumbeucy he filled during the greater part 
of a decade. For eight years he was a 
member of the board of examiners of 
Mahoning county. For the next two j'ears 
he was traveling agent for the publishing 
house of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., at 
the close of which engagement, in 1879, 
he was appointed superintendent of public 
schools at Oberlin, Lorain county, in which 
capacity he served three and one half 
years, when he resigned, and was reap- 
pointed by election to his old position in 
the Poland Seminary. At the end of two 
years, however, he resigned this position, 
and returned to Oberlin in order to o-ive 
his children the advantages of Oberlin 
College. Here for the past eight years he 
has successfully carried on a general mer- 
chandise business. 

In 1861 Mr. Clark was united in mar- 
riage at Hudson, Ohio, with Miss Lizzie 
P. Blackman, who was born in Mt. Ver- 
non, Ohio, and whose parents emigrated 
from England before the days of steam- 
ships, being nine weeks on the ocean. To 
this union have been born five children, as 
follows: (1) Mary A. is a graduate of 
the classical course of Oberlin College, 
class of 1886, has since been engaged in 
teaching, and was at one time assistant 
principal of the high school in Welling- 
ton, Ohio. (2) Frank S. is a graduate of 
the classical course of Oberlin College, 
class of 1887; he took the medical course 
in the Medical School of Western Reserve 
University, Cleveland; he was for one and 
one-half years in charge of Lakeside Hos- 
pital, for one year of the time as house 
physician ; for one year had charge of the 
Charity Maternity Hospital, and is now a 
member of the staft' of St. Alexis Hospi- 
tal, Cleveland, Ohio, where he is practic- 
ing medicine. (3) Edward W. is also a 
graduate of the classical course of Oberlin 
College, in the class of 1889; for two years 
he has been employed as tutor of Latin in 
the College; is now pursuing his studies 
in Leipsic, Germany, perfecting his prepa- 
ration to teach College Latin and Ger- 



man; he married Miss Lottie Life, daugh- 
ter of the late S. Life, of Oberlin, and one 
child has come to brighten their home, 
named Gertrude. (4) Anna Ida died at 
the age of live years at Poland, Ohio, and 
(5) Alice Gertrude died in Oberlin in 
1886, when seven years old. Politically 
our subject is a Prohibitionist. He and 
his wife are members of the First Congre- 
gational Church. 




W. SHERBONDY, a wide-awake, 
active farmer, and one of the most 
extensive grape-growers in Avon 
township, has resided on his present 
farm since 1851. 
Our subject was born in 1823 in West- 
moreland county, Penn., son of Peter and 
Martha (Reagan) Sherbondy, natives of 
Virginia, who in an early day removed to 
Westmoreland county, Penn., thence mi- 
grating to Portage (now Summit) county, 
Ohio, where they both died, the mother in 
1830, the father in 1884. They had six 
children, namely: Malachi, who died in 
Summit county in 1888; A. W., subject 
proper of this sketch; John, who went to 
California in 1849; Peter, married, who 
resides in Akron, Ohio; Ella, wife of Jason 
Brown, of Akron, Ohio; and Esther, wife 
of Nelson Hawkins, of Summit county, 
Ohio. The Sherbondy family are of 
French extraction. 

A. W. Sherbondy, who was always of 
rather feeble health, was reared in Summit 
county, on a farm, working thereon till his 
nineteenth year, in the meantime receiving 
his primary education at the common 
schools of his day. He then attended an 
academy for portions of two seasons, after 
which he engaged as clerk in a grocery 
store in Akron, Summit Co., Ohio, for a 
term of years, continuously, except that in 
the intermediate time he taught two terms 
of district school in Summit county. He 
was then engaged in the grocery business 
in Akron until 1851, also continuously, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



861 



excepting that in the meantime he tanght 
five successive terms of district school in 
Lake township. Stark Co., Ohio. He then 
moved from ISuminit county to Avon town- 
ship, Lorain county, and was tliere engaged 
in mercantile business seven years, after 
which he boucrht the Moore farm of seven- 
ty-five acres, one of the first settled tracts 
in the township. Here he has erected a 
good barn and comfortable residence, and 
is successfully conducting a generaF farm- 
ing and grape-growing business; his vine- 
yard covers an area of twenty-five acres. 

In 1847 Mr. Sherbondy was married, in 
Portage county, to Kebecca A. Buckman, 
who was born in Stark county, Ohio, 
daughter of Ahram and Kebecca A. (Lip- 
pincott) Buckman, who were natives of 
New Jersey, whence in an early day they 
came to Ohio, locating first in Stark and 
later in Portage county. The father, who 
was a farmer, died there in 1879, preceded 
to the grave by his wife in 187G. Mr. 
Sherbondy is president of the Lorain county 
Grape-growers Association, a growing or- 
ganization, which was founded in 1889, 
and now has a membership of about one 
hundred. In politics he is a Republican, 
and in 1854 he was elected justice of the 
peace in Avon township, which office, 
with the e.xception of two terras, he has 
since continuously held; lie has also served 
as notary public and township trustee, and 
he was postmaster at Avon Lake for eigh- 
teen years. 



AMUEL BUSBY. Among the 
prosperous farmers of LaGrange 
township, none stand higher in the 
esteem of their fellow-citizens than 
the gentleman whose name opens this 
sketch. He was Ijorn July 29, 1840, in 
Bedfordshire,* England, son of William 
and Harriet (Ilussell) Busby, farming 
people in moderate circunj stances. 

(hir subject was reared on a farm, and 
being denied tlic full advantages of the 
day schools, attended the night schools, 



where he learned to write. When five 
years old he was put to work, picking 
stones from the land, and also pulling a 
weed, there called '* twitch-weed," which 
grew very profusely in his native country. 
When sixteen years old he left home to 
make his own way in the world, and first 
worked as a farm hand for five shillings a 
week, boarding himself. By being eco- 
nomical and saving he struggled along 
until 1870, when he concluded to leave 
England and seek his fortune in the 
United States. At this time his employer 
was owing him a sum of money, sufficient 
to bring him to America, which, on learn- 
ing his intentions, he refused to pay him; 
but Mr. Busby was determined to come, 
and by borrowing from his friends he 
managed to get enough to pay his way 
across, sailing from Liverpool in the ves- 
sel "Tripoli," and after a voyage of twelve 
days landing, on April 27, 1870, at Bos- 
ton, Mass. He had a ticket for Cleve- 
land, Ohio, his destination being La- 
Grange, Lorain Co., Ohio, where his 
friends had located some time before, and 
he arrived there with eight dollars in his 
pocket, and anxious for work. He secured 
employment with William Stevenson at 
twelve dollars a month, and gave good 
satisfaction, for, though small in stature, 
he was not only an excellent worker but a 
steady-going young man. He afterward 
worked for various people, among them 
Warren Miller, L. G. Parsons, and Dr. 
George C. Underbill, the latter employing 
him for eighteen months at twenty-two 
dollars per month, the highest wages then 
paid for farm lalior. He was in the em- 
ploy of Dr. Merriam over four and a half 
years, and then worked nearly two years 
for A. R. Underhill, always receiving the 
highest compensation for his services. On 
March 21, 1882, he was united in marriage 
with Mrs. Leruah Miller, who was born, 
August 7, 1846, in Bidgeville township, 
Lorain county, daughter of Marcus Ter- 
rell. In 1880 he had purchased, from 
Chancey D. Brown, his present farm, con- 



862 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



sisting of ninety-one acres of fertile land, 
■where he has ever since resided, success- 
fully engaged in fanning. He is a sys- 
tematic agriculturist, and a self- made man, 
having won success in the face of every 
obstacle, and he deserves no small amount 
of credit for his perseverance and indus- 
try. Politically he is a stanch member of 
the Republican party. Socially he is a 
member of LaGrange Lodge, Knights of 
Pythias. 



El F. LOOMIS, a successful and well- 
known agriculturist of La Grange 
I township, is a native of same, born 

March 10, 1845, a son of Richard 
N. Loomis. 

Russel Loomis, the grandfather of our 
subject, was born November 28, 1786, in 
Westmoreland, N. Y., a member of the 
fifth generation of his family in the United 
States, and a descendant of Joseph Loomis, 
who came in 1638 from Braintree, Essex 
county, England, to Windsor, Conn., and 
from whom the genealogy of the family 
dates. This genealogy was compiled in 
recent years, and was completed in 1870 
by Elias Loomis, LL. D., professor of 
Natural Pliilosophy and Astronomy in 
Yale College. The name has been vari- 
ously spelled — Lomas, Lomis, Lomys, etc. 
Hussel Loomis was the first of the family 
to come to Ohio, he settling in LaGrange 
township, Lorain county, in 1831. He 
was married March 1, 1810, in Oneida 
county, N. Y., to Betsey French, who was 
born in 1788, and died October 21, 1860, 
in LaGrange township. Previous to his 
settlement Mr. Loomis had come to Ohio 
on horseback, and selected land here, be- 
coming one of the very first settlers. He 
had a family of four children, all born 
in New York State, as follows: Erastus, 
born December 2, 1810, a lumber worker, 
who died July 8, 1889, in the South; 
Sarah, born January 22, 1813, who was 
mari-ied in LaGrange to James K. Pelton, 



and died in Putnam county, Ohio; Rich- 
ard N., father of our subject; and Mary, 
born May 8, 1S19, who died June 4, 1825, 
in New York State. Russel Loomis passed 
the remainder of his life in LaGrange 
township, dying in 1880 at the age of 
ninety-four years; he was interred in La- 
Grange cemetery. 

Richard N. Loomis received his educa- 
tion in the common schools, and when 
fourteen years old came with his parents 
to Ohio, where he was reared to farm life. 
On May 23, 1840, he was married to Jane 
Pelton, who was born February 4, 1820, 
in Jefferson county, N. Y., daugliter of 
James and Harriet (Clark) Pelton, the 
former of whom lived to be seventy-six 
years old, the latter eigiity-fonr. James 
Pelton was the second permanent settler 
in LaGrange township, his brother-in-law, 
Nathan Clark, being the first. After his 
marriage Richard N. Loomis took up his 
residence on the homestead farm with his 
father, who lived with him, and there 
made his permanent liome. At one time 
there were four generations of the Loomis 
family living in the same house. Richard 
Loomis was a lifelong farmer, and attained 
no small degree of success in his chosen 
vocation. He died March 19, 1883, and 
was buried near his parents. To him and 
his wife were born children as follows: 
Susan, born June 23, 1842, who was mar- 
ried May 20, 1865, to Harrison Smith, and 
died in October, same year; Erastus F., 
subject of this memoir.; Calvin, borp April 
28, 1853, a farmer of LaGrange township; 
and Sarah M., born June 23, 1855, now 
Mrs. George Rawson, of Elyria, Ohio. 
Politiciiliy Mr. Loomis was originally a 
Wliig, afterward a Republican, and he was 
actively interested in the success of his 
party; he held various local oflices of honor 
and ti'ust. Since his decease Mrs. Loomis 
has been living with her son on the houie- 
stead farm, where they have a very pleas- 
ant and coinfortable home. 

Erastus F. Loomis, whose name opens 
this sketch, was born March 10, 1845, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



863 



received a liberal education in the common 
schools of tlie neigliborhood, and was 
reared to farm life under the direction of 
his father. lie was united in marriage, 
June 16, 1866, with Miss Sarah J. Myn- 
derse, a native of New York State, daugh- 
ter of Andrew Mynderse, who is now a 
resident of LaGrange Center. For four 
years after marriage Mr. Loomis lived at 
home with his parents, and afterward 
located on twelve acres of land he owned 
in LaGrange township. He has been a 
lifelong tiller of the soil, and now owns 
114 acres of good land, upon which he 
has erected various farm buildings. In 
his political preferences he is a Republi- 
can, and has held several offices in his 
township, serWng as trustee tliree terms. 
He has prospered in his business, and now 
has acomfortable competence. Mrs. Loomis. 
is a member of the Methodist Church at 
LaGrange. They have no children. 



Tl C. LEHMAN, one of the leading 

k. I farmers and well-known successful 

}^) mechanics of Grafton township, was 

born at one o'clock in the morning of 

March 1, 1838, in London, England. 

His father, Joseph Lehman, was born in 
Wurtemberg, Germany, where he married 
Hannah Malay, also a native of that coun- 
try. He was reared a farmer boy, but for 
nine years sailed the seas, visiting proba- 
bly every commercial port in the world. 
Immediately after his marriage he pro- 
ceeded to London, England, and in the fall 
of 1887 he sailed from Liverpool for the 
United States, landing in New York, the 
voyage occupying sixty days. From that 
city they moved west to Cleveland by 
river, canal and lake, and from the last 
named place they made an overland trip 
by wagon to Liverpool township, Medina 
county, in which vicinity Frederick Malay, 
father-in-law of Joseph Lehman, had pre- 
viously located. In that section the latter 



bought a small piece of land. Here chil- 
dren were born to him, as follows: Mary, 
married to Frederick Garling, and died in 
Liverpool; Louisa, now Mrs. Joseph Hud- 
son, of Grafton township, Lorain county, 
and a son that died in infancy. In course 
of time Joseph Lehman moved from 
Liverpool township to Grafton township, 
where he passed the rest of his days, dying 
in 1866, his wife following him to the 
grave in 1884, and both rest from their 
labors in the cemetery at Liverpool, Me- 
dina county. They were members of the 
Lutheran Churcli, and highly respected, 
industrious and frugal citizens; in politics 
he was a Democrat. 

The subject proper of these lines was 
between four and live years of age when the 
family came to America, and in Liverpool, 
Ohio, he received a fair education at the 
common schools of the locality. His 
parents were strict Church people, the 
rules of wliich they observed very closely, 
and at the age of fourteen he was con- 
firmed by the Bishop at Liverpool, the first 
confirmation ever held in the place. Im- 
mediately after that he left school and 
home to seek his fortune in the world. 
His first work was on the farm of Eli 
Warner, at six dollars per month, and then, 
an acquaintance at Cuyahogti Falls, Ohio, 
having induced him to go there, he set out 
on foot, with nothing wherewithal to ap- 
pease his appetite on the journey. He 
reached liis destination, however, in safety, 
and remained there three years, after which 
he went to Cleveland to learn the trade of 
carpenter. Having served an apprentice- 
ship of two years thereat (receiving six 
dollars per montii for first year, and six- 
teen dollars per month for second year), 
he found he had attained such proficiency 
as to be able to earn one dollar and iifty 
cents per day, and thus he continued at 
his trade several years, working one year 
in Chicago, and three years in Indianapolis, 
Ind. Coming to Grafton township, Lo- 
rain county, he here continued liis trade 
till 1888, when he retired from it. For 



864 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



twenty yeai's he followed this, in connec- 
tion with farming, durincr the proper sea- 
sons, erecting some of the best residences 
and barns in his section of the State, be- 
sides churches, town halls and other pub- 
lic buildings, frequently having under him 
as many as tliree gangs of carpenters. He 
liad no superior as a calculator on esti- 
mates, and it was due to this, coupled with 
an accurate idea as to cost and amount of 
material necessary, that he made such an 
enviable success. In 1868 he bought in 
that township twenty acres of land at 
thirty-tive dollars per acre, and afterward 
eighty-tive acres from Josiah Taylor heirs, 
to which lie from time to time added until 
he now owns 312 acres of excellent land. 
He has been thoroughly economical, and 
assisted liis parents to pay for their home, 
giving them all his earnings, up to tiie 
time he came of age, and not a little after- 
ward. His aged mother made her home 
with him for thirty years. 

On February 24, 1868, Mr. Lehman was 
married to Amelia Lyndes, who was born 
Septeml)er 26, 1840, in Grafton township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio, daughter of Orville and 
Mary Lyndes, who came from Vermont 
and Massachusetts, respectively, to Lorain 
county, he in 1823, and she in 1816. Chil- 
dren as follows were born to this union: 
Cassius W., who died at the age of twenty- 
six years; and Clayton De Witt, Clifford 
E. and Corinna B., at home. Politically 
our subject was a Republican up to 1873, 
since when he has been a Democrat. 




^AEENCE HUGH SLATEP., pro- 
)rietor of a bus and dray line, at 
Lorain, is a prominent representative 
native-born citizen of that place. 
His grandfather, Robert Slater, was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and in ISll came 
to Loraip county, Ohio, where he followed 
his trade, that of carpenter, erecting some 
of the early residences in Lorain. His 
death occurred in the South. 



Hugh Slater, son of Robert Slater, was 
born, in 1826, in Lorain county, Ohio, 
wiiere he was reared and educated. He 
learned the trade of carpenter, and for a 
while carried on a farm in Shetheld town- 
ship, after his marriage settling in Lorain. 
In 1849 lie was united in marriage, at 
Elyria, with Miss Tirzah Bedortha, and 
they had one child, Clarence Hugh. Mr. 
Slater was an active politician, an ardent 
supporter of the principles of the Demo- 
cratic party. lie served as lighthouse- 
keeper of Lorain three years. He died in 
1863, Mrs. Slater in 1891, aged sixty- 
three years. 

Clarence Huo-h Slater was born August 
10, 1850, in Lorain, Lorain Co., Ohio, at 
the public schools of which place he re- 
ceived his education. He commenced life 
. as a sailor, working for live years under 
Capt. Church, and after leaving the lakes 
engaged for five years in the fishing busi- 
ness. For the next five years Mr. Slater 
was employed in the shipyards at Lorain 
under H. D. Root; then engaged in farm- 
ing in Sheffield township, and afterward 
ran the first milk wagon in Lorain, con- 
ducting the Ayrshire Milk Dairy. He 
was then engaged in the building of the 
new courthouse at Elyria, Lorain county, 
thence going to Marion, Ind., and assisted 
in the erection of the courthouse there. 
After his return to Elyria Mr. Slater 
worked for a time in the Elyria Screw and 
Tap Factory, and then coming to Lorain 
engaged with F. M. Whitman in the 
Sussex Sauce Works. He next ran a 
pleasure yacht to Randall's Grove and 
Lake Breeze, and then embarked in the 
dray business, which he sold out after 
three years, since which time he has con- 
ducted his present bus line between Lorain 
and Oak Point. 

On January 20, 1874, Mr. Slater was 
married to C. N. Wallace, a native of 
Elyria,whovvas divorced in 1887,leavingliim 
one child, Maud. In 1889 he married, for 
his second wife. Miss Ida Gleeson, a native 
of Lorain, daughter of Frank Gleeson, a 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



865 



resident of Lorain, and to tliis union was 
also born one child, Goldie. Mr. Slater 
owns a farm of forty acres in Black River 
township, situated on the Lake, two and a 
half miles west of Lorain, which he devotes 
to the raising of fruit. He also owns four 
residences in Lorain. In politics he votes 
with the Democratic party, and he takes 
an active interest in everything tending to 
promote the welfare and advancement of 
his county. Socially he is a meml)er of 
the 0. U. A. M., and of Lorain Lodge No. 
680, L O. O. F., and he and his wife are 
both members of the Order of Rebekah. 
In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Slater are 
Methodists. Mr. Slater lias watched the 
progress and growth of Lorain from its 
very beginning, and he remembers the 
time when there was but one house across 
the river. 



FTfENRY H. CLOUGH. The gen- 
t''^ tleman here named is one of the 
I 1 most prominent and progressive of 
•^ Lorain county's prosperous citizens. 

He is a grandson of Deacon John 
and Judith (Gerrish) Clough, the for- 
mer of \vhom was born in Canterbury, 
N. H., the latter being a descendant of Sir 
Matthew Hale, of England. 

Baxter Clough, father of subject, was 
born in Canterbury, N. H., in 1807, and 
was reared to the arduous duties of agri- 
culture on his father's farm till 1830, when 
lie came westward, and after some misad- 
ventures located in Solon township, Cuya- 
hoga county, at that time an unbroken 
wilderness. Subsequently he moved to 
Cleveland, thence to Berea, Cuyahoga 
county, and finally to Lorain county, his 
attention having been called to the Free- 
stone quarries in North Amherst, whither 
he moved in 1852, and formed a partner- 
ship with P. & L. Dean, which was of 
sliort duration, however, he having pur- 
chased his partner's interests. He then 
commenced the manufactureof grindstones, 



which industry from small beginnings de- 
veloped into gigantic proportions. About 
1860, there having sprung up a demand 
for block stone for building purposes, Mr. 
Clough turned his attention more particu- 
larly to that branch, which in course of a 
few years increased to a business of enor- 
mous magnitude. Docks were built by 
him »t the lake, and a railroad was con- 
structed to the dock, which supplied a di- 
rect outlet of his own to ship by water. 
He also purchased and developed what was 
known as the Independence and Columbia 
quarries, where he also manufactured great 
quantities of block stone and grindstones. 
On July 19, 1832, he was married to Miss 
Hannah Gerrish, formerly of Boscowan, 
N. H., at that time residing with her 
brother in Solon, and eight children were 
born to them, of whom Henry H. is the 
seventh. The father died in November, 
1872, the mother on January 21, 1893, in 
her eighty-seventh year, having been born 
April 20, 1807. They were consistent 
members of the Congregational Church. 

Henry H. Clough, the subject proper of 
this memoir, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, 
August 22, 1846, and when a child was 
brought by his parents to North Amherst,- 
where he was reared. His elementary edu- 
cation he received at the common schools 
of the town, which was supplemented with 
a course of study at Oberlin College, on 
leaving which he became connected with 
the Clough Stone Company. At the death 
of their father, the sons J. B. and Henry 
H. succeeded to the business, and the lat- 
ter became president of the company. On 
December 16, 1868, Henry H. Clough was 
united in marriacre with Miss Margaret 
Barney, of Black River township, Lorain 
county, Ohio, and si-x children were 
born to them, as follows: Hallie M., 
Mattie B., Otis H., Karl B., AlI)ertG. and 
Henry Hale, of whom Albert G. died in 
infancy. For four years Mr. Clough was 
president of the pool which controlled all 
the stone quarries in his section. He is 
secretary-treasurer of the Giles-Clough 



866 



L0IiAI2i COUNTY, OHIO. 



Fruit-jar Mamifacturiiig Company at Red- 
key, Ind. Of late lie has been interested 
in banking, and he is now president of two 
banks — one, the National Eank of Bowl- 
ing Green, Ohio, the other, the Volusia 
County Bank of De Land, Fla. ; he is also a 
director of the Savings and Deposit Bank 
of Elyria. In politics he is a Kepublican. 
Mr. Clough is one of the leading capital- 
ists of Elyria, and out of the stone busi- 
ness has amassed a fortune. His eleeant 
stone residence, the architecture of which 
is especially recherche, and which is built 
after his own design, commands the admi- 
ration of all. 



[[JfERBEET S. FOLLANSBEE. 

f!^ Prominent among the progressive 

I r citizens and enterprising manufac- 

■^ turers of Lorain county stands this 

gentleman. He is a native of 

Massachusetts, born in Taunton, February 

15, 1857. 

The FoUansbees were among the early 
settlers of Araesbury, Mass., several gen- 
erations of the family having been born 
there down to and inclndincr Joshua Fol- 
lansbee, father of the subject of this 
sketch. He, Joshua, was a tradesman in 
the leather business, in Rhode Island. He 
was married in Warren, K. L, to Miss 
Hannah Adams, daughter of Nathaniel 
and Polly (Hunter) Adams, the father be- 
ing of the early Massachusetts family of 
that name so famous in American history. 
Mrs. Polly (Hunter) Adams was of an' old 
Massachusetts family, and some of her an- 
cestors owned a large tract of land that is 
now in the heart of the city of Providence, 
R. I. A copy of the deed for this land, 
which bears the date of 1708, is now in 
the possession of Mr. Follansbee. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Joshua Follansbee resided in Massachu- 
setts and Rliode Island alternately, finally 
settling in Pawtucket, that State, where 
they died, he in 1890, at the age of seven- 



ty-si.\ years, she in 1880. aged lifty-six. 
They were the parents of eight children: 
One died in infancy; the remaining chil- 
dren are all now residents of either Massa- 
chusetts or Rhode Island, except our sub- 
ject, who was the only one in the family 
to settle in the AVest. 

Herbert S. Follansbee was an infant 
wlien his parents i-emoved to Rhode Island, 
six years old when they took up their 
home again in Taunton, Mass., and ten 
when they moved to Central Falls, R. I., 
where he received the main part of his edu- 
cation, at the high school of which place 
he graduated. From Central Falls the 
family removed to Pawtucket, R. I., 
where for a short time he was engaged in 
real-estate and insurance interests, after 
which he was employed in various lines of 
business, including two years in a printing 
office, and seven years as clerk and sales- 
man. At the end of this time he accepted 
a position with Reed & Barton, of Taun- 
ton, Mass., extensive silverware manufac- 
turers, and spent ten months in their fac- 
tory learning the business — the mode of 
manufactiiring, etc. He was then offered 
by the firm a position to represent them 
as traveling salesman, which offer he ac- 
cepted, and for ten years he was " on the 
road" as salesman. Elyria, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, was one of his stopping places, and 
on one of his trips, he here met the young 
lady who subsequently l)ecame his wife, 
in the person of Miss Minnie Mountain, 
of that town, and they were united in 
marriage October 1, 1885. About one 
year later Mr. Follansbee formed the ac- 
quaintance of Mr. A. L. Garford and Mr. 
F. N. Smith, of Elyria, and a close friend- 
ship springing up between them they de- 
cided to unite themselves in business, the 
result being the establislunent of the 
bicycle saddle manufacturing concern in 
Elyria, Mr. FoUansbee's special duties 
beino- to introduce the saddle to the east- 
ern and western trade. At the commence- 
ment of this business the firm consisted of 
A. L. Garford, F. N. Smith and H. S. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



869 



Follant^bee, and tlie style thereof was " Gar- 
ford ILaiuifactiiring Co." After about 
one and one-half years the business was 
incorporated under State laws, with A. L. 
Gart'ord, president; H. S. FoUansbee, vice- 
president, and Fred N. Smith, secretary 
and treasurer, retaining the original title. 
The present stock company consists of 
some of the brightest business men in the 
county, and men of high financial stand- 
ing. Mr. FoUansbee was up to October 1, 
1892, for ten years, identified with the 
Reed & Barton Co., before mentioned, but 
had to resign his position, the business of 
the Garford Mainifacturing Co. having 
grown to such proportions as to demand 
his undivided attention. 

Since his marriage Mr. FoUansbee has 
made his home in Elyria. Pie and his 
wife had one child, named Stanley, that 
died in 1890. They are members of the 
Episcopal Church at Elyria, of which he 
is a vestryman. He is a member of the 
Cleveland Commercial Travelers Associa- 
tion; a stockholder in the Savings Deposit 
Bank, of Elyria, and in the Hunt Manu- 
facturing Co., of Westborough, Mass., of 
which Mr. Garford is president. 



TjOHN BEEG, one of the best-known 
*► I and most successful citizens of Russia 
^^ township, was born February 5, 1842, 
in Bavaria, Germany, son of Jacob 
(a coal miner) and Elizabeth (Morgen- 
stern) Berg. 

The parents had four children born to 
them in Germany, namely: John; Charles, 
a farmer and mason in Russia township; 
Jacob, of Oberlin, Ohio; and Catherine, 
wife of James Mcllrath, of Oceana county, 
Michigan. 

In April, 1854, the family, with the 
help of friends, started for the United 
States, sailing from Antwerp, hut were de- 
tained when only twenty-four miles from 
home, as their passports had been improp- 



erly made out. Owing to this delay they 
were obliged to cross in a merchant vessel, 
the " Golden Spring," which sailed one 
week later, and after a voyage of forty-two 
days landed, about June 1, in Quebec. 
From the latter place they proceeded by 
boat to Cleveland, Ohio, and thence over 
the C. C. C. & I. Railway to Grafton, 
where they hired a team and were driven 
to the German settlement in Russia town- 
ship, Lorain county. Here the father 
hired out as a farm hand, and shortly 
afterward purchased ten acres of land at 
twelve dollars per acre, for which he was 
obliged to go into debt. Mr. Berg, who 
was used to mining, suffered much after 

o 

coming here from the change of climate; 
he died in 1858, and was buried in Car- 
lisle cemetery. His widow is still living. 
After coming to Lorain county they had 
one child, Frank, who died at the age of 
twenty-eight. 

Our subject attended school in the Fath- 
erland, and then for six months after com- 
ing to Lorain county, which completed his 
literary education, tie was but sixteen 
years old when his father died, at which 
time he was working for eight dollars a 
month, and being the eldest his wages had 
to go toward the support of the family. 
When nineteen years old he commenced to 
learn the stone mason's trade under Will- 
iam and George Evans, receiving eight dol- 
lars a month the first year, and twice that 
amount the second year. In May, 1862, 
he enlisted, at Sandusky, Ohio, in Com- 
pany C, " Hoffman Battalion," which af- 
tervvard became Company C, One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-eighth O. V. I., and served 
till the close of the war, being stationed on 
Johnson's Island, near Sandusky. After 
receiving his discharge he returned to 
Russia township, and then resumed his 
trade. 

On December 16, 1S68, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Mary Griem, who 
was born October 20, 1849, in Germany, 
daughter of Joachim Griem, who came to 
the United States in 1854, locating in 



870 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Amherst township, Lorain Co., Ohio. Af- 
ter marriage Mr. Berg located on a farm 
of thirty-four acres in Russia township, 
which he had previously purchased for a 
home for the family. He has since given 
his chief attention to masonry and con- 
tracting, in which he has been very suc- 
cessful. He has a pleasant residence north 
of Oberlin, where he makes his home dur- 
ing the winter, in summer time living 
wherever his work takes him. In politics 
he is a Republican, in religion a member 
of the German Evangelical Church at 
North Amherst. 



JB. THOMPSON, capitalist, a typi- 
cal " hustler," and one of the live 
young business men of Lorain county, 
of which he is a native, was born iri 
Columbia township in 1861. 

His grandparents, John and Amanda 
(Osborn) Thompson, were natives of Con- 
necticut, and about the year 1810 came to 
Columbia township, Lorain county, where 
they passed the rest of their lives, the 
grandfather dying in January, 1893, the 
grandmother in 1890. Grandfather Asel 
Osborn, also a native of Connecticut, was 
one of the first settlers of Columbia town- 
ship, and one of the first commissioners of 
Lorain county. S. B. Thompson, father 
of subject, was born in Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain county, where he married 
Miss Eniular Osborn, and they are still 
living in the township. They had two 
children : W. B., in Lorain, Ohio, and J. B. 
The subject of this sketch was educated 
at the common schools of his native place, 
and at Berea College, after which he went 
on the road as a traveling salesman for a 
Cleveland cloak firm; later for a New York 
house, his residence during that period 
(two years) being in that city. He then, 
in 1888, euiliarked in tlie live-stock busi- 
ness on a small scale at West View, Cuya- 
hoga county, buying and selling, from 



which modest beginning he has already 
risen to be one of the prominent business 
men of the locality. In 1889 he com- 
menced the real-estate business, buying 
seventy acres adjacent to West View, and 
buildings thereon; it will soon be incor- 
porated in the southeast addition to that 
village. He has already thirty-seven lots 
platted on the east side of Rocky river, 
and purposes to plat his entire farm. Al- 
ready he has put up twelve residence 
houses, store and Ijlacksmith and carriage 
shop, which he rents, and is still building. 
In addition to all this he owns ten tine 
residences in Cleveland, one in Wadsworth, 
and a good farm near Medina, all in Ohio. 
The Columbia Stone Quarries adjoin his 
farm, and their business is expanding 
rapidly in Columbia township, which 
tends to enhance the value of his property 
as well as increasing the advantages of the 
village of West View. 

In 1886 Mr. Thompson was united in 
marriage in Cleveland, Ohio, with Miss 
Nellie Charter. In politics he is an ardent 
Republican, taking an active interest in the 
affairs of his party. 



EiDWARD HILDEBRAND. Among 
the most progressive of Lorain 
I county's native-born young men, 

none stands more prominent than 
this gentleman. lie was born on his pres- 
ent farm in Black River township July 
27, 1856, a son of Benjamin and Eliza 
(Applemann) Hildebrand, natives of Hes- 
sen, Germany. 

The father, who was by trade a ship 
carpenter, when a young man came in 1844 
with his father, Edward David Hilde- 
brand, to America and to Ohio, settling on 
a farm in Black River township, where he 
passed the rest of his days, dying in 1879; 
he was an active, intelligent, thorough- 
going man, commanding the respect of his 
fellow citizens, who elected him to the re- 
sponsible position of township trustee. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



871 



His widow is yet living. They bad a 
fainily of six children, of whom the fol- 
lowing is a brief record: Rowena is the 
wife of William Fullmer, of Amherst 
township; Sophia is the wife of Henry 
Uickel, late of Black River township, 
Lorain county; Elizabeth is the widow of 
Henry Plato, of North Amherst; Chris- 
tina is the wife of Adam Jaeger, also of 
North Amherst; Minnie died young; Ed- 
ward is the subject of this biographical 
memoir. 

Edward Hildebrand has always followed 
agricultural pursuits, including stock rais- 
ing, and is now the owner of a tine stock 
farm of eighty-eight acres in Black River 
township, Lorain county, well watered by 
Beaver and Wind creeks. In July, 1878, 
he was united in marriage with Mary 
Wernert, a native of Germany, and daugh- 
ter of John and Dora (Hett) AYernert, 
who came from the Fatherland with their 
family in 1872; the father died in 1888, 
and the mother is yet living in North 
Amherst. To Mr. and Mrs. Edward 
Hildebrand have been born seven children, 
namely: Lizzie, Montana, Phillip, Henry, 
Paulina, Willie and Esther. The parents 
are members of St. Peter's Lutheran 
Church of North Amherst. Mr. Hilde- 
brand is a member of the K. O. T. M. and 
I. (). G. T. ; in politics he is a Democrat, 
but in local matters he invariably votes for 
tlie man on his individual merits without 
regard to his political status. 



rjf ALSEY GARFIELD, a prosperous 
p^ representative agriculturist of Slief- 
I 11 held township, is a native of same, 
/) born December 24, 1823. 

His father, Milton Garfield, was 
born in 1792, in Tyringham, ]\[ass., whore 
he was reared and educated, and whence in 
1815 he came to Ohio, first locating in 
Lake county, and then, in 1816, settling in 
Siietiield township, Lorain county, where 
he bought a quantity of unimproved land. 



He was married in Avon township, in 
May, 1820, to Miss Tempe Williams, a 
native of Massachusetts, born in 1800, a 
daughter of John and Clarissa (Hamlin) 
Williams, also of Massachusetts, who came 
with their family to Avon township, Lo- 
rain county, where the father followed 
agricultural pursuits during the rest of his 
days. He died in November, 1862; his 
widow is yet surviving, now at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-three years, though 
still retaining her mental faculties to a 
wonderful degree. H. H. Williams, of 
Avon township, is her brotlier. " Col." 
Garfield (as he was best known) was ori- 
ginally a Whig, afterward, on the organ- 
ization of the party, a Republican, and he 
served as county commissioner. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Milton Garfield were born six 
children — three sons and three daughters 
— of whom the followiuo; is a brief rec- 
ord: (1) Henry AV. was reared in Lorain 
county, and in 1849 went to California, 
whence he returned home in 1809; he 
died in 1892. (2) Halsey is the subject 
of this sketch. (3) Eliza Paulina is the 
wife of George F. Smith, and they occupy 
the old homestead. (4) Fannie M. was 
the wife of Graham Harris; she died in 
1870. (5) Daniel W. is a farmer in Shef- 
field township. (6) Julia C. is the wife 
of Edward Root, also of Sheffield town- 
ship. 

Halsey Garfield received a liberal edu- 
cation at the schools of Sheflield township, 
and in his youth taught both in Huron 
and Lorain counties, Ohio; he also learned 
the trade of carpenter. Afterward he was 
for years engaged in selling goods at 
l^Vench Creek, Lorain Co., Ohio, and since 
1863 he has carried on farming operations 
in Sheffield township. In all his under- 
takings he has deservedly prospered. 

In 1855 he was married, in his tpwn- 
ship, to Miss Harriet Root, daughter of 
William H. and Sarah Eliza (Case) Root, 
natives of Sheffield, Mass., the father born 
in 1808, died in 1889; the mother was 
called fron) earth in 1833, when Mrs. 



872 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Harriet Garfield was an infant. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Garfield were born four children: 
Jessie, a teacher of music, and who is a 
pupil of the Oberiin Conservatory of 
Music; Shirley; William M., a graduate 
of Oberiin College, class of 1889; and 
Tempe F., also a graduate of Oberiin 
College, class of 1891, and who is now a 
teacher in the schools of Batavia, 111. The 
mother of these passed away March 7, 
1889. In politics Mr. Garfield is a Re- 
publican, and has served his township as 
trustee three terms, and as assessor two 
terms. 




L. FAY, attorney at law, as one 
of the influential citizens of Lorain 
county, deserves a place in this 
volume. 

The first of the Fay family to land in 
America was John Fay, who came from 
England, A. D. 1656 in the good ship 
"Speedwell, " and settled in Massachusetts. 
From him descended in a direct line the 
subject of this sketch, as follows: Jolm, 
Jr., James, Daniel, Aaron (great-grand- 
father, who married Rebecca Winslow), 
Lyman (grandfather, born in Vermont), 
Wiuslow (father), and Winslow Lamartine 
(subject), the eighth of his generation in 
America. 

Dr. Lyman Fay (grandfather) came to 
Ohio in 1815, and soon after located at 
Milan, Erie county. lie soon gained a 
wide reputation as a physician and busi- 
ness man. In addition to his professional 
labors he kept a drug and general store, a 
large grain warehouse, and was one of the 
promoters of the Milan Canal which, before 
the days of railroads, made Milan the prin- 
cipal grain market of northern Ohio. He 
accumulated a large property, and died of 
cholera September 2, 1854. On July 21, 
1816, he married Catherine Kellogg, who 
survived him, dying December 3, 1862. 

Joseph Brooks (maternal grandfather) 
came to Ohio from eastern New York at 



an early day; his wife was Rachel Barnum 
of Dan bury. Conn., related to Phineas T. 
Barnum, the great showman. 

WixsLow Lamartine Fay, the subject 
of this sketch, was born at Clarkstield, 
Huron Co., Ohio, September 12, 1848, a son 
of Winslow and Mary Ann (Brooks) Fay, 
the former of wliom was born April 21, 
1817, on the Huron river, at Avery, near 
Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, and died August 4, 
1884. He (the father) was the oldest of a 
family of ten children. He was a mer- 
chant during the greater part of his life, 
but during his later years was engaged in 
farming. He was married January 6, 
1839, to Mary Ann Brooks, who was born 
at Florence, Ohio, December 30, 1818, and 
died May 4, 1878. The mother was edu- 
cated at the seminary conducted by Dr. 
Monteith of Elyria, who at that early day 
was widely known as a successful and 
thorough instructor. W. L. was the second 
of three sons who grew to manhood. He 
received a liberal education at Oberiin 
College, and during his vacations taught 
school for a number of years in Huron and 
Lorain counties. When just past sixteen 
years of age, becoming dissatisfied with 
farm life, he asked the consent of his 
father to be allowed to start out and make 
his own way in the world; the consent was 
kindly granted, and without further aid, 
by perseverance and hard study and close 
application, he provided means to secure his 
own education, and obtain his profession. 
He read law with Hon. John C. Hale, then 
of Elyria, where he was admitted to the 
bar in 1870 under twenty-two years of age; 
for four years thereafter he practiced his 
profession with his preceptor, at the end of 
which time he opened an office on his own 
account. Up to 1879 he did a successful 
general practice; but close confinement to 
office and professional work seriously af- 
fecting his health, he gradually gave his 
attention to other matters less confining, 
until now his law practice occupies only a 
small portion of his time. He is the in- 
ventor of the Fay Sulky Scraper for mov- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



875 



ing earth, and was enijaged in its mann- 
facture for several years. Afterward he 
invented the "Fairy Tricycle" for ladies, 
girls and cripples, which he manufactured 
in large numbers, and which have been 
sold extensively all over tliis country, and 
many shipped to foreign lands. He or- 
ganized the Fay Manufacturing Co., and 
was principal owner of same until he sold 
his entire interest in December, 1891. A 
short time previous to this he bought the 
controlling interest in The Elyria Stone 
Co., wliicli has extensive quarries at Graf- 
ton, Ohio, and he now holds tlie ofKces of 
secretary, treasurer and manager of said 
Company. Since his connection with this 
Company tlie plant has been greatly en- 
larged and improved, and the business very 
much increased. He is also engaged in 
the manufacture of Eabbitt metal under 
the firm name and style of W. L. Fay & 
Co., wliich business he has conducted since 
1876. He has also been engaged in farm- 
ing all his life, he now owning an inter- 
est in a large grape farm on Avon Point, 
Lorain county; he also has vessel interests 
on tlie lakes, and has many other invest- 
ments that require more or less time. In 
addition to his business Mr. Fay has found 
leisure to travel quite e.xtensively, ho hav- 
ing visited and traveled over the greater 
portions of this country, of interest, and a 
considerable part of Europe. 

Mr. Fay was first united in marriage in 
May, 1878, to Emma A. Vincent, who 
died in June, 1879, leaving to his care an 
infant daughter — Mary Emma. He was 
married, the second time, in 1886, to 
Ophelia Goss Lawrence, a daughter of 
Eev. John Lawrence, of St. Johnsbury, Vt. 
His present wife was the fifth of a family 
of eight children, and was l)orn at Wilton, 
Me., during her fatiier's pastorate at that 
place. Her father. Rev. John Lawrence, 
is a direct descendant of John Lawrence, 
born at Wisset, England, in 1609, and who 
soon afterward came to this country and 
settled in Watertown, Mass. Her mother 
was Nancy Temple Wakefield, of Reading, 



Mass. By his second marriage Mr. Fay 
has four children: Lamartine Brooks, and 
Lawrence Temple (twins), Raciiel Char- 
lotte, and Florence. 

Politically our subject is one of the 
stanchest Republicans, although he has 
never been an office seeker. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic Lodges of his place, 
and in this has followed in the line of his 
forefathers as far back as he has any record; 
is also a member of a number of other 
secret Societies. He is the examiner of 
the Savings Deposit Bank of Elyria; one 
of the directors, secretary and attorney for 
the Elyria Savings and Loan Co., of which 
he was one of the founders; is also director 
in a number of other enterjjrises of which 
he is a member. Whatever business he 
has undertaken, he has made a success of, 
and those that know him best are his best 
friends. Mr. Fay is a thorough believer 
in temperance, and at all times is ready 
and willing to lend his aid in anytliing 
that will help remove the curse of this 
evil from the land, although he does not 
follow all the ideas that are advocated by 
extremists in this direction; he is also a 
believer in tlie Gospel of Christ, but has 
never united with any Church. He is a 
stockholder in the Gospel News Co., of 
Cleveland, Ohio, publishers of the Gospel 
JVeios, a weekly religions paper which was 
started for the jiurpose of furnishing 
Christian reading matter to the masses, at 
a low price. 



Hi NTON JUNGBLLTTH, a prosper- 

r\\ ous farmer of ShefKeld township, 

lr%, where he owns and operates a highly 

^ cultivated farm of 250 acres, is a 

native of Germany, born in 1848. 

Anton Jungbluth, father of subject, wa& 

born in Prussia during Christmas week of 

1802. In his native land he was a grape 

grower, a business he followed there with 

considerable success. In 1852 he emigrated 

to the United States, coming to Loraia 



876 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



coimty, Ohio, where in Sheffield township 
he settled on a farm of twenty-tive acres, 
then all in the woods, which he cleared 
and improved, and where he carried on 
general farming. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat, in religion a Catholic. He married 
Maggie Schuver, and their children were 
as follows: John, living with subject; 
Nicholas, in saloon business in Cincinnati, 
Ohio; Peter, who died at the age of forty 
years; and Anton. The lather is yet living 
in the enjoyment of good health; the 
mother dieil February 13, 1892. 

The subject of this sketch received a 
good education in the common schools of 
Sheffield township, Lorain county, whither 
he had come when about four years old, 
and he has been an agriculturist from the 
time he left school. At the age of twenty- 
live years he was united in marriage with 
Miss Catherine Young, born in Sheffield 
townsliip, Lorain Co., Ohio, and by her 
has had six children, as follows: Anna, 
Mary, Catherine, John, Bernard and 
Francis. Mr. Jungbluth has been very 
successful at his occupation, and the old 
homestead of twenty-five acres which he 
bought he has added to from time to time 
till he has now 250 acres, as ali-eady re- 
lated. He is a member of the Catholic 
Church, in politics a Democrat, and he is 
a member of the school board. 



JE. BARKOWS, one of the most pros- 
perous of the well-to-do agriculturists 
of Avon township, came here in July, 
1828, from Genesee county, N. Y., 
where he was born in 1821. He is a son 
of Adnah and Clarissa (Day) Barrows, 
natives, respectively, of Connecticut and 
Bennington, Vt. Joseph Day, grandfather 
of subject, who was originally from Massa- 
chusetts, served as a soldier throughout 
the entire Revolutionary war, and after the 
close of the struggle settled in Bennington, 
Vermont, where he died at the age of ninety- 
three years. 



Adnah Barrows, father of subject, when 
a boy, in 1811, moved to New York State, 
and served in the war of 1812, for which 
he received a pension. He was married in 
that State to Miss Clarissa Day, and in 
1828 they came to Avon township, Lorain 
county, settling in the woods where they 
cleared a farm. Here the father passed 
from earth October 3, 1856, the mother 
November 26, 1882. They had a family 
of six children, five of whom grew to ma- 
turity, as follows: J. R. ; Lyman, who went 
in 1883 to Shiawassee county, Mich., where 
he died about 1889; Heman, residing in 
Avon towiishi]v, Lydia, widow of Jacob 
Walker, of Amherst township; and Eliza, 
wife of Edward S. Fitch, of Avon town- 
ship. 

J. R. Barrows, our subject, as will be 
seen, was seven years old when he came to 
Avon township, where he received such 
education as the primitive district schools 
of those early times afforded. He was 
cai'efuUy trained to the pursuits of the 
farm, and has made agriculture the vocation 
of his life, remaining on the old home- 
stead until 1852, in which year he took 
possession of his present farm in the sanie 
township. His property at Hrst numbered 
fifty-three acres, to which he from time to 
time added until now he is the owner 
of Hi acres, all in an advanced state of 
cultivation. In 1844 our subject was 
married in Avon township, Lorain county, 
to Miss Melvina P. Sawyer, daughter of 
John Sawyer, of New York State. To this 
union were born four children, viz.: War- 
ren J., who died in 1872 in Erie county, 
N. Y.; Ellen C, who married John S. 
Blackwell, and died in 1882; Henry J., 
residing; in Lorain; and Marietta, wife of 
F. H. Richardson, of Tampico, Wliiteside 
Co., 111. The mother of these died in 
1860, and in 1861 Mr. Barrows wedded 
Mrs. Eunice (Royce) Griswold, widow of 
L. S. Griswold, and she dying in 1882, our 
subject married, in 1883, for his third 
wife, Mrs. Aurelia (Terrell) Sawyer, 
daughter of Willis Terrell (an early 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



877 



pioneer of Ridgeville township, Lorain 
county), and widow of Pliilip Sawyer. 
Tliere are no children by the last two mar- 
riages. In his political prefernieuts onr 
subject is a Republican, and has served as 
trustee and assessor of his township several 
terms. In Church relationship he is a 
Baptist, Mrs. Barrows being a member of 
the M. E. Church. 



/J 



HI M. ANDRESS, the popular anden- 
' terprising liveryman of Elyria, is a 
J native of Henrietta township, Lo- 
rain county, Ohio, born in 1855, a 
son of Carlo and Weltha (Smith) 
Andress. The father, who was a farmer, 
was born in Esse.x county, N. Y., in 1804, 
one of a family of ten children, came to 
Ohio in 1817, and died November 8, 1870; 
the mother died April 24, 1871. 

II. M. Andress received a liberal com- 
mon-school education, and in early youth 
commenced commercial life. For a time 
he owned a half interest in a grocery, 
which he sold ont to Henry Wnrst, and 

gtirchased a share in a livery, with Jno. T. 
[oughton; but, his partner subsequently 
retiring, our subject was left with his in- 
terest, and has continued the business alone 
ever since. The livery is one of the best 
equipped in Northern Ohio, and enjoys a 
wide and lucrative patronage. Soon after 
commencingin this line Mr. Andress opened 
an emporium for vehicles, handling all kinds 
of carriages, buggies, road wagons, farm wag- 
ons, sulkies, etc., in which he has met with 
well-merited success, selling both wholesale 
and retail. He has also traded consider- 
ably in horses — buying and selling. In 
connection he also opened out a harness 
shop in the lower story of the Odd Fellows 
Block, in the fall of iS'Jl, which, like all 
his other enter])rises, is a pronounced suc- 
cess. In company with Henry Wurst he 
purchased the "Beebe House," the leading 
hotel in Elyria, which at considerable out- 



lay they repaired and refitted, and it now 
stands second to none in the county as a 
iirst-class hotel. 

H. M. Andress and Miss M. G. Boyn- 
ton, also a native of El3'ria, were united in 
marriage July 9, 1878, and three ciiildren 
have been born to them : Maude, Jeaue and 
George. 

Joshua Boynton, father of Mrs. H. M. 
Andress, was born in Wiscasset, Maine, in 
1811; her mother, Barbara (Arman) Boyn- 
ton, was born in Germany. Of Mr. An- 
dress it can be truthfully said, that as a 
"hustler" in business, and in hnanciering, 
he is a leader in the county, and, although 
yet a young man, he is owner of consider- 
able property besides his business intei'- 
ests. He claims he has " never yet been 
guilty of voting for a Democrat, except 
for corporation or county offices;" so to 
particularize his politics would indeed be 
superfluous. 



I^ 



L. IIECOCK, a rising and popular 
young attorney of Lorain, comes of 
an old family in Lorain county, his 
grandfather having been a pioneer 
of Sheffield township. 
Onr subject was born February 24, 
18G9, in Sheffield township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, a son of I. B. and Mary (Drake) 
Hecock. He was educated at the common 
schools of his native township, and also at 
the Union schools of Elyria, where he 
graduated in the class of 1889. He taught 
school during the winter 1889-90, and iu 
1890 commenced the study of law under 
Mayor Thompson, of Lorain. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar in December, 1892. By 
dintof hard study and close reading of books, 
both literary and legal, Mr. Hecock suc- 
ceeded in securing a good professional edu- 
cation, and at the same time assisted in the 
support of his parents. He has manifested 
a special aptitude for mastering the techni- 
calities of law, and has succeeded in win- 
ning the confidence and friendship of a 



878 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



wide circle of acquaintances, which speaks 
well for his prospects in his business, and he 
already enjoys a creditable clientage. He 
is an advanced member of the I. O. O. F., 
being a member of Subordinate Lodge, 
Encampment, and Daughters of Rebekab, 
and a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. In 
the spring of 1893 he was elected justice 
of the peace, and has always taken an 
active part in politics since the time that 
he commenced to study law. On Septem- 
ber 30, 1893, Mr. Hecock was married to 
Miss Annabel Burrell, formerly of Shef- 
field, the daughter of I. H. Burrell and 
Hauna (Hall) Burrell. 



EiLEAZER ABBE, one of the best- 
known and most highly respected of 
I the retired agriculturists of Lorain 

county, was born December 28, 
1805, in Lisle, Broome Co., N. Y., a son 
of Abel Abbe, who was born in Windham, 
Conn., August 7, 1767. 

Solotnou Abbe, grandfather of subject, 
was a native of the "Nutmeg State," where 
he married and had three children, viz.: 
One son, Abel, and two daughters, Esther 
and Rena. Abel Abbe was married August 
26, 1789, in Connecticut, toMariam Bing- 
ham, a native of Mansfield, Conn., born 
April 29, 1772, and the children of this 
union were as follows: Lura, born January 
20, 1791, died in 1888; Rena, born 
August 31, 1792; Linda, born July 5, 
1794 ; Origin, born April 20, 1796; 
Charles, born May 3, 1798; William, born 
April 15, 1800; Phrebe, born February 
11, 1802; Foster, born January 23, 1804; 
Eleazer, subject; Abel, born February 15, 
1808; Luther, born August 5, 1811, and 
Matilda, born June 11, 1813. The parents 
both died in Ohio, the father in 1815 at 
the home of his son Eleazer, the mother 
in 1854, at the home of her daughter Ma- 
tilda, in Elyria. Abel Abbe followed 
farming in Connecticut, whence in the 



early part of this century he moved to New 
York State, where he carried on a sawmill 
and woolen mill. In 1817 he came to 
Ohio, locating in what is now Lake county, 
and opening in Madison township a black- 
smith shop, but agricultural pursuits were 
his chief life work. In his political af- 
filiations he was a Jackson Democrat, and 
in his military experience he was a captain 
of cavalry in the Connecticut militia. 

Eleazer Abbe, tlie subject proper of 
these lines, received his education at a pub- 
lic school taught by his sister Linda, first 
held in a log schoolliouse, afterward in a 
frame one. On reaching maturity he com- 
menced life for his own account. In 1831 
he came to Lorain county, and purchased 
a sixty-acre tract of land in Elyria town- 
ship, where he nowresides, and also twenty- 
one acres adjoining, on credit. In addition 
to his farming interests he did considerable 
teaming, and among numerous other 
articles he brought from a distance was the 
first stove seen or used in Elyria, and also 
a pair of forge hammers and collars, haul- 
ing the latter articles from the Geauga 
furnace. He also carried loads of the prod- 
uct of the Elyria furnace to Ashland, 
Wayne county, which he would trade for 
produce. In this manner he succeeded in 
paying for his land purchase. He and his 
brother also hauled timber to Elyria, to be 
used in the construction of the earlier build- 
ings, and in 1839 they were among the 
contractors for the macadamizing of the 
Maumee road. Mr. Abbe also furnished 
wood for the Geauga furnace, as well as 
ore. To Pittsburgh he carried produce by 
team, the trip usually consuming some 
nine or ten days. 

In 1849, the year of the "gold fever," 
he embarked at Cleveland on the sailing 
vessel " Eureka," for a voyage to Califor- 
nia. They went through the canals and 
down the St. Lawrence river to Quebec, 
where they remained a couple of weeks, and 
then proceeded down the Gulf of St. Law- 
rence to the Atlantic Ocean. When they 
arrived in the vicinity of Cape Horn, tliey 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



881 



fouful that, owing to a dense fog prevail- 
ing, tbey had to "double'" it, instead of 
passing through the Straits of Magellan, 
the shorter route. Finally, after a voyage 
of nine months, our subject reached San 
Francisco, from where after landing he 
proceeded at once to the gold mines, and 
after a time returned to San Francisco for 
the winter. In the following spring he 
ascended the Yuba river; thence to Featiier 
river; thence to Nelson creek, spending 
the ensuing winter again in San Francisco. 
In 1851 he couclnded to return home, and 
took passage on the steamer " Republic " 
at 'Frisco for Panama. A short time after 
taking the steamer, she sprang a leak in 
mid-ocean, owing to her having run against 
a rock on the previous trip. She was kept 
afloat by hard pumping, and was run ashore 
at Acapulco bay, right on the beach, for 
repairs. The passengers were sent ashore 
with ail their bedding. In an hour after- 
ward her stern went down. There on the 
beach they saw the old bark " Eureka "; 
they say that the passengers were about to 
mutiny with their captain. He (the cap- 
tain) gave np his bark, and ran off fi,cross 
Mexico. Mr. Abbe and the rest went to 
Panama on a Panama boat of the same 
line, which left San Francisco two weeks 
later. They crossed the Isthmus, thence 
Mr. Abbe sailed for New York, and from 
there traveled by rail homeward. He was 
absent about three years, during which 
time he made good wages, but experienced 
great hardships and many trials. After his 
return he devoted himself almost exclu- 
sively to agricultural pursuits, up to the 
time of his retirement from active life, and 
his tine farm of 300 acres in Elyria town- 
ship is now carried on by his sons, Horace 
and Norman. 

On October 31, 1835, Mr. Abbe was 
united in marriage with Miss Betsy Wil- 
cox, a native of Cornwall, Conn., born 
March 21, 1807, but a resident of Elyria, 
Ohio, at the time of her marriage. A rec- 
ord of the children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Abbe is as follows: Mary D. (Mrs. 

4G 



John li. Taylor, of Kidgeville) was born 
April 3, 1837; Horace, born November 
24, 1840, was married February 16, 1870, 
to Mary A. Aston, and they have four chil- 
dren: H. Nelson, Norah D., Eula B. and 
Jane A.; Norman, born March 19, 1842, 
was married October 15, 1868, to Mabel A. 
Taylor, of Perkins township, Erie Co., 
Ohio (they live on the homestead) ; George 
was born September 30, 1843. and John 
on December 30, 1845. In his political 
preferences the subject of this sketch is an 
old -school Democrat. 

NoEMAN Abbe, the well-known stock- 
man and farmer, received a liberal educa- 
tion at the schools of Elyria, and was reared 
on his father's farm, which he and his 
brother Horace operate, and where they are 
engaged in the breeding of fine cattle, in 
addition to carrying on general agriculture. 
Politically Mr. Abbe is a Democrat, and 
he is a member of the Disciple Church. 



J JOSEPH BALDAUF, one of the fore- 
most among the German residents of 
' Russia township, was liorn December 
23, 1843, in Bavaria, Germany. His 
father, also named Joseph, died when our 
subject was three years of age, and the 
motiier afterward married Joseph Haller. 
In 1852 the family, consisting of Mr. and 
Mrs. Haller, two sons and five daughters, 
immigrated to America, sailing from Bre- 
men and landing in New York after an 
ocean voyage of four weeks. From New 
York they came westward, by canal and 
lake to Cleveland, Ohio, thence to Avon 
township, Lorain county, where Mr. Haller 
bought twenty-five acres of land. 

Joseph Baldauf had attended school in 
his native country, but after tiieir emi- 
gration to the United States received no 
educational advantages whatever, though 
at that time he was but eiglit years of 
age. He was put to work, giving such 
assistance on the farm as he was able, and 



882 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



wlien fifteen years old started out in life 
for his own account. For two years he 
was employed by George Bryant, of Am- 
hei'st township, then going to Oherlin 
hired out as a farm hand in llussia town- 
ship, receiving twenty dollars a month for 
three years. On November 22, 1864, he 
married Theresa Schmidt, a native of 
Grafton township, Lorain county, daugh- 
ter of Jacob Schmidt, and after his mar- 
riage bought a farm of fifty acres, the 
" Schmidt Homestead," where he has since 
resided. In 1878 he erected his pleasant 
residence, and has made many other im- 
provements on the place, increasing the 
area of the farm until he now has 180 
acres of choice aral)le land. 

Mr. and Mrs. Baldauf are the parents 
of the following named cliildren: Mar- 
garet (wife of Joseph Klinkshirn, a farmer 
of Avon township), Anna (wife of Anton 
Klinkshirn, of Avon township), John (a 
farmer), Catherine, Frank, Willie, Mary, 
Charley, Elizabeth and Theresa, all living. 
Mr. Baldauf has been an energetic, in- 
dustrious farmer, economical from boy- 
hood, and, though starting in life with 
nothing, he has amassed a comfortable 
compatence. Though having few oppor- 
tunities for an education, he has, by ob- 
servation and study, acquired a very fair 
store of practical knowledge, and is pos- 
sessed of sound judgment and good com- 
mon sense. Politically he is a lifelong 
Democrat, and in religion he is a member 
of the Catholic Chnrch at Eiyria. During 
the summer of 1893 Mr. Baldauf paid a 
visit to the World's Fair, Chicago. 



LEWIS WISE, a typical self-made 
, man, and one of the most prosper- 
\ ons farmers in Grafton township, 

was born January 30, 1850, in 
Wittenberg, Prussia, a son of Peter Wise, 
who was born November 7, 1810, also in 
Wittenberg, and married a native of that 
city in the person of Miss Louisa Miller. 



In 1854 the family, consisting of father, 
mother and six children — Louisa, Fred- 
ericka, Henry, Lewis, Frederick and 
Crist — set sail from Havre, France, for 
the United States, and after a voyage of 
twenty-one days landed at New York, 
toward the latter part of December. From 
that port they came west to Liverpool, 
Medina Co., Ohio, traveling by rail to 
Cleveland, from which point Peter's 
brother brought them by wagon to Liver- 
pool township, Medina county, where they 
arrived on Christmas Day. In Germany 
Peter Wise had been well-to-do, but 
through going security for a friend, who 
afterward failed in business, he lost over 
two thousand dollars. In Liverpool town- 
ship, Medina county, he rented a farm for 
a short time, and then removed to Co- 
lumbia township, Lorain county, later com- 
ing to Grafton township, same county, 
where he bought fifty acres of wild laud 
on credit, and here lived seven years, at 
the end of which time he moved to the 
farm whereon he died August 8, 1886; 
his wife had passed away June 19, 1883, 
and both are interred in Belden cemetery. 
lu Ohio the family was increased by three 
children, as follows: Hannah J., born 
September 11, 1857; Catherine S., born 
September 12, 1859. and Jacob J., born 
July 24, 1SG4. The parents were hard- 
working, industrious people accumulating 
a comfortable competence, and they were 
honored and respected by all. 

Lewis Wise, the subject proper of this 
sketch, was four years old when the 
family came from Germany to America. 
In course of time he and his brother Henry 
purchased land, going in debt nine thou- 
sand six hundred dollars for it, and the 
predictions of many were that "the AVise 
boys would fail." But these ominous 
words were not fated to come true, for the 
"Wise boys'' did not fail; on the con- 
trary, they succeeded, by dint of hard work 
and judicious economy, in paying off every 
dollar of their indebtedness. At the end 
of fifteen years (in 1886) the brothers ef- 



LOR Am COUNTY, OHIO. 



883 



fec'ted an amicable division of tlie property, 
each one settling on his own share. Our 
sniiject has an excellent piece of land and 
a comfortable residence, surrounded with 
commodious outbuildings, including a very 
tine barn, and everything pertaining to a 
well-regulated farm. 

On January 6, 1874, Mr. Wise was 
united in marriage at Liverpool, Ohio, by 
Ilev. Scheliha, with Miss Catherine M. 
Law, who was born November 29, 1854, 
in Grafton township, Lorain county, 
daughter of Jacob Law. The children 
born to them were as follows: George H., 
born November 27, 1S74; Clara L., born 
September 19, 1876, deceased December 
11, 1876; Charles W., born October 26, 
1877; Herman J. P., born July 29, 1886; 
Louisa A., born March 21, 1884, deceased 
July 13, 1886; Eddie J., born October 6, 
1888; and Arthur L., born April 23, 1893. 
Politically Mr. Wise is a Detnocrat, and 
he and his wife are members of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which he 
has been trustee for over ten years. 



TjEKOME MANVILLE, a well-known 

k. I member of the agricultural commun- 

^^J ity of LaGrange township, was born 

May 28, 1823. in Jetferson county, 

New York. 

His father, Henry Manville, was one of 
a large family of children born to David 
Manville, who removed from Meriden, 
Conn., to Jefferson county, N. Y. Henry 
Manville, who was a farmer, married Miss 
Matilda Wait, and they had seven sons 
and one daughter, as follows: Henry W., 
of Crawford county. Penn. ; George C, of 
Amboy, Ashtabula Co., Ohio; a son that 
died in infancy unnamed; Hiram D., of 
Minnesota; Jerome, subject of this sketch; 
Milton, a farmer of Crawford county, 
Penn.; Chester C, of Elyria, Ohio; and 
Mary M., deceased in Michigan, who tirst 
married David Ambrose, and later Myron 



Bronson. Mr. Manville built a sawmill 
on his farm (^which was a good one), and 
just had his business in o;ood running 
order, when he died, on February 23, 
1833, aged thirty-six years. After the 
father's decease the family becatne scat- 
tered, and the widow was married in La- 
Grange, Ohio, to R. Humphrey, moving 
to Crawford county, Penn. By this union 
she had three children, viz.: James R., of 
Kansas; a daughter that died in infancy, 
and Orson, of Cleveland, Ohio. The 
mother died July 3, 1866, and was buried 
in Center cemetery. 

Jerome Manville attended the common 
schools until ten years of age, when his 
father died, and he was obliged to leave 
home and live among strangers and rela- 
tives, like the rest of the family. He 
spent his tirst season with one Rotiers, a 
farm agent, and then made his home for a 
time with Nathan P. Johnson, who moved 
to Ohio. Our subject next resided with 
Dorastus Waite, and in February, 1835, 
came with him to Ohio, walking the 
greater part of the way. After his arrival 
here he went to live with his former em- 
ployer, Nathan P. Johnson, with whom he 
remained till he was nearly twenty-one 
years of age, working hard and saving his 
earnings. On October 20, 1847, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Cynthia M. 
Merriam, who was born in Jefferson 
county, N. Y., daughter of Sylvester and 
Cynthia (Johnson) Merriam, who settled 
in LaGrange township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
prior to 1830. After his marriage our 
subject rented the farm of his father-in- 
law, and made his home thereon until 
1849, when he purchased his present place, 
then comprising forty acres, which he has 
since increased to 110 acres. 

To Jerome and Cynthia M. Manville 
were born children as follows: Charles D., 
born July 16, 1848, at one time a tele- 
graph operator in the employ of the " Big 
Four" Tlailway, who died at the age of 
thirty-eight years; and Adelbert B., born 
May 9, 1853, Frederick E., born January 



884 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



31, 1855, Rector J., bom November 19, 
1857, and Jennie M., born January 5, 
1862, all fonr deceased when young. The 
mother of these died November 80, 1890, 
and was buried in Center cemetery, and on 
March 29, 1892, Mr. Manville married 
Miss Mary J. Thickstuu, a native of Craw- 
ford county, Penn., daughter of William 
and Rachel (Freeman) Thickstun. 

Mr. Manville has also two houses and 
lots and four vacant lots in LaGrange vil- 
lage. Since residing on his present place 
he has made many improvements thereon. 
In spite of his lack of educational advan- 
tages in early life, he has acquired a good 
])ractical business training, and this, com- 
, bined witli good judgment and conanion 
sense, has brought him success. He is a 
man of much natural intelligence and 
ability. In political connection he is a 
stanch Republican. He is a member of 
the M. E. Church, in which he holds the 
office of steward; Mrs. Manville is a mem- 
ber ot the Baptist Church, and is a Pro- 
hibitionist. 



T ACOB P. BRECKENRIDGE, more 
k. I familiarly known by his many friends 
\Jj as " Jake Breckenridge," a name as 
widely known as his many kind acts 
and hospitable deeds are, deserves more 
than a passing notice in this Commemora- 
tive Record. 

He is a native of the State of New 
York, born April 3, 1827, in Morristown, 
St. Lawrence county, a son of Justin and 
Elizabeth K. (Pohlman) Breckenridge, the 
latter of whom was born in Lower Canada 
(now Province of Quebec) in August, 
1803, of German parents. Justin Breck- 
enridge was born in Bennington, Vt., July 
30, 1798. a son of Daniel Breckenridge, 
who in his family of children had Hve 
sons — Norman, Lewis, Justin, Daniel and 
James— three of whom, Norman, Lewis 
and Justin, came to Lorain county, locat- 
ing in Camden township. 



Justin Breckenridge was reared to farm 
life, but he was a natural mechanic, doing 
all kinds of carpenter work, including the 
building of barns, etc., though he never 
learned the trade. While living in New 
York State eight children were born to 
this old pioneer and his wife: Daniel, de- 
ceased in Grafton township; Jacob P., 
subject of this memoir; Cecilia, who mar- 
ried Frank Marlatt, died in Michigan; 
Lewis, an attorney of Elyria, (^hio, who 
died in Cleveland, where he was superin- 
tendent of the library for some time; Nar- 
cissa, wife of James Golden, residing in 
Santa Barbara, Cal.; Benjamin, who died 
in Minnesota; John, a wholesale merchant 
and well-to-do citizen of Baltimore, Md. 
(he was a lieutenant in the Civil war); and 
llannal), Mrs. William Durand, of Ober- 
lin, Ohio. In 1841 the family came to 
Ohio, the trip from Ogdensburg (N. Y.) 
to Cleveland being made by boat, and from 
there they proceeded by road to Camden 
township, Lorain county, making a stay at 
the home of one of Justin's brothers. Soon 
afterward the father pui-chased a farm in 
Pittstield township, but after a two months' 
residence there he removed to Grafton 
township, settling about half a mile south 
of Rawsonville. One child was born to 
him in Lorain county, named Eleanor S., 
now Mrs. Henry H. Hitchcock, of Grafton 
township. Justin Breckenridge died Jan- 
uary 30, 1874, his wife in 1871, and they 
sleep their last sleep in Nesbit cemetery. 
She was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. Politically he was a Republican, 
originally a Whig, and one of the precinct 
voting places in the fall of 1840, for the 
election of W. H. Harrison, was at his 
house in New York State. He was a hard- 
working man, strong and muscular, and 
possessed of wonderful endurance. 

The subject proper of our sketch re- 
ceived a liberal education at the subscrip- 
tion schools of the neighborhood of his 
place of birth, and early in life was in- 
ducted into the mysteries of agricultural 
pursuits. At the age of thirteen years he 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



885 



came to Oliio, and the rest of his boyhood 
and his youth were passed in the then 
wilds of Grafton township, Lorain 
county, which he materially assisted in 
clearing and subduing to a condition of 
fertility. Until 184:4 he continued to live 
M'ith his parents, and then moved to his 
present farm, which at that time was 
covered with heavy timber and under- 
growth, which he at once set to work to 
clear. He has cut logs on this farm six 
feet in diameter at the butt, and fifty-four 
feet eight inches in length, to the first 
limb, when the diameter was thirty-nine 
inches. On February 22, 1853, Mr. 
Breckenridge was married to Fanny Wood- 
mansee, who bore him three children: A 
daughter that died in infancy; Lucy, now 
Mrs^ Mathews, of Albion, Mich.; and 
Charles, a farmer of Grafton township, 
Lorain county. Mr. Breckenridge was di- 
vorced from this wife, and he subsequently 
married Mrs. Lucinda (Darwin) Blanchard, 
a widow lady of LaGrange township, Lorain 
county. Politically our subject is an out- 
and-out Republican, and he says that as a 
reader for many years of the Cleveland 
Leader and Elyria Repuhllean he is thor- 
oughly convinced that his political lean- 
ings are in the right channel. 



IfffERBERT CHAPIN, a representa- 
I^H tive wide-awake native-born agri- 
I 1[ cnlturist of Lorain county, first saw 
■J) the light of day in North Amherst, 
February 25, 1854. 
He is a son of A. and Julia (Broughton) 
Chapin, the former a native of Massachu- 
setts, born in 1816, tlie latter of Carlisle 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, born in 1831. 
The father came to Lorain county in 1835, 
and in 1851 married Julia Broughton, 
who bore him children as follows: Emma; 
Herbert; Charles; Anna, wife of Frank 
Starr, of Camden township, Lorain county; 
Mary, at home; and William, attending 



college at Oberlin. The father of this 
family was a tanner by trade, which he 
followed for some years in North Amherst, 
and then removed to Brownhelm township 
where he is yet living with his son Her- 
bert. His wife died in 1886. Aaron 
Chapin, grandfather of our subject, came 
to Lorain county in an early day, and died 
here; grandfather Broughton was also an 
early settler of this county. 

Herbert Cha])in since four years of age 
has lived in Brownhelm township, where 
he received his education and was inducted 
into the mysteries of the farm. He is one 
of the active young tnen of his township, 
and takes a lively interest in all matters 
pertaining to the advancement and pros- 
perity of the county, advocating good 
schools, good roads and all else tending to 
public improvement. He is a Republican 
in his political affiliations, and a member 
of the Farmers' Alliance. Mr. Chapin is 
owner of a snug farm of seventy-five acres, 
all under fine cultivation. 




\ILL1AM BACON is one of the 
earliest born citizens of Lorain 
county, having first seen the light 
in 1819, in Brownhelm township, 
on the farm whereon he now lives, located 
between Brownhelm postotfice and Bacon's 
mills, on the Vermillion river. 

He is a son of Benjamin Bacon, a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, born in Old Stock- 
bridge, whence in 1818 he came to Ohio, 
locating in Brownhelm township, Lorain 
county, and making a settlement where 
the subject of this sketch now lives, hav- 
ing liought wild land from one Henry 
Brown. In 1820 he erected a mill at what 
is known as " Mill Hollow," on the Ver- 
million river, and about 1835 increased its 
capacity from one set of burrs to two sets. 
Ten years later he equipped it with modern 
improvements. He was three times mar- 
ried, first time to Ruth Gifford, who was 
born in Lee, Mass., in 1797, and died in 
1819. By this union there were two chll- 



886 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



dren: William, and Mary C, wifeof J. A. 
Perry. For his second wife Benjamin 
Bacon married Lydia Atwater, and two 
children — Lydia aud Samuel — were born 
to them. For his third wife he wedded 
Miss Anna W. Graham, a native of West 
Hartford, Conn., and they had three chil- 
dren: T, H., Julia and Sarah. The father 
passed away in 18G8 at the age of seventy- 
nine years. 

William Bacon, the subject proper of this 
memoir, received such education as was 
obtainable at the subscription schools of 
the primitive days of his boyhood. In 
1841 he was married to Miss Mary Cooper, 
and four children were the results of their 
union, as follows: (1) William S., married 
and has three children — Leonard, Ella and 
Gertrude; (2) Lemuel, now living in Dover, 
Ohio; (3) Mary R., wife of W. H. Moul- 
ten, has one child — Ruth; and (4) Benja- 
min A., has two children — Lottie E. and 
Edna L. Mr. Bacon in his political pre- 
dilections was in his early days an Old- 
line Henry Clay Whig, and of late years 
has been a stanch Republican. 



L 



IVA BROWN, a highly respected 

citizen of Brownlielm township, is a 

native of New York State, born in 

Cayuga county, N. Y., December 8, 

1830, a son of Daniel and Adaline (Peck) 

Brown. 

The father of our subject was born in 
New York State, and about 1836 came to 
Erie county, Ohio, locating in the town of 
Florence for a time, but later movintr to 
Vermillion, same county, thence to Brown- 
helm township, Lorain county. In 1851 
he moved to Marshall, Mich., where he 
died in 1886 at the age of seventy-seven 
years. He was an active politician, voting 
the straight Democratic ticket. His wife 
died when thirty-three years old. Five 
children were born to them, viz.: Mary, 
widow of James Raney; Liva; Jane, who 



married A. Thompson, aud afterward mar- 
ried Nuten Case (she lives in Marshall, 
Mich.); Jerry, in Wisconsin; and Sallie, 
wife of Charles Bodtish, of Vermillion, 
Ohio. Both the paternal and maternal 
grandparents of our subject died in New 
York State. 

Liva Brown, whose name appears at the 
opening of this sketch, was about six years 
old when his parents brought him to Ohio, 
lie received a fair education at the public 
schools, and was trained to farming pur- 
suits, but for about thirty-one years de- 
voted his time chiefly to the buying and 
selling of wool, live stock, etc.; for the 
past few years, however, he has withdrawn 
from that work and contiued himself to 
farming, as better suited to his health. In 
1851 Mr. Brown married Miss Clarissa 
Harris, who was born at Berlin, Erie Co., 
Ohio, February 13, 1832, and four chil- 
dren — one son and three daughters — have 
been born to them, as follows: (1) Jerry, 
born December 6, 1851, married October 
11. 1882, to Lillie L. Penson (they have 
four children: Manda S., Liva, Orrin D. 
and Blanche); (2) Ara, married January 1, 
1872, to Wilber Wood, of Brownhelm, 
Lorain Co., Ohio (two children were born 
to this union, a daughter. Bertha, born 
February 20, 1873, and a son, Liva, born 
in 1875, and died in 1879; Ara Wood 
died at Cheboygan, Mich., January 25, 
1885); (3) Bertha, born May 16, 1859, 
married May 23, 1880, to John Hull, of 
Brownhelui, Lorain Co., Ohio, and died 
June 23, 1880; and (4) Clara, born Octo- 
ber 13, 1869. In his political affiliations 
Mr. Brown is a Democrat. 



A. STITRTEVANT, dealer in real 
estate, in the town of Lorain, is de- 
scended, on his father's side, from an 
old New York Dutch family who 
originally spelled their name Stuyvesant, 
of whom Peter Stuyvesant, the last Gov- 
enor of New Netherland (New York), was 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



887 



a tneniber. A " Tree " of the family, now 
in possession of one of them, shows their 
lineage back over six hundred years. 

Aslier Sturtevant, grandfather of sub- 
ject, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., 
and married an Englishwoman who lived 
to be one hundred and five years old. Our 
subject's paternal great-grandmother was 
a full-blooded French woman, while on his 
mother's side he comes of Welsh and Eng- 
lish ancestry. 

Horace Sturtevant, father of C. A., was 
born in Delaware county, N. Y., and was 
there married to Miss Sarah "Weeks, his sec- 
ond wife; they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, 
where be passed the rest of his days, dying 
at the age of seventy-one years. He was 
for many years a farmer, and afterward a 
watchman for the Standard Oil Company 
in C'leveland. In 1861 he enlisted in Com- 
pany B, Seventy-Sixth O. V. I., and was 
under Gens. Osterhouse and Sherman. 
Afterward he was transferred to Washing- 
ton, D.C., and was one of the soldiers who 
guarded Lincoln after he was shot. He 
served in the army nearly live years, and 
then received an honorable discharge. His 
widow is now aged seventy-two years. They 
were the parents of five children, all yet 
living. 

C. A. Sturtevant was born in Norwalk, 
Conn., November 5, 1852, and came west 
with his parents when seven years old. 
He received a fair district-school educa- 
tion, and between the ages of fourteen and 
nineteen had to work hard on his father's 
farm, for, being the eldest in the family, 
and his father much disabled through ex- 
posure while in the army, a great deal of 
the duties about the home place devolved 
on him. When nineteen years old he 
commenced to work for the Standard Oil 
Co. in Cleveland — first as timekeeper and 
then as foreman. On leaving this he 
learned the trade of plumber, gas and 
steam fitter; but abandoning this business 
he took up tliat of contractor and builder, 
making a good success, erecting as many 
as forty-two houses in one year, besides 



the Gas Works. He then merged into 
the real-estate business. He came to Lo- 
rain in May, 1881, and has been identified 
with a number of interests since living 
here. 

He was married in 1876, and has five 
children: Ida, Ada, Ira, Eva and Ora. 
Politically our subject is a Harrison Re- 
publican, and he is a member of the K. of 
P., I. O. O. F. and A. F. & A. M. He 
had a half-brother who died in 1862 in 
Helena, Ark., while a soldier. 



B 



Q) ENJAMIN WADSWORTH, the 
largest landowner among; the agri- 



culturists of Lorain county, and a 
most progressive and enterprising 
citizen, was born in Becket, Mass., May 16, 
1821, a son of Lorin Wadsworth, also a 
native of Becket, where he was born in 
1800. 

Benjamin Wadsworth, grandfather of 
subject, came from the East to Lorain 
county, Ohio, and took up land in Well- 
ington township, whereon he. lived seventy 
years, and which is yet known as the old 
family homestead. His son Lorin came 
west in aboait the year 1821, and made his 
first home in Lorain county in the log 
cabin his father had erected in Wellington 
township. Here he carried on agriculture 
till within a short time before his death, 
which occurred in 1862. He was in poli- 
tics originally a Whig, later a Republican, 
and in church atiSliation he was a Presby- 
terian. At the time of his coming to 
Wellington, now a flourishing city, there 
were only four or five houses in the place. 

The subject of this sketch received a 
liberal public-school education, and worked 
on his father's farm till he was twenty- 
four years old, when he embarked in agri- 
cultural pursuits for his own account, his 
first farm comprising ninety-fivo acres of 
wild land, to which he from time to time 
added until now ho is the owner of 1,014 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



acres, making hitn tbe largest landowner 
in the farming community of the county. 
For many years lie reared, grazed and sold 
sheep, at one time effecting a sale amount- 
ing to four thousand dollars. In May, 
1851, he married Miss Maria E. Ames, 
who was born in Becket, Mass., in 1825, 
and they have two children, viz.: Elmer, 
married, and living on one of his father's 
farms; and Jane, married to Frank J. 
Eckels, also living on one of the farms. 
Their family numbers si.x children, named 
as follows: Elmer P., Jennie W., Ilerron 
Ames, Frank, Jr., Maria and James Starr. 
In his political predilections Mr. Wads- 
worth is a strong Republican, originally an 
Old-line Whig. He is a member of the 
Congregational Church, and gave four 
thousand dollars to assist in building their 
handsome twenty - four - thousand - dollar 
church in Wellington. For the Civil war 
he furnished a substitute, paying four 
hundred and twenty-live dollars for the 
same, besides helping the cause in many 
other ways. Though blind, he went to 
the "World's Fair," and has a very good 
idea of its wonderful magnitude. 



/^EORGE CLIFTON. ISTot in Avon 
I l! township, nor indeed iu all the 
\^ county of Lorain, is there to be 
)^ found any citizen, in any sphere of 
life, who is in the enjoyment of a 
higher degree of respect than was in his 
lifetime the gentleman whose name here 
appears. 

Mr. Clifton was born, in 1813, in 
Northaniptonshire, one of the midland coun- 
ties of England, a son of William Clifton, 
a native of the same county, where during 
nearly all his life he was engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits and gardening. William was 
there married, and children were born to him 
as follows: William, George, John, Fanny, 
Elizabeth, Mary, Rosana, and one other 
daughter whose name is not remembered. 
The parents died in England. 



At about the age of eighteen or twenty 
George Clifton immigrated to America, 
and after landing came at once westward 
to Oliio, making a halt in Avon township, 
Lorain county. Here he entered the serv- 
ice of Joel Townshend, remaining with 
him some years, earning the respect and 
confidence of his employer by his steady 
habits and plodding industry. Leaving 
Mr. Townshend, he next found employ- 
ment on a lake vessel in the capacity of 
steward, winning during his stay on the 
ship the utmost confidence of the captain 
and others, by his characteristic devotion 
to his duty, and his obliging manner to all 
alike. 

After a residence of a year or two in 
this country, our subject revisited his na- 
tive land, where he married Miss Ann 
Moore, a resident of Northamptonshire. 
The young couple then set out for their 
new home in the " Far West," coming di- 
rect to Lorain county and to Avon town- 
ship, in the eastern part of which they 
made a settlement. Here he took up 
agriculture, which he followed successfully 
until retiring from active work. Moving 
to the present homestead, he here erected 
large and substantial buildings, and here 
some of the family are yet living. Tiie 
children born to George Clifton were one 
son that died in infancy, and one, daugh- 
ter, Rosana, now Mrs. E. P. Burrill, of 
Sheffield township. The mother of these 
dying in 1856, in September, 1857, Mr. 
Clifton married Miss Bessie, daughter of 
John Charlton, of Leicestershire, England, 
by which union there were three children, 
viz.: Alice and Lena (deceased in in- 
fancy) and S. G. (who now conducts the 
home farm). 

Mr. Clifton was a representative self- 
made man — a pioneer of the truest type — 
whose courage and perseverance, coupled 
with sound judgment, judicious economy 
and untiring industry, aided him in his 
hard struggle to found a home. " He 
filled the otfice of justice of the peace for 
several terms, was auditor of the county 




Qv<r>-r^ ^y^J^rz^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



891 



four years, and was also county commis- 
sioner tor a term or two, all of which offices he 
tilled with ability and integrity. * * He 
was withal a ^reat reader, and kept him- 
self thoroughly informed not only on the 
affairs of this country, but of European 
countries as well. A stanch Republican, 
he always gave our Government his hearty 
support. In the time of the Civil war he 
was very active in the work of procuring 
recruits, giving more than any other man 
in the township toward raising the quota 
of soldiers, though on account of his age 
not subject to the draft. On account of 
his knowledge of law, and also his abili- 
ties as a financier, his advice was sought 
by many who always found him a willing 
and safe adviser. Much more might be 
truly said in praise of him, but time for- 
bids. His place is not easily filled." In 
1861 he was a member of the board of 
equalization. Mr. Clifton died February 
7, 1883. 



^J 



NATHANIEL TOMPKINS, a mem- 
ber of one of the early pioneer 
families of Eaton township, was 
born in 1829 in Tompkins county, 
N. Y. His parents, Samuel and 
Betsy (Tellis) Tompkins, were born in 
1805 in Newfield, Tompkins Co., N. Y., 
and in early pioneer days came thence to 
Lorain county, Ohio, settling in Eaton 
township. 

Nathaniel Tompkins was about four 
years of age when he came with his parents 
to Eaton ti)wnship, where he was reared 
and educated. Mr. Tompkins was first 
married in New York, in 1861, to Mary 
O. Benedict, who died in Lorain county 
in 1881, and in 1885 he married, in 
Eaton township, for his second wife. Miss 
Esther A. Earl, a native of Lorain county. 
Mrs. Tompkins is a daughter of liecom- 
pense Crowell Earl, who was born March 
10, 1799, in Essex county, N. J. In 
1813 he moved with his parents to Tomp- 



kins county, N. Y., where he lived till 
1825, when he married Miss Anna 
Fauver. In 1836 they canie with their 
five children to Eaton, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
where in 1828 Mr. Earl had purchased 
twenty acres of land, on which he resided 
until his death, which occurred in 1885. 
Mr. Tompkins rents the twenty acres of 
land which his father-in-law purchased, 
now well cultivated and highly improved, 
where he carries on general farming. In 
politics he is a Republican. In 1864 he 
went to Michigan, where he resided for 
some years. 



fr^j ICHARD WELLS POMROY,who 

l^^ is prominent in social and Insur- 

I ^ aiico circles, is a native of Bristol, 

Jj Ontario Co., N. Y., whei'e he was 

born June 3, 1825, the son of Sain- 

uel and Penelope (Allen) Pomroy. 

His father was a native of Springfield, 
Mass., and was a man of remarkable vigor, 
being ninety-four years old at the time of 
his death. Mr. Pomroy came of a family 
remarkable for their longevity, the grand- 
father and one uncle living to be ninety- 
four years of age, while two other uncles 
reached the age of ninety-three and ninety- 
five respectively. 

The subject of our sketch received his 
education at the Academy at Canandaigua, 
N. Y. He then taught school for a time, 
after which he embarked in the mercantile 
business in his own town, remaining in 
the same until 1857, in which year he 
came to Ohio. Here he was engaged in 
the same business until 1870, when he 
abandoned that line and took up the In- 
surance business, to which he has since 
given his entire attention. He commenced 
exclusively in Life Insurance, which 
branch he carried on for three years, since 
when he has been in Fire Insurance alone, 
having built up a large business. 

Mr. Pomroy was married April 10, 
1853, to Miss Annie L. Sisson, daughter 



892 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



of General Horatio and Clotilda Taylor 
Sisson, natives of Ontario county, N. Y., 
and seven children have been born to them, 
of whom the following is a brief record: 
Frances L. is the wife 'of Dr. H. Pomeroy, 
of Cleveland, Ohio; Grace S. is the wife 
of Watson E. Boise, clerk of the State 
Legislature of North Dakota; Mary E. 
and Alice C. are both teachers; Charles 
W., the only son, is connected with the 
Western Automatic Screw Company, of 
Elyria; Annie M. is a teacher of music in 
the Conservatory at Grand Forks, North 
Dakota; and Harriet A. 

In politics, Mr. Pomroy was originally 
a Whig, and, since the formation of the 
party, has been a stanch Republican. 



El THEW, for over forty years a resi- 
dent of Columbia township, is a 
] native of New York State, born in 

Clinton county in 1816, a son of 
Daniel and Electa (Nichols) Thew, also of 
that State, who both died in Clinton 
county. They reared a family of eleven 
sons (three of whom served in the war of 
the Rebellion), their names being as fol- 
lows: Robert, Eleazar, Gilbert, Garret, 
Henry, Charles, Nathan, John, Josephus, 
Betbuel and James. 

The subject of our sketch received his 
education at the schools of Clinton county, 
N. Y., in those early days held in a log 
cabin with very primitive furnishings. 
He was thoroughly trained to agricultural 
pursuits, and has been a lifelong farmer, 
having now a well-cultivated piece of land 
of some ninety-five acres in Columbia 
township. He was married, in 1837, in 
Clinton county, N. Y., to Miss Mary 
Calkins, a native thereof, and in 1852 
they came to Lorain county, where Mr. 
Thew bought a partly -improved farm, on 
which he erected a good residence and 
barn. Two children, both now deceased, 
were born to this union, viz.: Cornelia, 



married to Lemuel Osborne, and Eliza- 
beth. The mother of these died, and in 
1872 Mr. Thew wedded Miss Amanda 
McNichols, a native of Vermont, who 
came when a child to Medina county, 
Ohio, where she was reared. Politically 
Mr. Thew is a Democrat, and served his 
township as trustee one term. 



'HARLES W. SUMNER, a retired 
school teacher, now a prosperous 
agriculturist of Eaton township, was 
born inMedinacounty,Ohio,in 1854. 
Clement Sumner, father of subject, was 
born in Vermont, and about 1853 came to 
Medina county, Ohio, where he followed 
the vocation of a farmer. For some years 
he had taught school in Ashland and 
Holmes counties, same State. In Medina 
county he married Mrs. Almira (Hier) 
Gardner (widow of Lewis Gardner), a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, and their only child 
is the subject of this sketch. They died 
in Medina county, Ohio, the father in 
1873, the mother in 1888. Clement 
Sumner had been previously married, and 
his children by that union were Catherine, 
wife of Edwin Helbert, of Ashland county, 
Ohio; Phebe, wife of Samuel MuUin, of 
Jewell county, Kans. ; and Solon, married, 
residing in Cattaraugus county, N. Y. 
Mrs. Almira (Hier) Sumner by her iirst 
husband had five children, as follows: 
Andrew (married), a farmer of Brunswick, 
Medina Co., Ohio; Lucas (married), a 
farmer of Page county, Iowa; Lewis (mar- 
ried), a farmer of Missouri; Lucinda, wife 
of William Johnson, of Preemption, Mer- 
cer Co., 111.; Julia Ann, wife of Christian 
Winegar, of Saranac, Ionia Co., Mich. 
Grandfather Sumner was a native of Ver- 
mont, while grandfather Hier was from 
Germany, in an early day immigrating to 
Massachusetts, thence moving with an ox- 
team to Medina county, Ohio, where he 
died in 1868, being preceded to the grave 
by his wife. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



893 



Charles W. Sumner was reared and 
educated in his native county, and at the 
age of twenty years commenced teaching 
in the same county, continuing three suc- 
cessive terms at the home district school, 
later in township schools in Eaton and 
Columbia townships, moving to Eaton 
township in 1889. In Columbia town- 
ship he resided some ten years. In 1888 
he gave up teaching, and has since applied 
his attention solely to farming, on his 
place of ninety acres, which he owns. 

In 1878, in Eaton township, Mr. Sum- 
ner was married to Miss Mary C. Long- 
bon, a native of the township, daughter of 
John J. and Ellen (Walker) Longbon, 
early pioneers of Eaton, where the father 
died in 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. Sumner 
were born children as follows: Ellen, Irvin, 
Mary, Earl (deceased at the age of five 
years) and Grace (deceased at the age of 
three). Originality and good judgment 
are the most prominent characteristics of 
Mr. Sumner, who is a Repuldican in his 
political sympathies, and is a highly- re- 
spected citizen. 



rW. PIEECE. The subject of this 
sketch is now in the prime of life, 
_^ one among the most active business 
men in the town of Lorain. 
His ancestors were of New England 
origin. His father, Philemon Pierce, who 
was a native of the State of New York, 
married Miss Diantha Hovey, of the same 
State, and to them were born five children, 
viz.: George, Ann, Eliza, John and 
Fred. W. Those sterling characteristics 
of the New England people Philemon 
Pierce possessed to a great degree — in- 
genuity, industry and economy. Plis trade 
was that of a carriage builder, which he 
followed through life. In 1850 he left the 

El ace of his birth to seek for himself a 
ome in Ohio, which was then considered 
the '' Far West." Locating in Brunswick, 
Medina county, he here lived and worked 



at his trade until his removal to Carlisle, 
Lorain county, where ho resided until his 
deaths which occurred in 1862. 

It was in the year 1855, amid those 
stirring times just preceding the Civil war, 
that Fred. W. Pierce was born, on the first 
day of November. Early bereft of his 
father, he was required to depend on his 
own resources for a livelihood. When fif- 
teen years of age he went to Owosso, Mich., 
where he went to school for two years. 
With this education, and that other equally 
important, the knowledge of a good trade, 
he was well prepared for the practical 
duties of life. When he came back from 
Michigan'he located, in 1872, in Lorain. 
His natural inclination leading him into 
mechanical pursuits, he served an appren- 
ticeship as a regular carriage builder; but 
not satisfied with this he learned the car- 
penter's trade. Gradually he discontinued 
the trade of carriage b\iilding, and came to 
devote his whole time to building and 
contracting, which has absorbed his whole 
attention for the last seven years. His 
skill, industry and integrity have won for 
him his well-deserved success, which has 
come during these busy years. The many 
buildings which he has erected stand as 
substantial evidence of the work, for which 
he has no reason to be ashamed. Proini- 
nent among these are the school building 
in South Lorain and the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, the finest building in the 
city, erected in 1892. Mr. Pierce has the 
knowledge of how work ought to be done, 
and the fidelity to see that it is done as 
the contract defines. AVhile thus occupied, 
opportunities for some lousiness in real 
estate were presented, which he has im- 
proved to great advantage, so that as a 
result he has come into the possession of 
some very valuable property, which in 
that growing town, with values increasing, 
will tend to enhance his wealth largely in 
the future. At times his business assumed 
large proportions, when he had under his 
employ twenty men working on public 
jobs ainoutiting to thousands of dollars. 



894 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



That wliich is not the least item of im- 
portance is the home which he has been 
permitted to build and enjoy.* The young 
lady of his choice, Miss Addie Bayless, 
resided at Kipton, Ohio, and they were 
united in marriage in Sandusky, Ohio, 
July 3, 1877. In both toils and successes 
the}' have been partners, and thus know 
how to enjoy the results of their labor and 
success. The truest independence is to 
make your own fortune, and enjoy it. Tiie 
number of Mr. Pierce's family is exactly 
equal to that of his father, viz.: five. They 
bear the names: Pearl, Ray, Frank, Clai'a 
and Blanche. 

Like all wide-awake citizens of this Re- 
public, Mr. Pierce possesses his positive 
convictions and party affiliations. This 
seems unavoidable, where politics are iu 
the food, and in the very air we breathe. 
We grow tliat way. Or perhaps tlie well- 
known law of heredity may account for 
some of it. His father was identified with 
that party which had the honor of electing 
one of the best men who ever occupied the 
Presidental chair — the party which made 
the most brilliant history for a quarter of 
a century. It is unnecessary to say that 
it was the Republican party which had on 
its roll snch respectable and heroic politi- 
cians as Stanton, Chase, Sumner and Abra- 
ham Lincoln. Hence we need not be 
surprised that a son of Philemon Pierce, a 
Republican, should likewise be a Republi- 
can. Mr. Pierce is thus a well-established 
and fixed quantity in the city of Lorain. 
It is no small honor which belongs to him, 
for he enjoys tiie confidence of its people. 
In obedience to their call he is serving them 
oil the board of councilmeu. They know 
that such a trust will be held in his hands 
with safety. One of the most useful and 
beneficial Orders of Lorain, in a business 
line, is that of the K. O. T. M., and 
there are many widows and orphans in 
the town to bear witness to its benefits. 
Mr. F. W. Pierce was the twenty-fifth 
charter member of the Lorain Lodge of 
this Order. 



Truly the outlook for Mr. Pierce is en- 
couraging. Yet but a young man, he 
occupies a good position among his fel- 
lows; he stands on the advantage ground 
of his past achievements, and certainly has 
mucii to hope for, and look forward to, in 
the years to come. No doubt with the 
same careful and industrious course in the 
future, Time will dispense his gifts with 
equal generosity. 



DEACON JOHN SEWARD CASE, 
one of the oldest citizens of Well- 
ington township, is a native of Con- 
necticut, having been born in the 
town of Granby, Hartford county, Julv 
11, 1808. 

He is a son of Dr. Gideon Case, who 
was born in Canton, Conn., and who be- 
came an eminent physician and surgeon, 
educated probably in Simsbiiry, that State. 
Lie practiced in his native State until he 
came to Ohio, in 1818, when he resumed 
practice in Hudson, Portage county. He 
was killed by the kick of a horse, about 
the year 1822. His entire journey from 
Connecticut to Ohio was made in a three- 
horse wagon. He married Miss Persis 
Seward, a native of Granville, Mass. (and 
daughter of Capt. John Seward, of Revo- 
lutionary fame), who died at the age of 
eighty-six years. Seven children were 
born to them, of which the following is a 
brief record: John Seward is the subject 
proper of this sketchy Gideon W. resides 
near Nauvoo, 111.; Otis P. resides in 
Aurora, Portage county, on the old Grand- 
father Seward homestead; Jane married 
Mr. Nix, and died in Portage county, 
Ohio; Lucia married Mr. Demming, of 
Rootstown, Portage Co., Ohio (she is now 
deceased); Albert died in Michigan a year 
or two ago; Dr. Almon Case was a mem- 
ber of the State Legislature of Tennessee 
in the period of the Civil war, during 
which time he was killed by bushwhack- 
ers, it is presumed on account of his anti- 




^^^ ~dl I ^ c;^..AJ^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



897 



slavery views. The mother married, for 
her second husband, Arial Case (no rela- 
tive of her first husl)and), and they after- 
ward lived in Kootstown, Portage Co., 
Ohii), where two sons were born to them. 
The subject of this sketch was, as will 
be seen, ten years old when his parents 
came to Portage county, Ohio. After his 
school days he commenced learning the 
trade of tanner and currier, finishing the 
same at Kent, Portage county. In No- 
vember, 1829, he came to Lorain county, 
and commenced the tanning business, in 
1830, in the town of Wellington, opposite 
where the ice house now stands, and suc- 
cessfnlly operated the same until some 
twelve or fifteen years ago, when he re- 
tired from business. He taught school 
during the winter of 1829-30 in an old 
log house, wliere Mallory's store now 
stands, which cabin was also used as a 
church at the same time. Shortly after 
his arrival he became associated with the 
Congregational Church, in which he has 
been a deacon since 1846, and to which he 
has contributed liberally of his means, as 
well as to all charitable institutions. Mr. 
Case has been twice married: First time 
in October, 1832, to Miss Diantha Blair, 
a daughter of James Blair, of Massachu- 
setts, and sister to the mother of Gov. 
Faircliild, of Wisconsin. The record of 
the children of this union is as follows: 
(1) Celia is the wife of Mr. Stewart, and 
lives in Eomney, Tippecanoe Co., Ind.; 
she taught school for many years in Ten- 
nessee, and in Romney. (2) Helen mar- 
ried Mr. Luther Miller, of Cedar Hill, 
Ohio, but nearly all of her married life 
was spent in Romney, Ind., where she was 
buried in 18 — ; she was the mother of 
three children: Mary, now Mrs. U. Z. 
Moore, of Columbus; Frank Case, a recent 
graduate of the Ohio State University, and 
a civil engineer in Columbus; andCassius, 
named after Gen. Cassius Fairchild, of 
Wisconsin, a farmer of Cedar Hill, Ohio. 
(3) Col. Frank S. (now deceased) was 
an officer in the Second Ohio Cavalry dur- 



ing the Civil war, being captain of a com- 
pany, and was shot through the lungs; 
after the war he was colonel in the Sev- 
enth Ohio State Guards, and on Gov. 
Foster's staff; he was present at Garfield's 
inauguration at AVashington, D. C, and 
his was the largest regiment out at the 
funeral of that President in Cleveland. 
He was born December 21, 1838, received 
his education at Wellington and Oberlin. 
He was a good stump speaker, and was 
chairman of the Republican committee of 
Logan county. He died August 9, 1887, 
from wounds received in battle. At the 
time of his death he was treasurer of 
Logan county, Ohio. His widow, for- 
merly Miss Clara Burr, of Brighton, to 
whom he was married in 1864 while home 
on leave of absence, now resides in Belle- 
fontaine. (4) Emma married Rev. Charles 
E. Manchester, D. D., pastor of the Broad- 
way M. E. Church, Cleveland, Ohio; they 
have children as follows: William C. 
(twenty-one years of age) and Frank S. 
(aged seventeen). The mother of this 
family was born, in 1807, in Blandford, 
Mass., and died October 19, 1848. For 
his second wife Mr. Case married Miss 
Lucinda A. Ely, of Elyria, who was born 
December 25, 1819, in Deerfield, Ohio, 
and died January 24, 1893. To this union 
there were two children, both of whom 
died young — one in infancy, the other, 
Mary, at the age of six years. In his 
political preferences Deacon Case is a 
stanch Republican, originally an Old-line 
Whig, his first vote being cast for John 
Quincy Adams. 



jri( DAM KOLBE, a prominent farmer 
f/_\ \ of Black River township, was born 
I/IA near Hersfeld, Germany. August 
JJ 18,1848. •'■ ^ 

He is a son of Henry W. and 
Elizabeth Kolbe, who were the parents of 
nine children, named as follows: Eliza* 
(Mrs. Spiegelberg), Henrietta (Mrs. Bech- 



898 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



stein), Christina (Mrs. Smithkons), 
Adam (subject of sketch), Henry, Cath- 
arine (Mrs. Holstein), Mary (Mrs. Neid- 
ing), Emma (Mrs. IJechtel) and Williain. 
In 1856 the family came to the United 
States, first locating in the, then, village of 
Lorain, Lorain Co., Ohio, afterward, in 
1867, settling on a farm in Black River 
township, same county, where the parents 
followed agricultural pursuits till advanced 
age compelled them to retire from active 
life. The father died October 8, 1893: 
the mother, now in her seventy-seventh 
year, is living with her son Adam on the 
farm in Black Biver township. She is a 
member of the Evangelical Association, 
as was also her husband. 

Adam Kolbe received a liberal education 
at the public schools, and was reared to 
agricultural pursuits on his father's farm. 
In 1873 he married Miss Caroline Faber, 
who died in May, 1891, leaving one child, 
a son named Lawrence A. Mr. Kolbe has 
remained on a farm ever since, and in the 
town of Lorain, in the same county, he en- 
gaged in the fishery business for about four 
years, as a member of the firm of Kolbe 
Bros. & Co., in which he was financially 
successful. In 1889 he withdrew from the 
firm, and has since been living on the farm 
in Black River township. In religious 
faith Mr. Kolbe is a member of the Evan- 
gelical Church; socially he is a member of 
Lorain Lodge, Knights of the Maccabees; 
politically he is a Republican. 



E' L. BURGE, an enterprising pro- 
gressive citizen of Oberlin, was 
I born in September, 1837, in Orange 

township, Ashland Co., Ohio, where 
he passed his early life. 

His father, John Y. Burge, was a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania, and in an early day 
came to Richland (now Ashland) county, 
Ohio, where ho passed the remainder of 
his days. He was a cooper by trade. He 
married Mary Lowry, a native of Vir- 



ginia, and they became the parents of 
twelve children, six of whom are still liv- 
ing, namely: Benjamin, a farmer of 
Greenwich, Huron Co., Ohio; John Y., a 
fanner of Brighton township, Lorain 
county; E. C, also farming in Brighton 
township; Rachel, a resident of Ashland, 
Ohio; Sarah, wife of John Goldsmith, of 
Richland county, Ohio; and E. L. The 
father of this family died in 1841, the 
mother in 1878. 

E. L. Burge received his education in 
the district schools of his native county, 
and in 1859 came to Lorain county, which 
has since been his home. He followed 
farming for a few years in Brighton town- 
ship, and in August, 1861, enlisted, at 
Wellington, Ohio, in Company H, Second 
Ohio Cavalry, for three years. He was 
mustered in at Cleveland, and served for a 
while on the frontier, in January, 1862, 
being stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, Kans., 
and later at Ft. Scott. He participated in 
the battles of Pea Ridtre and Diamond 
Grove, was next in Kentucky, and after- 
ward took part in the Morgan raid at 
Knoxville, Tenn. In 1864 he veteranized, 
at Mossy Creek, Tenn., in the same com- 
pany and regiment, and was subsequently 
in the engagements of the Wilderness and 
Cedar Creek, also serving under General 
Sheridan In the Shenandoah Valley. Mr. 
Burge took part in the Grand Review at 
Wasliington, thence going to Springfield, 
Mo., and on September 20, 1865, he was 
honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio. 
He returned to Brighton township, Lorain 
county, where he remained until 1882, 
since which time he has been a resident 
of Oberlin. 

On March 8, 1864, Mr. Burge was mar- 
ried to Miss Harriet J. Tucker, a native of 
Camden township, Lorain county, daugh- 
ter of Matthew and Rosanna (Martin) 
Tucker, early pioneers of the county; the 
father died in 1878; his widow is now re- 
siding in Pittsfield, Lorain county. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Buree was born one daugh- 
ter, May B., who graduated from Oberlin 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



899 



College in the class of 1891; she is now 
principal of a school at Delta, Ohio. Mr. 
Bnrge is actively interested in polities, 
and supports the principles of the Repub- 
lican party; he has been delegate to va- 
rious conventions, served one term as 
deputy sberitf of Lorain county, and in 
1889 was elected city marshal of 01)erlin,a 
position he still occupies. Socially he is 
a memher of Henry Lincoln Post No. 
564, G. A. R., and in religion he and his 
wife are members of the Second Congre- 
gational Church of Oberlin. 




OWELL CALVIN ADAMS, dealer 
in agricultural implements, seeds 
of all kinds, fertilizers, etc., Wel- 
lington, is a native of Wellincton 
townsliip, born February 1, 1838, 
of an old Connecticut family- 
He is a son of Calvin and Eunice 
(Smith) Adams, the former of whom was 
a native of the " Nutmeg State, " whence 
prior to his marriage he came west to 
Ohio, settling on a farm in Wellincrton 
township, Lorain county, where he was 
engaged in agricultural pursuits till a 
short time before his death, which oc- 
curred in 1864. lie was twice married, 
and by his first wife, Eunice (Smith), he 
liad five children, namely: Edwin, de- 
ceased in childhood; Fayette, who died 
when young; Marcia, now the widow of 
R. F. Jones, of Wellington, Ohio; Rowell 
Calvin, and Lois, who died, unmarried, in 
1879. 

The subject of this biographical sketch 
received a liberal education at district 
school No. 4, AVellington township, attend- 
ing a few winter terms, the remainder of 
the year being occupied on his father's 
farm, where he continued to reside till 
1865, in which year he removed to Hunt- 
ington township, and here bought a farm 
of 11;} acres prime laud, where, until about 
1882, he carried on general farming, 



including dairying, buying and selling 
stock, etc. In that year he came to Well- 
ington, after a time opening out his pres- 
ent prosperous business. On September 
29, 1859, he was married to Miss Melva 
A. Whiting, born in Pittstield township, 
Lorain county, October 15, 1840, and 
four children have come to this union: 
Rosa M., wife of Delmer I. Beckley; Mrs. 
E. L. Wilcox; Grace M., and Leon li. Po- 
litically Mr. Adams is a lifelong Republi- 
can, and two years ago he united with the 
Prohibitionists. He is not identified with 
any particular cliurch; his wife is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Society. 
During the war of the Rebellion he en- 
listed three times, but on each occasion 
he was rejected on account of piiysical dis- 
ability caused by an accident he met with 
when fourteen years old, whereby his leg 
was broken, and he has been slightly crip- 
pled ever since. He is doing an excellent 
business, thoroughly understanding the 
wants of the community in his line of trade. 



FRANCIS N. ELDRED is one of 
the enterprising native-born agri- 
_^ culturists of Elyria township, where 
in 1850 he first saw the light. 
He is a son of Noah and Harmony 
(Redington) Eldred, the former of whom 
was horn in the State of New York, 
whence, in company with his father, Moses 
Eldred, he came to Ohio in 1811, settling 
in Ridgeville township, Lorain county. 
Grandfather Eldred was a soldier in the 
Revolution ; by occupation he was a farmer, 
and he also kept a tavern in Ridgeville 
township; he died in Elyria, his wife in 
Ridgeville. Noah Eldred, father of sub- 
ject, received a limited education at the 
subscription schools of Ridgeville town- 
ship. In Amherst township he married 
Harmony Redington; then settled on the 
farm now owned by our subject, and here 
he died in 1882, his wife having pieceded 
him to the grave in 1854. 



900 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



The subject of this memoir was educated 
in the schools of the neighborhood of his 
place of birth, and was reared to agricul- 
tural pursuits, which have been his life- 
work. He has a neat, compact farm of 
eighty- two acres devoted to general farm- 
ing. In 1876 he was married in Elyria 
township to Miss Nettie Cochran, a native 
of same, and daughter ot Henry and Eliza- 
beth (^Thompson) Cochran, pioneers of 
Lorain county from Vermont. Six chil- 
dren, named as follows, have been born to 
this union, Ray, Nina, Irwin, Alta, Lewis 
and Orlo. In his political associations our 
subject is a Republican, and he and his 
wife are members of the M. E. Church. 




Mr. 



E. JUMP has been a resident of 
Oberlin for the past thirty-five 
years, having established himself 
in the town in 1858, for the pur- 
pose of stndy in Oberlin College. 
Jump was born in Westchester 
county, N. Y., in 1832, a son of Ira and 
Sarah (Dan) Jump, natives of New York, 
who in 1835 moved to Norwalk, Huron 
Co., Ohio, and from there, about 1843, to 
Vermillion, Erie Co., Ohio, where both 
died at a ripe old age. Ira Jump was a 
basket maker, and his son, R. E., was 
brought up to that trade, which he fol- 
lowed for some time in Oberlin. Mr. Jump 
received his education at the common 
schools in Erie county, and in the Prepara- 
tory Department of Oberlin College. Fail- 
ing health prevented him from continuing 
his studies. He taught several terms in 
the schools of Erie county, Ohio, and in 
Indiana. In 1863 he enlisted in Company 
F,One Hundred andTwenty-eighth O.V. I., 
for three years or during the war, serv- 
ing nnder Gen. Hooker, on Johnson's Is- 
land and Cedar Point, guarding and ex- 
changing prisoners at Fortress Monroe and 
other points, and on detached duty at To- 
ledo, on service as provost-guard, and in 



recruiting service. Mr. Jump was hon- 
orably discharged from the service at Camp 
Chase, in July, 1865. 

In 1852 Mr. Jump was married to Miss 
Julia Chapin, a native of New York, but 
reared and educated in North Amherst, 
Ohio, and to this union one son was born, 
C. Ellis Jump. 

Mr. Jump in politics is a Republican, 
having cast his first vote for Fremont in 
1856, and voted with that party since. He 
is a member of Henry Lincoln Post, No. 
364, G. A. R., in which he has held the 
rank of surgeon and junior vice-commader. 
During the past fifteen years, in his leis- 
ure time, he has done considerable taxider- 
mist work, and has now a very fine collec- 
tion of stuffed animals and birds. He is 
practically interested in agriculture, being 
the owner of thirty acres of well-improved 
land, half of which lies within the corpor- 
ate limits of Oberlin. He also takes a 
lively interest in bee and small fruit cul- 
ture. He was engajj-ed in the Oberlin and 
Wellinoton Rescue case. 

o 

Mrs. Julia Chapin Jump, M. D., was 
born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1832, the 
second child of John and Eliza (Clark) 
Chapin, natives of New England, who re- 
moved to Brownlielm, Ohio, in 1836, and 
from there to North Amherst, Ohio, in 
1839. [Seethe following sketch of John 
Chapin. J 

Dr. Jump received her early education 
in the common schools of North Amherst, 
Ohio. At the age of seventeen she began 
to teach. This profession she followed 
thirty years. For the first two or three 
terms she taught for one dollar a week and 
'' boarded round." In 1852 she married 
R. E. Jump, of Erie county, Ohio. They 
had one son, C. Ellis Jump. In 1858 they 
removed to Oberlin, for the purpose of se- 
curing a liberal education. During the 
last three years of her couse of study Dr. 
Jump taught in the Academy. After six 
years of study, she graduated from Ober- 
lin Colleoje, Lit. in 1865. She then taught 
seventeen consecutive years, nearly five in 




/^f^-t-t.^^^ 



cA 




JC-^-^^.-^^'Ci^ -(^5!^Tg^^y-^i«<?-»- i'^i^^^S-T-^^' , -^ . ^T/' 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



903 



the Grammar School of Oberlin, and over 
twelve years in the Public Schools of 
Cleveland. She then began the study of 
medicine in The Cleveland Homeopathic 
Hospital College, from which she gradu- 
ated in 1884:, since which time she has 
been practicing medicine in Oberlin. 

The honorarv deirree of A. M. was con- 
ferred on her byObeilin College, in 1891, 
and that of F. H. S. by the Medical Col- 
lege from which she received her diploma. 
She is a member of the board of Censors 
of the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital 
CoUetje; a member of the American In- 
stitnte of Homeopathy, The Ohio State 
Homeopathic Society, and The Lorain 
County Homeopathic Society. Dr. Jump 
is a member of tlie First Congregational 
Church, and of the W. E. C. of Oberlin, 
Ohio. 



JOHN CHAPIN was born in Sheffield, 
Berkshire Co., Mass., in 1804. At 
the age of eighteen he was appren- 
ticed to a Mr. Catlin, of the adjoin- 
ing town of New Marlboro, to learn the 
trade of tanner and currier. 

In 1827 he was married to Miss Eliza 
Clark, a native of Norwich, Conn., though 
reared in New Marlboro. They had live 
dauohters and two sons. In 1836 Mr. 
Chapin moved to Ohio, then the " Far 
"West," and lucated in Brownhelm. In 
1839 he removed to North Amherst, where 
he spent the rest of his life. Mr. Chapin 
and his wife united with a few others to 
organize a Presbyterian Church in North 
Amherst, and Mr. Chapin was elected dea- 
con, an office which he held till his death 
in 1852. Deacon Chapin was a man of 
strong convictions, a thorough temperance 
man, and an Old-line Whi(£. He was 
strongly anti-slavery in his views and took 
the ground before his death, which became 
the platform of the Free-Soil party in ISofi. 
The Deacon was a strong, well-built man, 
and was considered very desirable help 

47 



at the raising of buildings in those days. 
Whiskey was usually served freely, and 
at the tirst important " raising " to 
which he was invited the men were nearly 
all under the influence of whiskey before 
the work was half done. Deacon Chapin 
and a Mr. Rose wer^ the only total abstain- 
ers in the party. On raising a heavy 
"bent" of the frame the men allowed their 
pikes to slip, and theljent fell, crushing Mr. 
liose under the heavy timbers. His back 
was broken, and though he lived many 
years, he was a cripple. When the men 
were sober. Deacon Chapin urged them to 
give up the use of strong drink, citing the 
accident to Mr. Rose to give weight to his 
arguments. Soon after this the Deacon 
prepared to build a large tannery. The 
timbers were very heavy, and tlie building 
was two stories on one side and three on 
the other. While the timl)ers were being 
prepared there was another raising — ^a 
small l)arn. Three brothers owned the 
property. They always drank freely at 
raisings, but decided from motives of econ- 
omy to furnish no whiskey for their own 
raising. When the men who had been 
invited to assist arrived, some of them 
called for whiskey before beginning work. 
AVhen told that none would be furnished, 
the men said the timbers might rot before 
they would touch them without^ whiskey. 
The whiskey was sent for at once, and the 
frame went up. People who knew Deacon 
(Jhapin's strong temperance principles, and 
that he never tasted whiskey, wondered 
what he would do at his raising. In those 
early days the raising^of such a building 
was quite an event. The builder in charge 
one day asked the Deacon if he should 
furnish whiskey for the raising. On re- 
ceiving a reply in the negative, he said he 
would not be responsible then for the rais- 
ing of it, as it could not be raised without 
li(]Uor. The Deacon then re|)lied that the 
raising would be " a cold-water raising ''' 
or none. Many friends in the adjoining 
town of Brownhelm sympathized with 
Deacon Chajiin in his temperance prin-. 



904 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



ciples, and sent him a message saying that if 
the Amherst people failed him, they would 
come to his aid. When the time for the 
raising drew near, the Deacon started on 
his round of invitations. Nearly every 
man invited asked if he would have whis- 
key, and on receiving a negative reply, 
answered: '' Then I will not come." As 
every one declined the invitation, the Dea- 
con invited every available man in the vil- 
lage and the adjacent country. Mrs. Clia- 
pin prepared for the entertainment of the 
men by brewing a barrel of root beer, and 
the brick oven was kept full of good things 
— bread, biscuits, cakes of all kinds, pies, 
puddings, chicken pies and pork and beans, 
iloast meats of all available kinds were 
prepared in abundance. The day set for 
the raisino; dawned bright and still. At 
an early hour the invited men began to ar- 
rive singly or in small parties until every 
man who had been invited put in an ap- 
pearance. With much joking about a 
" cold-water raising " they set to work with 
hearty good will. The small or root beer 
was passed in pails, and one man told the 
Deacon that he had a chunk of ice as big 
as his list in his throat from drinking the 
beer, and he wanted somethino; to thaw it 
out. When the bents had all been raised, 
and were supposed to be securely fastened 
in place, several men went to the top to 
fasten the large wooden plates to the bents 
to bind them in position and to support 
the rafters. Deacon Chapin and Staunton 
Merriman, a carpenter, were on the bent 
on the east side of the building, which was 
three stories high. The around on that 
side was covered with broken stone, the 
refuse from dressing the stone for the 
foundation. Soon after they reached the 
top the bent began to sway with them, but 
the men on the ground were all sober, and, 
rallying with their pikes, held the heavy 
timbers in position till they were securely 
fastened. All knew that the fall of the 
bent would be certain death to the men. 
When the work was completed the Deacon 
said: "Comedown to the house now and 



we will have something to thaw the ice 
out of your throats." Mrs. Chapin was a 
good cook, and her heart was in her work. 
Long tables were loaded with every good 
thing which she could devise, and with tea 
and coffee in abundance. Many of the men 
said to the Deacon: "If this is what you 
call a cold-water raising, I would like to 
go to one every day." They said they 
came because they knew he was acting from 
principle, that although he was one of the 
best workers always at a raising he never 
drank whiskey. Deacon Chapin died in 
1852 of typhoid fever; Mrs. Chapin lived 
to be eighty-six years old. 

The family was well represented in the 
war of the Rebellion. John Clark Chapin, 
the youngest son of Deacon Chapin, enlisted 
in the Forty-first O. V. I., at the organiza- 
tion of the regiment, for three years; re- 
enlisted with the regiment, was engaged 
in all the battles in which the regiment 
fought except Chickamauga, and was hon- 
orably discharged at the close of the war. 
Two sons-in-law, J. J. Pillen (the husband 
of the eldest daughter, Eunice), and R. E. 
Jump (who married the second daughter, 
Julia), were also in the Union army, and 
were honorably discharged at the close of 
the war. 



ir^ EORGE L. SEARS, florist and man- 
I J, ufacturer of pottery, Elyria, is a 
^LJ native of Massachusetts, born in 
^^ New Lenox, March 8. 1854, a son 
of L. L. Sears, a prominent agricul- 
turist of Elyria township. 

In 1861 the family came to Ohio, and 
for a time located in Medina county, then 
in 1867 settling in Lorain county, on a 
farm within the corporate limits of Elyria. 
Our subject has since resided in Elyria, 
and in 1881 he commenced business as a 
florist, in which vocation he has risen, by 
industry and good management, to consid- 
erable prominence. He now owns seven 
large greenhouses, and ships all kinds of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



905 



flower germs to every part of the United 
States. He makes a specialty of wedding 
and funeral decorations, his taste in designs 
being considered " nulli secnndus." Hav- 
ing couclnded to manufacture liis own 
flower-pots, of which his extensive business 
demands a vast number, he opened up a 
pottery, and he now makes from 18,000 to 
20,000 flower-])ots per week, supplying 
not only his own requirements, but also 
markets in Cleveland, Chicago, and all the 
great cities of the West. 

In 1878 Mr. Sears was married to Miss 
Emma Eradbur, and three children have 
come to briahten their home, named 
respectively: Harry, Roy and Grace W. 
Our subject and wife are members of the 
Congregational Church, and in politics he 
is a Republican. 




NSEL JENNE, for over half a cen- 
i\ tury a resident of Lorain county, 
^ and one of the best known and 
most prosperous agriculturists of 
Amherst township, was born in 
Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1825. 

His father, also named Ansel Jenne, 
was a native of New York, where he mar- 
ried Elizabeth Brown, and from there 
moved to Cayuga county, same State, in 
1825. In 1826 he and the family came to 
Ohio, making their home in Cuyahoga coun- 
ty until liS41, in which year they removed to 
Lorain county, arriving on March 9, locat- 
ing on Middle Ridge; but in 1845 they 
removed to a farm where the parents 
passed the remainder of their days, the 
father dying in July, 1872, the mother in 
August, 1885, at the patriarchal age of 
uinety-one years. They reared a family of 
seven children, of whom four are yet liv- 
ing, as follows: Alfred, married and living 
in Cuyahoga county, Ohio; Ansel, of 
whom this sketch more specially relates; 
Bethia, wife of F. A. Griffin, of Elyria 
township, Lorain county; and John P., 



married and residing in Amherst township, 
same county. The deceased are Arad Joy 
(the eldest in family), born July 9, 1819, 
died September 5, 1820; Eliza, born Ajiril 
25, 1827, who was married to Solon 
McElrath, and died in Lorain county, 
September 18, 1871; and Annette, born 
August 27, 1830, died in 1832. 

Ansel Jenne, whose name opens this 
biographical sketch, received his education 
at the primitive log schoolhouse of the 
early days of Cuyahoga county, Ohio. At 
the age of sixteen he came with the rest 
of the family to Lorain county, and has 
ever since been a resident of Amherst 
township, owning now tiie old homestead, 
consisting of sixty acres prime land. He 
and his brother John P. cleared jn all some 
400 acres in Amherst township. 

On December 9, 1859, Mr. Jenne was 
married, in Amherst township, to Phoebe 
Wing, a native of Wyoming county, N. Y., 
daughter of Benjamin and Polly (Wes- 
cottj Wing, natives of New York, where 
the father died in September, 1857. In 1858 
the widowed mother came to Lorain county, 
and made her home with her daughter, Mrs. 
Jenne, for the rest of her days, dying in 
1868. Two of her children came to Lorain 
county besides Mrs. Jenne, viz.: Sterling, 
who died here in 1874, and Dora, wife of 
Luman Van Tassel, of Bowling Green, 
Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Ansel Jenne were 
born five children, of whom the following 
is a brief record: Sarah Ellen married 
Bird Richmond, and they have one child, 
Frank Harrison; William Henry is mar- 
ried, resides in Amherst township, Lorain 
county, and has one child, Blanche; George 
is married, has his home in Detroit, Mich., 
and has two children, Willie and Wintield; 
Frank died at the age of nineteen years; 
Albert K. is married, resides on the home 
farm, and has two children, Bertie and 
Lncile. In politics Mr. Jenne is a Dem- 
ocrat. AVhen he came to Lorain county 
fifty-two years ago, the now flonrishing city 
of Elyria was but a hamlet consisting of 
nine cabins, surrounded by dense woods, 



906 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



wherein roamed the Indian and wild ani- 
mals innumerable. He has seen in his 
township the old rickety stage coach rele- 
gated into retirement by the palatial cars 
of the aggressive railroads, and the mail- 
carrier's weekly or semi-weekly visits meta- 
morphosed into the modern mail of three 
or four deliveries and collections every day 
in the week; not to speak of the advent of 
the magic-like universal telegraph and 
telephone, which had their birth within 
comparatively recent years. 



fiDWIN PvOBSON, a representative 
and prosperous agriculturist of Car- 
I lisle township, is a native of York- 
shire, England, born in 1839. 
Our subject is a son of Edward and 
Ann (Tran) Rol)son, of the same place, 
who in 1843 came to the United States 
and made a settlement in Eaton township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio, where they are yet liv- 
ing. They were the parents of a large 
family, as under: Emma, who married 
Seth C. Felt, and died in Huron county; 
Edwin, snbject of this sketch; Mary Jane, 
who died unmarried; James, deceased in 
childhood; David, deceased when young; 
Henry, also deceased when young; Will- 
iam, deceased in Grafton township, Lorain 
county; John, married, residing in Graf- 
ton; and Lizzie, wife of Charles Johnson, 
of Grafton township. 

Edwin Robson was, as will be seen, four 
years old when he came to Lorain county 
with his parents, and at the common 
schools of Eaton township he received a 
liberal education, in the meantime work- 
ing on his father's farm. He now owns a 
line property of 225 acres in a good state 
of cultivation. On November 14, 1866, 
he was married, in Oberlin, Russia town- 
ship, to Miss Ann Johnson, a native of 
same, daughter of James and Mary (At- 
kinson) Jolmson, who were early pioneers 
of Lorain county, coming here in 1826; 



the father died in Elyria in 1888, the 
mother in Cleveland in 1864. To them 
children as follows were born: Jane, wife 
of Leroy Rogers, of Henry county, Ohio; 
Elizabeth, widow of John Bucher, of Ely- 
ria; Thomas, who died during the Civil 
war, in Lexington, Ky. ; Ann, Mrs. Rob- 
son; John, a resident of Eaton township; 
James, deceased at the age of eighteen; 
George, married, living in Elyria; Mary 
Ellen, wife of M. A. Pounds, of Elyria; 
and Mary and "William, both deceased in 
infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Robson have 
been born seven children, to wit: Charles 
Edmund, James Edward. Adalbert John- 
son, Mary Louise, Thomas Putnam, Thad- 
deus Warren and Leroy Walter. Our 
subject and wife ai-e meml)ers of the M. E. 
Church at LaPorte. In politics he is a 
Republican, and has been a member of the 
school board, of which he is now a director 
in his district. 



yj 



\ Jf WIGHT, owner of a fertile farm 

'^H in Eaton township, where he has 

1[ resided for nearly threescore years, 

is a native of New York State, 

born in St. Lawrence county on 

Christmas Day, 1821. 

He is a son of Reuben and Susannaii 
(Van Buren) Wight, the mother a native 
of New York. The father was born in 
Oxford, Worcester Co., Mass.. and in 1794 
moved to Herkimer county, N. Y., with 
his father, John Wight, who was born 
November 2, 1752, and married Betsy 
Robinson, born in 1765, and died in 1S58. 
They had a family of children, of whom 
the following is a brief record: Uzziali 
was horn in 1781, and died in 17S4; 
Abner died in St. Lawrence county, N. Y,; 
Jason was born in 1785, died January 20, 
1835; Reuben was the father of our sub- 
ject; Abigail died in New York State in 
1849; Betsy died young; John died in 
New York State in 1863; Alvin, a car- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



907 



penter and builder, came to Lorain county, 
Ohio, in lS35,and died in Ottawa county, 
Oiiio, Jaiiuarj' 1, 1857; Harvey died in 
Green county, Wis., in 1876. 

Reuben AViirlit was reared and educated 
in New York State, and was married in 
what is now Fulton county, same State, 
July 14:, 1814. In 1834 the family came 
to Ohio, arriving August 9 in Cleveland, 
but settling at Kockport, in the same 
county, where the father died of cholera 
same year. He served in the war of 
1812, and after his death his widow en- 
joyed a pension. In 1836 the widowed 
mother, with her children, came to Lorain 
county, making her final home in Eaton 
township, where she died April 21, 1882, 
aged eighty-nine years, having been born 
in 1793. The following is a record of the 
children: Leonard was married in Eaton 
township, Lorain county, and in 1858 
moved to Gratiot county, Mich.; Almina 
is the widow of Daniel Pearce, and resides 
in Eaton township, Lorain county; Will- 
iam, who became one of the early teachers 
of Lorain county, married in Eaton town- 
ship, and died in 1853; Segatia died in 
Cleveland at the age of eighteen years; 
the next in order of birth is the subject of 
this sketch, of whom further mention will 
presently be made; Adeline C. is the wife 
of James Duffy, of Charlotte, Eaton Co., 
Mich.; Julius, a widower, is a resident of 
Eaton township, Lorain county; Reuben is 
married, and dwells in LaGrange town- 
ship, Lorain county; Mary S. is the wife 
of James W. Fitch, of Milan, Erie Co., 
Ohio; Ziel, who was an engineer, born 
August 13, 1832, married, and on No- 
vember 12, 1892, died in Delaware county, 
Ohio; Rosella is the widow of John King, 
of Clark county, Wisconsin. 

H. Wight, of whom this sketch more 
particularly relates, was reared to the age 
of thirteen years in New York State, and 
was there educated, his school training be- 
ing much improved by his native ability, 
close application to books, and general 
study of men and things. He was remark- 



ably quick at figures and geometry, and he 
is widely known throughout northern Ohio 
for his ability as a mathematician. In his 
younger days he taught school in Lorain, 
Medina and Cuyahoga counties, and then 
embarked in agricultural pursuits. In 
1834 he came to Ohio, and in 1836 set- 
tled in Eaton township, where he has since 
resided. Politically he has been a Repub- 
lican since the organization of the party, 
and he served as real-estate assessor in 
1870, and on the school board several years. 



Mr. 
son 



MATHI AS NUHN, one of the many 
industrious, honest and loyal citi- 
_ zens the Fatherland has given to 
fj Lorain county, is a prosperous 

farmer of Ridgeville township, of 
which he has been a resident since 1845. 

Nuhn was born in Germany in 1838, 
of Peter and Anna Mary (Moss) 
Nuhn, the father a native of France, the 
mother of Prussia. Peter was a shoe- 
maker by trade, at which he worked seven 
years in Paris, France, after which for two 
years he was coachman for Napoleon's 
nephew. In 1824, while working at his 
trade in Prussia, he. married. In 1845 he 
and his wife and family emigrated to 
America, sailing from Havre, France, the 
voyage to New Y^ork occupying sixty-two 
days. From there they proceeded west- 
ward to Ohio, by way of the Hudson 
river, Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Cleve- 
land, and from that city by wagon to 
Ridgeville township, Lorain county, where 
Mr. Nuhn bought twenty-five acres of land 
which he cleared and improved, at the 
same time working at his trade. To this 
first purchase of land he added forty acres, 
and, later, twelve acres. Of the nine cliil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Nuhn we give 
record of seven children, as follows: Mary, 
wife of Peter Donenfelcer, died in 1854; 
Nicholas, married, resides in Ridgeville 
township; Elizabeth is the wife of Anton 



908 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



Smith, of Center, Eidgeville township; 
Hannah is the wife of John Roth, of 
Lorain; Catlierine is the wife of Peter 
Smith, of Avon township; Mathias is the 
subject of tliis memoir; and Peter, married, 
lives in Lorain. The father died March 8, 
1874, a Democrat in politics, a member of 
the school board and supervisor; he was 
buried on the fiftieth anniversary of his 
marriage; the mother was called from earth 
in 1875. 

Mathias Nuhn, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was, as will be seen, about six 
years old when he came to Lorain county, 
and during his first summer his home was 
in a barn in Stony Ridge, Ridgeville town- 
ship, while a log house was being ei'ected 
for the family. He i-eceived his education 
at the common schools of the locality, and 
learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, 
wliich he followed exclusively up to the 
time of the breaking; out of the Civil war; 
he then combined farmino- with his trade, 
and he has met with well-merited success. 
In 1862 Mr. Nuhn enlisted in Company 
G, One Hundred and Seventh O. V. L, 
for three years or during the war, and his 
regiment was assigned to the army of the 
Potomac. At the battle of Chancellors- 
ville he was taken prisoner, and confined 
first in Libby, afterward in Belle Isle, 
whence he was taken on parole to Camp 
Annapolis, Md., and then detailed to the 
pioneer corps that served through Ten- 
nessee; to the close of the war he was 
stationed at Chattanooga and Kinorston. 
In 1865 he was discharged, at Columbus, 
Ohio, and returned to liis home in Ridge- 
ville township, Lorain county, where he 
resumed the pursuits of peace. 

In 1S60 Mr. Nuhn was married, in 
Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio, to Mary 
Magdalene Kolb, who was born in that 
county, daughter of Joseph and Sophia 
(Gravensteter) Koll), natives of Germany, 
who about the year 1838 immigrated to 
the United States, settling in Medina 
county, Ohio, where the father died in 
1878, and the mother is yet living. To 



this union childi-en as follows were born: 
Rosa, the wife of Mr. Douglas, constable 
of Lorain, has three children — Mathias, 
Edith and Nora; Catherine, wife of Ma- 
thias Burkhart, of Lorain, also has three 
children — Clara, Lillian and Frank; Mary, 
wife of Charley Perry, of Cleveland, has 
one child; Ilannali, wife of John Alfen, of 
Cleveland, has two children — Willie and 
Mabel; John, married, resides in Ridge- 
ville townsiiip; Elizabeth, a -widow, resid- 
ing with her father, has two children — 
Olive and Bertha; Lena; Clara; and Ma- 
thias. Politically our subject is a Demo- 
crat, but in township matters he votes for 
whom he considers the best man for office, 
regardless of party. lie has been a mem- 
ber of the school board eighteen consecu- 
five years, such is the confidence his con- 
stituents repose in him, and he and his 
wife are members of the Roman Catholic 
Church at Ridgeville. Socially he is a 
member of Wesley Kibby Post No. 708, 
G. A. R., North Ridgeville, and has served 
as assistant quarter-master two terms. He 
is owner of nearly sixty acres of land in an 
excellent state of cultivation, on which in 
1888 he built his present residence — a 
two-story frame house, 35 x 28 — also a 
commodious barn, 56x36, and granary 
(with workshop combined), 16 x 22 feet. 




LONZO WRIGHT, a highly re- 
spected and prosperous agriculturist 
of Russia township, hard-working, 
and scrupulously honest in all his 
dealings, is a native of Essex coun- 
ty, N. Y., born November 11, 1825. 

His father, Alonzo AVright, Sr., was 
brought up to farm life, and served for a 
time in a woolen factory. He married 
Philomilla Andrews, who was born in 
Stillwater, N. Y., and children as follows 
were born to them: Charles A., who died 
in California; Bushnell A., a physician of 
San Jacinto, Cal.; Alonzo, Jr., subject of 
this memoir; Harriet, deceased in youth; 
Sarah D., who was first married to Charles 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



909 



Lyman, and is now the wife of Lewis Oz- 
niun (tliej reside in Amherst township); 
Laura B., who married Edwin Durand, 
and died in Wellington, Ohio. In June, 
1834, the family set out for Ohio, maiving 
the trip partly by sailing vessel, partly by 
canal to Buffalo, N. Y., and from there to 
Black River Harbor (now Lorain), Ohio, 
by steamer, thence to Oberlin by wagon. 
In Russia township the father bought 
ninety acres of land at ten dollars per 
acre (nine hundred dollars), which amount 
he paid in cash, part of the proceeds of his 
farm in New York State, which he had 
sold prior to coming west. He had pre- 
viously visited Ohio, in order to select 
land, got as far as Cleveland, but returned 
east without succeeding in his purpose. 
For some time after their settling in Rus- 
sia township the family lived in an old log 
cabin, till a new one was built. Here was 
born one more daughter, Mary, who died 
at the age of fourteen years. On this farm 
the father passed away in 1883, having 
been preceded to the grave by his wife in 
1862. They lie buried in South Amherst 
cemetery. He was a Whig and Republi- 
can in politics, and a member of and dea- 
con in the Congregational Church. 

Alonzo Wright, the subject proper of 
these lines, received the earlier part of his 
education at the public schools of the vicin- 
ity of his place of birth, and after coming 
to Lorain county attended District school 
No. 1, his first teacher here being Samuel 
Rossiter. Later he attended a few terms 
at Oberlin College. He then taught school 
several terms, and subsequently attended 
the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati 
three years. He had previously studied 
medicine under Dr. James Fisher, of Tif- 
fin, Ohio; and thus it will be seen he was 
well prepared for the arena of medicine, 
which, however, he never entered. After 
completing his course he returned to his 
home, and in 1848 commenced agriculture 
on his father's farm, which he now owns; 
of late years he has added the cultivation 
of small fruits to general farming. 



In 1861 Mr. Wright was united in mar- 
riage with Adelia C. Whipple, and chil- 
dren as follows were born to them: Dong- 
lass, deceased at the age of nine years; 
Delia, teaching in the public schools of 
Findlay, Ohio; Eddie, deceased in infancy; 
Henry, farming on the home place, and 
Jessie, still living with her parents. The 
surviving children have all enjoyed excel- 
lent educational opportunities. In politics 
Mr. Wright is a stanch Republican, and 
until the organization of that party was a 
Whig; his wife and children are members 
of the Congregational Church. 




B. BEDORTHA, an attorney at 
law, of Oberlin, was born May 5, 
1854, in Russia township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, the only child of 
Luther and Eliza A. (Brown) Bedortha, 
the former of whom was a native of Shef- 
field, Mass., the latter of the city of New 
York. 

Luther Bedortha, father of subject, came 
to Lorain county with his parent* in 1824, 
and they made a settlement in Sheffield 
township. He was tvvice married, first 
time, in Sheffield township, to Miss Sarah 
Strong, soon after which they moved to 
Iowa, where they remained a few months 
and then returned to Ohio, Mr. Bedortha 
in 1852 establishing his residence on a 
farm in Russia township, Lorain county. 
To this first marriage were born two chil- 
dren: B. S. Bedortha, Esq., of Bridgman, 
Mich., and Dr. B. T. Bedortha, of London, 
England. The mother of these died at 
Joliet, 111., while en route on the return 
trip to Ohio from Iowa, and on February 
17, 1853, Luther Bedortha married Eliza 
A. Brown, who had come to Oberlin in 
1852; she survives him, he having died 
December 29, 1864, at Oberlin, Ohio, to 
which place he had removed but a short 
time previous to his death. 

W. B. Bedortha received his education 
at the public schools of his luitive town- 



910 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



ship, and in 1868 entered tlie office of the 
Lorain County News, at Oherlin, where 
he learned the printer's trade, continuing 
iu the printing business either as employe 
or proprietor for about ten years. In 1877 
he commenced the study of law in the 
office of Judge J. W. Steele, the present 
postmaster at Oberlin, and in October, 
1880, was adjnitted to the bar, where he at 
once commenced the general practice of 
his profession. 

On February 8, 1881, W. B. Bedortha 
was married to Fannie J. E. Jenney. He 
is a Republican and a member of the Con- 
gregational Church. 




\ILLIAM RUSriNGEE. Whatever 
may be tiie form of government 
under which men live, it is the 
men of opinions who rule. They 
have circumscribed the power of kings, 
and in representative governments they 
are the leaders of the common people in 
both public and private concerns. They 
seldom till official po.sitions. Our ablest 
statesmen have never tilled the Presidential 
chair. It is the Utopian ideal of Demo- 
cratic governments that broad, intelligent, 
honest, partrician citizenship, with financial 
independence, unfettered by official bur- 
dens, is the goal of the best man's am- 
bition. When this idea is adopted by our 
educators, and thoroughly implanted in the 
bosoms of the youth of our land — when 
we cease to be hero worshipers, and Na- 
poleon and Alexander become object les- 
sons of less importance than the patrician 
citizen, we will have taken the first great step 
toward the millennium. As a type of the 
character of the men foreshadowed above, 
we introduce a brief sketch of Mr. William 
Rininger, merchant and capitalist, of Well- 
ington, Ohio. 

Mr. Rininger descends from German 
stock. His grandparents emigrated from 
Germany, locating in Center county, Penn., 



when the father of our snliject, Peter Rin- 
inger, was a boy. There tlie grandjiarents 
lived and died. Peter Rininger married 
Miss Mary Miller, and to their union were 
born two cliildren: William, the subject 
of this memoir, and Eliza. The latter mar- 
ried iu Pennsylvania, and died some years 
since, leaving two children. Peter Rin- 
inger died when his son William was only 
two years of age. By the subsequent mar- 
riage of his mother, our subject was thrown 
upon the charities of the world when a 
mere child. He was born April 2, 1823, 
and at the age of eight years was given the 
choice of remaining in Pennsylvania or 
emigrating to Ohio with his uncle, Will- 
iam Miller. He chose the latter expedient, 
and thev located in Seneca county, Ohio. 
His uncle William subsequently purchased 
the site of the present village of Attica, 
and laid out the plat for a town. It was 
with this uncle that the boy William Rin- 
inger found the only semblance of what 
his early days knew as a home. He alter- 
nated between work and school, and was 
in return for his services clothed and fed. 
His uncle entered a variety of businesses 
liesides farming. He operated an ashery, 
built and carried on a hotel, and finally 
kept a general merchandise store. Com- 
ing in contact with a variety of pursuits, 
William Rininger familiarized himself with 
the leading features of each, n:eanwhile 
applying himself assiduously to mastering 
the essential elements of an English edu- 
cation. 

Thus early thrown upon his own re- 
sources, he learned the most important les- 
son in life — the lesson which only those 
strongly endowed by nature can learn — to 
think independently, to think for himself 
— and through life this has been his lead- 
ing personal characteristic. All arbitrary 
laws in religion, politics and elsewhere — 
all theories advanced that are not based 
upon reason and humanity — have ever ap- 
peared to him the schemes of duplicity 
formulated to dominate the minds of the 
weak and the credulous. 





"^////z <J7/^^^'¥^'^ 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



913 



Mr. Rininger made bis first money with 
a paint brush. He had watched tlie painters 
around the hotel, and took up tlie trade. 
He worked at that business for a sahiry of 
one dollar per day, subsequently working 
in tbe harvest field. Saving his money he 
went to making brick, and subsequently 
made investments in various limited ways, 
and each proved a success. He not only 
made money, but saved it, and invested to 
the best possible advantage. By making the 
best of his opportunities, in 1844 he found 
himself possessed of a few hundred dollars 
in cash, which he invested in a store in 
Attica in connection with his uncles, Will- 
iam and Samuel Miller. From that time 
forward he felt his success assured. He 
remained personally in connection with 
his business at Attica, Ohio, until 1866, 
when he left his partner, one John Silco.x, 
in charge there, came to Wellington with 
a view of establishincf liimself in business 

o 

here, and bought the store of Charles 
Foote. In Wellington he had a partner, 
for about a year, William Barnard, 
but bought out the latter's interest, and 
has since operated his general merchandise 
store with the assistance of clerks. He 
still retains his interest in the store at 
Attica. Mr. Eininger's practice in buying 
has been to purchase for cash, although he 
has constantly had to tide customers over 
hard periods, as his books will show. He 
is generally recognized as a just but lenient 
creditor. 

Mr. Rininger was formerly a Repub- 
lican, but says: " When that party diverged 
from its original principles," he did not 
follow it. He believes in principles and 
in men, but not in party dominance. He 
is not a church member, being an indepen- 
dent thinker in this as in all other matters; 
but he is philanthropic in its broadest'sense, 
believing that to be just and humane is 
the highest condition of consciousness. 

During the years that have passed, Mr. 
Rinincrer has been an intelligent witness 
of the greatest political and commercial 
changes the country has ever experienced, 



and is one of the soundest and best versed 
men in its financial history and conditions 
that can be found. 

Although his life has been one of inde- 
fatigable work and constant application to 
business, and he has always had the cour- 
age of his convictions and e.xpressed his 
opinions freely, it is not in pul)lic but 
within the domestic circle of his home — 
with his family gathei'ed around his 
hearth-stone — that Mr. Rininger has felt 
the cup of life most nearly full. He was 
married, September 9, 1844, to Miss Eliza 
J. King, who was born in Scipio, Cayuga 
Co., N. Y., April 2, 1820. By this mar- 
riage there are five daughters and one son, 
viz.: Lillian, wife of Edward Phelps, now 
of Scranton, Iowa (they have five children: 
Mabel, Edna,Homer, Raymond and Hazel) ; 
Delphene, wife of J. L. Smith, of Dela- 
ware, Oiiio (they have three children: 
Ward, William R. and Louise); Natella, 
wife of William C. Miller, of Gallipolis, 
Ohio, now at Cincinnati (they have one 
son, Frank); Augusta, at home; Frank, 
who died at the age of fourteen years: and 
Celestia A., who died at the age of one 
year. 

Mr. Rininger is a representative self- 
made man, his life bearing testimony to 
what it is possible to accomplish with will- 
ing heart and hands, steadfast integrity 
and honest toil. In brief, he started in 
life penniless; to-day he commands the 
highest quotation in Dunn's Commercial 
Agency of any individual merchant in the 
State of Ohio. 



J 



Joseph WESBECHER, a member 
of the prosperous firm of Wesbecher 
& Co., dealers in hardware. North 
Amherst, is a native of Germany. 
He was born February 25, 1852,. in Mug- 
ensturm. Duchy of Baden, the seventh in 
a family of eight children born to Aloysius 
and Matta (Melcher) Wesbecher, who were 
also natives of Mugenstnrm, Baden, Ger- 



914 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



many, where tliey were reared and married; 
the father was a farmer, and died in the 
Fatherland; the mother is yet living. Of 
their family three sons came to America: 
John, now in Botkins, Ohio; George, a 
resident of Greensburgh, Penn., and Jo- 
seph, our subject. 

Josepli Wesbeclier was educated in his 
native land, and, not wishing to enter the 
Gei-man army, in 1869 came to America. 
He learned the tinner's trade, and after 
working at different places for three years, 
came, in 1872, to North Amherst, Ohio, 
where he continued to work at his trade 
until 1876, when he embarked in the 
hardware business on his own account; the 
style of the firm was Cook & Wesbecher 
until 1880, since which time it has been 
Wesbecher & Co. Mr. Wesbecher was 
married November 28, 1878, in North 
Amherst, toMiss Matilda C. Plato, and they 
have had five children: Henry, Edd, Carl, 
Leo and Frank. Politically our subject is 
a stanch Democrat, and in reliction he is a 
member of the Catholic Church. He aives 
his entire attention to his business, and by 
industry and perseverance has succeeded 
in building up a good trade. 



TOMPKINS, a well-known, highly 
respected agriculturist of Eaton 
township, has been a resident of 
same for over sixty years. He was 
born in 1833 in Tompkins county, N. Y., 
son of Samuel and Betsy (Tellis) Tomp- 
kins, natives of Pennsylvania, who were 
reared and married in Newfield, Tompkins 
county, N. Y. In 1833 they came with 
their family to Eaton township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, where they opened up a farm. 
The father died many years before the 
mother, who passed away in 1885. They 
reared a family of four children, namely: 
John, married, who settled near his parents; 
Natlianiel, married, who resides in Eaton 
township; S. Tompkins, subject of this 
memoir; and 'Mary, wife of Joseph Dew- 
hurst, of Eaton township. 



The subject of tliis sketch was reared 
and educated in Eaton township, and has 
always followed agricultural pursuits. He 
owns a highly cultivated farm of eighty- 
four acres. Mr. Tompkins was married 
in Eaton township, to Miss Sarah Jane 
Bassett, a native of same, and to this union 
have come six children: Otis; Charley, 
married, residiiigin Eaton township; Ellen, 
wife of Bird Farr, residing in Amherst 
township (they have two children); Fred,. 
Ira and Ida, all three residing at home. la 
politics Mr. Tompkins is a member of the 
Democratic party. 



APTAIN THOMAS WILFORD, a 

well-known lake captain and prom- 
inent citizen of Lorain, has been 
identified with sailing interests on the 
Lakes for the past thirty-four years, and is 
still ill active demand. His father, Joseph 
Wilford, a nati veof Northampton8hire,Eng- 
land, married Mary Ellen Griffin, also a 
native of that county, and they had a family 
of ten children, of whom Thomas was the 
eighth in order of birth. They came to 
America, locating in North Amherst, Lo- 
rain Co., Ohio, where the father followed 
farming, which was his life vocation. He 
died at the age of fifty-three; his widow 
passed away when aged seventy-three. 

Thonias Wilford was born June 21, 
1841, in Northamptonshire, England, and 
remained in his native country until twelve 
years of age, when he came with his par- 
ents to North Amherst. He received his 
education in the common schools, and for 
two years afterward worked on a farm. He 
began life on the Lakes as a common sail- 
or, and then became mate, from which 
position he was promoted to captain. He 
was master of sailing vessels for eight 
years, first of the schooner " Exile," and 
next serving for two years on the steamer 
"John M. Osborne."' In 1884 the latter 
collided with the steamer " Aberta," in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



915 



Lake Superior, and went down in five 
minutes, three of the crew being lost; and 
it was only due to Capt. "Wilford's prompt- 
itude, in ordering tlie "Alierta" to keep 
forward and not pull off, that any of the 
passengers were saved. He had on board 
his wife, his two little cirls, and a young 
lady friend from Ashtabula, Ohio, and lie 
succeeded in saving liis wife, the two little 
girls being rescued by the mate. Capt. 
Wilford spent part of the next season in 
superintending the building of tlie steamer 
" J. II. Devereaux," which he commanded 
for five years, and next superintended the 
building of the steamer -'J. H. Wade," 
which he commanded for two years. He 
afterward had charge of tlie Iniilding of 
the steamer " Samuel Mitchell," of which 
he is still in command. 

Capt. Wilford was married December 
29, 1870, in Lorain, to Miss Fannie Gill- 
more, a native of that place, daughter of 
Alanson Gillinore, and they have had two 
children: Cora E., wife of Charles F. Bar- 
tenfeld, and F. Adelaide, who died of ty- 
phoid fever May 28, 1893, aged sixteen 
years two months and seven days. In po- 
litics our subject is a Republican, and 
socially he is a member of the Royal Ar- 
canum and also of tlie Ship Masters Asso- 
ciation. He has been a resident of Lorain 
since 1861. 



f^- 



A. DEMING, a highly respected 
citizen of Camden, now retired 
|[ from active public life, is a native of 
Washington, Berkshire Co., Mass., 
born June 27, 1822. He is the 
youngest in the family of nine children of 
Absalom and Sarah (Fames) Deming, the 
former of whom was a native of Connecti- 
cut, and a farmer by occupation. His par- 
ents were both of Puritan stock, he being 
able, on his father's side, to trace ids an- 
cestry back to John Deming, Esq., who 
was active in the early settlement of Hart- 
ford, Conn. Upon his mother!s side iiis 



lineage runs back, by direct line, to George 
William Bradford, who came over in tlie 
" Mayflower," hence he was of pure English 
extraction. 

Our subject received his elementary 
education at the public schools of his early 
day, after which he attended an academj' at 
AVestfield, Mass., and in this way prepared 
himself for teaching, which lie followed 
for sixteen terras in his native State. He 
was reared on his father's farm, and well 
trained to agricultural pursuits. When lie 
had attained his majority (18-13) his father 
died, and young Deming took charge of 
the home place, renting the portion belong- 
ing to the other heirs, and here remained 
until 1855, when he removed to Hinsdale, 
Berkshire Co., Mass., where he bought a 
farm and continued in agricultural pur- 
suits. Finding his health failing at the 
end of one year, he gave up the farm, and 
entered a dry-goods store in Hinsdale, as 
a clerk and bookkeeper, but after a time 
he embarked, for his own account, in the 
flour and feed business. Abandoning this, 
he accepted the position of bookkeeper 
in a furniture factory. In December, 1809, 
he moved to Mattoon, 111., and bought 
property, and here he formed a partner- 
ship with his brother as loan agents, in 
which they continued till September, 1882, 
when our subject came to Oberlin, Ohio, 
in order that his adopted daughter might 
enjoy the best of school advantages. 
While living here, in retirement, he spent 
one winter in Florida, and while a resi- 
dent of Illinois passed a winter in Mary- 
land. In 1889 he came to Kipton, a 
village in Camden township, Lorain county, 
where he has since made his home. 

Mr. Deming has been twice married, 
first time December 4, 1850, to Isabel 
Miliken, born March 80, 1827, in Hins- 
dale, Mass., a daughter of Robert Miliken. 
This wife died in Oberlin, Ohio. January 
25, 1886, and on April 3, 1889, Mr. Dem^ 
ing was united in marriage with Miss 
Carrie Rowland, born in Rochester, Lo- 
rain county, a daughter of Samuel W. and 



916 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Harmony (Blair) Rowland. Mr. Deming 
has an adopted daughter, Carrie B., born 
July 3, 1864, now 5Irs. E. E. Hopkins, of 
Lorain, Ohio. Politically our subject was 
originally a Whig, then a Republican, and 
finally a Prohibitionist. At the age of 
twenty-three years he was a member of 
the school board at Washington, Mass., on 
which he served ten years; at twenty- five 
he was elected assessor, overseer of the 
poor and select man of the town during 
his residence in Washington. While a 
citizen of Hinsdale he served on the school 
board thirteen years continuously, as as- 
sessor si.x years, and treasurer of the town 
three years. During his stay in Mattooii, 
111., he was a member of the city council 
four years, and of the school board three 
years; and he took a leading part in or- 
ganizing the First Congregational Church, 
in which lie was an active Deacon for ten 
years. Mr. Deming has been a great 
reader in his day, is well posted and pos- 
sessed of sound judgment, is very popular 
and is universally respected. 



CHARLES LI. IIOETON. This gen- 
tleman, the widely-known inventor 
and manufacturer, and formerly 
superintendent of the Wellington 
(Brick) Machine Co., of Wellington, is a 
native of the State of New York, born 
April 25, 1845, in Holley, Orleans county, 
a son of Chauncey and Nancy (Masten) 
Horton. The father was born in the New 
England States, and died while our sub- 
ject was young; the mother passed from 
earth in Rochester, Lorain county. Our 
subject's maternal grandfather and grand- 
mother were of French and Yankee birth, 
respectively; his father's grandfather served 
in the Revolutionary war. 

C. H. Horton was reared on a farm to 
the age of sixteen years, receiving during 
the winter months a liberal education at 
the common schools, chiefly in Hunting- 



ton township, Lorain Co., Ohio, whither 
he had come when nine years old. Later 
he removed to Ripley, Huron Co., Ohio, 
where, in October, 1861, he enlisted in 
Company D, Fifty-fifth O. V. I. (for three 
years service, or during the war), which 
regiment was sent first to West Virginia, 
and afterward assigned to the army of the 
Potomac, Eleven til Army Corps. It par- 
ticipated in the battles of Bull Run, Cedar 
Mountain, Cliaiicellorsville and Gettys- 
burg, after which it was transferred to the 
army of the West. Mr. Horton was in 
the battles of Chattanooga and Buzzard's 
Roost, and was severely wounded at Resaca, 
but recovering i-apidly rejoined his com- 
pany, and was with Sherman on his march 
to the sea. He participated, in all, in 
twenty-eight engagements, chiefly in the 
rank of sergeant, to which he was promoted 
soon after his enlistment. At the close of 
the war his regiment took part in the 
Grand Review at Washington, D. C, 
where, in July, 1865, he received his dis- 
charge, having been in the service about 
four years. He returned home and for a 
time lived in Rochester, Lorain county, 
and then came to Wellington, which has 
since been iiis place of residence. Mr. 
Horton is an inventor of considerable re- 
pute, and his first invention was a thresh- 
ing machine which had a self-reo-isterinu: 
grain measure. This patent he sohl, and 
the machine was afterward manufactured 
and sold very extensively. He then had 
the sale of threshing machines and en- 
gines for several years till becoming a 
member of the Wellington Machine Co. 
He is tiie inventor of the " Monarch Brick 
Machine," which is made of iron, its 
capacity being six thousand bricks per 
hour, and is the chief article turned out by 
the Wellington Machine Company, of 
whose shops Mr. Horton was superinten- 
dent from the organization of the com'- 
pany until July 1, 1893, when he sold his 
interest therein. 

On November 8, 1877, our subject was 
married to Miss Amelia Callin, daughter 



m 




1 


«^^ 




r^f 


i 


^"^IB^K^ ^^"^^ 




" 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



919 



of James and Many Callin, of Monroe- 
ville, Ohio. Politically he is a Republican, 
socially a Knight Templar, and a memiier 
of Hamlin Tost, G. A. R., AVellington. lie 
lias been a member of the city council since 
the spring of 1893, at which time he was 
elected. In 1889 he built a fine block in 
Wellington, north side of Mechanic street. 



GW. HARRINGTON, a leading 
farmer of Columbia township, is a 
^^ ' native of same, born February 29, 
1848, a son of Elisha and Jane Har- 
rington, of Vermont birth, who in an early 
day migrated to Lorain county, Ohio, set- 
tling in Columbia township. They died 
here on their farm, the mother in 1858, 
the father in January, 1884; he dealt con- 
siderably iti live stock, was a Republican 
in politics, and served as trustee of his 
township. They had a family of six chil- 
dren, as follows: George (deceased when 
three years old), Hiram (who resides with 
his brother, C. W.), C. W., Wallace (mar- 
ried, living in Columbia township), Julia 
(who died unmarried) and Sarah (who also 
died unmarried). The grandfather of sub- 
ject had fourteen sons and two daughters. 
C. W. Hari-ington received a liberal 
school training in his native township, and 
attended an educational institute in Cleve- 
land one term. Brought up to agricul- 
tural pursuits, he has made farming his 
life Work, and is now the owner of ninety- 
four and three- fourths acres of well-cul- 
tivated land in Columbia township, on 
which he settled in iStiS. He has con- 
siderably improved the property, erecting 
a coinfortal)le residence, etc. In December, 
1867, Mr. Harrington married Miss Susan 
Maria Heath, born in Elyria, Ohio, daugh- 
ter of William and Mary (Green) Heath, 
natives of Vermont, and who mijrrated 
westward to Ohio, settling in Columbia 
township, Lorain county, where they are 
yet residing. To Mr. and Mrs. Harring- 



ton have been born seven children — four 
sons and three daughters — as follows: 
Wallace W., who died at the age of two 
months and fourteen days; AVillie E., who 
resides in Chicago; Bertha G., who died 
when two years and six months old ; Afton 
B., deceased when two months old; Eva 
M., married to Charles Putt, and has one 
child, Mamie; Julia Frances, who died 
when fourteen years and six months old 
(she united with the M. E. Church when 
nine years old, and was a faithful worker 
for the Lord at the time of her death; she 
was an alto singer in the choir from the 
time she was nine years old up to her 
death); and Warren C, who resides at 
home. Politically our subject is a Re- 
publican, and he is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church, his wife of the M. E. Church. 
They are rearing an adopted child named 
Lester Leon Lockwood. 



GH. SNOW, county surveyor of 
Lorain county, is a native of Lorain 
^^' county, Ohio, born in the town of 

Avon, September 22, 1848. 
His father, Edwin Snow, was born 
in Portage county, Ohio, and was there 
married to Miss Julia Lewis, a native of 
New York State. They became settlers 
of Lorain county, where the father fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits, ownino- a 
farm of 400 acres, 200 of which he cleared 
with his own hands. This was in Avon 
township, and one of the roads there, still 
knoivn as " Snow's road," was named after 
him. Edwin Snow was a leading farmer, 
enjoying the respect and esteem of the en- 
tire community. He died in 1886, at the 
age of seventy-seven years. In his politi- 
cal preferences he was a Republican. His 
widow is still living in Elyria, now aged 
seventy-four years. 

C. H. Snow, who is the third of five 
children born to Edwin and Julia Snow, 
received a liberal education, in part at the 



920 



LOEAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



common schools of his native town, and in 
part at Oberlin College. His scliool days 
over, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and 
there spent one year in civil engineering 
work. Returning to Lorain county, he mar- 
ried, May 24, 1880, Miss Mary Sweet, 
and settled down to agricultural pursuits, 
which he followed several years, at inter- 
vals working at his profession. In this 
he continued from 1874 till about 1886, 
in June of wliich latter year he was ap- 
pointed, without any solicitation on his 
part, county siirveyor of Lorain county, 
was elected in the following fall on the 
Eepublican ticket, and is now serving his 
second term. He still operates his farm, 
although attending closely to his profes- 
sional duties. Since 1887 he has, by 
special appointment, been serving as civil 
engineer for the city of Elyria. 

To Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Snow have been 
born two children: Franklin and Bricena. 
The family are members of the M. E. 
Church. 



IfffENEY SPICER, one of the well- 
fsH known old residents of LaGrange 
I 1 township, was born January 4, 1829, 
J) in Lancashire, England. 

He is the sou of Richard and 
Harriet (Upton) Spicer, the former of 
whom was a teamster, and drove in his 
day the usual six-horse team. Their 
children were named as follows: Alfred, 
Thomas, Jesse, Henry, Mary and Harriet, 
of whom Alfred and Thomas now reside 
in Charlotte, Mich.; Jesse is in Iowa; 
Mary is the deceased wife of Jesse Con- 
over; and Harriet is the deceased wife of 
Sheldon Seares, who was her second hus- 
band (she was lirst married, in England, to 
John Pickwood). In 1832 Richard Spicer 
came to the LTnited States (bringing our 
subject but not the entire family), landing 
at New York, and thence proceeding by 
I'iver, canal and lake to Cleveland, Ohio, 
from which city he came to Lorain county, 



locating east of tlie center of Ridgeville 
township. By that time he had only a 
small sum of money left, and he rented 
land and earned his livelihood by thresh- 
ing (in the old-fashioned way), in which 
line he was quite expert, being able to 
thresh ten bushels of grain and clean up 
after it in one day, a feat at that time 
looked upon as almost phenomenal. Later 
he removed to Butternut Ridge, _where he 
resided some time, and then lived for a 
while at Grafton Station, Grafton town- 
ship, moving thence to Carlisle township, 
where he bought fifty acres of land, then 
all in the woods. He removed his family 
thereon, but after cleariug it and making 
some improvements lie sold the tract and 
invested in land in the northern part of 
LaGrange township, on which a vast 
amount of clearing also had to be done. 
He was a hard-working, industrious man, 
and though beginning life poor he owned 
at the time of his death one hundred acres 
of land, all accumulated by his own untir- 
ing efforts. He and his wife both died on 
the farm in LaGrange. 

Henry Spicer was but three years old 
when brought by his parents to the United 
States and Ohio, where he received his edu- 
cation in the common schools of the day. 
He could attend even these for only a short 
period, however, as his eyes became 
affected, which compelled him to abandon 
study. He was reared to farm life, and 
during his boyhood he frequently saw wild 
animals — bears, deer, wolves, turkeys, etc., 
which were then still abundant in the 
region — in the clearings on the farm. He 
remained on the home place until his 
marriage, January 8, 1850, to Lucinda P. 
Hastings, who was born in Jefferson 
county, N. Y., daughter of Otis Hastings, 
a pioneer of LaGrange township. At this 
time Mr. Spicer's circumstances were 
somewhat limited. Locating in one of the 
wildest portions of LaGrange township, he 
purchased a tract at eight dollai's per acre, 
being obliged to go into debt for the land, 
which was heavily timbered and difficult 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



921 



to clear. He next removed to Henrietta 
township, where he afterward sold out at a 
protit, and in 1870 came to his present 
farm, in LaGrange township, then com- 
prising 111 acres, part of which he has 
since sold, having now eighty-six acres. 
Mr. and Mrs. Spicer have had the follow- 
ing cliildren: llichard, who died after 
reaching adult age; Elbridge, a farmer of 
LaGrange township; Perry, also a farmer 
of LaGrange; Harriet, now Mrs. Lewis 
Curtice, of LaGrange; and Carrie, Mrs. O. 
Nichols, of Lorain. In politics, Mr. 
Spicer was a Democrat until 1890, since 
when lie has been a Kepublican. In re- 
ligious connection he is a member of the 
Baptist Church. For seventeen years he 
has conducted a threshing business, and he 
is unusually well acquainted in his section. 
He is a much respected member of his 
community, and fully merits the esteem 
and regard in which he is held l)y his 
fellow citizens. From a start of compara- 
tively nothing he has made a success in 
life, reared his family well, and now enjoys 
a comfortable competence. 




j^OBEET SALISBUEY, a typical 
/ self-made man, and one of the lead- 



ing agriculturists of Grafton town- 
ship, is an Englishman by birth, 
born near Hull, Yorkshire, July 7, 
1821, a son of Joseph and Mary (Graspy) 
Salisbury. They had three children born 
in England, viz.: Robert, subject of sketch; 
Hannah, now Mrs. John Dunn, of ISTe- 
braska; and Graspy, who died at the age 
of five years, and is buried in Belden 
cemetery. 

In 1827 the family took passage in a 
sailing vessel from Hull for the New 
World, and after a voyage of six weeks 
and tiiree days they landed at New York. 
From there they proceeded by river, canal 
and lake to Cleveland, Ohio, thence to 
Grafton township, Lorain county, by 



wagon, the driver being a man who had 
come from Spencer, Medina county. The 
father of our subject had borrowed ten 
dollars from a companion on the voyage, 
and this was expended in bringing tiie 
family to Grafton. One John Langdon, a 
friend of Mr. Salisbury, had previously 
located in the township, and the latter was 
on that account the more resolved to come 
here, although wliile at Cleveland he re- 
ceived some inducement to stay there, be- 
ing offered not only work, but also land at 
four dollars per acre, which, however, he 
declined for the reason stated. On their 
arrival in Grafton the family were in 
needy circumstances, but Mr. Jonathan 
Rawson,with whom they staid over night, 
supplied them with provisions enough to 
last them two or three days. At last Mr. 
Salisbury secured work as a farm hand, 
working for Judge Wells for twenty acres 
of laud, which he afterward tiaded; then 
bought and sold, each time to advantage, 
until he and his son, our subject, found 
themselves possessors of 218 acres. After 
coming to the United States two more 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 
Salisbury, as follows: Betsey, now Mrs. 
Nelson Knowles, of LaGrange, Lorain 
county; and Miney, now Mrs. Alonzo 
Eyan, also of LaGrange. The father died 
in 1869, the mother on February 15, 1881, 
and they are buried in tlie cemetery at 
East LaGrange. 

The subject of this sketch was six years 
old when the family came to the United 
States, and he well remembers crossing 
the ocean, and of being corrected by the 
captain of the ship for climbing the rig- 
ging. In Grafton township he attended 
tiie first schoolhouse built there, a very 
primitive one, constructed of logs and 
rudely furnished. He was reared to farm- 
ing, and has made it his life work, for a 
considerable time he and his father work- 
ing together, clearing land in various 
places; he also learned the trade of cooper, 
and has followed it in connection with 
agricultural pursuits. At the age of ninei- 



922 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



teen he met with an accident, from the re- 
sult of wliicli lie has since suffered nut a 
little. One night he was coon-bunting, 
and having climbed a tree after cue of the 
animals, he lost his hold, falling to the 
ground, a distance of thirty-eight feet, and 
through this mishap be became the first 
patient of Dr. G. C. Underbill, in Grafton 
or LaGrange township. 

On September 19, 1857, Mr. Salisbury 
was united in marriage, by Elder Nesbit, 
with Miss Nancy L. McKenzie, a native 
of Grafton, Ohio, and three children were 
born to them, as follows: Charles F., mar- 
shal of Grafton; Franklin G., deceased at 
the age of three years; and a son that died 
in infancy, unnamed. After marriage our 
subject continued to reside on the home 
place, which is situated on the northwest 
corner of Grafton township, and bis parents 
passed their declining years with him. At 
one time be owned 235 acres of land, but 
having given away and sold some, he has 
now 168 acres left, besides three residences 
in the village of Grafton. A Republican 
in polities, he is a stanch member of the 
party. He and his wife have been members 
for twenty-seven years of the Congrega- 
tional Church, in which be has held vari- 
ous offices. 



djOHN HOWK, one of the most prom- 
inent and affiuent of Lorain county's 
' retired agriculturists, is a native of 
New York State, born in Chenango 
county December 13, 1820. 

David Ilowk, father of subject, was born 
in Lee township, Berkshire county, Mass., 
of Holland- Dutch descent, his father hav- 
ing come from that land of pure butter 
and cheese and variegated flowers to 
America in an early day, settling in Lee 
township, above referred to. Grandfather 
Howk brought his wife with him, and in 
their new home in tlie New World they 
reared four sons and four daughters. The 
grandfather died at the age of sixty-two 



years. His son, David, married Miss Pol- 
lie Bradley, a native of the same place, and 
they had 'six children, as follows: Clara 
(who died in infancy), Eli B. (who died in 
February, 1884), Hiram H., John, David, 
and Mary (who died in 1884). After mar- 
i-iage David Howk moved to New York 
State, locating near Oxford, in Chenango 
county, and there resided till July 15, 
1834, when the family came to Welling- 
ton township, Lorain Co., Ohio, making 
the trip by canal and lake to Cleveland, 
thence by wagons to their destination. 
They were pioneers in the literal sense, for 
they had to hew their way in the woods, 
and found no neighbor less than two and 
one-half miles distant, excepting wolves, 
bears, panthers and many other wild ani- 
mals. Here the father died in 1853 aged 
sixty-eight years, the mother in 1872 at 
the advanced age of eighty-one; they were 
members of the M. E. Church, and in poli- 
tics he was a Whig. 

John Howk, the subject proper of this 
sketch, was fourteen years old when be 
came to Lorain county, with the rest of the 
family, and nobly did bis share toward the 
clearing up of the wild woods. After bis 
marriage be settled on a farm in Welling- 
ton township, which now comprises 236 
acres of prime land. On September 27, 
1849, he was married to Miss Esther A. 
Baird, born April 11, 1825, a daughter of 
Bidwell and Sophia (Cheney) Baird, who 
were natives of Massachusetts, the father 
born in Berkshire county in 1796, and died 
November 28, 1876; the mother born in 
1801, and died August 21, 1891. They 
came to Ohio in 1832, settling in Well- 
ington township, Lorain county. They 
were the parents of ten ohildren, viz.: 
Kendal W., Esther A., Catiierine S., 
Robert H., Sylvester B. (deceased), Al- 
inena A., Albert E. (deceased), LucindaE., 
Adelaide P., and Abram P. (deceased). 

The children born to our subject and wife 
were as follows: Addie M., wife of H. O. 
Barber (they have three children: Jessie 
Bell, Clara May and John L.); Hattie, in 





^IVii': 





c^ 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



925 



the auditor's office, Cincinnati, Oliio; and 
Mary Ella, Emma A., Willie Perry and 
Freddie E., all four deceased. Politically 
our subject was first a Whicr, then a Re- 
yiublican,and since S. J. Tilden ran for the 
Presidential chair he has been a Democrat. 
He has been a member of Congressional 
conventions, also senatorial comnjittees, 
and served as trustee of his township nine 
consecutive years, part of the time during 
the Civil war. In church matters he is a 
member of the M. E. Church. For the 
past twelve years Mr. Howk has lived a re- 
tired life in the town of Wellington, hon- 
ored and respected by all. 



[[[[ E. CLARK, who was born May 

I'H 15, 1846, in Pittsfield township, 

I If Lorain Co., Ohio, was a grandson 

■^ of Nathan Clark, who was one of 

the tirst two settlers in LaGrange 

township. 

JoTiathan L. Clark, son of Nathan, was 
born in Jefferson county, N. Y., and when 
eight years old came with his parents to 
LaGrange township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
where he was reared to farm life. He mar- 
ried Rlioda Dale, a native of Vermont, 
and they became the parents of four chil- 
dren, viz.: Julia, who died at the age of 
twenty-two years; H. E.; Carrie, Mrs. 
Richard Gibbins, of Pittsfield township, 
and John G., an attorney of Kansas City, 
Mo. The father of this family was a Re- 
publican in politics. He died in 1877, 
and was buried in Pittsfield cemetery. 
His widow is still living at an advanced age. 

H. E. Clark I'cceived a common -school 
education, in the same district where his 
children now attend school, and resided at 
home until his marriage. On March 28, 
1873, he was wedded to Miss Mary Rogers, 
who was born April 2s, 1S42, in Pittsfield 
township, daughter of Edward and Ann 
(Bailey) Rogers; the latter were the par- 
ents of three children — one son and two 

48 



daughters — and came to Lorain county, 
Ohio, from Cornwall, England. After 
marriage Mr. Clark settled on the present 
farm, where he was principally occupied in 
general farming and dairying; he also 
took considerable interest in stock raising, 
and was formerly engaged in breeding 
fancy poultry, Oxford -Down registered 
sheep, Ayrshire cattle (registered) and 
Poland-China hogs, having experimented 
with various strains, all eligible to record. 
He also raised fine dogs — Scotch collies, 
Newfoundland dogs and English pugs — 
as well as ferrets, sending his stock to all 
parts of the United States and Mexico. He 
owned four imported horses, one Percheron 
and one Norman stallion (French coach 
stallions), and two mares. The farm now 
comprises 253 acres, and the stock enter- 
prises netted him no small amount of 
clear annual profit. In addition to general 
farming he carried on a creamery of his 
own, having regular customers who bought 
the products of the same. His extensive 
business was built up entirely by himself, 
and his fair, honest dealing, business-like 
methods, and complete practical knowl- 
edge of the business were important fac- 
tors in his success. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Clark had been born four children: 
Rhoda A., Carrie M., Edward L., and Ro- 
sclla M. (who died when five years old). 
Mr. Clark died July 21, 1893, a member 
of the Methodist Church, as is also his 
widow. 



fr^ J. BRAMAN, a well-known and 
I J. popular citizen of Lorain, is a native 
>^l of Lorain county, born in 1839, a 
^ son of Daniel and Belinda (Fal- 
coner) Braman, the father a native 
of Massachusetts, the mother of Pennsyl- 
vania. In an early day the parents came 
to Lorain county, Ohio, but in 1851 they 
migiated to Allamakee county, Iowa, so- 
journing there until 1856, in which year 
they moved to Jackson county. Wis., 



926 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



where tliey passed the rest of their days in 
farming pursuits. The father died in 
1883, the mother in 1891; he was a Demo- 
crat, and took some interest in politics. 

G. J. Jjraman was reared and educated 
in Lorain county, and at the age of twelve 
years moved with his parents to Iowa, 
where in 1852 he carried the chain on a 
survey locating the boundary line of Iowa 
and Minnesota. In 1857 he located at 
Red Wing, Minn., and was a pilot on the 
Mississippi river until 1860, when he re- 
turned to Lorain county, and again at- 
tended school, also followine the trade of 
carpenter. In May, 1861. he enlisted in 
Company K, Twenty-third O. V. I., for 
three years or during the war, serving un- 
der Col. K. B. (afterward General) Hayes, 
assigned to the Eastern army. He was 
first under lire September 10, 1861, at Car- 
nifex Ferry, and participated in the bat- 
tles of Sewell Mountain, Cotton Mountain 
(Va.), and Newberne (K. C); after that 
he was assigned to the army of the Poto- 
mac, and was in the battles of Fairfax 
Courthouse, South Mountain, and Antie- 
tam ; he was then ordered to the Kanawha. 
While in the army of the Potomac, be was 
detailed in charge of transportations. Mr. 
Braman was honorably discharged at Co- 
lumbus, Ohio, in July, 1864, and returned 
to Lorain county, Ohio, where he remained 
till 1873, in that year moving to Michi- 
gan. For a time he was engaged as su- 
perintendent of a bridge gang in Texas, 
but in 1SS2 he again came to Lorain 
county, making his home in Lorain, and 
was engaged on the C. L. & W. for some 
time. Mr. Braman has been a member of 
the Lorain police force since 1889. and 
constable since 1890. 

On December 25, 1864, Mr. Braman 
was united in marriage, at Grafton, Ohio, 
with Miss Belle M. Crittenden, also a na- 
tive of Lorain county, daughter of William 
H. and Clara (Arnold) Crittenden, of 
Massachusetts, who became early settlers 
of Lorain county. To this union was 
born one daughter, Rena Belle, now 



the wife of William H. Ault, of Lorain 
county. Mr. Braman is a Republican, 
and takes an active interest in politics; 
in 18S8 lie served as a member of the 
town council. He is a member of the Q. 
A. Giilmore Post, G. A. R., Lorain, and 
of the K. O. T. M. 



F. CARTER, proprietor of a flour- 
ishing hardware establishment in 
Oberlin, one of the leading business 
houses in that line in Lorain county, 
is a native of New York State, born in 
Cattaraugus county in 1838. 

Thomas Carter, his father, was a native 
of Connecticut, and when he was a child 
his parents, also natives of the "Nutmeg 
State," came to Onondaga county, N. Y., 
from there moving to the western part of 
the same State. The father, who was a 
tanner and shoemaker, died at the patri- 
archal age of eighty-three years. In 1854 
Thomas Carter and his family came to Lo- 
rain county, Ohio, settling on a farm in 
Russia township. By trade he was a tan- 
ner and shoemaker, but after comina to 
Ohio lie followed farming exclusively. An 
Old-line Whig in his younger days, he 
has, since the organization of the party, 
been a stanch Republican. His wife, 
Abi (Hotchkiss), died in 1864, the mother 
of six children. He now lives with a 
daughter at Riceville, Penn., at the great 
age of ninety-five years. 

O. F. Carter, whose name introduces 
this biographical sketch, is fourth in order 
of birth in his father's family. His school 
training was received in part in his native 
county, and in part at Oberliti, Ohio. He 
remained on his father's farm, assisting 
thereon until his mother's death, after 
which he .bought the old homestead and 
cultivated same till 1866, when he sold 
out Hud returned to Cattaraugus county, 
N. Y. Here, in Ranc^olph township, he 
embarked in the hardware business with a 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



927 



brother, but some little time afterward re- 
turned to Lorain county and opene<l in 
Oberlin liis present hardware store, the 
style of the firm being, tirst — '' Carter, 
Franks & Co.," and, for the past four 
years — " Carter & Huckus." 

In 1860 our subject was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Emily M. Brown, and one 
child, Carrie J., was born to them; she is 
the wife of Elmer M. Kice, of Riceville, 
Penn., and has one child, named Robert 
Hughes. Politically Mr. Carter is an 
active Republican, and has been a regular 
delegate to State and county conventions 
for several years. Socially he is a mem- 
ber of the Royal Arcanum and Knights of 
Honor. In church relationship he is a 
Congregatio n all St. 



dlOHN" DAGUE, a lifelong farmer and 
a highly respected citizen of Penfield 
_^' township, is a native of Ohio, born 
November 16, 1820, in Milton town- 
ship, Wayne county, son of Frederick 
Dague. Michael Dague, grandfather of 
our subject, was of German extraction. 

Frederick Dagne, father of John Dague, 
was a native of Washington county, Penn., 
where he was married to Catherine Harsh, 
also born in Washington county, daughter 
of Henry Harsh, and in 1820 the young 
couple migrated westward to Ohio. The 
road were very rough, but they canie in a 
wagon, and located in Wayue county, then 
a very wild section, where wild animals — 
deer, bears, wolves, etc. — abounded. Here 
Mr. Dague purchased 160 acres of land, all 
heavily timbered and without improve- 
ments of any sort, erecting thereon a rude 
cabin, with puncheon floor, stick chimney, 
etc. He had a family of eight children, 
one of whom died in Pennsylvania, and six 
of whom still survive, viz.: Frederick, 
John, Henry, Levi, Sarah and Ann. The 
father of these passed his remaining years 
on the pioneer farm in Wayne county, liv- 



ing to see the transformation of bis prop- 
erty from the primeval forest to a fertile 
farm. Much hard labor was necessarily 
involved in accomplishing this, but he was 
assisted in the work by his family, every 
member of which worked with a will to 
secure a home, and at the time of his 
death the property was worth several thou- 
sand dollars. He made many substantial 
improvements thereon in the way of build- 
ings, putting up a fine barn and outbuild- 
ings, also a handsome brick residence, and 
was progressive in every way. He acquired 
and retained universal respect and esteem, 
and instilled into the minds of his children 
those sterling principles so characteristic 
of his life, and now so apparent in theirs. 
He lived to a ripe old age. Mrs. Cather- 
ine Dague died July 12, 1834, and Mr. 
Dagne subsequently married Margaret 
Baker, who had come from Maryland; 
there were no children by this union. 

John Dague received in his youth a 
meager training in the common schools of 
that early day, his attendance being re- 
stricted to five days during one winter 
term. From early boyhood he engaged in 
the arduous duties of farm life, and re- 
mained at home until reaching his ma- 
jority, assisting in the clearing of the pio- 
neer farm, where he labored zealously to 
help his father secure a home. On Jan- 
uary 20, 1842, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Barbara Waltner, who was born 
in December, 1816, in Adams county, 
Penn., daughter of Jacob and Sarah 
(Bowser) Waltner, who came by wagon to 
Ohio in 1834, the family, which then con- 
sisted of three daughters, walking the 
greater part of the way to Milton town- 
ship. Wayne county, where they located. 
For nine years after their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Dague rented land, and he worked 
for fifty cents a day, clearing land for 
others, laboring from sunrise to sunset, 
his wife helping all the while. In Feb- 
ruary, 1852, they came to Penfield town- 
ship, purchasing 102 acres at five dollars 
per acre, and there made their home in a 



928 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



lop; liouse, the walls of which were so open 
that the snow blew through the cracks. 
Children as follows were born to them: 
Mary, who died at the age of thirty-one 
years, unmarried; Sarah, Mrs. Alfred 
Bronse, of Penfield; Margaret, Mrs. Har- 
vey Bronse, of Pentield; Jacob, a farmer, 
deceased; Hattie, Mrs. Robert Davidson, 
of Wellington, Ohio; Fred, a farmer of 
Penfield; John, also a farmer of Penfield; 
and William, a farmer of Spencer, Medina 
Co., Ohio. About twenty-five years ago 
Mr. Dague lost almost entirely the use of 
his arm, but his ciiildren have taken hold 
of the manual labor, and the affairs of the 
farm have progressed finely. At one time 
he owned over 200 acres of land, and now, 
after having started his children in life, he 
has an excellent farm and a most beauti- 
ful home, and enjoys a comfortable com- 
petence. His noble wife deserves no small 
amount of credit for the part she has 
taken, and now, though over seventy-seven 
years of age, she is still in the enjoyment 
of remarkably good health. Mr. Dague 
is extremely fond of his home, seldom 
leaving it for more than a day at a time. 
He is a self-made man in every respect, 
and from small beginnings has made a 
complete success, having acquired during 
his business career an enviable record for 
fair, honest dealing. In politics he sym- 
pathizes with the Democratic party, and 
in religious connection he and his wife are 
members of the German Baptist Church. 



Co., 



'HARLES A. FOWLER was the 
eldest son of Charles and Eliza (Ba- 
ker) Fowler, and was born January 
28, 1834, in Chestertown, Warren 
N. Y. (w^here he spent his boyhood 
days), a very picturesque village situated a 
short distance from the Adirondack Moun- 
tains. 

Here during his leisure hours he roamed 
at will down through the deep glens or 
over the rugged mountains. After having 



graduated at the high school, and receiv- 
ing a thorough business education, he en- 
tered his father's mercantile establishment, 
where he became familiar with tlie practi- 
cal works of a merchant. About the year 
1854 he came to Ohio to look after an ex- 
tensive land estate in the townships of 
Grafton and Eaton, Lorain county. This 
estate was purchased from Jonathan Raw- 
son, it being a large tract of land situated 
on both sides of Black river, and covered 
nearly all the territory on which the pres- 
ent prosperous village of Grafton Station 
now stands. After remaining in Grafton for 
a short time, Mr. Fowler went to Michi- 
gan and engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness, but in about one year returned to 
Grafton to take care of the property there, 
which was deeded to him by his father. 
He spent his time in general farming, 
stock raising and so forth. There was a 
sawmill on the premises which he operated 
until the year 1862, when it was carried 
away by a flood, after which he devoted 
his spare time to local politics, and filled 
some of the most important offices of the 
place with great credit; was mayor of 
Grafton one term, and is still quoted as 
the honest and business-like mayor. Po- 
litically he was a Democrat. While he was 
very outspoken, he was very kind-hearted, 
generous and charitable to a fault. In 
1891 he rebuilt his home, which now ranks 
among the finest in northern Ohio. Mr. 
Fowler died December 30, 1891, in La- 
Grange, from injuries received while step- 
ping from a moving train. His remains 
rest in the cemetery in Elyria, in a vault 
erected by his wife at an enormous ex- 
pense, it being the finest in Lorain county. 
The business part of the community feel 
the loss of a good councilor and citizen, 
and the poor mourn him as a benefactor. 
On February 15, 1857, in the city of 
Adrian, Micii., Charles A. Fowler was 
iinited in marriage with Miss Mary J. 
Hendee, who was born April 6, 1835, in 
Spencer, Medina Co., Ohio, a daughter of 
James and Anna (Hoover) Hendee, early 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



929 



settlers in Medina county, formerly resi- 
dents of Monroe county, N. Y. Mr. Hen- 
dee was a lifelong farmer, a man of 
moilerate means. He had a family of 
eiglit children, of whom five at this date 
are yet living. Mrs. Fowler is a lady of 
sound judgment, and manages her farm of 
140 acres in a manner that well exempli- 
fies her innate lousiness sagacity and acu- 
men. Her residence is one of the finest 
in the county, and is elegantly fnrnisiied, 
all its surroundings giving evidence of the 
exquisite taste and refinement of its owner. 



Fl( LFEEl) FAUYER, ex-commissioner 
l/\\ of Lorain county, and retired agri- 
lP^ cuiturist, is a native of the county, 
•fj born in Eaton township in the year 
1835. 
In his boyhood and early youth Mr. 
Fauver attended the common schools, and 
learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, 
at which he was working when the war of 
the Rebellion broke out. He was the first 
to volunteer into the service of the Union 
from Eaton township, enlisting in the 
Eighth O. V. I., whicli regiment was sent 
to Camp Dennison from Cleveland, and 
there being no accommodation prepared 
for tliem the men had to bivouac in a field 
among the snow and mud; in consequence 
of such exposure our subject was seized 
with pneumonia, but did not leave the 
service. The regiment then proceeded to 
West Virginia, to guard the Baltimore & 
Ohio Railroad, and participated in the 
battle of Winchester, where Mr. Fauver 
received a musket-ball and three buckshot 
in the leg, which wounds necessitated his 
confinement in hospital at Winchester for 
some time. Returning home when con- 
valescent, he was honorably discharged 
from the service August 19, 1862. He 
then settled down to agricultural pursuits 
in Eaton township, which he carried on 
successfully till 1891, in which year he re- 



tired from active life, and took up his resi- 
dence in Oberlin, in order the better to 
educate iiis children. 

On October 24, 1863, Mr. Fauver mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth King, of Eaton town- 
ship, Lorain county, by which union there 
are six children — five sons and one daugh- 
ter, as follows: Lester A., graduate of a 
civil engineering school, and now city en- 
gineer of Lorain; Louis 13., attending Ober- 
lin College; Clayton K., in college; Edwin 
and Edgar (twins), both in high school at 
Oberlin; and Mabel. In politics Mr. Fau- 
ver is a stalwart member of the Republi- 
can party, and in 1884 was elected county 
commissioner, in which incumbency he 
served nine years and one month. He has 
been active in the interests of the county 
in many ways, and was a member of the 

fuberuatorial convention that nominated 
'oster for governor of Ohio. He assisted 
in tiie organization of the First National 
Bank of Lorain, and is one of its directors; 
he is also a stockholder in the Savings 
Bank of Elyria. 




^ILLIAM H. SAXTON, one of the 
most prominent and influential 
of the prospei-ous agriculturists of 
Russia township, was born Octo- 
ber 28, 1827, in Jefferson county, N. Y., 
a son of Elisha Saxton, also a native of 
New York State. 

The father of our subject married Miss 
Ardelia Cottrel, of the State of New York, 
and they then settled in the vicinity of 
where he was reared. He had served in 
the capacity of coachman (rising to that 
position from one of day laborer) for 
Joseph Bonaparte, a heavy landowner and 
prominent man, who at the time of his 
death gave each of his employes fifty acres 
of land, Elisha Saxton Ijeing one of the 
beneficiaries. This he commenced farm- 
ing on, but it was new land and proved to 
be not worth much, and later he moved to 
Otsego county, same State, to a town then 



930 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



called Butternuts. Thence he proceeded 
to Jefferson county, locating for a time in 
Denmark, and from there the family came 
in 1835 to Ohio, by way of the Erie Canal 
from Syracuse to Buffalo, thence by boat 
to Huron, Ohio, from which place they 
were conveyed by wagon to Richland 
county, where they sojourned a month or 
two. From that county they moved to 
LaG range township, Lorain county, where 
Mr. Saxton bought for cash seventy-five 
acres at about five dollars per acre. Here 
be lived for some years, at the end of 
which time he removed to Wellington 
township, same county, whence after a 
time he returned to La Grange town- 
ship, where he died in July, 1863; 
his widow passed from earth in 1870, in 
Ohio, at the home of her son ISTelson. They 
are buried side by side in Pittsfield town- 
ship, Lorain county. He was a successful 
hard-working farmer, and by industry and 
frugality accumulated a comfortable com- 
petence. Politically he was a Democrat 
until the Anti-slavery movement, when he 
turned Abolitionist; he held various offices 
of trust in his township. When he lirst 
came to Ohio he was a Baptist, but later 
became an adherent of the Universalist 
faith, remaining so to the close of his life. 
The children bcrn to him prior to his re- 
moval to Ohio were as follows: Elzina, 
who married Hiram Jones, and died in 
LaGrange township, Lorain county; Will- 
iam II., subject of this sketch; Daniel, who 
died soon after coming to Ohio; Xelson, a 
minister of the Universalist faith, who died 
in 1890; and Emily, who married Cyrus 
Batchelor, and died in LaGrange town- 
ship. Those born in Ohio are Albert D., 
now a resident of Eaton Rapids, Mich.; 
and John, a farmer of Deerfield, Michigan. 
William H. Saxton, the subject proper 
of this sketch, received his education at 
the subscription school of LaGrange town- 
ship, which was held in an old log cabin, 
with slab seats, puncheon floor and greased 
paper for windows in lieu of glass, the first 
teacher being Lura Cross. Here our sub- 



ject drank of the "Pierian Spring" dur- 
ing the winter months until lie was eigh- 
teen years old, working on the fRrm in the 
summer season. He lived at home till he 
was twenty-one years old, when he pur- 
chased a piece of land containing fifty 
acres, price three hundred and fifty dol- 
lars, paying one hundred dollars down, and 
in a few years by hard labor and judicious 
economy he was enabled to pay for it in 
full. He built thereon a log cabin, al- 
most entirely with his own hands, the 
chimney being made of mud and sticks, 
and an old "hard-head boulder" consti- 
tuted the back of the fireplace. 

In May, 1849, Mr. Saxton was married 
to Mary Allyn, a native of Connecticut, 
born in June, 1824, daughter of Matthew 
Allyn, and they commenced their wedded 
life in the humble log house iust described. 
The first road, in those parts, between 
Cleveland and Toledo, came near their 
home, and so they kept boarders, which 
helped Mr. Saxton toward paying for his 
farm; and he also sold cross ties from the 
land he was clearing. This property of 
originally fifty acres he has from time to 
time added to, and he now owns in all 
over 700 acres — some in Ohio, some in 
Michigan and some in Iowa. For five 
years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Saxton lived in the old log cabin, and then 
moved into a frame house. Their children 
were born as follows: Clara, Mrs. Raphael 
Rogers, of Cleveland, Ohio; Judson, a 
farmer of Humboldt county, Iowa; Will- 
iam, a farmer of LaGrange township, Lo- 
rain county; Arthur, of Cleveland, Ohio; 
and Edith, Mrs. M. Mason, of Oberlin, 
Ohio. 

Mr. Saxton has been a great reader in 
his day, and has a very retentive memory 
for everything he finds of use from books. » 
He also takes a deep interest in various 
branches of industry, and has been a patron 
of all the leading industrial Expositions 
held in the United States for the past 
twenty-five years, including the Centennial 
at Philadelphia, the New Orleans Exposi- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



931 



tion, the World's Fair at Chicago, etc. la 
1889 he and his wife made a trip to the 
Pacific Slope, visiting among other places 
San Francisco and San Diego, Cal., and 
Seattle, Wash.; they also traveled through 
the New England States, visiting his wife's 
place of birth. In the summer of 1892 
lie visited the Western States, proceeding 
as far north as Alaska, and traveling 
through various parts of that new Terri- 
tory. In his political preferences Mr. 
Saxton was a Republican up to the time 
of Horace Greeley's campaign, since when 
lie has been a Prohibitionist. 



QH. ARNET, retired, who enjoys the 
, record of being one of the most 
painstaking and successful farmers of 
,L Russia town.-^hip, a shrewd manager 
and sound financier, is a native of 
Western New York, born July 17, 1827, 
in Jerusalem township, in the lake country. 
James S. Arnet, father of subject, was 
born November 26, 17SB, and about theyear 
1835 came to Ohio, locating in Hartland 
township, Huron county, in the pioneer 
days of that locality. After, some years 
residence there he moved to Illinois, but 
returning to Ohio he passed tiie rest of his 
days among his children. He died in 
Townsend township, Huron county, in Oc- 
tober, 1868, and w-as buried at Hartland 
Ridge by the side of his second wife. Po- 
litically he was for several years a Whig, 
afterward, on the organization of the party, 
a steadfast Republican. He had been twice 
married, first time September 11, 1804, to 
Julia Terry, who was born March 81, 
1785, and died when her son G. PL, our 
subject, was two months old. Mr. Arnet 
then removed to Sheffield township, War- 
j-en Co., Peim., where, on August 12, 
1830, he married Rebecca Shipman, who 
died in Hartland townsiiip, Huron county. 
G. H. Arnet, the subject proper of 
this sketch, beinc l)ut an infant when his 
mother died, was brought up by his sister 



Caroline, and attended the subscription 
schools of the period. At about the age 
of twenty-one he began fo work out for 
himself, with a lumber company (four 
years) and in sawmills, etc., in Huron and 
Lorain counties. On December 28, 1854, 
Mr. Arnet was married to Elizabeth West, 
who was born September 7, 1831, in Gen- 
eva, N. Y., and in 1^41 came to Welling- 
ton township, Lorain county, with her 
parents, Horace and Susan (Weiser) West. 
Tlie children born to this union are Mel- 
vin D., born Octolier 13, 1859, a farmer 
in Russia township; Helen S., born March 
17, 1803, married to Manasses Baker, of 
Oberlin, Ohio; and George W., who died 
young. 

Prior to his marriage our subject had 
bought on credit 121 acres of wild land at 
eight dollars per acre, where he is yet liv- 
ing, and this he has improved and from 
time to time added to until he now has 180 
acres of as good farming land as can be 
found in the county. For some years he 
has lived retired from active life, his son, 
Melvin D., iiaving charge of tiie place; but 
he can not remain idle, for at all times he 
is to be seen doing light work of one kind 
or another about the premises. He has a 
bright, pleasant home, where he and his 
estimable wife are quietly and comfortably 
passing the declining years of their lives. 
Politically Mr. Arnet is a stanch Republi- 
can, formerly an Old-line Whig. 



T[ f[ G. HUSTED, senior member of the 
pH well-known firm of H. G. and D. S. 
I 1| Husted, dentists, in Oberlin, is a 
J) worthy representative of one of the 

earliest pioneer families. Plis grand- 
father, Samuel Husted, came in a very early 
day from Danbury, Conn., and erected tlie 
first flour mill in the county. Hoyt Husted, 
father of subject, was born in Danbury, 
Conn., and learned the milling business, 
which he followed for many years in Clarks- 
field township, Huron Co., Ohio. For his 



93'J 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



first wife he married Sarah Gray, a native 
. of New York State, who came with her 
parents to Ohio fn 1825, settling in Clarks- 
lield, Huron county. His second wife, 
Anna C. Stone, was born in Connecticut, 
and removed witli her parents to Clarks- 
iield when but a child. 

H. G. Husted, son of Hoyt and Sarah 
(Gray) Hiisted, was born April (5, 1851, in 
Clarksfield township, Huron Co., Ohio, 
and was reared to farm life, receiving his 
primary education in the common schools. 
For three and one-half years he studied 
dentistry under a pi'eceptor, in Norwalk, 
and since September, 1878. he has resided 
in Oberlin, where he has built up a good 
practice. Mr. Husted was united in mar- 
riage, November 11, 1879, in Norwalk, 
Huron county, with Miss Alberta Jackson, 
a native of Norwalk, and to this union 
have been born three children: Walter, 
Clara and Hubert. Politically our subject 
is an active member of the Republican 
party, and has served two terms as mem- 
ber of the town council. In religious faith 
he is an adherent of the Congregational 
Church. He is a member of the Northern 
Ohio Dental Association. 



D 



I\ 8. HUSTED, junior member of the 
ll well-known dentist firm, in Oberlin. 



of H. G. and D. S. Husted, is de- 
scended from an early pioneer family 
of this section. His grandfather, Samuel 
Husted, came in a very early day from 
Danbury, Conn., and erected the first flour 
mill in the county. Hoyt Husted, father 
of subject, was born in Danbury, Conn., 
and learned the miller's trade, which he 
followed for many years in Clarksfield 
township, Huron Co., Ohio. For his first 
wife he married Sarah Gray, a native of 
New York State, who came with her par- 
ents to Ohio in 1S25, settling in Clarks- 
field, Huron county. His second wife, 
Anna C. Stone, was a native of Connec- 
ticut, and came to Clarksfield with her 
parents when but a child. 



D. S. Husted, son of Hoyt and AnnaC. 
(Stone) Husted, was born March 17, 1861, 
in Clarksfield township, Huron county, 
where he was reared, and where he received 
his primary education at the common 
schools. In 1885 he was graduated from 
the Dental Department of the University 
of Michigan, and commenced the practice 
of his profession at Troy, Miami Co., Ohio, 
where he remained for some time. Later 
he formed a partnership with his brother, 
H. G. Husted, and they are now conduct- 
ing an extensive practice in Oberlin. The 
Doctor was manied, April 25, 1889, to 
Miss Lizzie Hurlburt, of Oberlin, Ohio, 
and they have had two children, namely: 
Howard and Edith. Politically Mr. 
Husted is a Prohibition-Republican, and 
in religion he is an adherent of the M. E. 
Church. He is a member of the Northern 
Ohio Dental Association. 



'jtNx AVID BURKE is one of the most 
I I prominent representative agricul- 
H J! tui'ists of Lorain county, his resi- 
dence being on Butternut Ridge, 
Eaton township. 

He is a native of New York State, born 
in 1827, in the town of De Kalb, a son 
of David and Isabella (McUwe) Burke, the 
former of whom, a native of Londonderry, 
Ireland, when a young man sailed from 
Belfast for this country, and after his ar- 
rival proceeded to De Kalb, N. Y., where 
he married, and his children were born. 
From there in March, 1834, the family 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, settling in 
Ridgeville township, where the father 
opened up a farm, subsequently purchas- 
ing the Alcott property in the same town- 
ship. He died in August, 1875, his wife 
having preceded him to the grave in 1872. 
They reared a family of seven children, all 
of whom are yet living, as follows: Samuel 
Burke, married, residing in Indiana; Mat- 
thew Burke, married, living in Chicago; 
Judge Stevenson Burke, of Cleveland; 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



935 



David Burke, the subject proper of this 
memoir; Mary J., wife of Henry Smith, 
of Ohusted Falls, Ohio; James Burke, 
married, a resident of Ridgeville township, 
Lorain county; and K chel, wife of Henry 
Marsh, of Summit county, Colorado. 

David Burke received his education at 
the common schools of Ridgeville town- 
ship, Lorain county, whither he had come 
with his parents when seven years old. In 
early life he went on the lakes, lirst as fire- 
man on a steam vessel, in course of time be- 
ing promoted to engineer, remaining in all 
nine years, during " the cholera year,'' 
working on the Sandusky line. On leav- 
ing the lakes, he came to Eaton township, 
and bought six acres of wild land, to 
which he added from time to time until he 
now owns 360 acres in Eaton township, 
and fifty in Ridgeville township. All his 
property he has greatly improved, and the 
barn he built — 86 x 46 feet — 24 foot posts 
— has a capacity of 200 tons of hay, with 
basement for cattle and horses. In addition 
to general farining operations, Mr. Burke 
trades considerably in horses, matching 
teams, and so forth. 

In 1850 he was married in Ridgeville 
township to Miss Hannah Kemp, who was 
born in Kenninghall, England, daughter 
of Robert and Hannah (CoUey) Kemp, also 
natives of England, who came to America 
and, in 1830, made a permanent settle- 
ment in Ridgeville township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Burke have been 
born two children: Albert (married), on 
his father's farm, and Lyman, attending 
school in Elyria. In his political predilec- 
tions our subject is a Republican. 



DANIEL Al 
upright cit 
is a native 



AUBLE, a widely respected, 
itizenof Pentield township, 
ve of the State of Ohio, born 
July 6, 1828, near Greentown, Stark 
county. His father, Christopher Aublo, 
was born in Pennsylvania, and his grand- 
father, Conrad Auble, was a native of 
Germany. 



Christopher Auble was reared to farm 
life, was married in Pennsylvania to Miss 
Mary Crumbaugh, also born in that State, 
of German parentage, and in an early day 
they came west to Stark county, Ohio, 
where they resided for some years. In 1829 
they moved to Wadsworth township, Me- 
dina county, where he purchased 160 acres, 
all in the woods, erected a small log house, 
and immediately set to work clearing the 
land, where he made his home for many 
years. In their later life, after their chil- 
dren had all married, Mr. and Mrs. Auble 
removed to Spencer township, Medina 
county, where he passed from earth at the 
age of eighty-two years, she at the age of 
ninety-two, both members of the Evangeli- 
cal Church. They now lie buried in 
Spencer cemetery. Mr. Auble was a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812, and drew a pen- 
sion for his services. He was an honest, 
industrious, hard-working farmer, who ac- 
cumulated an ample share of this world's 
goods, and lived to enjoy a comfortable 
competence. He was actively interested 
in religious work, and became a minister 
in the Albright Church, being a naturally 
briifht, intelligent man. His children, ten 
in number, all became successful, well-to- 
do citizens. 

Daniel Auble was but an infant when 
his parents removed to Medina county, 
wiiere he was reared to mandood on the 
home farm, receiving an education in the 
common schools. As soon as he was old 
enough to help, he was put to work clear- 
ing the land, and he continued to do gen- 
eral farm work, remaining at home until 
reaching his majority, and turning overall 
his earnings to his parents. On Septem- 
ber 19, 1861, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Ruth E. Space, who was born 
January 10, 1848, in Spencer township, 
daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Benja- 
min) Space, and they first located on a 
rented farm in Spencer township. They 
then rented various other places for about 
five years, when Mr. Auble purchased a 
small tract of land near Spencer Mills, 



936 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



whence in 1866 they came to Pentield 
township, Lorain county, locating on the 
Smith road. Here they resided for about 
twenty-five years, and in 1891 came to the 
present farm, which comprises one hun- 
dred acres of excellent land. The children 
horn to Mr. and Mrs. Anble are as fol- 
lows: Mary E., Mrs. William Haulk, of 
Wellington ; Alice L., Mrs. George White, 
of Pentield; Ida J., Mrs. Frank England, 
of Huntington; Aaron, Francis and Lucius 
L., at home; and Christopher, deceased. 
By hard toil and the practice of economy 
Mr. Auble has met with encouraging suc- 
cess in his life vocation, and though be- 
ginning life with almost nothing, he is 
now a well-to-do farmer citizen, highly 
esteemed for his square, honest methods 
in dealing with his fellow-men. In his 
political predilections he is a stanch sup- 
porter of the Democratic party, and in re- 
ligious faitli he and his wife are members 
of the Evangelical Church. 



J[OHN STANG, railroad and Govern- 
! ment contractor, Lorain, is a native 
' of Germany, born February 19, 1836, 
at Kurhassen, where he was educated, 
and learned the trade of manufacturer of 
broadcloth. At the age of nineteen he 
immigrated to the United States, and after 
landing came directly to Lorain, Ohio, 
where he worked first in a shipyard, in 
the meantime making himself master of 
the English language. With characteristic 
energy and his well-known ability he soon 
advanced himself, and it was not long be- 
fore he was largely interested in contract- 
ing and building, including bridge build- 
ing for the county, as well as for railroads, 
in connection with which latter the first 
bridges he contracted for wei-e on the 
Cleveland & Akron road, and on the Nickel 
Plate; he also constructed foundations for 
iron bridges. Prior to this he had done 
Government work, chiefly building piers 



and breakwaters, from which he drifted, 
in 1881, into harbor dredging. Nor did 
Mr. Stang confine himself to contracting 
and biiildino;, for in 1864 we find him al- 
ready deep in the timber business, shipping 
to New York, Buffalo and Cleveland, and 
to Quebec (Canada) for foreign shipment; 
and he is still interested in that line of 
trade in Ottawa county, Ohio, where he 
has, in connection, sawmills, stores etc. 
Hemoreclosely confines himself to Govern- 
ment contracts for the building of dry- 
docks, coal-docks etc., also the raisino- of 
sunken vessels, and other such work on the 
lakes. 

Mr. Stang has been twice married, first 
time, in 1863, to Miss Mary Brown, by 
whom he has four children: Christina M., 
wife of H. Little; W. F. and John J., at- 
tending to their father's timber interests, 
and Lizzie, wife of P. Jackson. The 
mother of these dying in 1875, Mr. Stang 
married, in 1876, Miss Catherine Brown. 
In' his political sympathies our subject is 
a Republican; socially he is a member of 
the Koyal Arcanum, Knights of the Mac- 
cabees and Knights of Honor. In matters 
of religion he is a member of the Congre- 
gational Church. Mr. Stang's parents, 
Augustus and Margaret (Herwig) Stang, 
were also natives of Kurhassen, Germany, 
where they passed their lives, and where 
the father carried on a merchant tailoring 
business. They were Presbyterians. Their 
family consisted of six children — four sons 
and two daughters — of whom the subject 
of this sketch is fourth in order of birth. 



T'HOMAS ROACH, a prosperous 
farmer of Eaton township, is a 
native of Northamptonshire, Eng- 
land, born November 29, 1848, son 
of John and Elizabeth (Ames) 
Roach. 

The parents of our subject were also 
natives of the same county in England, 
and in 1853 came to the United States, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



937 



locating first on rented land in Amherst 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio. In 1854 the 
family removed to Ridgevilie township, 
and thence in 1850 to Eaton township, 
settling on the farm where Thomas Roach 
now resides, which at that time was hut 
jiartly improved. The father afterward 
resided in Carlisle township. He died in 
1888; the mother preceded him to the 
grave, having passed away in the fall of 
1853, in Amherst township. They reared 
a family of seven children, all born in 
England, a brief record of whom is as fol- 
lows: Mary was married in England to 
Samnel Maddock, and now resides in De- 
fiance county. Ohio; Joseph is married, 
and resides in Nebraska; Ann is the wife 
of Henry Townsend, of Carlisle township; 
William enlisted, in 1861, m Amherst 
township, as a member of Company K, 
Twenty-third O. V. I., for three years, and 
was accidentally shot and killed the same 
year; Betsy, the wife of Henry Montague, 
resides in Neosha county, Kans. ; Sophia 
is the wife of Peter Watts, of Knights- 
town, Ind.; Thomas is the subject of this 
memoir. John Roach took an active in- 
terest in politics, and held various local 
offices of trust, serving as township trustee, 
member of the school board and road 
supervisor. In religious faith he was a 
member of the Disciple Church. 

Thomas Roach was reared in England 
until five years of age, when he came with 
his parents to Lorain county, Ohio. He 
received his education in the common 
schools of Eaton township, and has since 
been engaged in agriculture, which lie has 
made his life vocation. He now owns the 
homestead farm, consisting of fifty acres 
of good land, in a high state of cultivation. 
In September. 1879, Mr. Roach was mar- 
ried, in Eaton township, to Miss Jennie 
Artress, a native of England, daughter of 
AVilliam and Mary (Johnson) Artress, who 
were also born in England; they came 
from their native country to Amherst 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, removed thence 
to Elyria, aild.from Elyria to Grafton (all 



in Lorain county), finally returning to 
Elyria, however, where Mrs. Artress still 
resides. William Artress died in 1884. 
Mrs. Roach died July 1, 1891, leaving one 
daughter, Elizabeth Ann. In politics Mr. 
Roach is a Republican. 



LORENZ HORN, furniture dealer, 
j undertaker, and postmaster at North 
\ Amherst, was born December 23, 

1839, in Hessia, Germany, a son of 
Andrew and Sophia (Bechstein) Horn, also 
natives of Hessia. Their parents were 
born in France, and removed to Germany, 
where our subject's father and mother are 
yet living. Andrew Horn served in the 
German army ten years, and afterward as 
a Government employe. 

Lorenz Horn left the paternal roof in 
the Fatherland on March 23, 1S5B, and 
after a voyage of forty-two days landed in 
New York, whence he came to Lorain 
county, Ohio, arriving in North Amherst 
on June 7 following. Here he made a stop 
of one week, and then proceeded to Louis- 
ville, Ky., where he learned the trade of 
shoemaker, following same until the break- 
ing out of the war of the Rebellion, at 
which time he enlisted in the Twenty- 
second Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer 
Infantry, in which he served sixteen 
months; then enlisted in the One Hundred 
and Twenty-eighth Regiment, O. V. I., 
for nineteen months. He was attached to 
the army of the Cumberland; was at the 
siege of Charleston, and in pursuit of 
Morgan at the time of his raid. On his 
return to the pursuits of peace, Mr. Horn 
followed his trade of shoemaker until 1871, 
when he commenced in his present busi- 
ness, which has grown to considerable pro- 
portions, and proved very successful. 

Mr. Horn was married, August 16, 
1863, in North Amherst, to Miss Margaret 
Ray, a lady of Scotch and German parent- 
age, and six children — one son and five 



938 



LOBAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



daughters — were born to them, as follows: 
•Lucy, Emma, Catherine, Daisy, Franklin 
G. and Pansy. The entire family are 
members of the Congregational Church, 
and all assist in the choir. Mr. Horn is 
an active Republican, and has served his 
town and county in various offices of trust, 
such as member of the council, three 
terms; president of the school board, three 
years; treasurer, six years, and also clerk. 
In July, 1887, he received the appoint- 
ment of postmaster at North Amherst, 
which incumbency he is yet tilling. He 
is a member of the 1. O. O. F. and G. A. K. 



I 



D. HANCE, a leading native-born 

farmer of Eaton township, first saw 

the light December 13, 1836, a son 

of Hiram and Rhoda Ann (Ames) 

Hance, the former of whom was born in 

New York, the latter in Massachusetts. 

Hiram Hance came to Eaton township, 
Lorain county, at the age of fourteen. On 
January 2, 1836, he was married in Graf- 
ton township, same county, to Rhoda Ann 
Ames, and they at once settled on a farm, 
his previous business having been distill- 
ing, which he carried on for some time in 
Newburg, Cuyahoga county. Children as 
follows were born to this pioneer couple: 
Ed., subject of this memoir; Grove, mar- 
ried, residing in Eaton township; Jerome, 
who died in Eaton township at the age of 
twenty-seven (he attended Oberlin College, 
and was a teacher in Lorain county ; he died 
from over-study); Abbie, residing in Phil- 
adelphia, Penn.; Florence, deceased April 
7, 1883, in Eaton township; and Oscar, 
married, residing in the township. The 
father died January 22, 1886, aged seventy- 
six years; the mother July 2, 1885, aged 
sixty-five. Li politics Mr. Hance was 
originally a Democrat, his first Republican 
vote being cast for John C. Fremont, 
from which time, however, he was a 
Republican. 



Jeremiah and Abbie Hance, grandpar- 
ents of subject, wei-e natives of Holland, 
whence in an early day they immigrated 
to America, settling on Long Island. He 
was a saltwater sailor for over twenty years 
in the merchant service, and after leaving 
the sea carried on a shoemaking business 
in Long Island and Jersey City, in which 
latter place he was burned out. In 1821 
he came with his family to Eaton town- 
ship, making a settlement in the woods, 
where they cleared a farm. Here he died 
in 1866, aged ninety-seven years, his wife 
passing away in 1871. The names of the 
children they brought with them to Ohio 
are Riley, Hiram, Ira, Charles, Abigail, 
Sterling, Mary (widow of Theron Jackson, 
of Delta, Ohio), and Lloyd (married and 
residing in Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio). 
Of these Hiram died January 22, 1886, 
Ira January 25, 1886, and Abigail Jan- 
uary 26, 1886. 

Ed. Hance, the subject proper of this 
biographical sketch, was the first white 
child born in the southern part of Eaton 
township. He received a limited educa- 
tion at the district schools of the vicinity, 
giving only seven months' attendance, but 
experience and self application brought 
him up to a fair standard among his con- 
freres. His first business experience was 
as a boatman on the Mississippi and Ohio 
rivers, and Gulf of Mexico, after which he 
took up general farming, and has since 
followed same with marked ability, mak- 
ing a specialty of stock raising. In 1864 
he bought 130 acres of land in Eaton 
township, on which he lias erected a com- 
fortable residence and commodious barn, 
and to which he has added from time to 
time till he is now owner of 300 acres of 
prime land in a good state of cultivation. 

In September, 1864, Mr. Hance was 
married in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, to 
Miss Letitia Emerson, a native of sanie, 
and daughter of Asa and Louise (Free- 
man) Emerson, natives of Maine and Mas- 
sachusetts, respectively, and early pioneers 
of Cuyahoga county; Mr. ^Emerson died 




C.^uiMri2.n^*-^ej>^-^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



941 



there June 17, 1890. To this union chil- 
dren as follows were born: George (a 
sailor, who was drowned November 12, 
1886, at Avon Point), Jerome, Willfred, 
Hubert, Lucretia and Lloyd (twins, the 
latter of whom died at the age of three 
years), and Anna. The mother of these 
passed from earth March 11, 1890. She 
was a lady of superior literary abilities, 
and was a writer of considerable merit, 
several of her productions appearing in 
Washburn's paper. She was also an ex- 
cellent judge of tine art, and served on 
committees. On December 23, 1891, Mr. 
Hance wedded Mrs. Lucy (Crane) Sprague, 
widow of Charles Sprague. 

In his political associations our subject 
is a straight Republican, and has served 
as trustee of Eaton township eleven years 
— nine in succession. He has been one of 
the directors of the County Association 
twenty-two years; president of the County 
Fair two years, where he invariably makes 
an exhibit, and has been superintendent of 
exhibits at Columbus. He is the possessor 
of the largest individual collection of 
stone-age implements in the county, and 
has devoted considerable time to the study 
of their use and history. 



GHAELES S. FERGUSON, editor 
and proprietor of the Lorain JVews, 
^' the only Democratic newspaper pub- 
lished in that town, is a native of 
Ohio, born in Milan, Erie county, July 15, 
1S63, and comes in a direct line from an 
old Scotch family. 

P. M. Ferguson, his fatlier, was born 
November 12, 1833, in Luzerne county, 
Penn., and received his education at the 
schools of Dallas in the same county. In 
1S55 he came west to Ohio, and made a 
new home in the town of Milan, Erie 
county, where for a time he followed 
butchering, then worked in a shipyard, 
and afterward became a farmer. In 1887 



he moved to Lorain, Lorain county, where 
he is now engaged in the livery business. 
In 1862 Mr. Ferguson married, at San- 
dusky, Ohio, Miss Mary A. Smitli, and 
three children have been born to them, 
viz.: Charles S., Nettie M. and Ada P. 
In politics the son of whom we write in 
no way differs from the father, who is a 
"true blue" Democrat. 

Charles S. Ferguson received a liberal 
education at the public schools of his na- 
tive town, and at the University of Michi- 
gan, Ann Arbor, three years. On his re- 
turn home he took up the profession of 
civil engineering and became surveyor for 
Erie county, an incumbency he tilled from 
1885 to 1888, ill which latter year he 
came to Lorain, and in 1889 established 
the tii-st and only Democratic newspaper 
in the place. The Neios is a bright, newsy 
weekly, and, under Mr. Ferguson's sole 
proprietorship and editorship, it is Ijound 
to succeed and make its mark in the arena 
of journalism. 



ock. 



APT. ALEXANDER McPHAIL, 

a well-known captain on the Great 
Lakes, and a citizen of Lorain, was 
born September 7, 1831, at Green- 
on the Clyde, Scotland, son of 
Alexander and Elizabeth (McKennon) ]\Ic- 
Phail, both of whom were also natives of 
Scotland. The father was a sailor, and 
died in his native country in 1838, and in 
1873 his widow came to America, locating 
in Lorain, Lorain Co., Ohio, where she 
died in 1889. 

Alexander McPhail was reared on the 
banks of the Clyde, and received his edu- 
cation in the schools of his native country. 
At the age of about fourteen he coiri- 
menced to lead a sea-faring life, and he 
has made sailing his life vocation. For 
seven years he served on vessels sailing 
from IJverpool and Glasgow to the East 
and West Indies, and he also made a trip 
around the world. In August, 1851, he 
left the vessel at Montreal, and coming to 



942 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Cleveland, Ohio, has since been identified 
with the Great Lakes, for many years as 
captain, sailing from Buffalo to Chicago, 
and aloDLr the entire chain of the lakes. 
Since 1852 he has been a resident of 
Lorain. 

On December 20, 1858, Mr. McPhail 
was married to Miss Annie Ludlnm, a na- 
tive of Lorain, this county, whose father, 
Henry Ludlum, was a native of New 
Jersey, and was a mason by trade. He 
married Annie Howsworth, a native of 
Germany, and they located in Kidgeville, 
Ohio, in an early day, thence coming to 
Lorain, where they passed the remainder 
of their lives. To the union of Alexander 
and Annie McPhail were born six children, 
four of whom are now living, viz.: Frances, 
wife of Lewis Hoffman, of Lorain; Charles, 
an engineer, residing at home; Henry, at 
home, and Elizabeth. The mother of these 
children died in November, 1891. In poli- 
tics the Captain supports the principles of 
the Republican party, and socially he is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. In religious 
faith he is a member of the M. E. Church, 
with which he has been identified since 
1857. 



DAVID A. RAWSON, one of those 
noble old pioneers who has been 
' spared by the ravages of time, was 

born October 12, 1819, in Grafton, 
Lorain Co., Ohio. 

The father of our subject, Grindall Raw- 
son, was born in West Southliriduje, Mass., 
in 1792, a son of Samuel Grindall Raw- 
son, who was by trade a wagon-maker, and 
from Massachusetts moved to Genesee 
county, N. Y., whence after about one 
year he came (in 1816) to Ohio, landing 
first at Cleveland, then a collection of 
huts. From there he walked to Liver- 
pool, Medina county, thence to Grafton 
township, Lorain county, at that time a 
primeval wilderness, where yet roamed the 
Indian and many a savage wild animal. 



His father had traded land in Connecticut 
for a tract in Grafton township, and his 
sons Grindall and Jonathan selected 160 
acres each near where the villase of Graf- 
ton now stands, after which Grindall re- 
turned to Genesee county, N. T., and for 
some time made his home with one Han- 
ford Boughton. 

In 1817 Grindall Rawson once more 
came to Ohio, and permanently located on 
his 160 acres, bravely setting to work to 
clear the land, erecting at first a rude log 
cabin. Here he married Maria Ashley, a 
native of Massachusetts, and daughter of 
David Ashley, who came as a pioneer to 
Grafton township, settling near the Center. 
To this union were born children as fol- 
lows: David A., the subject of sketch; 
Angelo D., a farmer of Eaton township; a 
son that died when two months old ; Henry, 
a farmer, who died in San Diego, Cal., 
where he had gone in search of health; 
Rachel, Mrs. Satnuel Wilson, of AYindsor, 
Ashtabula Co., Ohio; Adaliue, of Pres- 
cott, Wis.; Phebe, Mrs. Cassana Lovejoy, 
of Cleveland, and Theodore, who died 
when a young man. Mr. Rawson followed 
his trade in connection with farming-, and 
was one of the leadincr men of his time. 

o 

When he first came to Grafton township, 
in order to get his milling done he had to 
go to the Tuscarawas river, a nine-days' 
trip through the woods, and oxen were the 
only beasts of burden. He cleared all his 
land, which at the time of his death 
amounted to over 300 acres, and he was 
looked upon as a hard-working, thrifty 
man. He died May 21, 1876, his wife 
about two years afterward, and both lie 
buried in Center cemetery. Politically he 
was originally an Old-line Whig, later a 
Republican. 

David A. Rawson, whose name opens 
this sketch, was educated at the subscrip- 
tion schools of the period, one Samuel 
Curtis being his first teacher, and his at- 
tendance was limited to a few months in 
the winter season. In January, 1845, he 
was married to Miss Amanda M. Jadwin, 



LOEAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



943 



a native of the State of Massachusetts, 
daughter of Rensselaer Jadwin, who came 
to Lorain county, Ohio, in pioneer times. 
After inarriajre our suhject and his young 
wife located on eighty-four acres of land 
which he paid for out of his savings, the 
amount being four hundred and eighty 
dollars. Here he has since continued to 
live, and has seen his property converted 
from a howling wilderness into a smiling, 
fertile farm. To him and his wife were 
born four children, to wit: J. Henry, who 
died when four years old; J. A., a leading 
farmer of Grafton; Eva, Mrs. George 
Cragin, of Grafton; and William T., who 
died at the age of sixteen years. The 
mother of these departed this life in May, 
1876, a consistent member of the M. E. 
Church. In his political preferences Mr. 
Kawson is a stanch Republican, formerly 
an Old-line Whig, and while not a mem- 
ber of church, he is a Universalist in senti- 
ment. He has always been a hard worker, 
has managed well, and he is one of the 
successful farmers in Grafton township. 



G. COLE, prominent among the 
successful agriculturists of Colum- 
bia township, is a native of same, 
born December 31. 1842, a son of 
William A. and Electa A. (Smith) Cole. 

William A. Cole was born in Connecti- 
cut in 1816, a son of John and Bethany 
(Cole) Cole, natives of the same State, who 
in 1828 came with their family to Lorain 
county, settling in Columbia township on 
600 acres of wild land. The journey from 
Connecticut to Cleveland w^as made by 
water and occupied three weeks, the rest 
of the trip being made on foot. John Cole 
died in 1851, his wife about si.x months 
later. A brief record of their children is 
as follows: Constant G., who married and 
lived in Elyria, was county surveyor for 
nine years, and was drowned in the Black 
river; W. G., married, resides in Ridgeville 



township; William A. is spoken of further 
on in this sketch; John resides in Colum- 
bia township; Mary (twin sister of John), 
who became the wife of Thomas Church- 
wood, died in Berea, Ohio; Nathaniel N. 
resitles in Columbia township. 

W. A. Cole was twelve years old when 
he came to Lorain county, so the greater 
part of his education was received in Con- 
necticut, the remainder in Columbia town- 
ship. He is a lifelong agriculturist, and 
he is now owner of ninety-seven acres of 
prime land, upon which he makes his 
home. In 1841 he was married, in Colum- 
bia township, to Miss Electa A. Smith, a 
native of New York, whose father was a 
sheriff in Pennsylvania, and was killed 
while making an arrest. Five children 
were born to this union, viz.: S. G., sub- 
ject proper of sketch; Ezra, residing in 
Michigan, who is married and has seven 
children — Mary, Stella, Dolly, Viola, Ma- 
bel, Earl and Inez; Ora, married and re- 
siding in Kansas, who has one son, Clar- 
ence; Zelora, residing in Eaton township, 
who is married and has two children, Roy 
and Ralph: and Nettie, the wife of George 
Allen, of Columl)ia township, who has two 
children, Ray and Floyd. When Mr. Cole 
first came to Columbia township, there 
were only a few people in it, and his fam- 
ily is now the oldest extant. He and his 
wife have been members of the Baptist 
Church for over fifty years. 

S. G. Cole received a liberal education 
at the schools of his native township, and 
three years at Oberlin. He was reared to 
agricultural pursuits, and in early man- 
hood commenced teaching school, a voca- 
tion he followed for twenty winters in Co- 
lumbia township, all the time in adjoining 
districts, his summers being occupied in 
farming. He owned, at first, twenty-five 
acres, which has since been added to until 
he has now one hundred and ninety acres 
of excellent land. On December 25, 
1865, Mr. Cole was married, in Columbia 
township, to Miss Lydia A. Robinson, a 
native of Summit county, Ohio, daughter 



944 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



of Daniel and Julia (Wilson) Robinson — 
he a native of New York, she of New Jer- 
sey; in an early day they came to Summit 
county, Ohio, where they married, after- 
ward, in 1842, moving to Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain county, and settling on a farm 
where the father is yet living; tiie mother 
died in 1874. Two children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Cole, as follows: 
Willie D., married, and living on a farm 
(he has one son, Leon); and George H., 
living at home, who was married December 
25, 1893, to Miss Jennie Longbon. A 
Democrat in politics, our subject has 
served his township as clerk, also as trustee 
several terms, and he has been a justice of 
the peace for three years. He and his 
wife are members of the Baptist Church at 
Columbia Center, of which he is a trustee. 



dfOHN PORTER, a retired, honored 
resident of the town of Rochester, is 
I a native of New York State, born in 
Montgomei-y county July 18, 1810. 
William Porter (father of subject), also 
a native of Montgomery county, N. Y., 
was born July 19, 1789, a son of John 
Porter. He (William) learned the trade 
of fanninrr-mill maker of an uncle, Aaron 
Porter, and this business he -worked at, 
more or less, during the rest of his life. 
On April 24, 1808, in Montgomery countj^ 
N. Y., he married Dolly Smith, who was 
born June 13, 1790, a daughter of John 
Smith, and here their firstborn, John, the 
subject of these lines, came into the world. 
In 1813 this little family moved to Au- 
relius township, Cayuga county, same 
State, locating on a twenty-five-acie tract 
about six miles southwest of Auburn, 
which land William cultivated, at the same 
time following his trade. Here the home 
circle was increased by two more children 
— Martha, born September 29, 1812, mar- 
ried to Jacob Hershey in Genesee county, 
N. Y., and died February 20, 1839, in 
Ruggles township, Ashland Co., Ohio; and 



Sanford, born June 4, 1815, who died 
April 6, ls62, in Jasper county, Iowa. In 
the early part of 1819 the family removed 
to Livonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., wiiere 
Mr. Porter bought twenty-five acres, hav- 
ing sold his property in Cayuga county; 
and here he labored chiefly on his farm, 
doing but little at his trade. Another ray 
of sunshine entered the Porter home in 
the coming of the fourth child in the per- 
son of Maria A., who was born April 25, 
1819, and died August 26, 1849, in Rue- 
gles, Ashland county. After a three-years 
residence in Livonia the family again 
moved, this time to Lima, same county, 
and for a period of nine years the husband 
and father continued at his trade, meetintr 
with very fair success. The remainder of 
his family were born there, to wit: Enoch, 
born July 1, 1821, now of New London, 
Ohio; William George, born January 15, 
1823, who died in Ruggles, Ashland Co., 
Ohio, February 7, 1882; and Jacob, born 
February 16, 1825, who died November 
20, 1857, in Ruggles, Ohio. 

About the year 1830 William Porter, 
having purchased a farm in Genesee 
county, N. Y., removed his family thither, 
and in the fall of 1832 they came to Ohio. 
In the previous spring the father, together 
with his eldest son (our subject) and a 
brother-in-law, Jacob Hershey, had come 
to Ohio for the purpose of looking up land. 
To Buffalo, N. Y., the}' traveled by team, 
thence by lake vessel to Sandusky, Ohio, 
from which town they walked through the 
woods to Ruggles, Huron (now in Ashland) 
county, " blazing " their way as they went. 
In what was then the northwest corner of 
Ashland county, and is now the southeast 
corner of Huron county, Mr. Porter bought 
200 acres of the wildest of wild land — 
a four-mile journey from the nearest gleam 
of civilization — for which he paid two dol- 
lars per acre. Returning to Genesee county, 
N. 1., in the following fall, these " avant- 
couriers " made the necessary preparations 
to transport the entire Porter family to 
their new Ohio home. They all made the 





1/ 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



947 



journey in a wagon, driven by William Por- 
ter, except our subject and Mr. Ilersliey, who 
came by water, arriving in advance of tlie rest 
of the jjarty. The latter arrived in the sec- 
tion of where tlieir new home was to be on 
a certain dark night, without the slightest 
knowledjre of their whereabouts; but find- 
ing the cal)in of a settler, by name Leebow, 
tliey enquired of him how they should pro- 
ceed to reach the settlement of Jacob liohr- 
back, wliich was to be their temporary 
abiding place. Making a torch out of a 
kindled strip of hickory bark, the only 
light to be had, Leebow set out in front of 
the benighted travelers; but thoutjh com- 
paratively well acquainted witii the local- 
ity he lost his way, and in the dense, dark, 
wild-beast-haunted forest they wandered 
about until dawn, when at last they found 
the lon<;;-6ought haven. At Rohrback's 
place they remained a short time, while 
John and Hershey were building, for their 
reception, on their own land, a rude log 
cabin, at that time having neither door, 
floor nor window, but which later was made 
more complete and comfortable. When 
the family . came to Ohio Mrs. Porter 
brought along enough soap to last them 
through the first year, and when that had 
been exhausted they found that they could 
get no grease to make another supply. 
Tills difficulty, however, was overcome by 
young Porter, who supplied the grease by 
killing hedgehogs, and dressing them and 
rendering the fat. During tlieir first win- 
ter in this forest home the family cleared 
four acres, and, following spring, planted 
corn, sowing it in depressions made in the 
soil by sinking an old axe in it between 
the numerous befech stumps that almost 
covered the surface of the clearing. Con- 
sidering tlie primitive condition of things, 
a remarkably good crop was gathered the 
succeeding fall; and so year by year these 
brave pioneers, nothing daunted, kept im- 
proving their little farm, clearing it gradu- 
ally of both trees and stumps, and erecting 
outbuildings as necessity demanded. The 
father lived to see that entire section 



transformed from its primeval state into 
prosperous farms surrounded with blossom- 
ing gardens and smiling fields of grain. 
He died February 7, 1872, and was buried 
in the cemetery at New London, Huron 
county, by the side of his wife, who had 
preceded him to the " Land of the leal " 
June 1, 1866. She was a member of the 
Baptist Church. Mr. Porter, in his politi- 
cal sympathies, was originally an Old-line 
Whig, and, after its organization, a faith- 
ful member of the Republican party. 

John Porter, whose name introduces tiiis 
sketch, being the eldest in iiis father's fam- 
ily, had the lion's share of hard work to 
do, but he fo\ind time, prior to coming to 
Ohio, to secui'e a good subscription-school 
education, besides learning the trade of 
fanning-mill njaker. After cominj; to 
Ohio he bought of his father (on credit) 
one hundred acres of the latter's original 
purchase, and this by untiring energy and 
hard work he succeeded in clearing and 
convertingintoa well-cultivated farm. Im- 
mediately after marriage he and his bride 
took up their residence in a newly erected 
log cabin on his farm, and this he left in 
1881, coming with his wife into the town 
of Rochester, Lorain county, which has 
since been his home. 

On September 26, 1837, Mr. Porter 
married Miss Sally Clarke, born in Cayuga 
county, N. Y., a daughter of Nathatiiel 
Clarke, who came to Troy township, Ash- 
land county, in an early day. To this union 
children as follows w^ere born: William, a 
Methodist minister of Kansas; Franklin, 
who died at the age of thirty years in 
Rowlesburgh, Ashland Co., <3hio, where he 
was a merchant; Leander R., of Troy, 
Ashland Co., Ohio, a horseman; Martha 
E., who died when three years old; and 
Alice F., Mrs. Joseph Yacomb, of Welling- 
ton, Ohio. Mrs. Sally Porter died May 
24, 1876, and was buried in the fam- 
ily lot at New- London, Huron county. 
For his second wife Mr. Porter married 
June 16, 1878, Miss Martha Beck, a native 
of Harrison county, Ohio. 



49 



948 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Mr. Porter is a living example uf what 
may be accomplished by industry, resolu- 
tion and thrift. His methods through life 
have always been most exemplary, and the 
motto -' The Golden Rule " he has as- 
siduously observed. He never was sued, 
and never sued any one. Although a time- 
honored Whig and Republican from prin- 
ciple, his first Presidential vote was cast 
for Andrew Jackson, but that was his last 
polling for a Democratic administration. 
In both Ruggles township and Rochester 
he has served in offices of trust faithfully 
and satisfactorily. In religious faith he 
and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Ohurcli, of which he is trustee. 



HRISTIAN SCHWARZ,oneof that 
class of indefatigable Germans who 
prosper better after reverses, and 
whose motto and watchword is 
"Verzage nicht," was born March 14, 
1833, in Fraudenthal, Wtirtemberg, a son 
of Christian Schwarz, who in the Father- 
land was by trade a confectioner. There 
were eleven children in the family, eight 
of whom grew to be men and women. 
The father died in 1849, the mother two 
and one-half years before him. They were 
much respected people, honest and indus- 
trious, and in good circumstances. 

The subject of our sketch received all 
his education in his native country, not 
having attended any schools since coming 
to America, but nevertheless he can read 
and write English fairly well. In his boy- 
hood he partly learned the trade of butcher, 
and after his father's death he returned to 
it, to serve a regular apprenticeship, the 
premium paid by him for same being 
sixty-live guilders, equal to about twenty- 
five dollars United States money. At the 
end of nine months he passed an examina- 
tioH, and then in August, 1851, with some 
money he had received from his guardian, 
he started for the United States, sailing 



from Havre, France, on the ship " Balti- 
more" for New York. He was without 
any friend or relative when he cast his last 
look on the Fatherland, but, though yet 
a lad of seventeen summers, was possessed 
of a stout heart, a strong determination 
and a willing pair of hands. At the end 
of thirty days he found himself in New 
York — a stranger in a strange land — and 
hastening on westward he reached Cleve- 
land, Ohio, on September 25, one dollar 
in debt, for he had been assisted by a 
friend whose acquaintance he made on the 
voyage. In that city he obtained work at 
his trade, and for five years was with 
George Ross. Later he embarked in the 
butchering business for his own account, 
and prospered beyond his expectations, for 
at one time he was worth as much as 
twenty thousand dollars; but later, owing 
to the fall in price of cattle, of which he 
had a quantity en route, he suffered severe 
loss. In Cleveland he remained till 1869, 
in which year he came to Liverpool, 
Medina county, whence after three years 
he moved to Grafton township, Loraiu 
couuty, where he has since resided, en- 
gaged in the butchering business and 
farming. He has bought a great deal of 
cattle in his day, his experience eminently 
qualifying him for being an expert in that 
line, and made a great deal of money; but 
reverses came sufficient to discourage al- 
most any other man, yet he was never dis- 
couraged. He now owns in Grafton town- 
ship 150 acres of prime land, equipped 
with good buildings, his good wife having 
nol)ly done her share toward the accumu- 
lation and improvement of the property. 
Politically he is a zealotis member of the 
Democratic party. 

In 1857, while residing in Cleveland, 
Mr. Schwarz was married to Christina 
Bleil. born in Liverpool township, Medina 
Co.. Ohio. December 22, 1835, daughter 
of John Bleil. She is a typical German- 
American ladv, and has been of invaluable 
assistance to her husband in both pros- 
perity and adversity. She was on a visit 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



949 



to a married sister in Cleveland wlien she 
met and was married to Mr. Sciiwarz. Her 
father was among the early residents of 
Liverpool township, whither he had coirie 
from Germany in 1831. In 1840, with 
his wife and six children, all stowed in a 
two- horse wagon, he made a trip to Wis- 
consin with the intention of settling there, 
and arrived at the end of a three- weeks' 
pretty rongh journey. After a two-years' 
residence in Rock county, they concluded 
to return to Ohio, and on their way spent a 
Sundayin Chicago, the "World's Fair City," 
then a very unpromising muddy little town, 
which Mrs. Schwarz remembers well. The 
children born to our subject and wife were 
as follows: Charles, a butcher by trade, 
and working on the farm; Fredcriclc, a 
carpenter, of Missouri; Albert, a farmer, 
also of Missouri; Ida, Mrs. E. R. Mennells, 
of California; Caroline, deceased; llosa, 
residing at home; and Bertha, Mrs. John 
Bezing, of Grafton. 



FJ A. GREENE, a retired ship captain, 
and farmer of LaGrange township, 
_^ was born March 10, 1836, in St. 
Lawrence county, New York. 
He is a son of Frederick and Betsey 
(Beverly) Greene, the former of whom was 
a farmer in New York State, and later 
moved to near Watertown, Jetl'erson 
county, whence in 1843 he came to Ohio. 
He had four children, viz.: Fordico B., 
who was a soldier in the Federal army, and 
died in the service; Vint Roy, now of 
Mendon, Mich.; Aurora, now Mrs. Syl- 
vester Parsons, of Michigan; and F. A., 
subject of this sketch. Frederick Greene 
brouijht his family in a covered wagon 
drawn by one horse, and they located in 
Ridgeville township, Lorain county, where 
he bad bargained for forty acres of land. 
He intended to pay for thai land and make 
a home there, but one day while chop[)ing 
in the woods his axe was so caught while 
he was carrying it, in getting away from a 



falling tree, that it struck him, the wound 
causing his death. He was buried in 
Ridireville cemetery. The mother kept the 
family together a short while, but she too 
was soon called from earth, dying June 
30, 1849. 

Being thus left an orphan at an early 
age, our subject, through force of circum- 
stances, left home to battle with the world 
alone. For six months he lived with Levi 
Tomlinsun, but, being dissatistiud, left and 
went to Avon township, concluding after 
a short stay there, however, that Cleveland 
would be a better place for him. Taking 
all his eartidy effects, which he easily car- 
ried in a handkerchief, he set out on foot 
for the city, which was twenty-two miles 
distant; and so anxious was he to reach 
his destination that he ran more of the 
way than he walked. Shortly after 
going to Cleveland he shipped on board 
the propeller " Oneida," bound for Chi- 
cago, carrying principally immigrants, 
and made eitjht trips on her that season. 
He next went out on the scow " Commo- 
dore Lawrence," as cook, where he served 
satisfactorily, and during the winter sea- 
son, when navigation closed, he found em- 
ployment cari-ying cross country mails 
from Vermillion to New London. For a 
long time he made his home with Capt. 
Judson, of Vermillion, becoming very 
much attached to him and his family. 
For many years he was employed by Mr. 
Bradley, then so well-known among vessel- 
men, with whom he remained' thirty-five 
years, serving as cook, mate and captain, 
and proving etKcient, thorough, faithful 
and trustworthy in all these positions. In 
the season of 1892 he shipped for three 
months on the vessel " Ida Keich," and 
this was the last work he did on the lakes. 
Mr. Greene has been one of the most suc- 
cessful men on the lakes; he was sailing 
for nearly fifty years, and during that 
time never lost a doller for either the un- 
derwriters or his employers. 

On December 22, 18()3, Mr. Greene was 
married to Miss Lucy Underbill, who was 



950 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



born inLaGrange,danghterof Dr.G.C.Un- 
derliill, the well-known medical practi- 
tioner in that place; they had met at 
Eerea University, which institution both 
attended. To this marriage came three 
children, as follows: Hettie E., now the 
wife of Eev. W. W. Long, a Methodist 
Episcopal minister, of Ashland county, 
Ohio; Mary, who died in 1881; and George 
Judson, residing at home. After his mar- 
riage our subject located at Vermillion, 
thence removing to Cleveland and later to 
LaGrange. In 1875 he moved to Ober- 
lin. returning to LaGrange in 1886, in 
which village he erected a very comforta- 
ble house, which he afterward sold, erect- 
ing another dwelling, which he still otvns, 
and which is one of the pleasaTitest resi- 
dences in the town. He now resides on 
eighty acres of land, bought from the tract 
of Dr. G. C. Underbill, where he now finds 
pleasure in agricultural pursuits. Mr. 
Greene is a self-made man, having by hard 
work and incessant toil risen to his present 
prosperous position, undergoing all the 
hardships incident to the lot of a twelve- 
year-old boy on board a vessel, and en- 
deavoring to obtain an education. Mr. 
Greene is a Democrat, but takes little in- 
terest in politics; he was formerly a great 
admirer of Stephen Douglas. Mrs. Greene 
is a member of the Methodist Church. 



LESTER J. RICHMOND, a pros- 
[ perous, self-made citizen of Penlield 
] township, was born November 22, 

1842, in Akron, Ohio, son of Charles 
B. and Matilda (Welton) Richmond. He 
was one of twins, the other named Lucy J. 
Our subject received the greater part of 
his education before reaching the age of 
sixteen, in the meantime being reared to 
farming pursuits on the home place, and 
also woi'king out for other farmers. In 
August, 1862, he enlisted, at Penfield, in- 
Company B, First Ohio Light Artillery, 



and went into camp at Cleveland, whence 
the command was sent to Louisville, Ky. 
They took part in the battles of Perrys- 
ville. Wild Cat, Mnrfreesboro, and Chicka- 
mauga, and thence wejit to Nashville, 
Tenn., where they remained for some time. 
Mr. Richmond was never wounded, but 
he lav sick three months with fever and 
other camp ailments at Hospital No. 1, 
Nashville, where he was his own physician. 
At the close of the war he was discharged 
at Nashville, and returned to Pentield, 
where he resided with his parents, and in 
the following season went to Geneva, Ash- 
tabula county, where he worked as a farm 
hand. 

On November 13, 1866, Mr. Richmond 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. 
Dolgleish, who was born December lU, 1843, 
in Pentield township, daughter of Robert 
Dolgleish, who came hither from Scotland. 
After marriage Mr. Richmond lived tor a 
short time with his father, and then rented 
a farm in LaGrange township, where he 
made his home for one year. He next re- 
moved to the center of Pentield township, 
where he vvas employed one year in a saw- 
mill, thence going to Wellington township, 
where he acted as superintendent on the 
farm of Edwin Hensdale. He then took 
up his home in Wakeman township, 
Huron county, and for three years took 
contracts for furnishing cordwood for the 
Lake Shore Railway Company. At the 
end of this time he purchased sixty acres 
of land in Ross township, Wood Co., Ohio, 
which he cleared and improved, and 
whereon he resided for seveti years, when 
he rented it and returned to Pentield town- 
ship, taking charge of the home farm for 
a year. He next rented a farm in 
the northeast corner of Pentield township, 
later removing to Wellington village for 
the i)enetit of his children's education, and 
tinally, in March, 1889, returning to Pen- 
field township, and locating on the farm 
of 198 acres which he still occupies. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Richmond have been born 
children as follows: Elmer A., who lives 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



951 



on the home place, which is the oldest 
lariu in the township, having been taken 
up by Peter Pentield, after whom the 
township was named (^the first sawmill 
built and operated in the township is 
on tiiis place); Frank E., of Huntington; 
Nora, Mrs. Waller Hull, of 'VVellingtou, 
Ohio; Mamie, who died young; and Vic- 
toria and Kobert, at home. In politics our 
subject is a Republican, and in religious 
connection he and his wife are members 
of the Congregational Church, in which 
he is a deacon. 



I AMES GAWN (deceased) was born 
k. I in the Isle of Man, in August, 1829, 
^^ and died in Lorain county, Ohio, 
January 23, 1885. 

When three years old he came with his 
parents to the United States, and to Lorain 
county, Ohio. In Black River township 
he followed blacksmithing and farming 
till 1848, in which year he was united in 
marriage with Miss Louisa E. Barnes, and 
the young couple then for seven years 
made their home in the village of North 
Amherst. In 1855 Mr. Gawn purchased 
the farm of one hundred acres in Amherst 
township, where he passed the remainder 
of his days, and where his widow now re- 
sides. Three children were born to this 
marriage, viz.: Ellen, wife of H. N. Steele, 
of North Amhertit (they have four chil- 
dren); Henry J.; and Marion E., who died 
September 6, 1888. 

Henry J. (-Jawn, only son of James and 
Louisa E. (Barnes) Gawn, was born in 
Amherst township, Lorain Co., Ohio, June 
25, 1855. He received his education at 
the common schools on Middle Ridge, 
Amherst township, and learned the trade 
of blacksmith with his father, at which he 
works a little, but is chiefly engaged in 
farming. In 1888 he was married to Miss 
Melissa Swartwood, of Amherst township, 
and one child, Frank, has been born to 



them. Henry J. Gawn operates a nice 
farm of thirty-six acres devoted to general 
agriculture. Politically he is a Democrat, 
and takes a lively interest in all county 
affairs. 

Mrs. Louisa E. Gawn was born, reared 
and educated in Amherst township, when 
there was little else than wild woods, and 
settlers were, literally, "few and far be- 
tween." She was born August 27, 1828, 
a daughter of Ezekiel G. and Elvira (Har- 
rington) Barnes, the former of whom was 
born September 1, 1799, in Old Becket, 
Mass., and came with his parents to Am- 
herst, Lorain county, in 1817. In 1825 
he revisited the East, and was there mar- 
ried same year to Miss Elvira Harrington, 
who was born March 5, 1805, in Massa- 
chusetts. Returning to Amherst town- 
ship, he continued agricultural pursuits, 
and became prosperous. He and his wife 
were the parents of five children, viz.: Gil- 
bert H., a resident of Amherst township; 
Louisa E., widow of James Gawn; G. 
Moni-oe, who died in 1891, leaving a 
widow; Henry D., deceased in 1869, and 
Sardis N., a prominent farmer of Amherst 
township. The father was called from 
earth December 18, 1881, the mother on 
January 29, 1888. 



David: 
wart SOI 
thewid( 



BRICKNELL. The stal- 

sons of England are to be found 
de world over, ever aggressive, 
plodding, loyal and honest. Such 
an one is the subject of this brief sketch. 
Mr. Bricknell was born March S, 1840, 
in Northamptonshire, England, a son of 
John and Mary Bricknell, who both died 
in that county. He received his education 
at the country schools of his native parish, 
and was brought up a farmer lad. He 
hired out twelve years as farmers' serv- 
ant, and in 1866 he married, in England, 
Miss Sarah Ann Townsend, who was born 
May 13, 1841, a native of Warwickshire, 



952 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



a daugliterof William Townsend. For six 
and one-halt' years he tilled the position of 
under gardener for one emplojer, and dur- 
ing that time two children bad been born 
■—Ellen and Emily. In 1875 Mr. Brick- 
nell immigrated to the United States, com- 
ing to Lorain county, Ohio, living and 
working in Elyria the tirst year. He then 
rented a small farm, and also worked in 
Elyria as gardener. For the next tive 
years he rented farms, and during that time 
two more children were born — Rosa and 
Daisy Josephine. In 1882 he bought his 
present farm of tifty acres, all in a good 
state of cultivation, and here he success- 
fully carries on general farming. Of the 
cliildren, Ellen, who is the wife of Frank 
Bowman, resides in Eaton township (they 
have one child, Cora May); Emily, wife of 
Kichard Tran, of Grafton township, has 
three children: Goldie May, Sylva Bell and 
Roy Richard. 

In his political preferences Mr. Brick- 
nell is independent; he and his wife are 
members of the Disciple Church at North 
Eaton. He is a typical self-made man, 
having from a commencement of nothing 
accumulated all he owns by hard labor, 
honest toil, and judicious economy. 



\i 



EG RAND ROOT, the only one left 
of the old settlers in the northeast 
quarter of Wellington township, is 
a native of Connecticut, born in 
Litchfield, March 18, 1831, a son of Will- 
iam R. and Serena (Terrell) Root. 

Grandfather Root was a native of Eng- 
land, and immigrated to the Amei'ican 
Colonies before the Revolutionary war. 
In that struggle he enlisted in the cause 
of the patriots, and participated in the en- 
gagement that led to the surrender of 
Gen. Biirgoyne; also served as one of 
Washington's aids, and was captured by 
the British, but subsequently exchanged. 
After the close of the war, he was leading 



his regiment on a march, and in crossing a 
bridge the structure gave way, killing him 
and several of his men. His son William 
R., father of subject, was born about the 
period of the Revolutionary struggle in one 
of the New England States. He married 
Miss Serena Terrell, and when their son, 
Legrand. was four years old, they came to 
Ohio, locating tirst in Eaton township, 
Lorain county, then in Wellington town- 
ship, on the farm now owned by onr sub- 
ject. Finally Mr. Root moved to Allegan 
county, Mich., where be and his wife died 
during the tame year, she at the age of 
eixty-nine years. They were the parents 
of ten children, of whom the following is 
a brief record: Eliza married L. L. West, 
of Minnesota, where they reside; Legrand 
is the subject of this sketch; Leroy lives 
in Kansas (during the Civil w'ar he entered 
the Union army, and was with Sherman 
on his march from Atlanta to the sea); 
Amarilla, who married H. Oliver, resides 
in Michigan; Charlotte, who was the wife 
of John Everatts, died in Michigan ; Finette 
died when about eighteen years old; 
Rosette is married to A. D. Wallers, and 
resides in Dakota; Sarah Ann, who was a 
school teacher in Kansas, married Abner 
Folk, of Rich county, that State; George 
is deceased; Benjamin Franklin died in 
childhood. 

Legrand Root, of whom this sketch more 
particularly relates, was married in 1855 
to Miss Lucinda Kelsey, born in Hunting- 
ton townsliip, Lorain county, in September, 
1835, and the young couple then settled 
on his present farm of 220 acres well-im- 
proved land. Prior to this he had lived 
for a time in Eaton, then in Huntington 

o 

township, same county, and in 1851 went 
to California on a prospecting tour, but 
soon retiirned. In addition to general 
farming Mr. Root carries on dairying to a 
considerable extent, and he is progressive 
and prosperous. The children born to this 
marriage, seven in number, were as fol- 
lows: Those deceased are Leroy, who died 
when aged four years; Aner, when aged 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



953 



two years; Albert, when aged twenty- 
seven years (he was married and had one 
chihi); Dennis, wiien aged sixteen years 
(this was the youngest chihl); tiiose living 
are: Emery, married, who has one child, 
Elmer; Mary, wife of Arnold Taylor, of 
Lodi, Ohio; Ada, residing at home, who 
w'as educated in Wellington township, and 
is now teaching school in Huntington 
township. Politically our subject is a 
stanch Republican, and, during the dark 
days of the Rebellion, showed his loyalty 
to the Union cause by subscribing to tlie 
Government liberally of his means. Mr. 
Root is a man of more than average edu- 
cation and ability, and is well informed on 
ail tlie public issues of the day. 



ff^^ AYMOND HAVEN, for forty-six 

Y^C^ years a resident of Eaton township, 

I ^ where his name is "familiar as 

J) household words," is a native of 

Portage county, Ohio, born in 

Shalersville in 1823. 

He is a son of John Haven, a native of 
Vermont, who came on foot to Ohio when 
a young man, settling on a farm in Port- 
age county, and becoming prosperous and 
comparatively wealthy. He here married 
Miss Julia Sanford, and reared the follow- 
ing family of children: Annis, deceased 
in Portage county; Raymond; John, de- 
ceased in Portage county; Julia, living in 
Ohio; George, married, residing in Bloom- 
ingdale, Mich. The fatlier of these died 
in 1882, the mother in 1853. Politically 
Mr. Haven was a Republican, and served 
as township trustee. 

Raymond Haven received a liberal 
school training in Portage county, Ohio, 
was brought up a practical farmer, and has 
always made general agriculture his busi- 
ness, principally dairying, in which he has 
met with unqualiKed success. In 1847 he 
came with a team from Shalersville to 
Eaton township, Lorain county, and bougiit 



eighty acres of partly improved land, 
having thereon a log house and barn, in 
lieu of which Mr. Haven in course of time 
erected a one and one-half story house, 
24 X 40, with two L one-story wrings; also 
a commodious barn. To his original pur- 
chase of eighty acres he has added from 
time to time until he now owns 321 acres. 
In 1845 Mr. Haven married, in Portage 
county. Miss Lucinda C. Scouten, a native 
of that county, daughter of John Scouten, 
an early pioneer of same. To this union 
children as follows have been born: Ellen, 
wife of Locks Lemert, of Kansas; Alice, 
who married Laban Lemert, and died in 
Ohio, July 23, 1873; George, who died 
April 30, 1865; Julia, wife of Oscar Dur- 
kee, of Eaton township; Frank, married, 
residing in Eaton township, who owns a 
good farm given him by his father; New- 
ton, married, residing in Eaton township 
(he owns a good farm); Hattie, wife of 
AYilliam Sawyer, of Eaton township; Jen- 
nie, who died January 23, 1867; and Myra, 
wife of Charles Sawyer, a merchant of 
Grafton. Politically our subject is a Re- 
publican, and he has served as trustee of 
Eaton township. He and his wife are 
members of tiie Disciple Church, in which 
he has been a deacon for some forty-tive 
years. He has made all he owns by in- 
dustry and frugality, and is listed among 
the most successful of Lorain county's 
farmer citizens. 



fl( RTHUR WALKDEN, a leader in 

/[_ \ \ the agricultural community of Co- 

lr\^ lumbia township, is a native of Eng- 

•fj land, a "Lancashire lad," born in 

that county in November, 1823, 

third son of William and Mary (Blundell) 

Walkden. 

The parents of our subject Avere natives 
of Devonshire, England, whence in 1826 
they emigrated to this coimtry, locating 
first in Lowell, Mass., where they worked 



954 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



in factories, moving in 1833 westward to 
Oiiio, living in Newburgh one year, and 
then settling on a farm in Cuyahoga 
connty. The father died in Berea, Ohio, 
in April, 1873, aged ninety-two, the 
mother in September, 1357, in Cuyahoga 
county, at the age of sixty-four years. 
Mr. Walkden had been twice married, and 
by his first wife had three children, viz.: 
John, who remained in England; Jane, 
Mrs. John Bainbridge, wlio died in Ridge- 
ville township; and William, who came to 
Lorain county in 1848, died on the ocean 
in 1879. By his marriage with Miss Mary 
Blundell he had children as follows: Alice, 
who died in 1890 in Cuyahoga county; 
James, who died in 1875 in Lowell, Mass.; 
Thomas, residing in Cuyahoga connty; 
Ann, widow of Eastman Bradford, of 
Berea; Mary, widow of Joseph Chevalier, 
of Berea; Arthur, residing in Colombia 
township; Peter, wlio came to Lorain in an 
early day, and died in Ridgeville township 
in 1880; Richard; Peggy, deceased; and 
Margaret, widow of Henry Woods, of 
Cuyahoga county. 

Arthur Walkden was a three-year-old 
boy when his parents brought him to the 
United States, and was about ten years 
old when they came to Cuyahoga county, 
where he was educated and learned the 
trade of blacksmith, which he followed for 
some years after coming to Columbia 
township in 1843. Here he made a settle- 
ment in the woods, having bought thirty- 
seven acres of improved land, to which 
he has from time to time added until now 
he has 226 acres all in a good state of cul- 
tivation. In 1846 he was married to Miss 
Tirzah Wetton, a native of Derbyshire, 
England, and daughter of Thomas and 
Mary (Holden) Wetton, of the same county, 
who, in 1833, came to Hamilton, N. Y., 
and thence in 1842 to Columbia town- 
sliip, Lorain county, settling where our 
subject now resides. The father died in 
1879, aged seventy-eight years; the mother 
survived him till March 31, 1893; they 
were members of the M. E. Church, and 



politically Mr. Wetton was a Republican. 
Three children were born to them, namely: 
Tirzah. Mrs. Walkden; Harriet, who mar- 
ried Joseph Chamberlain, and died in 
Columbia township in 1856; and Saman- 
tha, wife of John Median, of Denver, 
Colorado. 

After marriage our subject resided on 
his present farm till 1857, in which year 
he went to San Francisco, Cal., by way of 
the Isthmus of Panama, and there re- 
mained two and one-half years, working 
at his trade, at the end of vvhich time he 
returned to Columbia township. Politically 
Mr. Walkden is a prominent Republican, 
and he and his wife are members of the 
Wesleyan Methodist Church at West View, 
Cuyahoga county, in which he has been 
steward tor several years, and is now serv- 
ing as trustee. 



V. R. HOWARD. Prominent in 
the front rank of the wealthy and 
intelligent agriculturists of Roches- 
ter township is found the gentle- 
man whose name is here recorded. 

He is a son of Morris Howard, a farmer, 
who was born in Andover, Windsor Co., 
Vt., where he married Hannah, daughtei" 
of William Smith. To them were born 
seven children — three sons and four daugh- 
ters. In 1836 Morris Howard came to 
Ohio with his family, making the journey 
with three horses and two wagons, their first 
tarrying place being Elyria, Lorain county, 
whence after a month's residence with a 
relative there, they moved to Richland 
county, now Ashland county, locating for 
a year near the town of Ashland. The 
father at this time made a trade with one 
Smith for a farm in Rochester township, 
Lorain county, the same one whereon our 
subject now resides. At that time but a few 
acres were cleared on it, and for some years 
Morris Howard lived there. Later be 
moved to Racine, Wis., and died there at 



•!f\ 



I 










^^7, (A^'^i-trionAAp 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



957 



the age of seventy-seven years; his wife 
had passed away in her fifty-seventh year. 
S. V. R. Howard was born September 
3, 1817, in Andover, "Windsor Co., Vt., at 
the subscription schools of which town he 
received his education. lie was reai'cd to 
farm life, and in early youth worked from 
home at fifty cents per day, at that time 
considered fair wages. He was, as will be 
seen, nineteen years old when he came to 
Ohio with the rest of his father's family, 
and when yet a young man he set out on foot 
for Illinois, his purpose being to make a 
tour of that then new territory, but re- 
turned eastward, satistied that there was no 
place like home. On December 11, 1843, 
he married Miss Barbara Bowman, who 
was born June 11, 1821, in Orange town- 
ship, Ashland Co., Ohio, a daughter ot 
John N. Bowman, and his next residence 
was in a house erected by himself imme- 
diately opposite his present home. Chil- 
dren were born to this marriage, the fol- 
lowing being a brief record of same: Mary 
J. is the wife of H. K. Kob, of Findlay, 
Ohio; Laurilla is the wife of Chester Cbor- 
pening, of Benton Harbor, Mich.; Lydia 
is married to E. M. June, of Greenwich, 
Ohio; Lillian is married to Thomas Whit- 
ney, of Benton Harbor, Mich.; Charles G. 
is a farmer of Rochester township, married 
to Miss Emma Fast, of Troy township, 
Ashland Co., Ohio; Cynthia is the wife of 
Thomas Landis, of Rochester. The mother 
of these died October 11, 1882, and was 
buried in Rochester cemetery; she was a 
member of the Lutheran Church. On Feb- 
ruary 2, 1885, Mr. Howard married Miss 
Emily Bowman, born April 18, 1835, in 
Green township, Mahoning Co., Ohio, a 
daughter of Joshua and Mary (Reed) Bow- 
man, who came from Washington county, 
Penn., to Ohio, being among the first set- 
tlers of Ellsworth township, Mahoning 
county, at that time an unknown forest. 
Mrs. Howard, who is well educated and 
highly cultivated, taught district scliool no 
less than twenty-nine terms in Mahoning 
and Columbiana counties, Ohio. 



Mr. Howard's first purchase of land was 
seventy-five acres at eleven dollars per 
acre, which still forms a part of his 
splendid farm of over five hundred acres, 
lying partly in Lorain county, and partly in 
Huron. He is a typical self-made farnjer, 
enjoying the most robust health, and still 
capable of doing a long day's work. In 
his political predilections he was originally 
a Whig, of later years a Republican, and 
has held the oflice of township trustee sev- 
eral years. Mrs. Howard, well-known, 
most popular and highly respected, is an 
exemplary member of the Presbyterian 
Church. 



/George E. hill. Prominent 
I J, among the citizens of Ridgeville 
\J^ township, in both public and private 
^^ life, stands this gentleman, who is 
a native of the county, born in 
Eaton township, October 16, 1852. 

Mr. Hill is a son of Edward and Jane 
(GuUiford) Hill, natives of England, who 
in the year 1849 immigrated to the United 
States, settling in Eaton township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, where the father died SeptcTn- 
ber 10, 1889; the mother is yet residing 
at the old homestead. The subject of our 
sketcli received a good practical education 
in the schools of his native township, and 
was reared to the arduous duties of the 
farm. In 1889 he left Eaton township, 
and moved to his present place in Ridge- 
ville township, comprising some seventy- 
six acres of highly-cultivated land, the 
property being known as the " Homer 
Terrell Farm," though it was improved by 
Franklin Terrell. In 1874 he was mar- 
ried, in Columbia Center, Lorain county, 
to Miss Evalyn Terrell, a native of Ridge- 
ville township, who was born July 26,1855, 
daughter of Homer and Mary (Kelley) 
Terrell, the f(jrmer of whom was born on 
the farm now owned by our subject; the 
latter was born August 11, 1828, in Taun- 
ton, Mass.; the father died on his farm 



958 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



here August 16, 1888, the mother July 
29, 1869. They were the parents of 
three cliildren, namely: Evalyn (Mrs. 
Hill); Irving, born September 24, 1857, 
married, and residing in Ridgeville town- 
ship; and Edward, born December 29, 
18(34, residing in Elyria. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hill 
settled on the Wescott farm in Eaton town- 
ship, containing 148 acres prime land 
which he yet owns, and here remained till 
1889, as already related. To them have 
been born live children, as follows: 
Freddie, born January 26, 1875, died 
March 16, 1875; George, born October 6, 
1879, died March 24, 1880; Kaymond, 
born June 14, 1881; Mary Jane, born 
January 23, 1884; and Ella E., born 
January 25, 1888. In politics our sub- 
ject is a Republican, and takes an active 
interest in the affairs of his party. He 
has served on the school board, and been 
trustee of Ridgeville township since 1889. 



ri( BAKER, the well-known, wide- 
iy_\\ awake and enterprising clothier and 
Ir^ tailor, of North Amherst, is a na- 
■/J live of Germany, born in Meehlen- 

burg May 22, 1857. 
At the age of ten years he came with 
his parents to the United States and to 
Illinois, where for about one year they 
lived on a farm near Mascontah, St. Clair 
county, after which they moved to town, 
where our subject attended school one 
year. About this time he was attacked 
with hip disease, which caused permanent 
lameness, although he went to St. Louis 
for treatment. The family then moved to 
Elyria, Ohio, and here Mr. Baker finished 
his school days in the German Lutheran 
Parochial School. He then commenced 
business life in a woolen factory, where he 
partly learned the cloth manufacturing 
business, which he would undoubtedly have 
followed l)ut for his lameness. Having 



now learned how to make cloth, it was a 
natural transition for him to learn tailor- 
ing. He served two years with Moebius 
& Wimmers, and after they dissolved part- 
nership, Moebius came to Amherst, Mr. 
Baker remaining with Wimmers as a 
journeyman tailor, for another year. He 
then concluded to go to Cleveland for the 
purpose of learning more about his trade; 
and after working for some of the best 
tailors in the city four years, he set out 
on a business tour throughout the States, 
in course of which he worked in Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Omaha, Den- 
ver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, 
Vicksburg, Little Rock, Xatchez, New 
Orleans, Mobile, then back to New Or- 
leans, thence down to Houston, Texas. 
After this he returned home to spend 
Christinas, and then traveled east, stopping 
for a time in New York to attend a 
cutting school, and befoi-e he had quite 
finished was given a situation on 
Third avenue as cutter. While holding 
this latter position he attended the Peter 
Cooper Institute in the evening. On ac- 
count of his widowed mother, who was 
still living in Elyria, he came nearer home, 
and accepted a position as cutter in Clyde, 
Ohio; after about live months he secured 
a position as cutter in Cleveland. Not 
being satisfied with this situation of things, 
Mr. Baker concluded to start in business 
for himself, and after many trials and 
difficulties, all of which he bravely over- 
came, in the fall of 1882, at the age of 
twenty-five, he opened up, in Elyria, a 
merchant tailoring establishment with a 
capital of three dollars, and a line of 
woolen samples furnished by a Cleveland 
woolen house. 

This was in a room upstairs in the 
M. W. Pond building, opposite the old 
'' Beebe House," and here he remained 
about two years; then moved in the old 
Perry building, where now stands the ele- 
gant Sharp block. Here he remained 
about three years, by which time, with 
hard work and economy, he had saved 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



959 



enouorh to build him a nice house on Mid- 
dle avenue. He now traded his property 
for a ciotliing store in North Amherst, 
with his old boss, Mr. Moebins. It is 
here that Mr. Baker begins to take an 
active part in business and public affairs. 
He talks and writes in public, and often 
differs with men, but he has the respect of 
his community for honesty and fairness. 
He is a hard worker, and although he 
should now have, all his work done, he 
still sticks to the work-bench, and in a 
little time-book to advertise his business 
he writes and encourages all laboring men 
to economize, and tells them that he him- 
self never thought that he would some 
day be able to buy out his boss. He is 
yet in the prime of life, and unless some 
unforeseen misfortune overtakes him, we 
predict for him a prosperous future. We 
know that the men who move onward step 
by step are the safest and surest in the 
long run. 

In the spring of 1883 Mr. Baker was 
iinited in marriatre with Miss Hattie 
Rosenwald, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, 
and five children have been born to them, 
viz.: Mabel, Cora, Alphabet, Lillie and 
Esther. In politics our subject is a Ke- 
publican, and he is very active in munici- 
pal and county affairs. In 1S91 he built 
a block in North Amherst, two stories in 
height, of which he occupies one of the 
lower rooms, rents the other, while the 
upper room, a hall, is occupied by Jaeger 
Lodge, I. 0. (). F. 




a son of George Bunt, who was a 
native of eastern New York. His father 
came from Holland, and died when George 
was but six years old. 

' George Bunt was married in early man- 
hood to Elizabeth Cottrell, and followed 



farming in his native State, where children 
as follows were born to him: Stephen, 
Philip, Henry, and David C, our sul)ject, 
who is the only survivor. In 1833 the 
family removed to Ohio, coming by water 
to Cleveland, and thence being driven to 
LaGrange township, where Mr. Bunt 
rented land for six years; and while living 
there one child was added to the family, 
Lucy Ann, who married Alvin Nichols 
and died in Michigan. He then piirchased, 
at six dollars per acre, twenty-live acres of 
land in Pentield township where our sub- 
ject now resides, settling thereon in Feb- 
ruary, 1889, at which time the place was 
entirely in the woods, and abounded with 
wild animals. At the time of their com- 
ing there was no bridge over the stream 
which they were obliged to cross en route 
to Penfield township, but they contrived 
to float over. Mr. Bunt lived to the ripe 
old age of eighty-eight years, preceded to 
the grave by his wife, who passed away 
when aged seventy-two; both are buried in 
Penfield township cemetery. In religious 
connection they were members of thej\I. E. 
Church, and in politics he was originally a 
Whig, later a Republican. 

D. C. Bunt was but an infant when 
brought by his parents to Ohio, and re- 
ceived such an education as the common 
schools of those pioneer days afforded, his 
first teacher being Caroline Blanchard. On 
April 14, 1859, he was united in marriage 
with Mary J. Mosher, who was born 
August 29, 1842, in New York State, 
daughter of Elihu and Rebecca (Freeman) 
Mosher, who came to Ohio in 1844, set- 
tlingin LaGrange township, Lorain county, 
where the father, who was a cooper, fol- 
lowed his trade. Our subject held an in- 
terest in some land with his father, with 
whom he took up his residence after mar- 
riage, and here, with the exception of four 
years, he has ever since resided. Though 
having but twelve acres at the start, he now 
owns a fine tract of 170 acres, highly im- 
proved and cultivated, whereon he has 
erected a number of substantial buildings. 



960 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



Mr. and Mrs. Bunt liave had four children, 
as follows: Josephine, who died at the age 
of fifteen years; Grant W., of New Mex- 
ico; Frank C, who died when twenty-one 
yearei of age; and Elmer M., residing at 
home. Mr. Bunt has been engaged all his 
life in agriculture, of which he has a 
thorough knowledge, and for some time 
also conducted a dairy business; he has 
been successful in the full sense of the word. 
He and his wife are both members of the 
M. £. Church, and in his political pref- 
erences he is a stanch Republican; his first 
vote was cast for John C. Fremont. He is 
actively interested in the welfare of his 
party, and has served as trustee and in 
various other township offices. He is very 
popular and highly respected and esteemed 
in his community. 




R. McCONNELL, owner of a 
highly-cultivated farm in Roches- 
ter township, where he is well and 
favorably known, is a native of 
New York State, born in Belfast township, 
Allegany county, December 17, 1825. 

His father, James McConnell, was born 
in Yates county, N. Y., where he was 
reared to pioneer farming, and in early 
manhood married Miss Margaret Roora- 
back, daughter of John Rooraback. The 
children of this union, eight in number, 
were as follows: Martha, who married 
Jonathan Bridge, and died in Quincy, 
Mich.; Mary, who married John Corey, 
and died in Quincy, Mich.; Nancy, who 
married Amos Darby, and died in New 
London, Ohio; Betsy, who married Henry 
Close, and died in Williams county, Ohio; 
Alexander, deceased in Clyde, Ohio; John, 
a soldier in the Civil war, who enlisted 
from Williams county, Ohio, and died in 
Rochester township at the home of our 
subject; W. R., whose name heads this 
sketch; and Jane, who married John 
Rooraback, and died in New London, 



Ohio. After marriage James McConnell 
and his bride moved to Allegany county, 
N. Y., where for some years he conducted 
a farm, small in extent, as he was a man 
of but limited means. In 1833 the family 
came to Ohio, making a fresh home in 
New London township, Huron county, 
where Alexander, a brother of James Mc- 
Connell, as well as several brothers-in-law, 
had previously made a settlement. The 
family made the long journey, which was 
a tedious one of three weeks' duration, by 
wagons to Buffalo, thence to Eljria, 
Lorain county, thence to Wakeman, Huron 
county, and from there to New London 
township, where the father bought fifty- 
six acres of land at five dollars per acre. The 
family found a temporary home at Alex- 
ander McConnelTs, while a rude log cabin 
was being built for their reception, kind- 
hearted and willing neighbors giving all 
the assistance in their power toward its 
completion. The land was entirely new, 
not a tree having been cut from the dense 
growth of beech, maple and black walnut, 
and wild animals were abundant; but 
bravely did the family set to work to make 
a clearing, and before long they had a 
small tract ready for a garden which the 
following spring produced divers kinds of 
vegetable foods. Coming to the new home 
in October, there was no time to grow any 
of the necessaries of life that year, and the 
entire support of the family for the ensu- 
ing winter fell on the father. For two 
days' labor for a neighbor he received a 
bushel of corn, which he had to carry to 
a mill in Ruggles township to be ground, 
his journey there and back taking him 
along the Vermillion river. The first corn 
he planted on his farm was dropped into a 
" gash " made in the soil with an old axe, 
but it grew, ripened, and was harvested, 
and was found to make a few grists from 
which some sturdy johnny-cakes were 
made. The abundance of sugar maples 
around the clearing afforded them, by 
tapping, some revenue, and game being 
plentiful, there was after a time no lack of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



961 



provisions of all kinds. On this farm they 
lived till 1849, in which year they removed 
to Rociiester township, settling on the 100- 
acre tract where yet lives the subject of 
this sketch. Here James McConnell, the 
brave pioneer, died September 28, 1867, 
his loving and faithful wife having pre- 
ceded him to the grave October 28, 1862; 
they sleep their last sleep in New London 
cemetery. Politically James McConnell 
was a stanch Democrat, and in Church 
connection he and his wife were devout 
Methodists. 

W. R. McConnell, whose name opens 
this sketch, received but a limited educa- 
tion in his boyhood at the subscription 
schools, and in later life, when other educa- 
tional systems were introduced, he attended 
school a short time longer, but he was a 
studious j'outh, an apt scholar, and gar- 
nered not a little useful practical instruc- 
tion. Reared to pioneer habits and cus- 
toms, when but a young boy he was put to 
work at chopping in the clearing, experi- 
encing all the hardships incident to back- 
woods life. 

On February 26, 1852, he married Miss 
Lydia L. Carvy, born May 3, 1833, in 
Rochester township, a daughter of William 
and Eunice (Thomas) Carvy, early settlers 
in that township from New York State. 
The young couple then took up their resi- 
dence in a 14 .\ IS addition of logs, built 
to the old home cabin of his parents on the 
100-acre farm already alluded to. The 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Mc- 
Connell were as follows: Stewart N., a 
farmer of Rochestei- township; Newell J., 
who died of diphtheria at the age of eleven 
years; Edwin L., a farmer of Rochester 
township; Etta L., at home; Ransom C.,at 
home; Newell C, who attended Berea 
(Ohio) College, deceased when twenty-three 
years old; and Nellie E., at home. Mr. 
McConnell has now 410 acres of as tine 
farm land as can be found in the county, 
representing, in the aggregate, years of 
honest toil, good management and judi- 
cious thrift. Besides the cereal and root 



crops he for some years was extensively 
engaged in dairying, and he has always 
made the rearing of sheep a specialty. A 
straight Whig and Republican, his first 
vote was cast for John C. Fremont, and he 
has never missed his franchise at the polls 
except once, on which occasion he was visit- 
ing outside the State. Popular in his 
party and the community at large, he has 
been entrusted with various township 
offices, such as justice of the peace and 
trustee, filling all with characteristic ability 
and honesty. 



D, C. HOLLADAY, a retired agricul- 
turist of Grafton township, was 
.' born October 25, 1827, in Berk- 
shire county, Mass., son of James 
Holladay, also a native of Berkshire county, 
where he followed farming. James Holla- 
day served four years in the Revolutionary 
war, and justly deserved a place among the 
patriots. When forty-five years of age he 
was married to Mary Gibson, and to their 
union was born one child, D. C, the sub- 
ject of this memoir. The mother died in 
December, 1827, the father in 182'J, and 
both are buried in Massachusetts. 

The subject of these lines was reared by 
a maiden aunt, Ruth Holladay, who died 
in 1856. in Salt Lake City, Utah, whither 
she had gone to pass her declining years. 
When seven years old he came vvest to Ohio 
with his aunt and an uncle, Moses Holla- 
day, the journey being made by canal and 
lake as far as Cleveland, whence they were 
driven to Litchfield, Medina county-, where- 
they settled. Mr. Holladay was early put 
to farm work, and attended school but little 
in Medina county, as the schoolhouse was^ 
four miles distant. He was subsequently 
reared by relatives who came to Grafton 
township, Lorain county, in 1836, and re- 
sided at Kingsley's Corners, remaining 
with them until twenty-one years of age. 
He was soon afterward united in marriacre 
with Miss Roxina Sheldon, who was born. 



962 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



in Johnstown, Penn., and they became the 
parents of two children, namely: Alvira, 
Mrs. James Tucker, of Eaton township, and 
Erastus, on the home farm in Grafton town- 
ship. Shortly after his marriage Mr. 
HoUaday purchased the farm he jet resides 
on. where he was for many years success- 
fully engaged in general agriculture; of 
late years, however, he has retired from 
active farm work, leaving the manao-einent 
of the place to his son. Mrs. Holladay 
passed from earth February 17, 1886, and 
her remains are interred in Nesbit ceme- 
tery. Our subject is a stanch member of 
the Democratic party, but has no desire for 
political preferments, having declined to 
serve as justice of the peace. 

Mr. Holladay is an excellent type of 
those sturdy old pioneers who have passed 
their lives in Grafton township, to whom 
too much credit cannot be given for the 
assistance they have rendered in the im- 
provement and advancement of the coun- 
try. He has seen the dense forest give 
Elace to fertile fields of grain, and has 
imself been instrnmentalin effecting these 
changes. 




i^ILLIAM H. JOHNSON, an en- 
terprising agriculturist, and rep- 
resentative citizen of LaGrancje 

o 

township, is the oldest male 
representative of his father's family, 
which is one of the most prominent in 
Lorain county. He was born May 30, 
1834, in LaGrange township, a son of 
Hon. Nathan Porter and Laura (Waite) 
Johnson. 

Hon. Natlian P. Johnson was of New 
England stock, his parents, Stephen and 
Phebe Johnson, having been born in Old 
Haddara, Conn., whence in 1785 they re- 
moved to Hartford, Washington 'Co., 
N. Y., finally in April, 1801, migrating to 
Champion, Jefferson Co., same State. 
Nathan P. was born in Hartford, N. Y., 
January 30, 1801, and was, as will be 



seen, an infant when his parents removed 
to Jefferson county. He received but 
a limited education, the schools of those 
early days being very primitive in their 
character, but being an apt scholar, and of 
a bright and studious disposition, he made 
wonderful progress. In Jefferson county 
he was married October 20, 1822, to Miss 
Laura Waite, who was born in February, 
1804:, in Champion, N. Y., a daughter of 
Dorastus and Sally (McNittj Waite. 
Willie residing in New York State the 
following children were born to tliera, 
their names, dates of birth, etc., being 
given: Sarah L., September 14, 1823. 
now living in LaGrange, the widow of 
William F. Hubbard; William H., Sep- 
tember 19, 1825, died October 11, 1829; 
Cynthia A.. September 25, 1827, wife of 
Charles A. Wilcox, of LaGrange; Mary 
L., June 29, 1830. now the widow of 
Spencer Lincoln, of LaGrange; and Phojbe 
M., April 24, 1832, married Henry Ster- 
rot, and died April 4, 1866. In Ohio 
were born as follows: William H. (subject 
of sketch); Elizur G., November 24, 1836, 
living in Elyria; Ellen M., January 25, 
1840, married Henry Noble, and died in 
LaGrange; and Ann Eliza, February 11, 
1842, twice married; first time to Andrew 
J. Lemore, second time to Harry Nichols, 
and died in New York State December 4, 
1869. 

In 1833 Nathan P. Johnson traded land 
in New York State for a tract in Lorain 
county, Oiiio; in November, same year, 
came here with his family, a twohorse 
wagon conveying them, while their house- 
hold effects were transported by water as 
far as Cleveland. The journey occupied 
twenty-one days, and on their arrival in 
Lorain county they made their temporary 
home at the house of Sylvester Merriams, 
a brother-in-law of Nathan Johnson. In 
the meantime a log house was erected on 
the farm south of the center of LaGrange 
township, into which, when completed, 
the family removed. Mr. Johnson was 
originally an ardent Whig of the old 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



963 



school, later a Republican, and was elected 
to the Legislature in 1844, reelected in 
1845; was a member of the Ohio Senate, 
1847-48, from the Districts composed of 
Lorain and Medina counties; was, after his 
removal in 1862 to the villao;e of La- 
Grange, appointed postmaster there by 
Abraham Lincoln ; In fact he was a 
thoroughly representative man, a useful 
citizen, honored and respected. lie died 
December 22, 1874, and was interred in 
LaGrange cemetery. At the time of his 
death he was a member of the Methodist 
Church, but was in the earlier days of his 
life a Cougregatiotiiilist. Mr. Johnson's 
first wife died in 184G, and he afterward 
married Miss Mary Hart, of Elyria, by 
whom there was no issue. 

William H. Johnson, whose name opens 
this sketch, received his primary education 
at the common schools of his towMiship, 
his sister Sarah L. being his first teacher, 
and, later, he attended the higher schools 
of Oberlin and Elyria. He was reared to 
farming pursuits, and lived on his father's 
farm until his marriage, at which time he 
moved to his fine property situated south 
of LaGrange, and there remained till 1891, 
in which year he came to his farm, lying 
in the center of LaGrange township, and 
which comprises 141 acres prime land, 
highly cultivated. On September 15, 1856, 
Mr. Johnson married Miss Mary A. Par- 
sorre, born in Windham, Portage county, 
Ohio, and two children were born to them: 
Laura V., now wife of M. W. Ingalls, and 
Mary A., at home. Tiie mother of these 
was called from earth in 1860, and in 
1862 our subject married Mrs. Lucy II. 
Bruce {nee Bradley), widow of O. Bruce. 
By this union there were three children, 
viz.: William II. (1) (deceased in infancy), 
William H. (2) (also died in infancy), and 
Anita S., now Mrs. C. H. Curtis, of Berea, 
Ohio. In politics Mr. Johnson is a leader 
in the ranks of the Republican party, and 
has held various township offices with 
credit and ability, such as assessor, trustee, 
etc. Formerly he was a Congregationalist, 



but of late years he has been a member of 
the M. E. Church, in which he is a class- 
leader. He is remarkably temj)erate in 
his habits, never having used tobacco in 
any form, and alcoholic liquor only occa- 
sionally for its medicinal properties. 




B. BELDEN is a native of Lorain 
county, born in Brownhelm town- 
ship in 1846. His father, Martin 
Belden, was a native of Landislield, 
Mass., born in 1810, and was mar- 
ried May 1, 1833, in Colebrook, Conn., to 
Eliza Murray, who was born in Delhi, 
N. Y., in 1811. In 1834 they came to 
Lorain county, Ohio, locating in Amherst 
township till 1842, in which year tiiey 
moved to Brownhelm township, same 
county, and in 1854 proceeded to the vil- 
lage of North Amherst, where for two 
years the father was engaged in the dry- 
goods business. In 1860 they moved to 
Wood county, Ohio, where they resided 
till 1872, in which year they returned to 
Lorain county. The father died Novem- 
ber 6, 1888; he was a Democrat and 
served as county commissioner. The 
mother is yet living. They had a family 
of eight children, four of whom are yet 
living, namely: Eliza Ann, wife of Albert 
Aldrich. of East Amherst, Ohio; Pru- 
dence B., a graduate of the LTnivursity of 
Pliiladelphia, who is a practicing physi- 
cian in Chicago. 111.; R. B., the subject of 
sketch; Clara L., the wife of Warren 
Bulsey, a druggist of Napoleon, Henrv 
Co., Ohio. ^ 

R. B. Belden received his education at 
the public schools of North Amherst, and 
was reared to farming pursuits, which he 
has successfully followed. He has re- 
sided in Lorain county all his lite with the 
exception of nine years spent in Trumbull 
and Portage counties, Ohio, where he was 
engaged in the cheese business. He now 
devotes his attention exclusively to his 
farming interests. 



964 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



On April 20, 1887, Mr. Belden was 
united in marriage with Mrs. Arthur Carr, 
a native of Huron county, Oliio, daughter 
of Robert and Mary (Wright) Curtis, the 
former of whom was born in Vermont, the 
latter in New York State. Robert Curtis 
came to Huron county, Ohio, locating in 
North Fairfield township, where he kept 
hotel; he died in 1873 in the village of 
North Fairfield. His wife had passed 
away in 1866. Mr. Belden is a Democrat, 
and has served as trustee of Amherst. He 
is a member of the F. & A. M., Stoning- 
ton Lodge No. 503, and of the I. O. O. F., 
Plato Lodge, No. 203, having passed all 
the Chairs. Mrs. Belden is a member of 
the Daughters of Rebekah, Lodge No. 
257, of which she is a charter member; 
she is also a mem ber of the Ladies of the 
Maccabees. 



JT. HENDERSON. The Oberlin 
Business College has for many years 
held an exalted place among the 
business schools of this country, and 
many young men and women, now prom- 
inent in the business world or as teachers, 
received their trainino; in this school. We 
are pleased to be al)le to present to the 
readers of this book a brief biography of 
J. T. Henderson, whose portrait appears 
upon the opposite page, and whose ability 
as a teacher, good judgment and character 
as a man have had much to do in building 
up this useful school. 

About four miles north of McConnels- 
ville, Morgan Co., Ohio, is found a quiet 
country home, surrounded by fertile hills 
and valleys, in which was born the subject 
of this sketch May 18, 1862. He is the 
son of John and Cecelia (Richardson) 
Henderson, also nativ^es of the Buckeye 
State, the former of whom died in Morgan 
county in 1884, where his widow is yet 
residing. His early life was very much as 
that of other country boys, the summers 
being spent in work upon the farm, and 



the winters in the district school, except 
that he early manifested an unusual inter- 
est in his studies, and made such rapid 
progress in thom that before he was six- 
teen years old he had secured a county 
teacher's certificate. This opened the way 
for him to a broader and more useful life, 
and after this the farm had little attrac- 
tion for him. 

He began teaching when seventeen years 
old, and continued to teach in country 
schools for several years, with a degree of 
success not often attained by even older 
instructors. As evidence of this success, 
he was retained in his first school sfeven 
terms. During these years he developed 
an extraordinary fondness for fine writing, 
and, by long and faithful practice, consider- 
able ability to execute the same. To 
gratify this fondness, and to improve him- 
self in this chosen profession, he was induced 
to attend the Muskingum Valley Normal 
School for four summers in succession. 
This school was under the able manage- 
ment of Prof. Jacob Schwartz, for twenty 
years superintendent of penmanship in the 
public schools of Zanesville, Ohio. This 
gentleman was a penman of rare ability, 
and to his competence as a teacher is due 
the great number of penmen and business 
educators which Morgan county has pro- 
duced. As might well be supposed, in 
this association Mr. Henderson found 
plenty of fuel for his burning passion for 
penmanship, and his indefatigable labors 
were rewarded at the close of the last term 
by receiving the prize for being the best 
penman in the school, consisting of about 
one hundred competitors. This seems to 
have been the flood-tide in the affairs of 
this energetic young man, for the prize 
was a scholarship in the Zanesville Busi- 
ness College. We find that Mr. Hender- 
son completed the business course in this 
institution in the spring of 1883, thereby 
climbing one round higher on the ladder 
which has brought him such abundant 
success. The summer of 1883 was spent 
in traveling through different parts of the 





Principal (if Obcrlin Business College 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



967 



East, visiting Chautauqua, Niagara Falls, 
Ocean Grove, Coney Island, Asbury Park, 
Long Branch, New York and other cities, 
a part of his expenses being defrayed by 
card writing at the summer resorts. 

The year 1883-1884 found our subject 
occupying liis first position as teacher of 
commercial branches in JJaldwin Univer- 
sity, Berea, Ohio. While coimected with 
this college he devoted his spare time to 
further study, completing such branches 
as Geometry, English Literature, Rhetoric, 
etc. Pres. Schuyler says of his work in 
this institution: "He understands his busi- 
ness, is an excellent teacher and a worthy 
man." During the latter part of this year 
he was employed in the First National 
Bank of that city as bookkeeper, which 
position was filled ably and to the entire 
satisfaction of the management of the bank. 
The dream of his life now began to take 
definite siiape, and possessing a mind quick 
to perceive and ready to appropriate useful 
information, he here obtained much prac- 
tical knowledge that has been of inestima- 
ble value to him in the work upon which 
he was soon to enter — that of a business 
educator. In the fall of 1884 he purchased 
of Uriah McKee a half-interest in the 
Oberlin Business College, and since that 
time he has devoted his whole time and 
energy to building up and improving this 
old and well-known institution. 

Business education has had an interest- 
ing history in Oberlin. The history of such 
work dates back to the very earliest period 
when such instruction was given anywhere, 
and many men who are now occupying 
eminent places in the world have been as- 
sociated with the work in this place as 
teachers, among whom we might mention 
William Warren, author of tlie Warrenian 
System of Penmanship; Piatt R. Spencer, 
autlior of the Spencerian System of Pen- 
manship, now famous the world over; 
Charles Griffeth. S. S. Calkins, Drake 
Brothers, Piatt R. Spencer, Jr., W. F. 
Lyun. Mr. Howland, Mr. Cobb, U. Mc- 
Kee, and many others. It was the mantle 



of sued) men as these that fell upon the 
shoulders of Mr. Henderson, who has for 
ten years demonstrated his ability to carry 
to a successful issue the work for which 
these men laid the foundation. 

In June, 1885, he was united in mar- 
riage in Morgan county, Ohio, with Miss 
Ada Lawrence, a native of that county, 
and four children have been born to 
them: Fred (who died at the age of four 
years), Elmer Clinton, Llarold Lawrence 
and Alice Estelle. In politics Mr. Hender- 
son is a Republican-Prohibitionist, and lie 
and his wife are members of the M. E. 
Church, of which he is treasurer, as well 
as assistant superintendent of the Sunday- 
school. 

The partnership between McKee and 
Henderson continued until June, 1892, 
when Mr. McKee was compelled to with- 
draw from the school on account of failing 
health, his entire interest being purchased 
by the junior member of the firm, who 
since that time has had the entire manage- 
ment of the institution. Since Principal 
Henderson was first associated with the 
Oberlin Business College, the patronage 
has almost dout)led, and its present prom- 
inent position among similar colleges is 
largely due to his untiring efforts. He 
has been a close student of all subjects 
bearing upon hig work, and for several 
years has been giving his students the 
benefit of his researches, in what is termed 
the " Wednesday Afternoon Lecture 
Course,'' when such subjects as ''Elements 
of Success in Life," " Life Insurance," 
''Building and Loan Associations," "Our 
Domestic System of Exchange," " Post 
Office Money Order System," " Banking," 
" New York Clearing House," etc., are 
discussed in a manner which has long 
been popular with the students, not so 
much because of rhetorical flourish as be- 
cause of the abundant practical informa- 
tion contained. 

Mr. Henderson takes a deep interest in 
the welfare of the community, and occu- 
pies a high place in the estimation of his 



968 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



fellow citizens. The mayor of Oberlin 
said of him recently: "He is known here 
as an upright and conscientious teacher, a 
patriotic citizen, and an enthusiastic 
woi-ker in the Church and benevolent Socie- 
ties of the place." For several years he has 
been a member of the Board of Directors of 
tlie Oberlin Y. M. C. A., and for some time 
past an efficient member of the Board 
of Health. He is also a member of the 
Executive Board of Associated Charities 
for Oberlin, and lias recently been elected 
a member of the Board of Education. His 
superior skill as a penman, his practical 
experience in the banking business, to- 
gether with his ability as a teacher and 
cliaracter as a man, render him an able in- 
structor in the college over which he pre- 
sides, a useful citizen in the community in 
which he lives, and place him in the 
front rank of business educators of the 
present time. 



^?f\EV. NICHOLAS PFEIL, pastor 
L^ of Holy Trinity Church, Avon, 
I V^ was born November 4, 1S59, in 
■^ Cleveland, on the so-called West 

Side, formerly known as Ohio City. 
The house in which he for the first time 
saw the light of day is still standing on 
the southeast corner of the intersection 
of Penn and Chatham streets. He is the 
second youngest of seven children — five 
boys and two girls — all of whom with their 
parents are still among the living. They 
reside in and about Cleveland, except his 
youngest brother, who at present is so- 
journing in England, near Liverpool, being 
a priest of the Society of Jesus. 

His parents were among the pioneers of 
Cleveland, having immigrated in the fall 
of 1847. They came from the northern 
part of Baden, in Germany, and are de- 
scendants of that loyal race of sturdy 
Franks, who through all the storms of 
centuries remained faithful to the Catholic 
Church, ever since the days of Franconia's 



apostle, St. Kilian, who, in the latter part 
of the seventh century, converted the 
Franconiati people from heathenism to 
catholicity. 

His father, Lawrence Pfeil, hails from 
the town of Koenigsheim on the Tauber, 
and his mother, whose maiden name was 
Franciska Reinhart, comes from Gissig- 
heim, a picturesque little village in the 
uplands of the so-called Taubergrund. 

Lawrence Pfeil was a baker by profes- 
sion, and upon arriving in Cleveland began 
to ply his trade for a time; but, seeing that 
ship carpenters were in greater demand 
and better paid, he joined their ranks, to 
earn a living for his little family. After 
several years of trials, sickness and suffer- 
ing, wiiich were the common lot of pio- 
neers in those terrible days of fever and 
ague, he, being assisted by his saving and 
diligent wife, succeeded in acquiring a 
little home on Pear street hill. Later on 
he invested his hard-earned savings in a 
more comfortable home on Chatham street. 

Here the subject of this sketch spent 
his early youth, watched over by a pious 
mother who taught him the first kuow- 
ledtre of God, and folded his hands in 
childlike prayer. When seven years of 
age, he was sent to St. Mary's school on 
Jersey street, then as now taught by the 
Ciiristian Brothers of Dayton, who enjoy 
a wide reputation as clever teachers. 

In the latter part of the " sixties," the 
family removed from Chatham street on to 
a little farm near the crossing of Lorain 
and Henley streets. Though the distance 
to the parochial school was now three miles, 
the subject of this sketch very seldom 
missed a day, despite rain and storm, foot- 
ing it regularly there and back, summer 
and winter, and often through what now- 
a-days would be called impassible roads. 
From his eleventh year on he attended St. 
Stephen's school, which was opened on 
Courtland street in tlie spring of 1870. 
Here, in 1872, he made his First Com- 
munion under the guidance and direction 
of a pious and zealous pastor, the Rev. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



969 



Casimir Reichlin, for whom he entertains 
filial affection and devotion to tliis day. 
Fur, next to the grace of God, it was, in 
great measure, owing to the beautiful, 
priestly life of this good man that he 
gradually felt an earnest desire of conse- 
crating himself one day to the service of 
God by entering the priesthood. 

Agreeably to his request, Nicholas, with 
his younger brother, was sent by his par- 
ents, in the fall of 1873, to Cauisius Col- 
lege, Buffalo, N. Y., under the able man- 
aeement of the Jesuit Fathers, where, for 
five years, he applied liiinself closely to 
the study of Christian doctrine, Latin, 
Greek, German, English, French, mathe- 
matics and other branches usually taught 
during a collegiate course. He was gradu- 
ated in June, 1878, and the following 
September entered St. Mary's Theological 
Seminary on Lake street, Cleveland. Here 
he I'emained five years, studying philosophy 
and theology, church history, exegesis, 
canon law, rubrics, etc., in preparation for 
the reception of Holy Orders — the dream 
of his life. 

After so many years of patient and 
laborious study he received minor orders 
on the 17th of March, subdeaconship on 
the 17th, and deaconship on the 18th day 
of May, and priesthood on the 1st of July, 
1883, being then in his twenty-fourth year. 
On the following Sunday, July 8, he cele- 
brated his first public Mass in St. Stephen's 
Church, amidst great solemnity and a vast 
outpouring of people, who had known him 
from i)oyhood days up. 

His first pastoral charge was St. Patrick's 
congregation, Hubbard, Trumbull county, 
where he remained seven months, when he 
was transferred to the pastorate of Holy 
Trinity congregation, Avon, Lorain county. 
It is now closely upon ten years that he 
has directed the temporal and spiritual 
affairs of this congregation, having arrived 
February 29, 1884. 

During this period he also attended St. 
Peter's congregation. North Ridgeville, for 
somewhat over four years, holding services 



in both congregations every Sunday and 
Holy-day. He is now solely pastor of 
Avon, having been relieved of the arduous 
work of the Kidgeville mission by Bishop 
Horstmann, November 12, 1893. 

The present pastor of Trinity Church 
loves to spend his leisure moments in his 
library among his books. He is fond of 
solitude because of the opportunity it af- 
fords him for reading and mental improve- 
ment, but he also loves the company of 
his friends, and highly appreciates a good 
joke when he hears it. Although born in 
the city, he prefers to live in the country, 
regards with affection its plain people 
and their simplicity of life, delights in 
flowers and birds, and is passionately fond 
of music. His great pleasure, however, is 
to come to the relief of some poor suffer- 
ing soul, and is ever ready, at any hour of 
the day or night, to exercise his priestly 
ministrations. 



T[ M. VANTILEUPtG, M. D., a pop- 
k. I ular physician and surgeon of Lorain, 
}^) was born January 19, 1849, in Ash- 
land county, Ohio, and is descended 
from one of the early pioneer families of 
that county. 

His grandfather, Daniel Vantilburg, 
was horn in Jefferson county, Ohio, and 
in 1812 entered land in Ashland county, 
same State. He returned to Jefferson 
county, where he was united in marriage 
with Miss Margaret Clinton, and in 1813 
settled permanently in Ashland county, 
where he became a prominent citizen, re- 
siding on his farm until his death, which 
occurred in 1866. He took part in the 
war of 1812, serving six months in an 
Oliio regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Vantilburg 
reared a family of six children — three sons 
and three daughters; two of the sons, 
John and Henry (twins), are practicing 
physicians in Ashland county. The Van- 



970 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



tilbnrgfamilj was originally from ndland, 
and Grandfather Vantilbiircr was of Penn- 

o 

sylvan ia-German descent. 

Daniel Vantilburg, son of this old 
pioneer, was born on the farm in Ashland 
county (one mile south of Ashland), where 
lie passed his entire life. He was married 
in Jefferson county, this State, to Miss 
Clarinda Myers, a native of same, and they 
had a family of four children (three yet 
living), namely: Margaret, who was mar- 
ried to Dr. Charles Campbell, of Ashland, 
and died in 1879; J. M., subject of sketch; 
William, residing at Ashland, and George, 
living on the hofne farm in Ashland 
county. The father of this family died in 
1878, in Ashland county, where his widow 
still resides. 

J. M. Vantilburg was reared in his na- 
tive countj-, and received his education in 
the common schools of Ashland and in the 
college at Hayesville. In 1864 he en- 
listed, for three years or during the war, 
in Company G, Twenty-third O. V. ]., 
under Gen. R. B. Hayes, Captain William 
McKinley (afterward Governor McKinley). 
He was mustered into serviceat Columbus, 
Ohio, being assigned to the army of West 
Virginia, and participated in the engage- 
ment of Cedar Creek and in many skir- 
mishes. He was honorably discharged at 
Cumberland, Md., in July, 1805, and re- 
turned to his home in Ashland county, 
Ohio. In 1885 he entered Jefferson 
Medical College, Philadelphia, and in 
October, 1888, came to Lorain, Lorain 
county, where he has since made his home, 
actively engaged in the duties of his pro- 
fession. From 1881 to 1883 the Doctor 
resided in western Texas and Mexico, 
assisting for some time in the construction 
of the Texas and Pacific Railroad from Ft. 
Worth west. For nine months he was 
engaged on the construction of the Mex- 
ican Central Railroad, from El Paso to 
Zacatecas, and then located for a short 
time in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, 
after which he returned to Ashland county. 

Socially Dr. Vantilburg is a member of 



Q. A. Gillmore Post No. 752, G. A. R., 
and lias been commander of same since its 
organization (this post at the present 
writing has twenty-three members); he is 
also a member of Woodland Lodge No. 
226, K. of P., of Uniformed Ratik No. 
117 Loyal Legion, and Lorain Lodge No. 
552, F. and A. M. For many years be 
has been a member of the Ohio National 
Guards, of which he was the first lieu- 
tenant. Politically he is a Rejjublican, 
and has served as member of the town 
council. 



I OHN SAYE, farmer and keeper of 
^ I boarding stable, Ridgoville township, 
}^) is an Englishman by birth, born 
December 7, 1839, in Yoi-kshire, a 
son of James and Ann (Colley) Saye, of 
the same county, where thev married. In 
1850 they came to the United States, 
crossing the ocean in six weeks, and from 
their port of landing came westward to 
Ohio, taking the Hudson river, Erie Canal 
and Lake Erie to Cleveland, thence pro- 
ceeding by wagon to their destination — 
Eaton township, Lorain county, where 
they lived many years; they died in Ridge- 
ville township, the father in February, 
18S1, the mother in 1871. They had a 
family of eight children, six of whom are 
yet living, viz. : Watson, residing in Ridge- 
ville township; Ann. widow of Albert 
Adams, of Saginaw, Mich.; Harriet, wife 
of John Watson, of Ridgeville township; 
Mary, wife of Ambrose Snow, of Cali- 
fornia; John, our subject; and Hannah, 
widow of Joseph Peterson, of Berea, Ohio. 

John Saye, whose name introduces this 
sketch, wasaboy when he came with therest 
of the family to America, and his education 
was received partly in England and partly in 
Ridgeville township, Lorain county, where 
he was also trained to agricultural pursuits. 
In 1872 he bought his present fine farm 
of forty-five acres in Ridgeville township, 
and here he has since been successfully 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



971 



gaged in general farming and boarding 
horses, in connection witii vvliieli latter 
branch of his business he iias iiad the care 
of horses of all kinds, from various parts 
of the county. Mr. Saye has been twice 
married: first time in 1863 to Miss Miriam 
Parker, a native of Henrietta township, 
Lorain county, by which union were born 
three children — all daughters — viz.: Amy, 
Ella (wife of Douglas Proudtbot; tliey 
have one child, Lester), and Miriam. The 
mother of these died in 1879, and in 1883 
Mr. Snye married Miss Ellen Gayton, a 
native of Cleveland, Ohio. In politics our 
subject is a Republican, and he is one of 
the useful, loyal citizens of his locality. 



L( 



OREIN EMMONS, member of an 

early pioneer family of Ridgeville 

township, is a native of same, born 

in December, 1823, son of Chauncey 

and Charlotte (Porter) Emmons. 

The parents of our subject were both 
natives of Connecticut, the mother born 
August 26, 1789, and in 1810 they mi- 
grated westward, coming with an ox-team 
to Lorain county, Ohio, where they passed 
the rest of their long lives. They located 
in Ridgeville township, first on Butternut 
Ridge, and subsequently on the farm now 
occupied by the subject of this sketch. 
Chauncey Emmons took an active interest 
in the politics of the day. His death oc- 
curred in Ridgeville township, June 24, 
1874, his wife dying September 21, 1847. 
These pioneers reared a family of eight 
children, a brief record of whom follows: 
Marilla was first married to Newton 
Adams, and is now the wife of Mr. Brandy- 
burg; they live in Lansing, Mich. Beecher 
Porter removed to Missouri, where he died 
in 1890. Caroline is the widow of Fred- 
erick Hall, of Olean, N. Y. Susan is the 
widow of David Brainerd, of Wisconsin. 
Edmond died in Lorain county. Lorrin 



is the subject of this biographical memoir. 
Harlow Chauncey resided the greater part 
of his life in Elyria; his death occurred in 
St. Paul, Minn. Spencer died in Elyria. 
Lorrin Emmons was reared in his na- 
tive township, and received bis education 
in the common schools of Ridgeville 
Center. He has made farming his life 
vocation, and now owns the old homestead 
of twentv-tive acres, to which he has added 
twenty-five more, making a fine farm of 
fifty acres in a high state of cultivation. 
On March 27, 1849, Mr. Emmons was 
married, in Ridgeville township, to Miss 
Mary Bnrrell, daughter of Higby and Ann 
(Conrad) Burrell, natives of New York 
State, who in an early day came to Lorain 
county, Ohio; the father died in Ridgeville 
township at the age of eighty-one, the 
mother ma!iy years before. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Lorria Emmons have come four chil- 
dren, namely: Lois, wifeof Orrin Herrick, 
of Cleveland, has four children; Ada A., 
who married Elson Dye, died in January, 
1893, leaving two children; Alice, wife of 
Howard Knevels, of Elkhart, Ind.; and 
Arthur L., married and living in Omaha, 
Neb., in the employ of the Union Pacific 
Railroad. Mr. Emmons is a member of 
the Democratic party, and has been elected 
to the offices of assessor and trustee of his 
township, serving in the latter position 
many years. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church. 



H. SHAW, a leading agriculturist 
of Ridgeville township, and a repre- 
sentative citizen, is a native of 
New York State, born in Bristol 
township, Ontario county, in 1829, a son 
of Samuel and Charlotte (Hale) Shaw, also 
natives of the Empire State. 

In the fall of 1829 the family migrated 
to Ohio, making a settlement in Bath 
township. Summit county, the fourth or 
fifth family to come into that locality. 



972 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Here the father died January 31, 1837, 
and in 1839 his widow married Lyman 
Doolittle, who died in Summit county, 
Ohio. To Samuel and Charlotte Shaw 
were born six children, as follows: Allen, 
who died young; S. H., our subject; Cor- 
inthia, who died young; Lorenzo, who mar- 
ried and lived in Summit county, died 
about 1890; Dency, who married Walter 
Simmons, and moved to Medina county, 
died in September, 1891 (he died in Sep- 
tember, 1890); and Richmond, married, 
residing in Bath township, Summit county. 
By the mother's second marriage there 
were five children, to wit: Eliza, who 
married William Wylie (they came to 
Ridgeville township, where she died in 
1875); Erwin, who died young; Lucy, who 
died young; Orpha, wife of Virgil R. 
Shaw, living on the old home; and Gen- 
evieve, wife of Virgil E. Shaw, also resid- 
ing on the old homestead. 

The subject proper of this sketch re- 
ceived a liberal education at the common 
schools of his boyhood home, and was 
reared to farming pursuits. In 1851 he 
came from Summit county, Oiiio, to Ridge- 
ville township, Lorain county, where he 
cleared a farm from out of the woods, at a 
time when wild animals, including all 
kinds of game, were yet plentiful. He 
bought eighteen acres of land, and after 
improving it sold out and moved into Me- 
dina county, where he resided till 1856; 
then returned to Lorain county and bought 
a ten acre tract of wild timber land, which 
he cleared, and from time to time added to 
till now he is the owner of sixty-five acres 
all in a good state of cultivation. He has 
a comfortable residence, ample barn and 
other outbuildings, and confines himself 
now exclusively to mixed farming, although 
at one time he worked at his trade, that of 
carpenter and joiner, and for twelve years 
followed the business of buildincr mover. 

In 1851 Mr. Shaw was married, in Sum- 
mit county, to Miss Juliette Wylie, a native 
of Erie, Penn.,and daughter of Joseph and 
Anna (Shaw) Wylie, both of Connecticut 



birth, who in an early day moved to Erie, 
Penn., and thence in 1839 to Summit 
county, Ohio, locating in Bath township. 
The father died in Erie in 1838, the mother 
in Ridgeville township, Lorain county, in 
1872. Their family, seven in number, 
were as follows: Andrew, who has resided 
on his present farm in Medina county since 
1848; Mary Ann, wife of Isaac Warren, 
residing in Oklahoma; Warren, who died 
young; William, deceased in 1887 in Ridge- 
ville; Favian; Jane, who died young; and 
Juliette, Mrs. Shaw. To Mr.' and Mrs. 
S. H. Shaw were born seven children, a 
brief record of whom is as follows: Zimri, 
agent at Shawville, where he resides, is 
married and has two sons, Archer and 
Stanley; Arthur, agent at Olmsted Falls, 
is married and has one son, Glenn; Dora 
died at the age of two years; Diana, wife 
of Lafayette Phillips, residing in Carbon, 
Ind., has one son, Claude; Oscar, married, 
resides in Clarksville, Tenn. (he has two 
children, Hattie and Cecil); Alfaretta, wife 
of Morris Bills, residing at Collins, Ohio, 
has two children, Grace and Stella; Lola is 
a graduate of Elyria High School. Po- 
litically our subject is an ardent Republi- 
can, and has served as township trustee 
and in other ofHces of trust. At one time 
there was in Ridgeville township a post- 
office, Shawville, named for the family, 
which was changed, however, but there is 
still a station on the L. S. & M. S. R. R. 
of that name. 




^ILLIAM F. ESKERT. Among 

the well-known agriculturists of 
Elyria township stands prominent 
this gentleman. He is a native 
of Boston, Mass., born July 26, 1849, a 
son of George and Elizabeth (Abbenzeller) 
Eskert, who came from Germany to tlie 
United States, and were married in Bos- 
ton, Mass. The father, who was a rope 
maker by trade, died at the early age of 
twenty-nine years; the mother is yet living 
in Elyria. 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



973 



The subject of tliis sketch received his 
ediicHtion in Boston, and learned tlie trade 
of boiler maker, which he followed in his 
native city till 186S, in wiiich year he 
came to Lorain county, and commenced 
farming, a vocation he has since prospered 
in. He has been a member of the board 
of County Iiitirmary directors since 1890, 
having been elected on the Republican 
ticket, and he was trustee of Elyria town- 
ship for several years. 

On April 30, 1870, Mr. Eskert married 
Miss Frances Hoadley, daughter of Luther 
and Hannah (Smith) Hoadley, who are 
among the oldest pioneers of Lorain county. 
One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Eskert: Helen, wife of Allen E. GrifBn,of 
Oberlin, Ohio. Mr. Eskert is a member 
of the F. & A. M. 



If If ENRY WARNER was born Octo- 

hH ber 17, 1801, in Middletown, Mid- 

I 1| dlesex Co., Conn. On April 21, 

■^ 1825, he was united in marriage 

with Miss Elizabeth Whitcom, of 

Wayne county, N. T., by which union 

there were eleven children, viz. : William 

H., John v., Esther A., Maria J., Malita 

A., Augustus A., Jerome B., Cyrenius P., 

Vandalia S., Irving N., and Valeria E., 

two of whom are living, Augustus A. and 

Cyrenius P. 

The subject of this memoir moved to 
Brownhelm, Lorain Co., Ohio, in 1847, 
having previously purchased the stone 
quarry now owned by the Worthiiigton 
Brotliers. From this quarry he slii{)ped, 
it is believed, the first stone that was 
shipped from Lorain county; this shipment 
was to Canada. Some time in 1854 or 
1855 he was associated with Baxter Cloiigh 
in the quarry l)usiness, and was owner of 
the Haldeman quarry in 1859. He spent 
his days on the farm where he died, which 
is now owned and occupied by his son-in- 



law, J. R. Miller, and located about one 
mile west of North Amherst village, on the 
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- 
road. Mr. Warner died January 25, 1876, 
in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His 
wife died August 25, 1872. 



Tfff ENRY FOWL, one of the represent- 

Tr^ ative native-born agriculturists of 

I 11 Lorain county, first opened his eyes 

Jj to the light of day in Amherst 

township in 1843. 

His father, Henry Fowl, came from 
Germany to Ohio when about eleven years 
old, with his father, Godfrey Fowl, and for 
a year they had their residence in Cleve- 
land, thence moving to Amherst township, 
Lorain county. Here Henry Fowl re- 
mained till 1864, when he came to Elyria 
township, settlingon thefarm nowoccupied 
by our subject. He married Miss Sarah 
E. Baker, who came to Lorain county when 
five years old, and they reared a family of 
eight children, of whom the following is a 
brief record: Henry is the subject of this 
sketch; Charles E. is on a farm in Elyria 
township ; Catherine, the wife of L. 
Haserodt, of Elyria, died March 8, 1873 
Lucy, who married Conrad Brandt, of Ely 
ria township, died in November, 1883 
Leonard died in January, 1S92; Lena is 
the wife of Emanuel Eckler, of Elyria 
Andrew, married, resides in Elyria; Philip 
lives in Carlisle township. The parents 
both died in 1890, of " la grippe," the 
father on May 13, the mother on Septem- 
ber 22. 

Henry Fowl was reared in Amherst 
township, and received his education at the 
public schools of the neighborhood, at the 
same time being trained to the practical 
duties of farm life. In 1889 he came to 
his present place in Elyria township, Lo- 
rain county, where he has since been en- 
gaged in general agriculture. In 1870 he 



974 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



was married to Miss Sarah Pangborn, a na- 
tive of Amherst township, Lorain county, 
an adopted daughter of Anson and Ida 
(Squires) Pangborn, he a native of Ver- 
mont, she of Whitehall, N. Y. Mrs. Pang- 
born came to Lorain county in 1816, Mr. 
Pangborn in 1827, and they both died in 
Elyria township in 1880 and 1888 respect- 
ively. To Mr. and Mrs. Fowl have been 
born six children, as follows: Sydney, Elfa 
(wife of E. Den man, of Elyria, who has 
one child, Ena P.), J. M., Ida, Leonard 
and Urr C. Our subject and wife are 
members of the Church of Christ, and in 
his political sympathies he is a strong 
Prohibitionist. 



yj 



HfENRY A. PLATO, vice-president 
of the Savings Deposit Bank, and 
dry-goods merchant. North Am- 
herst, is a native of Germany, born 
Decemlier 28, 1845, a son of John 
and Wilhelmina (Bodmann) Plato, also 
natives of Germany. 

In 1856 they came to the United States, 
and to Ohio, making a stay of four or live 
months in Vermillion, Erie county; then 
came to Amherst township, Lorain county, 
where they followed farming alwut three 
years, after which they moved into the 
village of North Amherst. Here for 
some eight or ten years the father operated 
a livery, assisted by his sons; also erected 
a grocery store, and conducted a business 
there till his retirement from active life, 
at which time his sons took charge of the 
grocery. He died in December, 1890, 
aged seventy-six years; his widow is yet 
living, now sixty-nine years old. Their 
family comprised three sons and one 
daughter, viz.: Henry A., John E. (part- 
ner in business with Henry A.), Herman J. 
and Matilda C, wife of Joseph Wesbecher, 
partner in the hardware business with 
Henry A. and John E. Henry A. com- 
menced the grocery business with his 



brother, John E., in 1869, and continued 
therein about twelve years, or till 1881, in 
which year his brother-in-law (Joseph 
Wesbecher) being in the hardware busi- 
ness, our subject and brother, J. E., bought 
an interest in same. Subsequently Mr. 
Plato, in conjunction with his partners, 
built a brick block, and up to January 1, 
1892, he saw to the interest of the brothers 
in the hardware branch, which grew to be 
a thriving concern, while J. E., the brother, 
attended their dry-goods store; but being 
sickly changed positions with his brother, 
and went back to the dry- goods store on 
January 1, 1892, at the same time retain- 
incr his connection with the hardware busi- 
ness. About two years ago the Savings 
Deposit Bank was organized in North 
Amherst, and Mr. Plato has ever since 
been vice-president of same. About four 
years ago he was instrumental in organ- 
izing the North Amherst Furniture Co., 
whicli is one of the best equipped enter- 
prises of the kind in Northern Ohio, 
putting up the building which is now oc- 
cupied by the concern. 

In 1866 Henry A. Plato and Miss Eliz- 
abeth Hilderbrand were united in mar- 
riage, and six children were born to them, 
viz.: Matilda, a clerk in her father's store; 
Albert D., who was educated at Notre 
Dame, Ind., and is connected with his 
father in the dry-goods business; Wil- 
helmina, also educated at Notre Dame, 
Ind.; Cecelia, Louisa and Florence, all of 
whom have had the best possible educa- 
tional advantages. They are possessed of 
rare musical abilities, and form within 
their own circle a talented band. They 
have for some years furnished the music 
in the Catholic Church at Amherst, and 
are in inucii demand at both public and 
private entertainments. The" Plato Band," 
as it is sometimes called, consists of two 
violins (played by son and one of the 
daughters); piano and cornet (two other 
daughters), and flute (Mr. Plato himself). 

Mr. Plato is a stanch Democrat, and a 
leader of the party in his vicinity. Iti 




"'S-i 



>.- 




..xS^J^^^ 



LOliAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



977 



1887 be was elected township clerk, a po- 
sition he still tills. In 1861 (then but 
sixteen years of age) he wished very ninch 
to enlist as a fifer, but his father pre- 
vented his going out, being too young; 
however, in December, 1(S63, he enlisted, 
this time iu Company E, One Hundred 
and Twenty-eighth O. V. I., and served 
till July, i8G5, when he was mustered 
out at Camp Chase, the war coming to a 
close. 



n( DAM BERRES, Jr., one of the in- 
f|_\\ dustrious and progressive farmer 
Ir^ citizens of Ridgeville township, is 
■^ a native of Prussia, Germany, l)orn 

in 1837, a son of Adam and Mary 
(Jacobs) Berres, also natives of the Father- 
land. 

In 1857 the family immigrated to the 
United States, and settling on a farm in 
Ridgeville township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
the parents passed tiie rest of their lives 
there, the father dying January 28, 1892, 
the mother in 1877. Their children, nine 
in number, were as follows: Peter, mar- 
ried, a resident of Wood county, Ohio; 
John, married, residing in Ridgeville 
township; Adam, our subject; Gertrude, 
wife of Joseph Schneider, of Michigan; 
Matt, a farmer of Avon township; Mary, 
wife of Mathias Myers, of Ridgeville town- 
ship; Joseph, a farmer of Ridgeville town- 
ship; William, residing in Elyria; and 
Casper, who resides in Ridgeville township. 

Adam Berres, Jr., was twenty years old 
when he came with the rest of the family 
to this country, and he has always followed 
farming. He is now the owner of an ex- 
cellent property of ninety-one acres of 
land all in an advanced state of cultivation, 
his first residence thereon being a log 
shanty, which was superseded by a house 
18 X 36, two stories in height, with an 
"L" 16x26, two stories: there is also a 
commodious and well-built barn 24x32. 
In 1862 our subject enlisted in Company 



G, One Hundred and Seventh O. V. I., 
army of the Potomac, for three years or 
during the war, but served only eleven 
months, being honorably discharged in 
1863 in the convalescent camp near Alex- 
andria, Va.,and returning home to Lorain 
county, where he has since carried on 
general farming. In 1867 he was married 
to Miss Catherine Myer, a. native of Ger- 
many, and daughter of Andreas Myer, 
and to this union have been born ten chil- 
dren, named as follows: Peter, Gertrude, 
Mathew, Joseph, William, Casper, Kate, 
Jacob, Christiau and Frank. Politically 
Mr. Berres is a Democrat. Socially he 
belongs to the G. A. R. Post at Ridge- 
ville, and he and his wife are members of 
the Catholic Church. 



JACOB MYERS, well - known and 
highly respected as a well-to-do farmer 
citizen of Lorain county, was born in 
Tompkins county, N. Y., in 1814. a 
son of Joseph and Mary Snyder Myers, 
who were of Dutch descent. 

Joseph Myers was born March 11, 1760, 
in Xew Jersey, and was there married to 
Mary Snyder, who was born iu the same 
State January 27, 1770. In an early day 
they removed to New York State, where 
the father died April 24, 1829, the widowed 
mother afterward removing to Ohio, and 
dying in Elyria township in 1853. Five 
children were born to them, named re- 
spectively: Margaret, Andrew, Catherine, 
Julia and Jacob. Of these, the youngest, 
who is the subject of this memoir, re- 
ceived his education at the subscription 
schools of Tompkins county, N. Y. In 
the winter of 1833 he came on foot to 
Ohio, first locating in Carlisle township, 
Lorain county, thence, in 1834, moving to 
Elyria township. He leiirned the trade of 
carpenter and joiner, and in course of time 
became a contractor and builder, a business 



978 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



lie followed for years. In 1835 he boiicrht 
his farm in Elyria township, whereon he 
now resides, and built himself a modern 
comfortable home. 

On November 15, 1835, Mr. Myers was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Bur- 
rell, a native of New York State, and 
daughter of Arnold and Mary (Hitchcock) 
Biirrell, of Vermont birth, who removed 
to New York State, whence, in 1833, they 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, becoming 
pioneers of Sheffield township, where they 
both died. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Myers 
were born seven children, to wit: Andrew, 
who died when eight years old; Mary L., 
wife of Judson Kinney, of Sheffield town- 
ship (tliey have three children : Lena, Elmer 
and Edith); Lorin, married, living in Ely- 
ria; Esther, wife of William Cox, has two 
children — Francis and Lorin; Andrew, 
living on a farm, who is married and has 
three children — Alta, Grace and Miles; 
Alonzo, residing at La Porte, Ohio, who is 
married and has two cliildren — Jacob and 
Eva; and Alligan, wife of Charles Cox, 
has four children — Lottie, Mary, Sumner 
and George. The parents celebrated, in 
1885, their "golden wedding," in the old 
home where they had first settled as man 
and wife, and Judge Day, who officiated 
at the marriage, was among those present. 
Politically Mr. Myers is a pronounced Pe- 
publican, casting his first vote for Van- 
Buren, and has been a member of the 
township school board. 



I 



DWAED S. FITCH, who for three- 
score years has been a resident 
J of Avon township, Lorain county, 
where he has prospered well as a 
general farmer, is a native of Rutland, 
Vt., born in 1829. 

He is a son of Cyiis and Camilla (Gar- 
rett) Fitch, also of Vermont, where they 
were married, and whence in 1834 they 
migrated to Lorain county, Ohio, locating 



in the woods, and there cleared the farm 
now owned by the subject of this sketch. 
They purchased, at first, sixty acres, built 
a log house, and continued to live there the 
rest of their days, the father dying in 1875; 
he was prominent in political affairs, first 
as a Whig, later as a Republican. The 
mother of our subject taught the first 
school in the district where the latter now 
lives, for the first six months of that oner- 
ous work receiving no salary; she died in 
April, 1892, aged eighty-four years. Three 
children were born to this pioneer couple, 
viz.: James, deceased when young; Edward 
S., subject of sketch; and Candace, who 
died at the age of six years. 

Edward S. Fitch, who is the only living 
representative of the family, was reared on 
his present farm, and educated at the 
schools of Cuyahoga county. In 1856 he 
was married to Miss Eliza Barrows, daugh- 
ter of Adnah and Clarissa (Day) Barrows, 
and three children were the result of this 
union, namely: (1) Daniel, married 
and residing in Avon township (has two 
children: Scott and Camilla Louise); (2) 
Charles, deceased in 1878; and (3) Delia, 
wife of Michael Henson (they reside in 
Avon township, and have one child, 
George). Politically Mr. Fitch is a Re- 
publican, taking a lively interest in the af- 
fairs of his party. 



^ 



MIL LAMPMAN, prominent in 
mercantile affairs in Lorain coun- 
_\ ty, and proprietor of a general 
merchandise store in the town of 
Lorain, is a native of the county, 
born in Avon township April 16, 1844. 

M. Z. Lampman, father of subject, was 
born in the State of New York of Ger- 
man parents, and his father, who was a 
hatter by trade, came west many years ago, 
dying in Wisconsin. M. Z. Lampman in 
early life came to Lorain county, Ohio, and 
found employment on the lakes, at one 
time sailing on the old steamship " Bun- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



979 



ker Hill," long since passed away. After 
leaving the lakes he married Elizabeth 
Churchill, who was born in Buffalo, N. Y., 
in 1820, and he then carried on farming 
till 1850, in that year reniovintrto a hotel 
at French Creek, which lie kept till the 
spring of 1853, when he came to Lorain. 
Here he kept hotel for some time, first 
in a building which stood opposite the 
new "Gritlin House;"' lie then boughtthe 
place where the "Griffin House" now 
stands, and in that hostelry did a flourish- 
ing business till about 1872. Mr. Lamp- 
man was collector for the port of Lorain for 
about twenty-one years, from Buchanan's 
time, and he kept a store in the town for 
some twenty-five years, up till 1865 or '67. 
About three years before his death he 
opened a hotel at Lake Breeze, Lorain 
county, and he also owned a farm there. 
Politically he was first a Jackson Demo- 
crat, and then a Republican from the time 
of Buchanan. He died at Lake Breeze in 
1875, aged sixty-seven years, his widow in 
the fall of 1892. They were the parents 
of four children, all of whom grew to ma- 
turity, viz.: C. A., deceased wife of E. K. 
Porter; M. H., subject of sketch; Augusta 
M., wife of Harry Jones, and George, born 
in 1847, a painter by trade, who was un- 
married, and died in Lorain in April, 
1892. 

M. H. Larnpnian, whose name opens 
tins sketch, received a thoroughly practi- 
cal school training, and from the age of 
sixteen till two years after his marriage 
was engaged as store clerk. In 1869 he 
went into the butchering business for a 
time, then worked at carpentry, remaining 
in the C. L. & W. R. R. shops at Lorain 
nine and one-half years, or till 1887, since 
when he has been conducting his present 
business, in which he has met with un- 
qualified success. In 1867 Mr. Lampman 
married Miss Julia A. Miller, who was 
born in 1842 in Avon township. Lorain 
Co., Ohio, daughter of Peter Miller, who 
is said to have been the hero of tiie story 
related in the old-time school primers. 



to wit: There was once a bear'that chased 
a boy up a tree, following him so closely 
that he was enabled to grab the boy's foot 
in his mouth, whereupon the latter let go 
his hold on the tree and came topplino- 
down to the ground, bear and all, but boy 
on top; and so great was the surprise of 
Bruin, who was partially stunned, that lie 
was unable to pursue the lad, who it is un- 
necessary to add took to his heels without 
wishing his bearship any ceremonial adieu. 
In his political predilections Mr. Lamp- 
man is a Republican. He is a member of 
the M. E. Church, and of the F. & A. M., 
K. P. and K. O. T. M. 



Tr^ A. SMITH, for nearly half a century 

Ip an honored resident of Ridgeville 

IL^i township, whither lie came from 

Connecticut in 1840, is a native of 

that State, born in 1823. 

Our subject is a son of Edward and Sally 
(Ilotchkiss) Smith, also of the " Xutmeo- 
State," the former of whom died there in 
1823. The widowed mother continued to 
reside at her old home till our subject was 
seventeen years old, so that he received his 
elementary education at the schools of the 
neighborhood of his place of birth. In 
1840, as above intimated, the family came 
west to Ohio, making for themselves a new 
home in the wild woods of Rido-eville 
township, Lorain county; and here our sub- 
ject labored with the rest in clearing away 
the timber and underbrush, and convertino- 
the somber forest into sunny fields. He 
had learned the trade of bone and horn but- 
ton maker, which he followed in Rido-e- 
ville township. He is now owner of fifty- 
nine acres of land, all highly cultivated 
and well improved. In 1855 he was mar- 
ried in Ridgeville township to Miss Mel- 
vina Terrell, a native of same, and daughter 
of Willis and Sarepta (Phelps) Terrell, of 
Connecticut birth, who many years before 



980 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



marriao-e became settlers of Ridgeville 
township, Lorain county. Mr. Terrell 
came here, when a boy, with his father. 
Major Willis Terrell, and clearly remem- 
bered the news of Perry's victory on Lake 
Erie. He died in 1881: his widow is yet 
living in Ridgeville township. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Smith one child has been born, 
named Charles P., now married and re- 
siding in Ridgeville Center. Politically 
our subject has been a lifelong Democrat, 
and has served his township as trustee, real- 
estate assessor (1870-1890) and treasurer. 



JB. SHEAHAlSr, of North Amherst, 
is a native of Hamilton county, On- 
tario, Canada, born, June 21, 1863, a 
son of John and (Ann) Fo.x Sheahan. 
The father of our subject was born in 
Limerick, Ireland, and about the time of 
liis marriage went to Canada by way of 
Quebec, whence he and his wife came 
farther west. About the year 1850 they 
came to the United States, where he fol- 
lowed various pursuits, all of a mechanical 
nature, till 1856, when they returned to 
Canada, and part of the time resided in 
Hamilton county, Ontario, until 1865. 
In that year they came to Lorain county, 
Ohio, locating west of North Amherst till 
1872, when they removed to East Quar- 
ries, where the father died in 1876. He 
was a member of the Catholic Church. 
The mother of subject, who was born in 
Limerick, Ireland, November 1 (All Saints 
Day), 1839, is yet living, a resident of 
North Amherst. They were the parents 
of nine children, of whom the following is 
a brief record: Cornelius is foreman in 
quarries in Jackson county, Mich.; is 
married and has one child, Geraldine. 
Stephen is in Chicago, yardmaster for the 
Chicaoro & Great Western Railroad, oper- 
ated by the Chicago, Kansas City & Ne- 
braska R. R. Co.; is married and has five 



children, viz.: Mamie, Charley, John, 
Annie and Maggie. Maggie is living at 
home. The fourth in order of birth is the 
subject of this sketch. Lizzie and Jere- 
miah are still living at home. Patrick F. 
died in Michigan in 1888, at the age of 
eighteen years. Mamie is a teacher in the 
parochial school at North Amherst. Dan- 
iel died May 24, 1893, when eighteen 
years of age. 

J. B. Slieahan received his education at 
the public schools of North Amherst. For 
eight years he operated a stone sawmill in 
Miciiigan, at the end of which time he re- 
turned to Lorain county, in March, 1893, 
and is now in business in North Amherst. 
He is popular in the town, and is an ac- 
tive member of and official in Catholic 
Societies, among which may be mentioned 
the C. M. B. A. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat. Mr. Sheahan was married Septem- 
ber 7, 1886, and has two children: Edith, 
aged five years, and Bernard, aged two years. 



*^ 



S\ T[OAH H. PECK, one of the prom- 

Yl inent representative farmer citizens 

1 of Ridgeville township, is a native 

of New York State, born in Oswego 

county, August 17, 1833, a son of 

Harmon and Lydia (Conkling) Peck. 

Hartnon Peck was born in Dutchess 
county, N. Y., a son of Noah and Belinda 
(Roe) Peck, who had a family of seven 
children, named as follows: Hiram, Ed- 
ward, Harmon, Lewis, James, Albert, La- 
vina G. T. The father of these died in 
New York State; he was a farmer, also a 
shoemaker, and a member of the Baptist 
Church. Harmon Peck, who followed the 
same vocations as his father, married in 
New York State, and from there in 1833 
moved to Ohio, via water to Cleveland, 
and thence by wagon to Lorain county, 
where he bought wild prairie land in 
Pittsfield township. This he improved and 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



981 



later sold, pnrcliasing a farm in Eidgeville 
township, whither he tnoved in 184^2; he 
died in 1870, iiis wife in 1880. The chil- 
dren born to them were as follows: Noah 
H., James, Harriet (now Mrs. George Biir- 
rell), and one that died in infancy. 

Noah H. Peck, the subject of this sketcli, 
was an infant when his parents brought 
him to Lorain coiintj', and he received his 
education at the schools of Ridtjevilie 
township. He was reared to agricultural 
pursuits, which have been his life work, 
and he is now the owner of sixty acres of 

Erime land, all well improved. In 1860 
e was married to Miss Vesta Blain, daugh- 
ter of Richard Blain, and children as fol- 
lows have been born to them: Edith (now 
Mrs. Joseph Cutler, of Eidgeville town- 
ship), Ida, Ella (deceased), Lydia (wife of 
Albert Hoftizer). Ernest (in Cleveland), 
Eddie and Lora, at home. Mr. Peck is 
independent in liis political sympathies, 
and in matters of religiou he is a member 
of the Disciple Church. 



ri( D. JOY, a prominent progressive 
|/\\ agriculturist of Carlisle township, 
ir\\ engaged also in housemoving, is a 
■fj native of the Buckeye State, born in 

Aurora, Portage county, March 22, 
1836, a son of Nehemiah and Elizabeth 
(Frost) Joy, the former of whom was born 
in Massachusetts in 1811. He came in 
1831 to Parkman, Portage Co., Ohio, 
where he was married in 1834- toEli-iabeth 
Frost, a native of Vergenne.s, Yt., who 
came with her parents to Portage county. 
In 1837 Nehemiah Joy came with his 
family to Lorain county, making a settle- 
ment in Carlisle township, where he carried 
on farming till 1871, at which time he 
moved to Lee county, Iowa, where he died 
in 1883; his wife had preceded him to the 
grave in Carlisle townshij), Lorain county, 
in 1882. They reared a family of three 
children, viz.: A. D. ; Marcia M., wife of 



Rev. William King, a minister of the Con- 
gregational Church, now in Michigan; and 
Orlando F., married, and residing in Car- 
lisle townsliip. 

Noah and Marcia (William-^) Joy, pa- 
ternal grandparents of our subject, were 
natives of Massachusetts, whence they came 
to Elyria, Ohio, in 1837. He was a mill- 
wright by trade, and in 1849 went to Wal- 
worth county. Wis., where his wife died 
the following year; later he returned to 
Portage county, Ohio, where he passed the 
rest of his days. Levi and Elizabeth 
(Slocnm) Frost, maternal grandparents of 
our subject, were natives of Vermont, and 
in about 1831 came to Portage county, 
Ohio; subsequently they moved to St. 
Charles, 111., where they both died; he had 
served in the Revolutionary war. 

A. D. Joy, the subject proper of this 
memoir, received a liberal education at the 
schools of Carlisle township, Lorain county. 
For a trade he learned carpentry, which he 
worked at for some time; for about seven 
years he was railroading, from 1852 to 
1858, commencing as brakeman on the 
Cleveland & Nor walk Railroad; then went 
west, and was employed on the Illinois 
Central, after which he was on the St. Paul 
& Fond du Lac Railway, as lireuian. and 
later as engineer on the Racine & Missis- 
sippi Railway. In 1858 he returned to 
Lorain county, where he engaged in farm- 
ing and carpentry, and since 1863 has done 
a considerable amount of business in house- 
moving. He owns a farm of fiftv-one and 
a half acres, all in a good state of cultiva- 
tion, ami has accumulated w^liat he owtis by 
his unaided efforts, sound judgment and 
judicious economy. 

Mr. Joy has been thrice married, first 
time in 1858 to Miss Groveline C. Thorpe, 
a native of Carlisle township, daughter of 
Abel M. and Emily (Squires) Thorpe, 
early pioneers of that township, both of 
whom are yet livin;?. To this union were 
born three sons: Elba, married, and resid- 
ing in Elyria; William, married, and liv- 
ing in Denver, Colo.; and Frank, married. 



982 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



manager of tlie Denver (Colo.) College. 
The mother of these departed this life May 
4, 1865, and in 1874 Mr. Joy married 
Miss Charlotte Saylor, a native of Ger- 
many, daughter of David and Margaret 
Saylor, who were born in Bavaria, Germany, 
and came to America, settling in Carlisle 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where they 
l)oth died. Tlie children by tiiis marriage, 
six in number, are named as follows: Ida, 
Charles, Alice, Edwin, Edith and Amy. 
Mrs. Charlotte (Saylor) Joy died April 14, 
1887, and on September 25, 1887, Mr. 
Joy married, for his present wife, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Pember. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 



IM 



ATHIAS MYEES, one of the 
leading native-born residents of 
Ridgeville township, of which he 
is a trustee, tirst saw the light in 
1848. 
His father, Mathias Myers, was a na- 
tive of Coblentz, Germany, where he mar- 
ried Miss Mary Dehn, of the same place, 
and they then set sail from Antwerp for 
the United States. After a voyage of 
seventy-two days they landed in New 
York, and thence proceeded to Lorain 
county, Ohio, locating in Ridgeville town- 
ship in 1847, the place being at that time 
wild woodlands. Here they opened up a 
farm of six acres, clearing and improving 
it until it became one of the best in the 
county. They had a family of nine chil- 
dren, as follows: Mathias; Philip, a car- 
penter of Elyria; Peter, married, residing 
in Ridgeville township; Emma, wife of 
M. Pitts, Jr., residing in Ridgeville town- 
ship; Joseph, married, also in Ridgeville 
township; Maggie, wife of Joseph Blazer, 
of Dover, Cuyahoga county; Adam, who 
died at the age of sixteen, his death re- 
sulting from the kick of a horse; Clara, 
deceased when three or four years old; 
and one that died in infancy. Tiie father 
was called from earth in March, 1893 ; the 
mother is yet living. 



The subject of this sketch was educated 
in the schools of French Creek, and at the 
age of thirteen commenced working by the 
month, since when he has continued in 
agricultural pursuits, successfully conduct- 
ing the homestead farm, which has been 
added to till now it comprises fifty-three 
acres. In 1874 he married, in Elyria, 
Lorain county. Miss Mary Berres, a na- 
tive of Germany, daughter of Adam and 
Mary Berres, who about the year 1858 
immigrated to America, settling in Ridge- 
ville township, Loraiy Co., Ohio. To this 
union have been born two children — John 
Matthew and Amelia. Mr. and Mrs. 
Myers are members of the Roman Catholic 
Church at Ridgeville, of which he is 
treasurer; politically he is a Democrat, 
and is now serving, in a Republican town- 
ship, his second term as trustee of same. 



E' NORTON, a representative farmer 
of Amherst township, is a native of 
I Connecticut, born in 1810 to Sey- 
mour and Anna (Clark") Norton. 
The parents were also natives oi the Nut- 
meg State, and in 1813 moved to Genesee 
county, N. Y.. where the father ftdlowed 
farming, and died at the advanced acre of 
ninety years; his wife passed away aged 
seventy-eight. Seymour Norton was 
drafted in the war of 1812, and his father 
served in the Revolutionary war. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to 
manhood in Genesee county, N. Y., and 
received his education at the schools of 
the vicinity. In 1833 he came to Lorain 
county, and niade his iiome for a time in 
Elyria. For some years he lived in the 
South, and at Chattanooga, Tenn., was 
foreman of a large foundry about three 
years; then, in 1848, started one in Hunts- 
ville, Ala. He is the inventor of various 
kinds of cotton machines. He also traded 
in coal, having shipped the first coal from 
East Tennessee to Chattanooga by flat- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



983 



boats, and was tlie first to make coke in 
Tennessee. From the South lie went to 
New York, and thence in 18()0 came ao-ain 
to Lorain county, and in 1803 took up 
and iniproved the farm whereon lie now 
resides, in Amherst township, a fine piece 
of property of one hundred acres, all in a 
good state of cultivation. 

In 1856 Mr. Norton was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Adaline Matthews, of At- 
tica, N. Y., and to this union four children 
have lieen horn, as follows: Grove, a real- 
estate agent, who is a resident of Utah; 
Charles E., in the real-estate business at 
Los Angeles, CaL; Eliiora, wife of George 
Snyder, of Lorain, and Seymour, at 
home. Mrs. Norton is a member of the 
Baptist Church. Mr. Norton, in his po- 
litical predilections, is a straight Democrat. 



rRED WISE, a leading and well- 
known general farmer and stock 
^ breeder, of Eaton township, is a 
native of Germany, born in the 
Duchy of Baden in 1851, son of Peter and 
Louisa (Miller) Wise, also of Baden. 

The parents of sniiject immigrated to tlie 
United States about 1854, and coniino; to 
Ohio made their home in Medina county 
four years; then moving to Grafton town- 
ship, Lorain county, there passed the re- 
mainder of their active lives in farm work, 
the father dying in 1888, the mother pass- 
ing away in Grafton township in 1882. 
The record of their family of children, 
nine in number, is in part as follows: 
Recka is the wife of Jacob Clinet, of 
Grafton; Louisa, who married John Kline, 
died about 1873 in Cuyahoga county; 
Henry (married) lives in Grafton town- 
ship; Louis (niarried) is a farmer of Graf- 
ton township; Fred is the subject of sketch ; 
Chris (niarried) resides in Illinois; 
llannali resides in Grafton; Katie is the 
wife of William Law, of Liverpool town- 
ship, Medina county; Jacob (unmarried) 
resides at Grafton. 



The subject of our sketch was two and 
a half years of age when he came to Ohio, 
and received his education at the schools 
of Grafton township, Lorain county, gain- 
ing as well a thorough insight into the 
arduous duties of farming, which he has 
made his life vocation. In 1884 he moved 
to Eaton township, and here bought of 
W. H. Rowe the farm he now owns, com- 
prising some ninety-two acres of valuable 
land, which he improved and subsequently 
added to until he now owns one hundred 
acres of prime land, all in a good state 
of cultivation. He is proprietor of the 
full registered Belgian stallion, "Gen. 
Chanzy," imported by Douglas & Howell. 

In 1873 Mr. Wise was married in Graf- 
ton township, Lorain county, to Sarah 
Goodman, a native of Gi-afton, and daugh- 
ter of Jacol) and Mary (Eiiga) Goodman, 
early settlers of Grafton township, both 
now deceased, the former of whom was 
born in Seneca Falls, Seneca Co., N. Y., 
in 1818. By this union there are four 
children: Nellie, Charles, Burt and Ella. 
Our subject takes a lively interest in 
politics, invariably voting the straight 
Democratic ticket; socially he is a mem- 
of Leonard Tent No. 31, Knights of the 
Maccabees, in which he has held ofiBce. 



d I AMES M. JAY^COX, a well-known 
fruit grower of Avon township, is a 
^1 native of same, born in 1849, son of 
George and Mary (Madison) Jaycox, 
both of whom were born in New York 
State. 

George Jaycox, father of our subject, 
was reared in his native State up to the age 
of fifteen years, and in 1828 migrated 
west with his parents, Samuel and Sarah 
Jaycox, who were also natives of New 
York. They settled in an early day in 
Avon townshij), Lorain Co., Ohio, where 
they pas.sed the remainder of their lives. 
George Jaycox al o took up a farm in the 



984 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



woods of Avon township, where he be- 
came a prominent citizen. He was a life- 
long Kepublican, an active member of the 
party, and lield various township otiices. 
He died in 1873, his wife surviving him 
three or four years. They were the par- 
ents of ten children, viz.: Charles, who 
died at the age of seven years; Jane, wife 
of J. Bnre, or Avon township, who was a 
soldier in the Civil war; Eliza, wife of O. 
Moore, of Avon township, who also served 
in the Civil war; James M.; Emily, wife 
of J. Ketcham, residing in Lorain; Alice, 
wife of H. G. Brown, of Lorain; Anson, 
married, who makes his home in Dover 
township, Cuyahoga county; Henry, a resi- 
dent of Lorain; Minnie, wife of J. Brown, 
of Lorain; and William, living in Avon 
township. 

James M. Jaycox was brought up on 
the home farm in Avon township, in the 
common schools of which place he received 
his education, and later engaged in mer- 
cantile business in Lorain. He now gives 
liis attention to the culture, as well as the 
buying and selling, of grapes, and since 
embarking in this business has handled 
over 400,000 baskets of that fruit. Since 
1880 he has resided on his present farm 
in Avon township, where he has eight 
acres devoted to grapes, and he also raises 
other fruit; he is the owner of forty-one 
acres of land in Avon township. In 1879 
Mr. Jaycox was married, in Elyria, to 
Miss Ida L. Hilliard, a native of Wiscon- 
sin, daughter of Joseph W. Hilliard, who 
w-as a blacksmith, and an early settler of 
Avon township, whence be subsequently 
removed to Wisconsin, where he died. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Jaycox have been born three 
children, namely: Ethel, Lora and Frances. 
Politically our subject is a stanch member 
of the Republican party, and held the 
position of postmaster at Avon Lake for 
seven 3'ears. Socially he is a member of 
Avon Tent No. 1, K. O. T. M., French 
Creek. He is secretary and treasurer of 
the Lorain County Grape-growers Ship- 
ping Association, which organization has 



a membership of 125, and in 1893 shipped 
150 carload.s of grapes from Avon Station. 
Our subject and wife are both active 
workers in all religious movements; Mrs. 
Jaycox is an ardent worker in the temper- 
ance cause, and is president of the W. C. 
T. U. of Avon Lake. They are both mem- 
bers of the M. E. Church, in which Mr. 
Jaycox holds the offices of steward and trus- 
tee, and he has served as superintendent of 
the Sabbath-school for many years. 



fjOHN E. PLATO, of the hardware 
V li firm of J. Wesbecher & Co., in North 
}^) Amherst, was born in tlie Kingdom 
of Hanover November 11, 1848, a 
son of John and Wilhelmina (Bodinann) 
Plato, also natives of Hanover. 

The family came to America in 1857, 
and after landing proceeded westward to 
Ohio, locating iirst at Vermillion, Erie 
county, later settling permanently in North 
Amherst. The father was a professional 
musician, in his native land, but in this 
country he conducted a livery business. 
He died December 5, 1890, at the age of 
seventy-five years; his widow, now in her 
seventy-sixth year, is living with her son 
John E. They were the parents of four 
children. 

The subject of this sketch, who is sec- 
ond in order of birth, received his educa- 
tion at the parochial schools of New York, 
his attendance there covering some four 
years, after which he returned to North 
Amherst and engaged in the livery busi- 
ness. Later he commenced in the grocery 
and dry-goods business, and for the past 
ten years has been a member of the firm 
of Plato Bros., in that line; also one of the 
firm of J. Wesbecher & Co., in hardware, 
at North Amherst, und connected with the 
North Amherst Furniture Co. Of all 
these interests Mr. Plato now gives his 
sole attention to the hardware business. 





^^'^2-' ^^^ 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



987 



The firm carry a full and complete line of 
shelf and heavy goods. He is also a stock- 
holder in the Savings Deposit Bank of 
North Amherst. 

On November 29, 1877, Mr. Plato was 
united in marriage with Miss Lena Menz, 
who was born at North Amherst, Ohio, 
July 26, 1856, a daughter of John Peter 
and Matilde Menz, natives of Bavaria, 
Germany, who came to America May 2, 
1853. To Mr. and Mrs. Plato have been 
born five children, namely: Leonora, 
Agatha, John, Henry and Kntli. Mr. 
and Mrs. Plato are stanch members of the 
Catholic Church, and influential pillars 
thereof. In politics he has always bee!i a 
Democrat, and is active in municipal 
affairs. 

Mr. Plato has for years been one of the 
leadino; business men of North Amherst, 
and is progressive and public-spirited. 



THOMAS FOX, an enterprising and 
wide-awake farmer of Sheffield town- 
ship, is a native of County Roscom- 
mon, Ireland, born in 1883, a son 
of John and Mary (Dowd) Fox, 
farmers in that county, where they both 
died. They reared a family of nine chil- 
dren, two of whom came to Lorain county, 
Ohio — Thomas and John, the latter of 
whom arrived in about 18-1:6, settling in 
Sheffield township, where he cleared a farm 
and passed the rest of his days. 

Thomas Fox came from his native Ire- 
land to Lorain county in 1854, and worked 
by the month for some time. In 1858 he 
bought thirty-five acres of land in Shef- 
field township, to which he has added from 
time to time till he now owns sixty-six 
acres of highly improved land. The old 
\o^ cabin in which he and his wife first 
lived has given place to a comfortai)le two- 
story house, 18 X 28, with an " L " 14 x 24, 
equipped with a good barn and outhouses, 
and all modern improvements. 



In 1858 Mr. Fox was married to Miss 
Catherine Coughlin, and two children — 
Anna and Katie — have been born to them. 
The mother was called from earth March 
14, 1889. Politically our subject is a 
Democrat, and he and his family are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Church. 



T' J. SQUIRES, a representative agri- 
culturist of Carlisle township, is a 
native of Lorain county, born in 
1885 in Elyria township. 

He is a son of Amasa and Jerusha 
(Carter) Squires, the former of whom was 
a native of New York State, the latter of 
Vermont. In early maidiood Amasa Squires 
came westward to Lorain county, Ohio, 
during pioneer days, and here followed 
farming the remainder of his life, dying 
at the age of seventy eight years. Mrs. 
Squires died in Lorain county when aged 
fifty-five years. They were the parents of 
seven children, as follows: Jegertha, de- 
ceased when sixteen years old; Grazelda, 
who died at the age of seven years; T. J., 
subject of this memoir; Fitzgerald, who 
was shot during the Civil war; Amasa, 
who died on Johnson's Island; Marcella, 
married to Thomas Sherwood; and one that 
died in infancy. The father of this family 
was an active politician, and was an ardent 
member of the Democratic party. 

T. J. Squires was reared on the home 
farm to the manifold duties of agricultural 
life, in the meantime receiving an educa- 
tion in the common schools of the district. 
When twenty-three years old he went to 
Nebraska, thence to Colorado, remaining 
in the West eight years, during which 
time he was engaged in mining, and also 
in cattle dealing and droving, crossing the 
plains twelve times with stock. Mr. Squires 
was united in marriage, at the age of thirty- 
three, with Miss Perscis Farr, a native of 
Carlisle township, and they have five chil- 



si 



988 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



dren, namely: Arthur, Eubie, Orlin, Greta 
an(i Elvvin. Since liis return to Lorain 
county our subject has been engaged in 
general agriculture, and is now owner of a 
well-improved farm of 163 acres. In his 
political affiliations he is a stanch member 
of the Democratic party. 




ff RS. PHEBE L. FAKR, who has 
been a resident of Lorain county 
|| for the past three-quarters of a 
century, and has been an eye- 
witness to its full development, 
deserves more than a passing notice in the 
pa^es of this volume. 

She is a native of New York State, born 
in 1812 in the town of Ovid, a daugliter 
of Henry and Eliza (Glazier) Halford, who 
were married in New York State. In 
1817 the family set out with a team on a 
journey to the then "Far West," arriving 
in Lorain county, Ohio, in February, 1818, 
and settling in what is now Carlisle town- 
ship, where they followed agriculture. The 
father died in Carlisle townsliip in 1859, 
the mother in 1862, in her eightieth year. 
To Henry and Eliza Halford were born 
nine children, as follows: ReuV)en, married, 
died in Lorain county in 1858; Phehe L. 
is the subject proper of this memoir; 
Henry S. was married in Lorain county, 
and died in Michigan in 1892; Jeremiah, 
a widower, resides in Eaton township; 
Louisa and Laura are both deceased; 
Humphrey served in the war of the Re- 
bellion, and died from the effects of a 
wound; Rebecca is deceased, and Lorenzo 
died young. Grandfather Edwin Halford 
was a native of England, whence at the 
age of sixteen he came to New York. He 
was a soldier in both the Revolution and 
the French and Indian war. 

Phebe L. Halford was about six years 
old when she came to Lorain county with 
her parents, and she was educated at the 



schools of the locality. In 1832 she was 
married, in Carlisle township, to Lowell 
Farr, son of Abel and Polly (Smith) Farr, 
all natives of Vermont, who in 1S17 came 
to Lorain county, where they passed from 
earth, Mrs. Farr's husband in 1861. Our 
subject is the mother of ten children, of 
whom the following is a brief record: 
Eliza is the widow of William Pember, of 
Eaton, Lorain county, and has two chil- 
dren: Odelpha and William; Rosalie is 
the wife of Elias Disbro, of Michigan, and 
they have six children: Minerva, Phebe, 
Emma, Ellsworth, Euba and John; Han- 
nah is the widow of George Seeley, and 
has four children: Esther, Lemuel, Eliza 
and Frank; Perscis is the wife of T. J. 
Squires, of Carlisle township; Lowell, 
married, resides in Pittstield township, Lo- 
rain county, and has three children: Cora, 
William and George; Ephraini is married, 
lives in Michigan, and has tive children: 
Eddie, Emma, Florence, Lena and Hazel; 
Lauren is married to Hermina Drusen- 
dohl, and they have four children: Edna, 
Earl, Herscliel and Ruby (they all reside 
at the old home); Phebo was married to 
Lafayette Dumas, and died in 1871; 
Laura died in childhood; Bird is married, 
has two children — Ethel and Phebe — and 
lives in Amherst township, Lorain county. 



CHESTER A. PRESTON, a prosper- 
ous farmer of Carlisle township, is a 
native of Ohio, born in York town- 
ship, Medina county, in 1840. 
Adolphus Preston, father of subject, of 
Connecticut birth, married, in New York 
State, Miss Charlotte Shaw, a native of 
same, and in an early day they came to 
Ohio. For a time they resided in Me- 
dina county, in 1847 moving to Grafton 
township, Lorain county, later locating in 
LaGrange township and finally in Carlisle, 
where they died, the father in 1878, the 
mother in 1874. He served in the war of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



989 



1812 ill a battery of artillery. Four chil- 
dren were born to them, iiainely: Eliza, 
who riiMrried Josluia Wilbur, and died in 
1856 in Medina county; Emily, who died 
in Medina county in 1843; Horace, who 
died in 1852 in Grafton township, Lorain 
county; and Chester A., subject of this- 
sketch. The paternal grandfather of our 
subject was a soldier in the Kevolulionary 
war, was taken prisoner by the British and 
conveyed to Van Dieman's land; after the 
war he was released and sent home, and 
died in Kew York State. 

Chester A. Preston received a good 
practical school training in the educational 
institutions of the vicinity of his boyhood 
home, and was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits, which have been his life work. He 
now owns a good farm of eighty-two acres 
in Carlisle township. In 1865 he was 
jnarried, in LaGrange township, to Miss 
Mary Goodman, who was born in New 
York State, a daughter of George and 
Betsy (Leversee) Goodman, of New York, 
who came to Ohio in 1852, settling in 
Grafton village, Lorain county, where the 
father died in March, .1866, the mother 
some years before. To Mr. and Mrs. Pres- 
ton have been born three children: Mary, 
Bertie and Grace. In his political sym- 
pathies our subject is a Republican. Mrs. 
Preston is a member of the Union Church. 



CA. REAMER, general merchant, 
and one of the most energetic and 
^^ enterprising citizens of North Am- 
herst, is a native of Huron county, 
Ohio, born near Norwalk September 16, 
1859. He is a son of Anthony and Mary 
(Eisenbeis) Reamer, the former of whom 
was born in Peru township, Huron Co., 
Ohio. He was a merchant in Norwalk for 
some si.xteen years, then in Monroeville, 
same county, eighteen or twenty years, 
from which place he moved to Toledo, 
where he now lives. 



The subject of this memoir received the 
greater part of his education in Monroe- 
ville, after which he lived in Tiffin, Ohio, 
for two years. In 1884 he came to North 
Amherst, worked si.\ months at the dry- 
goods business, and then entered into a 
partnership with Plato Bros., in mercan- 
tile business, which continued three years, 
at the end of which time he commenced 
for his own account in North Amherst. 
In 1889 he put up his present brick build- 
ing, and in 1891 added thirty-four feet to 
it, the dimensions at present being 30 x 90 
feet, two stories in height, while his stock 
in trade consists of dry goods, carpets, cur- 
tains, wall-paper, boots and shoes, etc. 
Five clerks do the selling for this large 
concern. Mr. Reamer, himself, speaks 
German as well as English. 

On April 28, 1885, C. A. Reamer and 
Miss Maggie Weisenberger were united in 
marriage, and the following named four 
children were born to them: Esther, Leona, 
Norbert and Victor. In politics our sub- 
ject is independent, and he is a member of 
the Catholic Church. He is active in all 
public afFai7-8, and wields much influence 
in the community. 



fr^ EORGE WICKENS, funeral director 
I w. and furniture dealer, Lorain, and 
\LJi president of the Funeral Directors 
1^ Association of Ohio, was born July 
19, 1852, in the south of England. 
At the age of ten years he commenced 
working in a furniture store, learning the 
trade of cabinet maker and joiner, and 
fully completing his apprenticeship when 
about nineteen years old. At that time 
(1871) he came to America, and for a time 
sojourned in St. Catherines, Ontario, Can- 
ada, whence in 1878 he came to Lorain, 
Ohio, making here a permanent settle- 
ment. He first engaged in carpenter work 
— contracting and building — which he car- 
ried on till 1883, in which year he em- 



990 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



barked in his present undertaking and fur- 
niture business in Bowens Hall. He then, 
in order to further qualify himself for the 
profession of funeral director, attended 
lectures at the Einbaluiincr College, Cleve- 
land, Ohio, and at Clark's School of Em- 
balming, from which he graduated in 
August, 1888. He had also become, in 
1886, a member of the Funeral Directors 
Association of Ohio, and at the meeting 
of June 2, 1892, at Columbus, Ohio, was 
elected its president. In 1891 he erected 
on Broadway, Lorain, a brick building, 
B6xllJ-, three stories high with basement, 
two floors of which are occupied with his 
business, the upper floor, which is a hall, 
being rented by the I. O. O. F. 

In 1875 Mr. Wickens was united in 
marriage with Miss Celia E. Chapman, 
and they had one child, George B. This 
wife dying in 1876, our subject married, 
in England, in 1877, for his second wife, 
Miss Mary A. Colly, and three children 
have been born to them, viz.: William A., 
Elizaljeth M. and Edward M. In politics 
Mr. Wickens is a Republican, and for many 
years he has been a member of and local 
preacher in the M. E. Church, of the Sun- 
day-school of which he has been superin- 
tendent for many years. He has visited 
liis native land many times, on one occa- 
sion remaining there four years. Mr. 
Wickens is a representative self-made man, 
one who from absolutely nothing has, by 
intelligence, energy, business acumen and 
unquestionable probity, worked his way 
from the bottom rung of tlie ladder to 
prosperity and comparative aftiueiice. He 
is now a leader in both branches of his 
business, in northern Ohio, and is well 
and favorably known throughout the en- 
tire State. " In all local matters, he is 
always to be found on the right side, aiming 
constantly to build up and improve the in- 
terests of his fellows and the city in which 
he lives. In addition to his many duties in 
connection with several Fraternal organiza- 
tions, he is faithful in thedischarge of the re- 
sponsibilities which come to him as a di- 



rector in the Lorain Savings and Banking 
Co., and also of the Citizens Home and 
Loan Association of Lorain. In all things 
Mr. AVickens has endeavored to exemplify 
all that is contained in onesentence, namely : 
An industrious Christian gentleman." 



fff/ENIlY BICKEL, a prominent, well- 
f^H to-do agriculturist of Black Kiver 
I 1 township, was. born on his present 
yj farm March 27. 1844. 

He is a son of Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Wetzel) Bickel, who came from Ger- 
many to Ohio at an early day where the 
father worked for a time on the Maumee 
Canal and at other employment. They then 
settled on a farm in Black River township, 
Lorain county, where they passed the rest of 
their lives. When they came here Indians 
and wild animals roamed the forest, and 
the country was a comparative wilderness. 
The father died at the age of sixty-five 
years and eleven months; the mother is yet 
living, now aged seventy-one years. Of 
their children our subject is the only sur- 
vivor. 

Henry Bickel received his education in 
the public and district schools, and when a 
youth, during the war of the Rebellion, 
was drafted into the array, but had not 
proceeded toward the seat of hostilities 
farther than Cleveland, when he secured a 
substitute, and returned home. On March 
22, 1866, he married Miss Sophia C. Hilde- 
brand, who was born in Black River town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, March 16, 1846, a 
daughter of Benjamin and Eliza (Appe- 
mann) Hildebrand, natives of Germany. 
Six children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Bickel, viz.: Frances E. (wife of 
George Horn, car inspector for the C. L. 
& W. R. R. Co.), Emma E., Charley F., 
George M., Reuben E. and Ai'tluir H. 
Mr. Bickel iu his political predilections is 
a Democrat, and he is a member of the 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



991 



Evangelical Church. He has been town- 
ship trustee for three years, and school di- 
rector, twenty-two. His tine farm of 123 
acres gives evidence of the care, thrift and 
sound judgment of the owner, who Justly 
enjoys the confidence and good will of his 
neighbors. 



GYRUS L. WHITTLESEY, of Brown- 
helm township, is a native of same, 
having been born on his present 
farm August 8, 1831. He is a son 
of Solomon and Sarah (Sherman) Whit- 
tlesey, the former of whom was born in 
Stockhridge, Mass., April 30, 1786, the lat- 
ter in New Haven, Conn., March 23, 1796. 
Solomon Whittlesey, father of subject, 
was twice married, first time in 1811 to 
Miss 0. Kirby, who was born in 1784, 
They came to Brownhelm township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, and settled on the farm on 
which tliey passed the remainder of their 
lives. By this marriage there were four 
children, viz.: Mary, born February 6, 
1812, now the widow of Rev. L. D. Butts, 
and residing in Erie, Penii.; Edmund, 
born June 17, 1814, married and residing 
in Winnebago county. 111.; Eliphalet, born 
April 7, 1816, married and residing in 
Calhoun county, Iowa; and Calista, born 
May 29, 1819, deceased wife of H. Wood- 
ruff. The mother of this family died in 
1823, and in 1824 Mr. Whittlesey married 
Miss Sarah Sherman. Solomon Whittlesey 
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and re- 
ceived bounty land. In an early day he 
worked in an ashery in Lorain county, and 
he was a noted hunter. In politics he was 
originally an Abolitionist, but in his later 
years lie voted the straight Republican 
ticket. Among other public offices he held 
the position of township trustee. He died 
February 22, 1871; his widow was called 
from earth in 1873. They were the parents 
of seven children, as follows: David, born 
September 15, 1825, died at the age of 



nineteen: Solomon, born February 27, 
1827, died aged fifteen years; Parmelia, 
born May 24, 1829, wife of Henry Stod- 
dard, lives at Olmsted Falls, Cuyahoga 
Co., Ohio; Cyrus L. is the subject of this 
sketch; Sarah, born March 11, 1833, was 
married to Irvin French,of Winnebago, 111., 
and died in May, 1890; John M., born April 
19, 1837, died in March, 1838; and Jatnes 
Monroe, born November 10, 1840, died 
March 5, 1842. 

Cyrus L. Whittlesey enlisted in 1861 in 
the Union army, three irionths' service, and 
when the call was made for three years' 
men he enlisted at Columbus, Ohio, in 
Company K, Twenty-third O. V. I. His 
regiment was assigned to the army of the 
Potomac, and our subject participated in 
the battle of Carnifex Ferry, the second 
fought in West Virginia; was at the cap- 
ture of Morgan; Second Bull Run; South 
Mountain; Antietam; on scouting service 
in West Virginia, thence to Stanton, Va., 
after which they took prisoners to Colum- 
bus, Ohio. He was shot through the hand 
while in pursuit and capture of Morgan. 
He was discharged at Columbus, July 6, 
1864, and returned home. 

In 1869 Mr. Whittlesey was united in 
marriage in Bi'ownhelm township, Lorain 
county, with Miss Lucy Bacon, a native of 
that township, and daughter of Samuel 
and Ruth (Davis) Bacon, the father a na- 
tive of Stockhridge, Mass., the mother of 
Connecticut; he was a manufacturer in the 
East, and coming to Lorain county, Ohio, 
in 1828, followed farming until his death 
in 1865; his widow followed him to the 
grave in 1875. They were the parents of 
ten children, viz.: Jane II., wife of Ed- 
mund West, of Oberlin, Ohio; George, 
who died at the age of nine years; Henry, 
deceased at the age of three; Samuel, who 
died in Lorain county, Ohio, when forty 
years old; Eliza, residing in Oberlin, 
Ohio; Benjamin, who during the Civil 
war enlisted in the one hundred days' serv- 
ice, and now lives in Anderson county, 
Kans. ; Henry Clay, who in 1862 enlisted 



992 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



in Bi-ownhelm township. Lorain county, in 
Company F, One Hundred and Third 
O. V. I., and was in the army of the West 
with Sherman (he now lives in Wood 
county, Ohio); the eighth in order of birth 
is Lucy, wife of our subject; Charles B., 
who died at the age of forty-six, and Ruth 
A., whose home is now in Oberlin, Ohio. 
Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey have one child 
living, Hayes B., at home. 

In his political preferences our subject 
is a Prohibitionist. He is a member, and 
has been commander, of Rice Post, No. 
148 G. A. R., and he and his wife are as- 
sociated with the Congregational Churcli. 
They have a fine farm of 112 acres con- 
fined to general agriculture. Mr. Whit- 
tlesey is a crack rifle shot, one of the 
best in the county, and takes great delight 
in hunting. 



[[If B. MARTIN DALE, member of the 
I^H well-known firm of Martindale & 
I 1| Leonard, dealers in general mer- 
JJ chandise, hardware, tinware, to- 

bacco, etc., French Creek, where they 
commenced lousiness in 1890, has been a 
resident of Avon township since 1873. 
He was born in 1849 in Lake county, Ohio, 
son of Harrison L. and Ann E. (Brown) 
Martindale, also natives of that county, 
where the father still resides; the mother 
died in 1859. Grandmother Laura M. 
(Babbett) Reynolds, who is a daughter of 
David Babbett, a native of Massachusetts, 
who came to Ohio in an early day, was 
born in Ohio, and came to Mentor, Lake 
county, where she yet resides at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-five. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in 
Lake county, where he received his early 
education, and then engaged in farming 
and tree-grafting until 1873, when, as above 
related, he came to Avon township, Lorain 
county, where he now owns a snug little 
farm of eleven acres in a good state of cul- 



tivation. In 1879 Mr. Martindale was 
married, in Avon township, to Miss Carrie 
L., daughter of David L. Sawyer, an early 
pioneer of the township, and to their union 
have been born two children: Laura E. 
and Mary Eleanor, who died when twenty- 
three months old. In politics our subject 
is a Republican, and is at present serving 
as justice of the peace, wliich position he 
lias held for seven years. Socially he is a 
member of King Solomon Lodge No. 56, 
Elyria; and of the K. O. T. M., Tent 18, 
French Creek, in which he is past com- 
mander. 



BL.SA 
far me 
has r< 



,. SAWYER, a well-known pioneer 
ler of Avon townsiiip, where he 
■esided since September, 1838, 
was born, in 1821, in Schoharie 
county. New York. 

John and Rhoda (Lynes) Sawyer, parents 
of this gentleman, were also natives of New 
York State, where they were married, and 
whence, in 1838, they removed to Lorain 
county, Ohio, settling near French Creek 
in Avon township, where they made a per- 
manent home. The father, who was a 
blacksmitli, died in 1868, the mother in 
1872. They had a family of ten children, 
a brief record of whom is as follows: D. L. 
is the subject of these lines; James died in 
Avon township in 1848; Polly became the 
wife of Riley Barrows, of Avon township, 
where she died; Philip died in Elyria, 
Lorain county; Henry, who was a sailor, 
was drowned in the St. Clair river; Am- 
bi'ose, married, resides in Lorain; Betsy 
Ann died unmarried; Sturgia died in Avon 
township; Adeline lives in Avon township; 
Phebe died in Michigan. Grandfather 
Lynes was a soldier in the Revolution, and 
was with Gen. St. Clair at the time of his 
defeat. 

D. L. Sawyer received his literary train- 
ing in the common schools of his native 
State, and was reared in New York up to 
his eighteenth year, when he came with his 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



993 



parents from Oneida county to Avon town- 
ship, Lorain county, where he has prin- 
cipally engaged iu farming. He learned 
the blacksmith's trade, which he followed 
for thirty years, since when he has given 
his exclusive attention to agriculture. He 
owns a good fruit farm of twenty-seven 
acres, besides another tract, his lands com- 
prising in all seventy- two acres. On Oc- 
tober 19, 1843, Mr. Sawyer was united in 
marriage, in Avon township, with Miss 
Eliza Lyon, a native of New York State, 
daughter of Elexander and Alice Lyou, 
who came frum New York to Lorain county', 
Ohio, in 1830, being among the earliest 
pioneers of LaGrange township. The 
lather subsequently removed to Nauvoo, 
111., and thence to Ogflen, Utah, where he 
now resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have 
been born five children, namely: David, 
married, who resides in Avon township; 
Carrie L. and Emma (twins), the former 
of whom is the wife of H. B. Martindale, 
of Avon township, the latter the wife of 
Rev. F. N. Phelps, a Baptist minister of 
Tiro, Crawford Co., Ohio ; Delia; and James, 
married, a resident of Ridgeville township. 
In his political preferences Mr. Sawyer is 
an ardent Republican, and has served as 
township trustee; he cast his first ballot for 
James G. Birney, and later voted for John 
C. Fremont. Socially he is a member of 
King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Elyria. In 
religious connection he and his wife are 
members of the Baptist Church at French 
Creek. 



CHARLES H. GLENN, a well-known 
contractor and bnilder, of Oberlin, 
was born December 20, 1857, at 
Delphos, Allen Co., Ohio, a son of 
George M. and Augusta L. W. (King) 
Glenn, the former a native of Virginia, the 
latter of Prussia. 

He received his education at the public 
schools of Oberlin, then learned the trade 
of carpenter and joiner. In 1884 he em- 



barked in the contracting business with 
the firm known as Gleim & Copeland, in 
which he has since continued, and he has 
done contracting in various places, among 
which may be mentioned Colorado Springs, 
his work, however, lying chiefly in Ober- 
lin, where he resides. He makes a spe- 
cialty of dwelling houses, and conducts 
quite an extensive business, giving em- 
ployment to from five to thirty men. 

Mr. Glenn was united in marriage De- 
cember 20, 1881, with Miss Efiie V. Tuck, 
who was born in Gallia county, Ohio, and 
reared in Oberlin, a daughter of John C. 
and Eliza (Dyer) Tuck. To this union 
have been born three children, namely; 
Lncretia, Wilhelniina, Frankie D. and 
Charles A., of whom Frankie died at the 
age of ten months. Our subject is a Re- 
publican, and takes an active interest in 
politics; he ia now serving a second term 
as member of the city council. Mr. and 
Mrs. Glenn are both members of the First 
Congregational Church at Oberlin. 




[( RTEMAS BEEBE, proprietor of 
\\ book-store and dealer in books; 
stationery and mouldings, Elyria, 
is a native of that city, born May 
26, 1869, a grandson of Artemas 
Beebe, who came of an old New England 
family, and son of Artemas and Nancy 
(Fisher) Beebe. 

Artemas Beebe, second son of the late 
Artemas Beebe, who came here from Mas- 
sachusetts in 1817 with the late Heman 
Ely, and assisted in making an opening in 
the wilderness where Elyria now stands^ 
died at his farm residence on Cleveland 
street, August 27, 1891. Deceased was 
born in Elyria, October 10, 1825, and 
spent all of his nearly sixty-three years in 
Elyria. He attended the public schools 
until he was about fifteen years of age, 
when he entered the dry-goods store of 
the late Seymour M. Baldwin, where he 



994 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



was employed as clerk for a few years, and 
then engaged in fanning pursuits. On 
November 25, 1847, he married Miss 
Nancy L. Fisher, of Grafton, and soon 
after moved to his farm near the city, 
where, with the exception of two years, he 
spent his remaining life. On the death of 
his father in 1880, he became the owner of 
the "Beebe House," which he leased until 
1886, when he took possession as manager 
and remained two years, then returning to 
his farm, which comprised 200 acres, and 
was located entirely inside the corporation 
of Elyria. The children born to him were 
William A., Mary, Frank and Arteraas. 
His widow is still living on the old home- 
stead. 

The origin of Mr. Beebe's illness dated 
from the winter of 1890, when he suffered 
from a severe attack of La Grippe, from 
which he recovered in a few weeks; but in 
January, 1891, he had a recurrence of the 
same disease, his heart becoming affected, 
resulting in dropsy, which terminated his 
life. 

In all his duties of husband, father and 
neighbor, he occupied a high place in the 
esteem of his fellow-citizens; and while 
his family, consisting of his wife, three 
sons and one daughter, will more deeply 
feel their bereavement, the Church and 
moi-e especially the Sunday-schools of Lo- 
rain county, in which for many years he 
has taken an active interest, will miss his 
presence and counsel. Mr. Beebe was a 
member and a regular attendant of the 
Congregational Sunday-school of Elyria 
for sixty years. For ten years he was its 
assistant superintendent. He has also for 
many years been the Chairman of the ex- 
ecutive committee of the Lorain County 
Sunday-school Union, and the success of 
its annual meeting has been owing more 
to his constant and efficient labor than to 
any other cause. Mr. Beebe was an active 
and honored member of the Congrega- 
tional Church of Elyria for thirty-three 
years. In his official duties; in his inter- 
course with his fellow-members; in the 



largeness of his Christian charity and fel- 
lowship, as well as in his daily social and 
business life, he aimed to be true to his 
high calling of God. 

Artemas Beebe, whose name introduces 
this sketch, received a liberal education at 
the public schools of his native town, and 
graduated in the class of 1890. In April, 
1891, he opened out his present business, 
and has met with well-merited success. 
On December 16, 1891, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Minnie Mapes, also a 
native of Elyria, and who had been a 
schoolmate of Mr. Beebe's. In political 
preferences our subject is a Republican, 
and in church connection he is a Congre- 
gationalist. 



Hf G. EEDINGTON, a prominent 
and widely esteemed attorney at 
law of North Amherst, is one of 
the rising young barristers of 
Lorain county, of which he is a 
native, born July 10, 1858. 

His father, E. N. Redington, a native 
of Massachusetts, came to Amherst town- 
ship in 1819, being at the time three years 
old. He was a farmer all his life, and 
died at the age of sixty-nine years. He 
married Miss M. E. Tyler, who was born 
in 1823 of Connecticut people, and she is 
yet living; she is, as was also her husband, 
a member of the Disciple Church. 

The subject of this biographical sketch 
received his elementary education at the 
district schools, afterward attending Ober- 
lin College, where he completed the junior 
year; thence went to Cornell (N. Y.) Uni- 
versity, one term, after which he com- 
menced to read law with Hon. J. F. 
Burket, now on the supreme court bench. 
On June 4, 1884, he was admitted to the 
bar, and at once opened an office in North 
Amherst, Lorain county, where he has 
since been engaged in the practice of his 
profession. He has successfully carried 





&^(4^ 



e 



'^^t-t 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



997 



tlirougli cases vcrsxis railroads, involving 
a considerable amount of liticration, and 
succeeded in securing the compromise be- 
tween North Amherst and the Lake Shore 
A: Michigan Southern Railroad Company, 
the nature of which was as follows: The 
question involved was whether the railway 
company conld raise the grade of its rail- 
way through the village and over the 
streets and narrow the streets at the inter- 
sections, without consent of the village or 
the payment of damages to abntting own- 
ers. The question was decided in favor 
of the village, that the railway company 
could not. 

In 1885 Mr. Rodington was elected 
mayor of North Amherst, serving till 
1893, in all four continuous terms. He is 
president of the Savings Deposit Bank, of 
which he was one of the chief organizers; 
is president of the North Amherst Shear 
Company, and assisted in organizing the 
North Amherst Furniture ('ompany, of 
which he is a stockholder. Politically he 
is an uncompromising Democrat, a pro- 
nounced Cleveland man on the Tariff ques- 
tion. Socially he is a member of the 
K. of P., the K. 0. T. M., and the 
I. O. O. F., of which he was District 
Deputy Grand Master. 

In 1884 Mr. Redington was united in 
marriage with Miss Lulu ('. Moore, 
daughter of Dr. A. C. Moore, of North 
Amherst, and three childi'cn have been 
born to them: Harry M., Blanche (t. and 
Horace Raymond. 



^/ 



^|\ iff ICIIAEL EPPLEY, one of the 

^'1 thrifty and prosperous agricul- 

Ij turists of Elyria township, is a 

native of Wittenberg, (lermany, 

born December 7, 1821, a son of 

Jacob and C!atherine (Keller) Eppley, also 

natives of the Fatherland. 

In April, 1832, the family set sail from 
Holland for the New World, and after a 



voyage of fifty-five days landed at Phila- 
delphia. From thei'e they proceeded west- 
ward to Ohio, locating at Zanesville, Mus- 
kingum county, where tiie parents passed 
from earth, the father at the age of eighty- 
six, the mother when seventy-six years old. 
They had eleven children — nine sons and 
two daughters — and seven of the sons are 
now living, all near Zanesville, Ohio, ex- 
cept our subject, while the two daughters 
reside in Michigan. 

Michael Epplej was reared to manhood 
in Zanesville, Ohio, where he received his 
education, and worked hard to make a 
little money which he saved in his boj'- 
liood. At the age of twenty years he com- 
menced carpentry, a trade he followed for 
twenty-one years; also farming, in con- 
nection doing a considerable amount in 
contracting and building. He was in the 
employ of the State of Ohio, constructing 
dams and docks in the Muskingum river. 
At the age of twenty-three he was united 
in marriage with Miss Rosina Ilarsch 
(daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Ilarsch), 
a native of Wittenberg, Germany, coming 
with her parents to America when six 
years old. Thirteen children were born to 
this union — five sons and eight daughters 
— namely: William, who went west and 
died (he was married to Mary Mauer; left 
two children); Mary, wife of Mose J3eal, 
also died at an early age (left seven chil- 
dren) ; Katherine, wife of Samuel Beal, has 
eight children; Caroline, wife of Jacob 
Schaible, has two children; Jacob, mar- 
ried to Kate Martin, has four children; 
Rosa, died at the age of twelve years; 
Solomon, married to Nellie Bender, and 
has one child; Christena, wife of Henry 
Martin, has four children; Abram, mar- 
ried Mary Martin, has four children; 
Matilda, wife of Ernest Drunagle, has one 
child; Mose, married to Mary Spiegelberg, 
and has one child; Lydia, wife of William 
Spiegelberg, and Cora, residing at home. 

Shortly after marriage Mr. Eppley 
purchased a farm in York township. 
Morgan county, containing 240 acres of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



land, whicli lie improved and then sold 
just before coming to Elyria. He came 
to Lorain county in 1874, and bought his 
present farm, containing one hundred 
acres "(in Elyria township), bordering 
on the town of Elyria (on Mui-ry 
Ridge, southwest of town), paying one 
hundred and twenty dollars cash per acre 
for same. After two years the mother 
died at the age of fifty-one years, which 
was a sore loss to the whole family, and 
here he has since remained as a widower 
(his daughter Cora keeping house for him). 
Mr. Eppley always was, and is to this 
day, for his age, an active man as well as 
ambitious; honest in all his dealings. In 
religion he is an earnest, steadfast follower 
of Clirist, and has Ijeen from early life. 
He is a tnember of the Evangelical Church. 
Ills greatest aim is to reach his heavenly 
home. 



ri( LFRED E. HALE, farmer and 

/ / \\ cheese manufacturer of Carlisle 

tf^^ township, is a native of Lorain 

Jl county, born March 23, 1862, on 

Henrietta Hill. He is a son of 

George and Anna M. (Smith) Hale, the 

former of whom was among the pioneers 

of Carlisle township, having settled there 

when his son, Alfred E., was but ten days 

old. 

The subject of this sketch was reared 
to agricultural pursuits on his father's 
farm, received his literary training in the 
common schools of Carlisle township until 
sixteen years of age, and then studied for 
one term at the Elyria high school. For 
the next two years he was employed in 
the Hart Cheese Factory, at that time 
operated by William A. Braman, and then 
worked in Sullivan and Ashland counties, 
Ohio. When nineteen years old he pur- 
chased, in partnership with a brother, the 
farm on which his brother resides, and on 
which they have since made many im- 



provements, and there Mr. Hale carries on 
a prosperous cheese-making business, keep- 
ing twenty cows. He manufactures a full 
cream cheese, and receives New York 
State prices for all his dairy products, for 
which there is a constant demand. 

Li 1886 Mr. Hale was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Buda Bell Peabody, and 
they have two children, namely: Gilbert 
N. and Cassie B. Our subject is a mem- 
ber of the Ilepublican party, and takes an 
active interest in political (juestions. He 
is recognized as one of thethorough-gointr, 
progressive business men of Carlisle town- 
ship, where he has established himself in 
a profitable line of trade. 



HAELES n. W A RBITRTON, mas- 
ter mechanic for the Cleveland, 
Lorain & Wheeling Railroad, at 
Lorain, was born September 17, 
1846, at Cleveland, Ohio. His father, 
Thomas Warbnrton, a native of Edinburgh, 
Scotland, married Martha Rummage, who 
was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and they 
reared a family of five children — four sons 
and one daughter — of whom Charles II. is 
the eldest. The mother died in 1878, the 
father is now residing at Birmingham, 
Ohio. 

Charles II. Warburton grew to man- 
hood in his native city, receiving his edu- 
cation in the public schools of same. At 
the age of sixteen he engaged with the 
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- 
road Company to learn the trade of ma- 
chinist, and served some five and a half 
years. For some time after he worked as 
contractor in the Wilson Sewing IMachine 
Shops at Cleveland, but again returned to 
the railroad business. In 1873 he came 
to Lorain county, engaged with the Cleve- 
land, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad as gang 
boss, and afterward as general foreman, in 
which capacity he served until 1882, after 
which time he held the position of master 



LOEAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



999 



mechanic, being superintendent of 334 
men. In July, 1893, be resigned bis posi- 
tion on tbe railroad to embark in bis pres- 
ent business in Cleveland, Ohio, in part- 
nersbip witb E. C. Angell, tbe style of tbe 
firm being " Viaduct Macbine and Tool 
Co." 

On November 13, 1873, Mr. Warbur- 
ton was married, at Cleveland, to Miss May 
J. Angell. and to their union have been 
born six children: Charles, Lewis, Henry, 
Katie, Cora and Frank. Politically our 
subject is a prominent member of tbe Re- 
publican party, in whose welfare be takes 
an active interest; be has served in various 
positions of trust, has been a member of 
the city council, and for five years was 
president of the City Water Works. So- 
cially he is a member of Woodland Lodge 
No. 226, K. of P., and of the K. O. T. M.; 
he is also a member of the F. & A. M., 
K. T.,and of the A. A. O. N. M. S. 



IlOHN RILEY, Jr., one of the promi- 

V I nent representative young men of 

V/i Amherst township, is a native-born 

Obioan, having first seen the light of 

day in Erie county in 1856. 

He is a son of John and Bridget 
(Welch) Riley, the father born in Ireland. 
Coming to America in 1844 be made his 
home in Erie county, Ohio, a number of 
years. About 1868 be removed with his 
family to Lorain county, and he now re- 
sides in Elyria township. He has been a 
lifelong farmer, and in politics a stanch 
Democrat. Eight children were born to 
John and Bridget Riley, all yet living. 

John Riley, Jr., received bi§ education 
in tbe public schools of Elyria and Berlin 
Heights. For some years he followed 
agricultural pursuits, and be now owns a 
good farm of one hundred acres in Am- 
herst township. In 1882 he commenced 
contracting for the Toledo & Cleveland 



Railroad, northern and southern division, 
and later has been employed in getting 
out ship timber. 

Mr. Riley has been twice married : first 
time in 1880 to Miss Jennie Davis, who 
died in 1883, and he subsequently, in 1889, 
married Miss Carrie Armert. He takes 
an active interest in politics, and is a 
strong, useful member of the Democratic 
party. Since September, 1893, he has 
been the efBcient and courteous postmas- 
ter at North Amherst. 



^/ 



HfENRT HITCHCOCK, prominent 
in tbe farming community of Co- 
J lumbia township, of which he is a 
native, is a son of Samuel and 
Amelia (Osborne) Hitchcock. 
Samuel Hitchcock was born, in 1786, in 
Waterbury. Conn., whence in 1810 he 
came to Columbia township, Lorain coun- 
ty, traveling the entire distance with a 
team, the journey occuping some six 
weeks. Here be opened up t^iree farms, 
and became a prosperous agriculturist. In 
politics lie was originally a Whig, later a 
Republican. His wife, Amelia (Osborne), 
was also born in (Connecticut, and died in 
April, 1892, a daughter of Asel and Mary 
(Hoadley) Osborne, who came to Colum- 
bia township, Lorain county, from Con- 
necticut in 1810. To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel 
Hitchcock were born seven children, of 
whom the following is a brief record: 
Alma, who married James R. Ruple, died 
in Olmsted township, Cuyahoga county, 
in June, 1892; Julia, who was the wife of 
Cyrus Ruple, died in about 1882; Mi- 
nerva, tbe wife of James Warnock, died in 
1893; Marietta, widow of Winslow Shaw, 
resides in Michigan; Amanda, who was the 
wife of Abner Houston, died in Ridge- 
ville township at the age of twenty-five; 
Amelia, Mrs. J. W. Doane, died in Janu- 
ary, 1890; and Henry is the subject of this 
sketch. 



1000 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Henry Hitchcock, tlie subject proper of 
this memoir, was born in 1836, and was 
reared on his father's farm, his schooling 
being obtained in the primitive log cabin 
of ttie period, in Columbia Center. He 
has always followed farming, and has met 
with well-merited success, being now the 
owner of 108 acres of excellent land in one 
tract, and also a twenty-four-acre farm 
elsewhere, wliile Mrs. Hitchcock owns a 
good farm of thirty-two acres; he is also 
guardian for thirty-two acres. In 1867 
our subject was united in marriage, in 
Columbia township, Lorain county, with 
Emeline Peachey,a native of tliat township, 
and daughter of Tliomas and Philemela 
(Smith) Peachey, of Massachusetts birth, 
early settlers of Columbia township, 
Lorain county, where they died. To this 
union two children were born, viz.: Aman- 
da, wife of William Martin, residing on 
the home farm; and Charley, living at 
liome. In his political affiliations Mr. 
Hitchcock is a Republican; his wife is a 
member of the M. E. Church. 



ijr^\ OBERT N. GOODWIN, one of 
l^^ the best known and most popular 
I ^ citizens of Lorain county, is a na- 
^ tive of Ohio, born in Granger, 

Medina county. May 13, 1828. 
Nathaniel A. Goodwin, father of our 
subject, a native of Connecticut, whence 
he first moved to Genesee county, N. Y., 
and then to Ohio, was one of the earliest 
settlers of Granger township, Medina 
county, traveling the entire distance from 
Genesee county with an ox-sled, it being 
the winter season; at that time there was 
only one other family in the township, and 
his sister Deborah was the first white child 
born in Granger township. He married 
Miss Levinia H. Lowe, a native of the 
State of New York, who bore him ten 
children, of wiiom the following is a brief 
record: Charles A., who died at the age of 



seventy-four in Medina county, was for 
some time a resident of Michigan; Alvira, 
who married Earl Salsberre, died May 3, 
1893, aged seventy-nine years; Mary L. 
is tiie widow of William Hopkins, of 
Sharon township, Medina C(junty, and is 
now seventy-eight years old; Seth, who 
lived in Sharon township, Medina county, 
died of paralysis at the age of sixty- six 
years; Deborah died in 1871 at the age of 
fifty-three years; Levinia is the widow of 
Foster Young, of La Porte, Iowa, and is 
nearly seventy-one years old; Hiram, now 
sixty-seven years old, resides in Medina, 
Ohio, and is clerk of the court of common 
pleas; Robert N. is the subject of this 
sketch; William G., now sixty-three years 
old, is a farmer in Iowa, and resides near 
La Porte, that State; Marshall W., born 
in 1836, now a farmer, lives in Granger, 
Medina county, Ohio. The father died of 
cancer January 21, 1843, aged fifty-five 
years, the mother February 5, 1867, aged 
seventy-six years. 

The subject under present consideration 
attended school in his boyhood winters, at 
the nearest log schoolhouse (in which the 
seats were made of slabs, with wooden pins 
for legs), which was a mile away from his 
home, his summers being passed in work- 
intr on the farm. He also learned the trade 
of cooper, which he followed for some 
years both in his native town and five 
years in Lorain county, whither he came 
in 1861. He then clerked in a grocery 
store in the town of Wellington, at the 
same time attending to some insurance 
business, which was the nucleus to his 
present extensive connection in that line. 
Mr. Goodwin has served in various public 
capacities with characteristic ability and 
fidelity, and among the positions he has 
held may be mentioned: secretary of an 
agricultural society, twelve years; justice 
of the peace, two terms; city clerk (Well- 
ington), fourteen years; township and cor- 
poration assessor, nineteen consecutive 
years (he is elected each year as assessor, 
and every two years as city clerk). Politi- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1001 



cally lie is a straight Republican. Dnr- 
iiicr the war of the Rebellion live men were 
dratted on his street, he being one of them, 
and he reported himself at Elyria, but 
they were not ready to receive him, and he 
tiiially sent a substitute, lie had made 
preparations, however, to fill a position as 
clerk in the commissary office, but was 
taken ill with fever, and reluctantly had to 
remain at home. He is a member of the 
Congrecrational Church. His grandfather, 
Seth Goodwin, served throughout the 
Revolutionary war and a portion of that of 
1812, being a lieutenant at the time of the 
burning of Buffalo by the British. His 
father served throughout the war of 1812 
as a lieutenant, and saw an Indian killed 
by an officer of the army, for touching a 
torch to a building, setting it on tire. 

In 1850 Mr. Goodwin was united in 
marriage with Miss Louisa M. Harris, a 
native of New York State, born in Gene- 
fee county, June 2, 1830. No children 
have been born to them. He and his 
wife, Louisa M. Goodwin, have resided in 
Wellington, Ohio, since 1861, wdien there 
were only 2-15 buildings that were used in 
any part for dwellintjs; at this time (1894) 
there are many elegant dwelling houses, 
besides the many beautiful churches, 
sclioolhouses, business l)uildings and as tine 
a town hall as is not often seen in cities. As 
he has tine property in Wellington, he ex- 
pects to remain there during his natural life. 




ViLLARD HART, than whom 
there is no better or more favor- 
ably known resident of Penfield 
township, is a native of same, 
born October 12, 1840, son of Hawley 
Hart. 

Hawley Hart was born February 10, 
1807, in Litchtield county, Conn., son of 
Samuel, who was a farnier by occupa- 
tion. The father of our subject received a 
common-school education, and during his 



early manhood was engaged in peddling 
clocks for Lewis Hart, throughout the 
Western Reserve, in 1834 coming through 
Pentield township, Lorain county. On 
January 12, 1840,' he married Miss Lucy 
Hart, who was born September 17, 1821, 
in the town of Winchester, Litchtield Co., 
Conn., daughter of Lewis and Persus 
(Swift) Hart, who came to Lorain county, 
Ohio, settling, in June, 1838, in Pentield 
township, where the marriage took place, 
the ceremony being performed by Justice 
Samuel Knapp. After his marriage Mr. 
Hart always followed farming, and made 
his home in Pentield township; he tirst 
took up a farm in Lot No. 45, which con- 
tained but a few rude improvements, and 
resided for two years on that place, where 
two children were born to him, namely: 
Willard, our subject, and Chester, who 
died at the age of seventeen years. From 
this farm he removed to Lot 37, and 
there remained for eight years, when 
he took up his residence in Lot No. 47, 
living there for some time. Then, in 
later years, he moved to a place two miles 
south of the center of Pentield township, 
where he died August 5, 1S81, of apoplexy, 
and was buried in Center cemetery. He 
was, in politics, a Jacksonian Democrat, 
and attended the elections regularly. He 
was a successful farmer. Since his decease 
his widow has made her home with her 
son Willard. She has been a member of 
the M. E. Church since 1869. 

Willard Hart attended during his boy- 
hood the common schools of the district, 
and received his tirst knowledge of agri- 
cultural work under the direction of his 
father. On January 15, 1861, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Ann E. 
Sooy, a native of Spencer, Medina Co., 
Ohio, and this union was blessed with one 
child, Carrie L., wlio is now the wife of 
W. B. Lindsley, a farmer of Pentield town- 
ship, and has two children, Marion A. and 
Dot H. Our subject has always followed 
farming, and after his marriage took up 
his residence with his parents on the home 



1002 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



place, where he has ever since contin- 
nously made his home, and he now owns 
the excellent farm he resides on, besides 
two hundred acres which he rents. In 
addition to farming he has also conducted 
an extensive dairying business, an industry 
in which he has met with well-deserved 
success, and which has proved exceedingly 
profitable. He has constantly on his farm 
about thirty-five milch cows, and it is due 
chiefly to his efforts that Lorain is one of 
the principal dairy counties in the State. 
He was the first to introduce Holstein 
cattle into the county. Mr. Hart is a life- 
long Democrat, takes an active interest in 
political affairs, has served as township 
trustee, and is now filling the ofiice of 
township treasurer. He is a warm friend 
of the public-school system, and has served 
as director of his special school district, 
where he labored hard for the schools 
they now have, in the advancement of 
which he takes great interest. Both he 
and his wife are members of the M. E. 
Church, in which, since his union there- 
with in 1869, he has been a leading 
factor, holding numerous offices in the 
Church, and being also prominently iden- 
tified with the Sunday-school. He is 
highly thought of in his community. 



ffffENRY BRADFORD, one of the 

r'^ most prominent and afiluent of the 

I 1 many prosperous agriculturists of 

•fj Lorain county, and the owner of 

one of the finest and best-equipped 

farms in Rochester township, is a native 

of the county, born August 14, 1849, in 

Columbia township. 

Hiram N. Bradford, his father, was born 
May 31, 1821, in Olmsted Falls, Cuya- 
hoga Co., Ohio, a son of Hosea and Han- 
nah (Eastman) Bradford, natives of Ver- 
mont, who moved to Canada, and from 
there to Ohio. They were the parents of 



ten children, seven of whom — five sons and 
two daughters — grew to naturity, their 
names being Philo, Lester, Eastman, Hiram 
N., Myron, Cynthia and Laura. 

Hiram IST. Bradford received a common- 
school education, and being a natural me- 
chanic, in early youth turned his attention 
in that direction, learning the trade of 
stonemason. His first work in this line 
was laying the walls for wells, which was 
considered ordinary labor; but his ability 
soon assertinar itself, he was given more dif- 
ficult work, such as laying cellar walls, in 
which in course of time he became very 
proficient, and he was widely known as a 
skilled mechanic. He made his home with 
his parents until his marriage (at which time 
he was a comparatively poor man), after 
which he and his young wife made their 
home in Columbia township, Lorain coun- 
ty, for a short time; then lived with his 
wife's parents, who were getting advanced 
in years, and here Mr. Bradford died 
March 2(1, 1856, his remains being inter- 
red in Columbia township. He was a 
member of the Wesleyan Methodist 
Church, and in politics was originally a 
Whig, at the time of his death a Repub- 
lican, which party had just been organized. 

On July 20, 1842, Hiram N. Bradford 
and Eunice Eddy were united in marriage. 
She first saw the light February 22, 1822, 
in ColuTnbia township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
daughter of David and Elizabeth (Sher- 
dine) Eddy, born February 1, 1783, in 
New Jersey, and April 1, 1785, in "Wash- 
ington county, Penn., respectively. Mrs. 
Eddy's father was killed by the Indians. 
David Eddy came to Ohio before his mar- 
riage, and being in Cuyahoga county dur- 
ing the war of 1812, assisted in building 
blockhouses there. He died in Columbia 
township, Lorain county. At Hiram N. 
Bradford's death he left three children, 
viz.: Sylvia, now Mrs. Herbert Mills, of 
Cleveland, Ohio' Viola, who died at the 
age of fifteen, and Henry, the subject of 
this sketch. Mrs. Bradford kept the chil- 
dren together on the farm left by her bus- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1003 



band, and February 1, 1860, married Samuel 
Hanley, a farmer of Lorain county. P^ora 
short time Mr. and Mrs. Hanley made their 
home in New London township, Huron 
county; then, April 15, 18G0, removed to 
the farm in Rochester township her sou 
Henry now owns and lives on. Mrs. Han- 
ley is a member of the Freewill Baptist 
Church, and in her declining years is 
honored and respected by all. 

Henry Bradford, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was reared on a farm, receiv- 
ing his elementary education at the public 
schools of the neighborhood of his home, 
later attending select school. When a 
young man he made a trip to Michigan, 
and in the " pineries " there worked for 
some time; retui'iiing, he labored in the 
lime quarries of northwestern Ohio. On 
October 16, 1872, having once more come 
to his native county, Mr. Bradford married 
Miss Ella A. Storrow, born April 12, 1853, 
in Brighton township, same county, a 
daughter of Thomas and Sophia (Baird) 
Storrow, and the young couple then com- 
menced housekeeping in Brigiiton town- 
siiip. From there at the end of a year 
they removed to Rocliester township, 
where Mr. Bradford bougiit the home- 
stead of his stepfather. The children 
born to our subject and wife are Alton 
L., Lansing A. and Carrie V. — all 
living. 

Mr. Bradford enjoys the reputation of 
being a systematic and thoroughly practi- 
cal farmer and stockman, as well as an ex- 
tensive wool grower. In 1876 he became 
identified with the Poland-China Hog 
Breediiig Association, from which time 
he has vastly improved his own stock, be- 
sides increasing its number; and he can 
boast of not only iiaving some of the finest 
animals on his farm, but also of having 
been the means of improving the breed 
of swine all over northern Ohio. In 1889 
he built at a cost of about three thousand 
dollars, one of the handsomest farm resi- 
dences in Rochester township, furnished 
throughout in hardwood, and in elegance 



and comfort surpassing anything of the 
kind in his part of the county. In his 
political preferences Mr. Bradford is a 
stanch Republican, and is now serving his 
township as trustee. 



F. HOPKINS, a worthy member of 
one of the early families of Brown- 
helm township, is a native of 
Oneida county, N. Y., born Decem- 
ber 5. 183S, a son of Fred. M. and Phila 
M. (Barnes) Hopkins. 

The family came west to Ohio in 1849, 
settling in the ridge in Brownhelm town- 
ship, Lorain county, where the father had 
bought a partly-improved farm, clearing 
the remainder himself. He was a pro- 
nounced Abolitionist, and took part in the 
agitating movements of that period. He 
died in September, 1866, his wife in May, 
1867. Two children were born to them: 
C. F., and George M., who is chief engineer 
on a lake steamer, having his home in Bay 
City, Michigan. 

The subject of this memoir received his 
education in part in Oneida county, N. Y., 
and in part in Brownhelm townsliip, Lo- 
rain Co., Ohio. In his youth he assisted 
in improving the home farm, and has fol- 
lowed fruit farming and gardening. In the 
spring of 1863 he bought his present 
property, then consisting of thirty-four 
acres, which he has since increased to 
eighty acres, and which he has planted 
with apples, cherries, peaches, all varieties 
of berries, etc. In 1863 he was united in 
marriage with Sophronia Vincent, adauorh- 
ter of Levi and Polly (Austin) Vincent, 
natives of Canada, and early pioneers of 
Henrietta township, Lorain Co., Ohio. 
The father died in 1886 at the advanced 
age of eighty-five, the mother surviving 
him three years. To Mr. and Mrs. C. F. 
Hopkins have been born children as fol- 
lows: Edna C. (wife of Charles L. West, 



1004 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



of Oberlin), Frederick M., Thyrza H., 
Gertrude S., Eleanor V. (wife of E. S. 
Cook, of Bowling Green, Wood Co., Ohio), 
Marcia J. and Ada G., the latter of wiiom 
died at the age of two years. Mr. Hop- 
kins is a Republican, and is a member of 
the F. & A. M., Stonington Lodge No. 
503, North Amherst, also of Marshall 
Chapter No. 47, Elyria, Ohio. 




ENJAMIN REDFERN, retired 
harness manufacturer and farmer, 
is one of the prominent citizens of 
South Amherst. He is a native of 
County Armagh, Ireland, born March 31, 
1827, a son of Robert and Ellen (Mc- 
Clarneu) Redfern, both also natives of the 
Land of Erin. 

The father, who was a weaver by trade, 
in 1830 emigrated with liis family to 
Canada, locating near Toronto, Ontario, 
where they resided till 1852, and then re- 
moved to Olmsted Falls, Ohio, whence 
after about two years they came to Hen- 
rietta township, Lorain county, making 
their new home on a farm. In 1868 they 
moved to Amherst township, same county, 
where the mother died in 1883, the father 
in 1886. They had a family of eight chil- 
dren, of whom the following is a brief 
record: Benjamin is the subject of this 
sketch; Barbara R. is the widow of Alfred 
Chandler, and lives in Elyria; Margaret S. 
is the wife of David B. AVright, of Olmsted 
Falls, Ohio; Robert is married, and resides 
in Columbia township, Lorain Co., Ohio; 
James H. is married, and has his home 
in Elyria (he enlisted in Amherst town- 
ship, Lorain county, in 1862, in Com- 
pany F, One Hundred and Third O. V. I., 
for three years, and served to the close of 
the war); Mary was the wife of Jefferson 
Ormsby, who was killed by lightning in 
1871 (she died in 1892); Elizabeth A. is 
the wife of Anson Cooper, of Strawberry 
Point, Iowa; Ellen died in Canada in 1851. 
Benjamin Redfern, whose name opens 



this sketch, received a good practical edu- 
cation in the schools of Canada, learned 
the trade of harness maker, and worked at 
same there until 1849, when he came to 
Lorain county, Ohio, and, locating first in 
Elyria, remained in that town till 1852, 
in the spring of which year he moved to 
North Amherst, whence in 1856 he came 
to South Amherst. He worked at his trade 
in Lorain county till 1863, and then coiii- 
menced agricultural pursuits, having pur- 
chased a farm. In 1865 he bought out the 
store of Henry Jackson, in South Am- 
herst, and conducted a general mercantile 
and harness business till 1867, when he 
abandoned that line and resumed fanning 
till 1887, retiring in that year. Mr. Red- 
fern owns twenty-two and one-half acres 
of land in South Amherst, besides a good 
farm of ninety acres in that town, although 
he has sold several lots off this property. 
On January 17, 1852, our subject was 
united in marriage with Miss Ellen Hy- 
land, daughter of Thomas and Martha 
(West) Hyland, all natives of Sussex, Eng- 
land, who in 1841 immigrated to Canada, 
locating at Port Stanley, Ontario, whence 
in 1848 they came to Elyria, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, settling on a farm in Carlisle town- 
ship. The father died in September, 1849; 
the mother is yet living in Carlisle town- 
ship, now aged eighty years. They were 
the parents of five children, as follows: 
Ellen, wife of Benjamin Redfern; Henry, 
married in Lorain county, and moved to 
Ionia, Mich., where he died in February, 
1893; Mary, wife of William Stall, of Car- 
lisle township, Lorain county; D. W., who 
was married in Michigan, and now resides 
in Elyria, Lorain co\inty (he enlisted, in 
1862. in Company F, One Hundred and 
Third O. V. I., for three years, and served 
to close of the war); and Sarah A., wife of 
J. Jonas, of Carlisle township, Lorain 
county. To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Red- 
fern have been born two children: Eva, 
wife of G. W. Hazel, of Fostoria. Ohio, 
and Ella May, wife of William E. Par- 
sons, of Amherst township. 





')j2yOA^ 



e^-yyiAAA^ (-j-^ 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1007 



Mr. Redfern in his political sympathies 
is a Republican, and hasserred his town- 
ship as trustee lour terms; socially be is a 
member of Plato Lodge No. 203, 1. O. O. F. 
He has l)een a Notary Pul)lic for some 
seven years. Although practically retired, 
he still carries on a snug business in gen- 
eral insurance, representing among other 
companies the " Phoenix " of Hartford, 
Conn. In Church connection be and his 
wife are Baptists. In their lifetime in Lo- 
rain they have been eyewitnesses to many 
nineteenth -century changes, some of them 
marvels of science, for at the time of their 
settlement here, less than half a century 
ago, tliere was no railroad west of Elyria. 
Mr. Redfern has always been active in 
public matters, and has taken a genuine 
interest in everything tending to tlie ad- 
vancement and prosperity of bis county. 



^J 



MAURICE GOSS. Among the many 
progressive and skilled agricultur- 
ists of Brighton township, tliis 
gentleman holds a prominent 
place. He is of the seventh gen- 
eration of a family who came to the United 
States in 1G31, same time that Gov. AVin- 
throp's party came from England. 

Mr. Gosa is a son of David, a son of 
Philip, who was born July 13, 1755, and 
married Esther Yale, who bore bim nine 
children, of whom three sons — Clark, 
David and Philip — came to Ohio. Philip 
Goss, grandfatlier of subject, served in the 
Revolutionary war under Gen. Washimr- 
ton, and at White Plains was commissioned 
major; he died June 23, 1840. David, 
one of bis three sons who came to Ohio, 
was educated at the subscription schools of 
the period in his native town (Boston, 
Mass.), where he afterward worked as a 
drayman. In 1832 he married Aurelia, 
daughter of Samuel Porter, of Dummers- 
town, Vt., soon after which event the 



young couple came to Ohio, locating in 
Cuyahoga county. He was then compara- 
tively poor, for be had lost all his prop- 
erty by signing for others. In later years 
he moved to Brighton township, where he 
and his wife passed the rest of their pio- 
neer days, dying August 6, 1871, and Oc- 
tober 17, 1874, respectively; their remains 
were interred in Brighton cemetery. In 
Cuyahoga county were born to them chil- 
dren as follows: Maria, deceased at the age 
of thirty-four years; Maurice, subject of 
this memoir; Edmund G., deceased Jan- 
uary 20, 1855: Otis F., a farmer of 
Brighton township; Julia S., Mrs. J. E. 
Field, of Carbondale, 111.; Ellen A., Mrs. 
J. J. Lawrence, of St. Mary's, Ohio. Po- 
litically Mr. Goss was a Free-soiler and 
Republican, and he and his wife were 
members of the Congregational Church. 
His chief vocation was that of farming, and 
in connection therewith he also conducted 
a saw and grist mill in Brighton township. 
Though unfortunate in business in early 
life, yet he succeeded by incessant toil in 
accumulating a comfortable competence. 

Maurice Goss, whose name opens this 
sketch, was born Noveuiber 20, 1835, in 
. Middleburgh township, Cuyahoga Co., 
Ohio, at the common schools of which lo- 
cality he received a meager education. He 
was early in life inducted into tiie mys- 
teries of farm labor, and a considerable 
portion of his time was passed in his 
father's gristmill, the buhrstones for 
which were found along Charlemont creek 
in Wellington township. He remained 
under the parental roof until be was nine- 
teen years old, when he commenced life 
for bis own account. His first business 
transaction was the sale of a calfskin his 
father had given him, with the proceeds 
of which he bought two sheep, which in- 
creased in value, and gradually adding 
others he soon found himself the possessor 
of a tine flock. He then rented land, and 
before he was twenty-one years old he had 
bought fifty acres on credit, which, being 
industrious and indefatigable, he soon was 



1008 



LOEAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



enabled to pay for. This tract of fifty 
acres he disposed of at a profit some time 
after his marriage, and he then boug:lit 
seventy acres on which lie built a house 
and barn, and where he remained until 
1863, at whicli time he removed into 
Pittslield township. In the spring of 1865 
he returned to Brighton township, and 
from his uncle, Philip Goss, he purchased 
his present farm, which has been added to 
until it now contains- 195 acres of excel- 
lent farming land, since much improved, 
new biiikiino;s having been erected, and 
the old ones enlarged and remodeled. 
Some years ago Mr. Goss erected a cheese 
factory on his farm, which he successfully 
operated for some years, wlien he disposed 
of it to Richmond & Tracy, who retained 
his services as superintendent for one year. 
After various changes this factory again 
fell into Mr. Goss' hands, and later was 
sold to Laundon, Windecker & Co., of 
Wellington, Ohio. In 1871 he erected a 
warehouse at Kochester, Ohio, a one- half 
interest in which he sold, and the style of 
the firm is now M. Goss & Co. In 1886 
our subject moved to Rochester, where he 
made his home till 1893, in which year he 
returned to Brighton township, where he 
now resides, retaining his interests at 
Rochester. 

On December 8, 1856, M. Goss and 
Josephine M. Judd were united in mar- 
riage. She was born in January, 1834, in 
Brighton, Ohio, daughter of Erasmus 
Judd, and children as follows were born to 
them: Nettie, who was married to F. Twin- 
ing, and died in Henrietta township, leav- 
ing one child, Maud; Herbert S., a farmer 
of Spink county, S. D. ; May, residing at 
home; and Lindsey E., who died young. 
The mother of these died November 5, 
1883, and was buried in Brighton town- 
ship. In 1885 Mr. Goss married Mrs. 
Ezilda Bridgman, a widow, sister of liis 
first wife, and she died in 1891, her re- 
mains beino- t'lken to Atchison, Kans., 
where tliey were laid to rest. Mr. Goss in 
his early political preferences was a straight 



Republican, and as such served witii credit 
as a justice of the peace; of late years he 
has been a zealous Prohibitionist. He is 
a member of the Congregational Church, 
in which he has served as deacon. A typi- 
cal self-made man, he is a leader and ad- 
viser in tiie community, being possessed 
of good judgment and sound common sense. 




[( LBERT H. SMITH, manager and 
l\ city editor of the Eiyria Republican, 
was born in Chepstow (originally a 
Norman stronghold and fortifica- 
tion), Monmouthshire, England, 
June 11, 1848, a son of George Frederick 
and Elizabeth (Chidgey) Smith, the former 
of whom was descended from Norman- 
Welsh ancestry, the latter of Saxon or 
English stock. George F. Smith, who was 
a custom-house officer, died when the sub- 
ject of these lines was a lad of some nine 
summers. 

A. H. Smith after leaving school en- 
tered the office of the West Somerset Free 
Press, a well-known weekly paper pub- 
lished at Williton, Somersetshire, England, 
and here he learned the profession of 
printer and journalist, subsequently hav- 
ing charge of the paper. In June, 1870, 
he emigrated to America, and, locating in 
Corry, Erie Co., Penn., took charge of a 
daily paper there till the fall of 1872, 
when he moved to Oberlin, Ohio, and ac- 
cepted the position of manager of the 
Standard of the Cross, the Episcopal 
organ for the diocese of Ohio. With this 
pajier he was coimected till 1875, a period 
of about three years, during which time 
it was removed to Cleveland. Mr. Smith 
then came to Eiyria and bought a half 
interest in the Rejpuhlican, which he, how- 
ever, sold, remaining with the paper as 
city editor. Again becoming a stock- 
holder, in September, 1891, a joint-stock 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1009 



company was organized, and our subject 
lias since continued in tlie dual capacity of 
general nianaorer and city editor. 

In 1871 Mr. Smith was married to 
Amanda H. Fuller. In church connec- 
tion he is an Episcopalian, in politics a 
Republican, and he is a member of the 
F. &. A. M. and I. 0. O. F. 



HOMAS LINE. Ranking among 
the prominent and influential citi- 
zens of Columbia township is this 
gentleman, who is an Englishman 
by birth, having been born, in 1823, 
in West Haddon, Northamptonshire. 

He is a son of William and Elizabeth 
(Facer) Line, who in 1848 emigrated to 
the United States, sailing from Liverpool, 
and arriving at New York after a voyage 
of five weeks. From there they proceeded 
to Lorain county, Ohio, where the father 
cleared a farm out of the dense forests and 
became a prosperous agriculturist; he was 
a builder by trade, but in this country fol- 
lowed farming exclusively up to the time 
of his death, which occurred September 11, 
1872, when he was eighty-two years old, 
his wife passing away February 27, 1887, 
at the age of eighty years. They were the 
parents of four children, as follows: 
Charles, who died in Ridgeville township 
in 18!)2; Thomas; John, a resident of 
Columbia township; and Sarah, wife of 
George Robinson, postmaster at North 
Ridgeville, Lorain county. 

Our subject received his education at 
the schools of his native parish in Eng- 
land, and learned the trade of mason. He 
was married in that country February 8, 
1848, to Miss Elizabeth Gare, and the same 
year they emigrated with the rest of his 
family to the United States. Bj this 
union there were four children, viz.: Sarah 
J., wife of John Cole, of Ridgeville town- 
ship; Fred William, residing at Millbury, 



Wood Co., Ohio; John T., married, who is 
in the hardware business at Matta Bend, 
Mo.; and Lue, wife of Ernest Mitchell, of 
Ridgeville township. Tlie mother of these 
died May 1, 1882, aged tifty-si.x years, four 
months, and September 1, 1884, Mr. Line 
married, in New York, Miss Martha 
Watts, also a native of England. Our 
subject worked at his trade in Lorain 
county, in the South, and in various other 
places, till settling down to farming pur- 
suits. He now owns a well-cultivated 
place of eighty-one acres in Columbia 
township where he lives, and seventy-four 
in Eaton township. He has erected on his 
farm a good l)rick residence. Politically 
he is a Democrat, and was postmaster at 
North Eaton some years. He and his wife 
are members of the Church of England. 
The male members of the family have been 
masons for hundreds of years back. 



rRANK D. JOHNSON, foremost in 
the ranks of the leading engineers 
_^ in the employ of the Wheeling & 
Lake Erie Hailroad Company, is a 
native of Huron county, Ohio, born March 
30, 1852, a son of John H. and Elizabeth 
P. (Snyder) Johnson. 

Our subject received a liberal education 
at the common schools of his native place, 
and was reared to agricultural pursuits, 
working on his father's farm until he was 
twenty years old. At that time, being 
dissatisfied with the life of a husbandman, 
he left the paternal roof, and proceeding 
to Cleveland entered the employ of the 
Atlantic & Great Western Railroad Com- 
pany, remaining ten years. At first he 
fired an engine, and then was promoted to 
engineer, in which capacity he has since 
served with characteristic carefulness and 
fidelity. Removing to Norwalk, Huron 
county, he at once commenced as engin- 
eer for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad 
Company, his present position. 



1010 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



On June 17, 1876, Mr. Johnson mar- 
ried Miss Sarah E. Miller, born September 
20. 1852. in Chester county, Penii., and 
thiee children have come to brighten their 
home, as follows: Flora V., Oliver E. and 
Edessa M. Politically oiir suliject is a Ke- 
publican, a hearty worker in his party, and 
he and his wife are members of the Baptist 
Church. He is a man of magnificent 
physique, standing six feet in his stockings, 
and weighing 220 .pounds. He is one of 
the oldest and most trustworthy engineers 
on the road, none more popular, and his 
agreeable and jovial disposition makes him 
friends wherever he goes. Socially he is 
a member of Norwalk Lodge K. of P. 
His residence is No. 82 Prospect street, 
Norwalk, Ohio. 



V 



t if RS. L. A. OSBORNE, a resident 

\^ of North Amherst, was born in 

-^1] Orwel, Vt., daughter of Ira W. 

and Lucy Smith, also natives of 

Vermont, where they were married, 

and where ten children were born to 

them. 

In the fall of 1832 Ira W. Smitji came 
west to Lorain county, Ohio (the trip being 
made for the most part by water), and pur- 
chased a considerable amount of land about 
one mile from the present village of Noi'th 
Amherst. Later on the rest of the family 
joined him; but he was not fated to long 
enjoy his new honje. for in the spring of 
tlie following year, just six weeks after 
the arrival of his wife and children, he 
was killed hy a falling tree while out in 
the woods making a roadway through, on 
his land, which is now called the Middle 
Ridge. He was in his fifty-second year at 
the time, and his sudden taking off was a 
terrible blow to the family; his widow died 
about twenty years ago at the age of eighty- 
one years. They had a family of ten chil- 
dren, of whom the following is a brief 



record: (1) Lucy married Daniel Cuts, and 
settled in Windham, Portage Co., Oliio, 
where she died. (2) Ira "\V. was a land- 
owner, farmei- a^id stockman at Kankakee, 
Ilk, and died there leaving a numerous 
family. (3) M. D. was a stockman and 
landowner at Wellington, Ohio, where he 
died leaving a large family. (4) Sarah 
Ann married a Mr. Streator in Vermont, 
and died in Licking county, Ohio. (5) 
Mariette is the wife of Orluni Winton, of 
North Amherst, Ohio. (6) Russell was a 
ranchman, and died at his residence in the 
city of Stockton, Cal. (7) John (deceased) 
was a farmer in Iowa. (8) Jane married 
Samuel Vining, and died in Illinois. (9) 
Charles died in Kansas. (10) L. A'., the 
subject proper of this memoir, born in 
1832, was married in 1850, at the age of 
seventeen, to William Walker, who was 
born in the State of New York and reared 
at North Amherst, Ohio. He died sixteen 
years after marriage, leaving three children, 
viz.: Zuleina L., wife of A. V. Kent, of 
Toledo, Ohio, by whom she has three chil- 
dren: Loula L., Grace E. and Amos Ross; 
Charles, a farmer on Middle Ridge, Am- 
herst township, Lorain Co.. Ohio (he has 
one child, Bertie); and William K., vvho 
died in October, 1892. aged thirty-two years. 
Oursubject was married, the second time, 
in 1868, to Henry A. Osborne, a native of 
Lorain county, born in Avon, but most of 
whose early life was passed in Pennsyl- 
vania. After marriage they made tlieir 
home in Amherst township. He was a 
soldier during the war of the Rebellion, 
and in the service contracted consumption 
of which he died July 26, 1871. One 
child was born to this union: Maude E., 
now the wife of J. H. Wright, of Grind- 
stone City, on Lake Huron. For the past 
sixteen years Mrs. Osborne has lived on 
Church street, North Amherst, and among 
her children. She is identified with the 
Congregational Church; her second hus- 
band was a member of the M. E. Church. 
Mrs. L. A. Osborne's early education 
was limited to tlie common schools, but an 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1011 



ambition to excel caused her to attain in- 
telligence and culture rapidly, and this, 
coupled witli a liandsome appearance and 
genial disposition, made her an early favor- 
ite in society. Her first husband was an 
excellent business man, and tlie Walker 
family became known as one of the pros- 
perous and leading families of Lorain 
county. Mrs. Osi)orne had grave respon- 
sibilities left upon her by her first hus- 
band's death; but she succeeded well. She 
is still young looking, and still among the 
social leaders of North Amherst. She is 
an active church worker, and one of the 
leaders of the Ladies' Relief Corps of 
North Amherst. 



HARLES BO WEES, well known 
and highly respected iri Wellington 
and vicinity, where for several years 
he has industriously pursued his 
trade, that of carpenter, is a native of the 
town, liorn August 13. 1836, a son of 
Sylvester and Esther (Cheney) Bowers. 

Sylvester Bowers, a native of Connecti- 
cut, born in 1805, came west to Ohio in 
1834, settling on a farm in Wellington 
township, Lorain county, and here reared 
a hardy and intelligent family. Of late 
years he has lived a retired life in Well- 
ington, on Tayler street. Politically he 
was originally a Whig, and since the or- 
ganization of the party has been a Repub- 
lican; in Church connection for some years 
he was a Baptist, but for a considerable 
time back has been a Congregationalist. 
His wife, a native of Massachusetts, born 
in 1804, died at the age of eighty-two 
years. Their children, four in number, 
were: John, who joined Company H, One 
Hundred and Third O. V. I., and was 
killed at the siege of Knoxville; Charles. 
our subject; Victoria, deceased wife of 
Oscar Herrick, county auditor, living in 
Elyria; and Harriet, residing with her 
father. 



Charles Bowers, of whom this sketch 
more particularly relates, attended in his 
boyhood the district schools, and learned 
the trade of carpenter in his native town. 
In June, 1863, he enlisted in Company C, 
Eighty-sixth Regiment O. V. L, which 
was ordered to Cumberland Gap; he was 
discharged there at the expiration of his 
term of service, and returned home. The 
following season he served in the Govern- 
ment employ as carpenter in the vicinity 
of Nashville, Tenn., and after the war he 
worked six months longer for the Govern- 
ment, since when he has been a constant 
resident of Wellington, Lorain county. In 
1870 Mr. Bowers married Miss Emma J. 
Webster, who was born in Wellington, 
Ohio. October 13, 1838, and tliey have 
two children: Ida, married to David 
Gammell, of Akron, Ohio, and Clayton. 
Mrs. Bowers is a daughter of Oliver and 
Melissa (Babcock) Webster, New England 
people, the latter of whom was eighty- 
five years of age in November, 1893. The 
father, who passed away in 1870 at the 
acre of sixty-two years, was a Whig and 
Republican, and a member of the Congre- 
gational Church. Their children were: 
Emerson, in Denver, Colo.; Henry, in 
Wellington, Lorain county; Alonzo, 
Amelia, Phileua (deceased) and Emma. 
Mrs. Bowers' paternal grandfather, David 
Webster, came to Lorain county in a very 
early day, and died at an advanced age. 
Our subject is a Republican in politics, 
and a member of the G. A. R. Post; in 
Church connection he and his wife are 
Congregationalists. 



J. COLE, the genial and popular 
clerk of Columbia township, was 
born on his present farm August 19, 
1860, a son of John and Sarah (Ban- 
croft) Cole, natives of Connecticut and 
Massachusetts, respectively. 

John Cole carae to Columbia township 
when a boy of nine years, along with seven 



1012 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



other members of the family, and was here 
married to Miss Sarah Bancroft, who liad 
migrated hither in her girlhood, settling in 
Ridgeville township. They are yet livin;;, 
the parents of four children, namely: Eliza- 
beth A., wife of A. H. Perry, of Colum- 
bia township; Harriet A., wife of F. J. 
Hinman, of Cleveland; Fred E. (married), 
died in Kansas in 1S84; and C. J., our 
subject. The father was a fanner by oc- 
cupation, a Prohibitionist- Democrat in 
politics, and filled various township othces, 
including those of clerk and trustee. 

C. J. Cole, the subject of this sketch, re- 
ceived his elementary education at the com- 
mon schools of his native township, and aft- 
erward attended Oberlin College six years, 
graduating with the class of 1886. On ac- 
count of failure in health he returned to 
his father's farm immediately after grad- 
uating, where he has since remained. His 
chief occupation has been farming and 
school teaching, which latter he followed 
some five years in Olmsted and Columbia 
townships, and he is the owner of sixty-five 
acres of prime land, all in a good state of cul- 
ti vation. Politically he is a stanch Repub- 
lican; has served as justice of the peace 
some years, and as township clerk six years, 
with ability and fidelity, having been elec- 
ted to the ofiice in 1887. Mr. Cole is 
justly recognized as a useful member of 
society, and one of the most prosperous 
citizens of his township. He is deeply 
interested in educational matters, and an 
avowed advocate of free schools and free 
speech. 



URIEL M. BEMIS, a well-known re- 
spected citizen of Lorain, was born in 
1829 in Massachusetts. His parents, 
Charles H. and Azubah (Perry) 
Bemis, were also uatives of Massachusetts, 
and in 1850 moved westward, locating in 
Lorain county, Ohio. They had children 
as follows: LTriel M., our subject; Francis, 
of Amherst, Lorain county, who enlisted 
in 1863 in an Ohio Regiment, and served 



through the remainder of the war; Marcus, 
now living in Iowa county, Mich.; Henry, 
deceased; Charles and Luther, who both 
died in the army. The father of this fam- 
ily died in Tennessee in 1857; the mother 
died in 1881, in Lorain county. 

Uriel M. Bemis was reared and edu- 
cated in his native State, and when twenty- 
one years of age came to Lorain county, 
Ohio, locating in Black River township, 
where he was engaged in farming and also 
operated a sawmill. In 1865 he removed 
to Sheffield township, where he was en- 
gaged in farming and milling, and in 1886 
came to Lorain, where he has since been 
employed as engineer in the car shops. In 
1853 he was united iu marriage, in Shef- 
field township, with Miss Mary Standen, 
a native of England, daughter of James 
and Julia (Upton) Standen, also natives of 
England, and who came to Shefiield town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, in an early day. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Bemis have been born the 
following named children: Eva M., wife 
of Thomas C. Burlingame; Ella, widow of 
Edwin Abels; Celia, married to James 
White; Hattie, married to Daniel Dodge, 
of Dayton, Ohio; Nettie, wife of Fred 
Olkey, of Lorain; and Harry L. In poli- 
tics Mr. Bemis is a Republican, and he 
takes an interest in everything tending to 
improve and advance the community in 
which he resides. 



T^HOMAS C. BURLINGAME, fore- 

I man of the Car Shops at Lorain, 
I is the oldest employe in same, hav- 
J) ing worked there the past twenty 
years. 
His father, William Burlingame, was 
born in Massachusetts, and in about 1836 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, where he 
followed farming, also conducting a saw- 
mill for a few years. He was united in 
marriage, in Sheffield township, Lorain 
county, with Melissa Baker, a native of 
Pennsylvania, and they reared eight chil- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1013 



dreu, as follows: Sarah, married to Will- 
iam Smith, of Lorain; Henry, vvlio resides 
in Wisconsin; Tiionias Corwin; Eunice, 
wife of Daniel Ball, Cleveland; Maria, 
wife of Harry Packhain, of Chicago; Lucy, 
wife of B. Shaw, of Geneva, Ohio; Will- 
iam, Jr., of Geneva; and Martha, Mrs. 
Braiiiard, of Geneva. They have a half- 
sister named Mina. The mother of this 
family died in Sheffield township in 1865, 
and in 1872 the father moved to Ashta- 
bula county, Ohio, where he died in 1892. 
Politically he was first a Whig, and after- 
ward, on the formation of the party, a Re- 
publican, being an ardent supporter of the 
principles of his party; he took an active 
part in the early history of the county. 

Thomas Corwin Burlingame was born 
December 22, 1846, in Sheffield township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio, where he was reared 
and educated. He followed milling in the 
township in an early day, and in 1873 
moved into Lorain, here enterinoj the em- 
ploy of the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling 
Railroad Company. On November 28, 
1871, he was married, in Sheffield township, 
to Miss Eva M. Bemis, a native of Lorain, 
and they have had one child, Gertie. In 
politics our subject is a Repuldican. 
Socially he is a member of Tent No. 1, 
K. O. T. M., of the Royal Arcanum, and of 
the Order of Tonti, of which he is treas- 
urer. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Burlingame 
are members of the Disciple Church. 



El G. SPRAGUE, a well-to-do farmer 
citizen of LaGrange township, is a 
I native of Livingston county, N. Y., 

born August 2, 1841, in the town 
of York. 

His father, William G. Sprague, son of 
William, was born February 23, 1812, in 
Covington, N. Y.. and on November 17, 
1886, married Miss Pamelia Root, who 
was born January 1, 1819, in Pittsfield, 
Mass., whence her parents, Chester and 



Clarissa Root, moved to New York, where 
she met and married Mr. Spragne. The 
latter learned the trade of miller, and fol- 
lowed it in New York State, where three 
children were born to him, viz.: Chester, 
born February 15, 1838, who died Febru- 
ary 8, 1840; William Chester, born Janu- 
ary 30, 1840, who was killed by a horse 
March 1, 1891; and Edward G., subject 
proper of this sketch. In the spring of 
1842 the family came to Ohio, whither the 
father had preceded them a few months, 
spending the winter near Columbus, Ohio, 
where he had better health. When the 
family joined him in the spring, he pur- 
chased land in Copley, Summit Co., Ohio, 
residing thereon for ten years, and then 
removing to Lorain county, where he in- 
vested in 135 acres of land. Here he 
passed the remainder of his life, except 
one year, when he lioiight and conducted 
a gristmill at La Porte. He died on his 
farm February 3, 1893, preceded by his 
wife Jnne 23, 1883, and they now lie 
buried in East cemetery, LaGrange town- 
ship. The children born to them after 
coming to Ohio were Oliver R., born 
March 14, 1846, in Copley, who died May 
28, 1864; and Charley, born December 6, 
1848, in Copley, who died October 12, 
1879 Mr. Sprague was an active man, 
and traveled considerably, visiting the 
Centennial E.xposition at Philadelphia in 
1876; he owned some property in Michi- 
gan, which he also visited frequently. He 
was well informed on various questions, 
and though he had but limited educational 
advantages in his youth he acquired much 
pracrical learning by reading, travel and 
observation. He conducted systematically 
anything which he undertook, and was 
much respected in his community. In 
politics he was a Republican, and held the 
office of township trustee. 

E.G. Sprague received a common-school 
education, and during his boyhood and 
youth was inducted into the mysteries of 
farm life. Upon reaching his majority he 
left home and went to Michiijan, where he 



1014 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



worked in the joineries, but being dissatis- 
fied returned. On March 14, 1867, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Malissa Dale, 
who was born November 16, 1846, in 
LaGrauge township, daughter of Orrie 
and Charille (Clark) Dale, and for one year 
thereafter they lived on land in Grafton 
township, which he rented from his father- 
in-law. They then moved into LaGrange 
township, where, with the exception of a 
year and a half they lived in LaPorte, they 
have ever since had their residence, on 
April 7, 1892, coming to the home fai'm, 
where they now are. He is administrator 
of his father's estate, and controls over 
three hundred acres of land. Mr. and 
Mrs. E. G. Sprague have children as fol- 
lows: Linnie, born March 5,1872; George 
E., born July 1, 1877; and Ora M., born 
February 26, 1883. In politics our sub- 
ject is a Republican, but is not active in 
party affairs. He has been a lifelong 
agriculturist, and besides general farming 
is extensively engaged in raising horses 
and sheep, a large number of which he 
usually has on hand. 



FE. GRIFFIN, a thoroughly repre- 
sentative self-made man, and a pros- 
_^ parous agriculturist of Amherst 
township, is a native of same, born 
October 15, 1847, a son of Frederick A. 
and Bethia L. (Jenne) Grifiin. 

Frederick A. GrifBn, father of our sub- 
ject, stands prominent among the practi- 
cally self-made agriculturists of Lorain 
county. He was born in Dutchess county, 
N. Y., March 5, 1824, a son of Morris and 
Maria (Brownell) Grifiin, natives of the 
same place. The father was a farmer, and 
died in New York about the year 1827; 
the widowed mother then married Paul 
Nichols, and they lived in Cayuga county 
till 1875, when they came to Lorain county 
and made their home with Frederick A. 



The mother died in Michigan in 1890. 
Grandfather Samuel Brownell was a native 
of New York, and followed droving between 
that city and the West; he died in Wyoming 
county, N. Y., at the age of ninety years. 
On the maternal side of the house the fam- 
ily are of Holland extraction, and on the 
paternal side they are of Scotch. Three 
Grifiin brothers came from Scotland in 
Colonial days, and settled in New York. 

Frederick A. Griffin was reared in part 
in Cayuga and in part in Dutchess county, 
N. Y., at the schools of which place he re- 
ceived a liberal education. In 1844 he 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, locating on 
rented land in Amherst township. In 
1847 he moved into Erie county, thence 
in 1852 to Russia township, where lie 
cleared a farm of 160 acres of wild land. 
Here he lived until 1878, when he came 
to Elyria township, and settled on his 
present farm. On September 4, 1846, Mr. 
Griffin was married in Ridgeville, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, to Miss Bethia L. Jeiine, a na- 
tive of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, a daughter 
of Ansel and Elizabeth (Brcwn) Jenne, of 
whom mention is made elsewhere. Two 
sons have been born to this union, viz.: 
Frederick E., whose name opens this 
sketch, and Charles B., married to Mary 
Gawn, and residing in Amherst township 
rthey have four children, viz.: Charles, 
Frederick A., Gertrude and Eugene). In 
politics Mr. Griffin is a Prohibitionist, and 
he is a strong advocate of temperance 
principles. He and his wife are members 
of the M. E. Church at Elyria. Mr. Griffin 
at one time owned good farms in Rus- 
sia and Amherst townships, aggregating 
200 acres, which he sold prior to coming 
to Elyria township. 

Frederick E. Griffin attended in his boy- 
hood and early youth the public schools of 
his township, and was reared to farming, 
which has been his life-work. In Decem- 
ber, 1868, he was united in marriage with 
Emma Bassett, who was born April 26, 
1847, in Russia, Lorain Co., Ohio, daughter 
of Charles and Emma (Parsons) Bassett, 




^ 




%^i¥^ 



LOEAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



1017 



the former of whom was born in the towu 
of Chili, Monroe Co., N. Y., March 10, 
1820, the latter in AViltshire, England, 
July 28, 1819. To Mr. and Mrs. Frederick 
E. Grifhii has been born one child, Allen 
E. Mr. Griffin has always taken an active 
interest in politics, and is an ardent Re- 
publican; recently be was nominated for 
the County Republican Committee. At 
the last election he was nominated and 
elected county commissioner of Lorain 
county, and took office January 1, 1894. 
In matters of religion be was a member 
of the Congregational Church. He is the 
owner of a productive farm of ninety 
acres, all well improved, wliereon, in addi- 
tion to cereals, etc., he raises sheep and 
fine-bred horses. 



W. KEENER, leading capitalist, 
and one of the most prosperous 
business men in LaGrange town- 
ship, is a native of same, born June 
20, 1850. 

Peter Kelner, great-grandfather of our 
subject, came to this country from Ger- 
many in about 1787, and first made a 
temporary location in the State of New 
Jersey. In 1788 he brought his family to 
Jefferson county, N. Y., and took up his 
residence near the town of Champion, 
where he and his wife passed the re- 
mainder of their days. Of their children 
four sons and one daughter grew to ma- 
turity, among whom was one named Will- 
iam, the grandfather of our subject. 

William Kelner was born September 1, 
1787, in New Jersey, and was reared to the 
multitudinous duties of farm life in Jef- 
ferson county, N. Y. He had but limited 
educational opportunities, and learned to 
read after bis marriage, having attended 
school in his youth but six weeks. In 
1818 he was married in Jefferson county, 
N. Y., to Miss Cynthia Phelps, a native of 



that county, born November 13, 1792, and 
they became the parents oi* two children, 
namely: Elmii'a, born June 20, 1819, 
who was married in Lorain county, Ohio, 
to Sandrus Rockwood, and after his decease 
to James Waite (she died in LaGrange 
December 24, 1848); and Charles, born 
January 3, 1823. Mr. Kelner was a well- 
to-do farmer, and owned a good place in 
Jefferson county. In the spring of 1835 
he set out for Ohio, with a view of locat- 
ing, walkiu}^ the entire distance, and after 
looking over the land and making a selec- 
tion returned to New York, where he sold 
his farm and iarining utensils. Mrs. Kel- 
ner died June 2, 1835, and in the fall of 
the same year he started for Ohio with his 
tw'o motherless children, making the trip 
in a covered wagon drawn by two horses. 
After a wearisome journey they arrived in 
LaGrange township, Lorain county, where 
for a short time they were guests of Nathan 
Clark, LaGrange township's first perma- 
nent settler, later making their home with 
one Joseph Phelps, a brother-in law. Mr. 
Kelner purchased one hundred acres in 
Lot 19, N. W. Section of LaGrange town- 
ship, for which tract he paid one thou- 
sand dollars in cash, and which land he 
cleared and improved, also adding to it as 
circumstances permitted. He was twice 
married after coming to Lorain county: 
first to Miss Mary Chase, who was born 
November 26, 1783, and died November 
23, 1842, but had no children by either 
union. He passed from earth March 28, 
1878, at the patriarchal age of ninety years, 
dying in LaGrange township, where he was 
buried. He was a successful farmer, and 
accumulated a very comfortable compe- 
tence, being a most active man even in his 
old age, never content unless occupied with 
labor of some kind. He was constantly 
reading and studying the Scriptures, and in 
religious connection was a member of the 
M. E. Church, which he joined in his later 
years. 

Charles Kelner, father of our subject, 
was about twelve years old when he came 



1018 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



with his father to Ohio, and drove the 
horses during most of the journey. He was 
reared to farm life, received an education 
in the common schools, and then worked 
on the home place until his marriage. On 
October 19, 1840, he wedded Miss Martha 
A. Clark, who was born May 13, 1820, in 
Jefferson county, N. Y., third daughter and 
fifth child of Nathan and Anna (Loorais) 
Clark, who came to LaGrange township in 
1825, and, as previously stated, were the 
first permanent settlers there. To the union 
of Charles and Martha A. Kelner came 
children as follows: George H., born June 
6, 1842, a cheese maker and fanner of La- 
Grange township; Cynthia M., born Oc- 
tober 7, 1844, now Mrs. Richard Rounds, 
of Barry county, Mich.; Emma M., born 
November 3, 1846, now Mrs. Nelson Wil- 
son, of Penfield, Ohio; Stowell W., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Frank, born July 29, 
1855, a farmer of LaGrange township; and 
Charlie, born August 13, 1860, a resident 
of LaGrange township. The family re- 
sided on the homestead many years, mak- 
ing their home thei-e until 1875, when he 
built in LaGrange village the finest resi- 
dence in the township, and there passed 
the remainder of his days, dying August 
14, 1880. He was buried in a cemetery 
near the home farm in LaGrange town- 
ship. In his political affiliations he was 
a stanch member of the Democratic party, 
and held the office of township trustee 
when the town hall was built. He was 
very successful in his agricultural affairs, 
and accumulated a very comfortable com- 
petence, leaving to his widow an elegant 
home, which she now shares with our sub- 
ject. 

Stowell W. Kelner receiv^ed his educa- 
tion in the common schools of his native 
place, his first teacher being William A. 
Sraman. He was reared to farming pur- 
suits, and remained at home with his par- 
ents until December 17, 1872, when he 
was united in marriage with Miss Hannah 
E. Nichols, who was born December 8, 
1853, in LaGrange, daughter of Cyrus and 



Henrietta (Pierce) Nichols, who came from 
Watertown, N. Y., to LaGrange township 
in an early day. Children as follows have 
blessed the union of Stowell W. and Han- 
nah E. Kelner: Two sons that died in in- 
fancy; Cassie M., born October 30, 1881; 
Mattie M. H., born August 1, 1885; Earl 
W., born June 14, 1889; and Rowan B., 
born January 26, 1891. After marriage 
Mr. Kelner settled on the home place, 
which had been divided between two sons, 
and for five years conducted the stone 
quarry which had been discovered on the 
farm. But in 1884 a switch from the 
Lake Shore Railroad was built from Ober- 
lin, Ohio, and the stone business (a very 
profitable one) and the farm of 140 acres 
were sold to the Cleveland Stone Co. at a 
handsome figure. Mr. Kelner had also 
erected buildings, and carried on a general 
store, which were disposed of at the same 
time. He still owns fifty acres of valuable 
stone land. Li the fall of 1883 he took 
up his residence in the village of LaGrange, 
and here he has since resided in the beauti- 
ful and luxuriously furnished home erected 
by his father. He buys and sells wool, 
and also deals in various kinds of stock, 
being a shrewd, well-known business man, 
popular in the commercial circles of Lorain 
county. He is amemberof the Democratic 
party, but takes no particular interest in 
political affairs. Mrs. Kelner is a member 
of the M. E. Church. 



JOSEPH TURLEY, retired merchant, 
and a representative self-made man, 
having his residence in Wellington, 
is a native of Manchester, England, 
born in 1814. 

He is a son of Francis and Alice (Eckels- 
ley) Turley, of Irish and English birth, 
respectively, the former of whom went to 
England when a young man, aud there 
married. He was a weaver, a trade he fol- 
lowed in England till his death, which oc- 
curred when he was seventy years of age; 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1019 



his wife also died in the motlier country, 
aged about sixty-five. Of their children 
the following is a brief record: James 
Lionel is a weaver in Manchester, England; 
John was also a weaver in Manchester, 
where he died; Joseph is the subject of 
this sketch; Frank resided in Manchester; 
Isabel O. died in England; and one died 
young. 

Joseph Tnrley received his education at 
the schools of his native city, and worked 
in a large cotton -factory there. At the aj);e 
of thirty-five years he immijjrated to the 
United States, landing at Boston, Mass., 
and worked in the East some two years 
before coming West, part of the time as a 
mechanic at Springfield, Mass. While so 
employed he received a hurt in an acci- 
dent, and it was then that he turned his at- 
tention, through a friend, to Wellington, 
Lorain Co., Ohio. This was in 1850, al- 
most half a century ago, when the bear, 
the panther, the wolf and many other wild 
animals still roamed the imperial forest. 
Here Mr. Tnrley resolved to go into the 
grocery business, and after securing a suit- 
able building found he had only twelve 
dollars left wherewith to buy goods; from 
which small beginnings, by close applica- 
tion to business, shrewdness and economy, 
he made in the course of a few years a com- 
fortable competence. His first week's re- 
ceipts amounted to between twenty and 
thirty dollars, and the last bill he paid, for 
sugar and molasses alone, amounted to two 
thousand dollars. In 1860 he visited Eng- 
land, being about fifty weeks thei-e, and 
after his return located in Cleveland, Ohio, 
where for two years he operated a grain 
and produce business. At the end of tliat 
time he opened a cooperative store in Wel- 
lington, and one in 01)erlin, but in about 
a year and a quarter he retired from busi- 
ness. In March, 1893, he again visited 
England, but returned in the following 
June, having been taken sick there. On 
both his trips he happened to be the oldest 
passenger on board the vessel, although he 
was one of about twelve hundred souls. 



Mr. Tnrley was married, on May 18, 
18-10, to Miss Anna Smith, who died in 
1851, and in 1852 he wedded, for his 
second wife. Miss Anna Vincent, who died 
November 15, 1892. In politics our sub- 
ject is strictly independent; in church 
matters he is a Congregationalist. He 
has been liberal in his contributions to 
various charitable institutions. Aside from 
a temporary affliction, he is remarkable for 
mental and pliysical vigor. 



THOMAS COX, for nearly half a cen- 
tury a resident of Elyria township, 
where he has been a prosperous 
farmer, is a native of England, born 
in Northamptonshire, in November, 
1816, in the village of Naseby, near 
where was fought, in June, 1645, the 
ujemorable battle between Cromwell and 
the Eoyalists, in which the latter were de- 
feated with the loss of five thousand men. 
Thomas Cox, father of our subject, a na- 
tive of the same place, and by occupation 
a laborer and farmer, sailed in 1833 for the 
United States with his family, landing in 
Philadelphia July 8, of tliat year, and first 
locating in Allegheny county, Penn. From 
there he proceeded to Lorain county, Ohio, 
where he made a settlement in Elyria town- 
ship, east of the river. In England he had 
married Miss Catherine Luck, of the same 
county, and they had five children, viz.: 
William, who died at the age of eighty- 
five in Allegheny county, Penn.; Robert, 
who resided in Allegheny county, Penn., 
and died at about the age of seventy-two; 
Joseph, living in Allegheny county, Penn.; 
John, in Elyria township, and Thomas, our 
subject. The mother died in England be- 
fore the family came to this country; the 
father died in August, 1851, at the age of 
seventy-six years. 

The subject proper of these lines re- 
ceived his education in Pennsylvania, and 



1020 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



has followed agricultural pursuits all his 
life. He now owns one hundred acres of 
land in a high state of cultivation, and has 
prospered well. In 1840 he married Miss 
Isabella Aldridge, who was born in Eng- 
land in March, 1820, a daughter of John 
and Mary (Crisp) Aldridge, natives of War- 
wickshire, and who came to this country 
in 1831, landing in Baltimore, Md., thence 
proceeding to Pittsburgh, Peiin., where 
they both died i n 185-1, of cholera. They had 
two sons: Thomas, living in Steuben ville, 
Ohio, and John, who died in Newport, Ky. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Cox have been born two 
children, namely: Samuel, who is married 
and has two children, Burton and Howard; 
and Mary A., wife of Richard Henson, also 
has two children, Thomas H. and Alfred 
C. In politics our subject is a straight Re- 
publican, and cast his lirst vote for W. H. 
Harrison. [Since the above was written 
we have been informed of the death from 
La Grippe of Thomas Cox, the subject of 
the sketch, the sad event taking place De- 
cember 20, 1893. 




J. RICHMOND, one of the thor- 
ough-going representative farmers 
of Amherst township, is a native of 
Lorain county, Ohio, boi'n in Black 
River township, iVpril 15, 1881. 
He is a son of Freeman and Eunice Rich- 
mond, the former of whom was born in 
Providence, R. I., August 29, 1791, the 
latter in New York. 

The father was twice married, the first 
time to a Miss Nancy Arnold, of Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y. Soon after marriage 
they moved to Sheffield, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
arriving there December 1, 1815. One 
child, Philinda, was born September 14, 
1817, being the first white child born in 
Sheffield. Mrs. Nancy Richtnond died 
August 12, 1819. The daughter, Philinda, 
married Schuyler Strong, and died Novem- 



ber 4, 1844. In the course of time Mr. 
Richmond was married to Mrs. Eunice 
Fox, a widow with four children — Gill)ert, 
Orpha, Hannah and Nancy. The children 
of the second marriage are six in number, 
viz.: Sylva, born July 15, 1824, and mar- 
ried to Albert Arnold; Minerva, wife of 
Isaac Sliupe, born July 21, 1826; Jane, 
born February 19,1829; Albert, born April 
15, 1831; Milo, born January 2, 1837; 
Eimeda, wife of James Rankin, born July 
24, 1839. Freeman Richmond moved 
from Sheffield to Black River township 
February 15, 1825, and afterward removed 
to Amherst. He lived to the age of ninety- 
one, his wife surviving him two years. 

A. J. Richmond, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received his education at the 
public schools of Amherst township, where 
he was reared to farming, which has al- 
ways been his occupation, excepting in his 
younger days, when he worked for a time 
at vessel calking at Lorain, Milan and 
Huron. 

On October 9, 1852, he was married to 
Mary L. Gilmore, daughter of Aretus and 
Orra Gilmore, early pioneers of Black 
River township, Lorain county, and to this 
union one son. Bird, was born. 

Bird Richmond was liorn October 16, 
1853, and was married, October 16, 1877, 
to Sarah E. Jenne, daughter of Ansel and 
Phebe Jenne, by which union one son, 
Frank, was born July 16, 1880. 

A. J. Richmond's wife died October 11, 
1886, and in 1888 Mr. Richmond was mar- 
ried to Mrs. Emaretta Tenery, of Clyde, 
Ohio. In politics our subject is a Repub- 
lican, and he has always taken a deep in- 
terest in the affairs of the county, of which 
he is a useful and loyal citizen. 



T A. MEREDITH is a son of William 

k. I Meredith, who was born August 8, 

\J) 1813. in Herefordshire, England, 

eldest child of James Meredith, who 

was a farmer. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1021 



William Meredith was reared to the 
duties of agricultural life, and received but 
a connnoii-school education, his opportuni- 
ties in that direction being limited, as his 
parents were poor. For a time he found 
employment working in noblemen's gar- 
dens, etc., but in 1848 left England, sail- 
ing from Liverpool in the vessel " Cala- 
grimcha," which was some time afterward 
burned at sea. Aionof with William came 
a friend, Thomas Jones, who had been 
here before, and after land in u; at New Vork 
they proceeded to Pittsfield township, Lo- 
rain Co., Ohio, where Mr. Meiedith in- 
vested in forty-seven acres of land at nine 
dollars per acre, for which he was obliged 
to go into debt. On April 23, 1849, he 
married Esther Gurney, who was born 
February 8, 1816, in Worcestershire, Eng- 
land, and passed the earlier part of her life 
in Herefordshire, same country. She w'as 
a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wheeler) 
Gnrnev, who were poor people, and Esther 
was early in life obliged to work for a 
living, being thus deprived of even the 
smallest opy)ortunity to obtain an educa- 
tion. She had met Mr. Meredith in Eng- 
land, where they were engaged, and he 
started for the United States to seek a 
home, concluding, if satisfactory arrange- 
ments could not be made here, to return to 
England. But in about a year he had 
made a home, and sent for Miss Gurney, 
who sailed from Liverpool on a vessel of 
the "Black Star Line," landing in New 
York after a voyage of thirty-three days. 
She immediately proceeded to Pittsfield 
township, where she was joined l>y Mr. 
Meredith, and here immediately alter mar- 
riage they began life in a rude frame 
house, where they resided seven years, 
after which they moved to the farm. To 
their union were born children as follows: 
Mary Ann, deceased in infancy; James A., 
subject of this sketch; Alice, Mrs. John 
White, of Wellington, Oiiio; and Keuben 
and Arthur, botli farmers of Pittsfield 
township. He was a strong Republican, 
and took great interest in political issues. 



reading considerably and keeping himself 
well posted. At the time of his death, 
which occurred July 3, 1885, he owned 
280 acres of land, all of which he had ac- 
quired by patient, honest toil, working 
part of the time as a farm hand. He and 
ills wife were members of the Episcopal 
Church in England. Mr. Meredith was 
buried in the South cemetery at Welling- 
ton. Since his death the widow has re- 
sided on the home farm, and is a highly 
respected lady in her community. 

J. A. Meredith was born July 29,1854, 
in Pittsfield township, and received his 
literary training in the common schools. 
He was reared to the arduous duties of 
agricultural life, and remained on the 
home f^rm until his marriage, working 
out in the summer seasons. On Decem- 
ber 25, 1870, he wedded Miss Alice Par- 
sons, a daughter of Ebenezer and Armitta 
(Corkins) Parsons, and immediately there- 
after settled on his present farm, where he 
has since resided, carrying on a general 
farming and dairying business. He is one 
of the most enterprising and progressive 
young farmers in his section, and is a 
well-known member of the locality. Po- 
litically he is a Republican, and has held 
various township offices, refusing others. 
Socially he is a member of Lorain Lodge, 
No. 281, I. O. O. F.. and Camp No. 247. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have come 
children as follows: Clara E., Frank A., 
Charles (deceased), Mai)el A., Lena A., 
Bessie, Belle R. and Howard Edmund. 




A. WIRE, late superintendent of 
the C. L. & W. R.'R. docks, Lo- 
rain, deservedly one of the most 
popular of men. is a native of the 
State of New York, born April 17, 1831. 
He is a son of Samuel and Abigail (Sher- 
man) AVire, the former of whom was for 
some time a contractor on the New York 
Central Railroad. He was also a preacher 



1022 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



in the Freewill Baptist Church, having 
coiuinenced exhorting at the age of thirty- 
one. When our subject was three years 
old the family moved to Ashtabula county, 
Ohio, ]ocatir)g on a farm for a time, after 
which they again returned to New York 
State, and for six years made their home 
in the town of Canandaigua. The mother, 
who was of Scotch lineage, died in Potter, 
Yates Co., N. Y., and the father then re- 
sided for a short time in Wayne county. 
He lived to be eighty-one years old, and a 
short time before his death was cradling 
grain, sometiiing not to be so much mar- 
veled at when it is remembered that he 
came from a long-lived hardy Scotch-Irish 
race. His grandfather was one of Wash- 
ington's body guard during tiie Revolu- 
tionary war. 

W. A. Wire, the subject of this sketch, 
in his boyhood attended school in New 
York State, and at the age of twenty-one 
commenced railroading, first as a fireman 
for a locomotive on the Cleveland & Co- 
lumbus Railroad; at the end of a year he 
was appointed brakeman on the Cleveland 
& Erie Railroad, which position he filled 
also one year. For the following eighteen 
years he was conductor on the Cleveland 
& Erie road, after which for three years he 
ran the yard at nights in Cleveland for 
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- 
road. His next experience was in tiie 
Pennsylvania oil fields, two years speculat- 
ing in oil. From there he came to Lorain, 
having received tlie appointment of yard- 
master for the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Val- 
ley & Wheeling (now the Cleveland, 
Lorain & Wheeling) Railroad. On his 
retirement from this incumbency in the 
spring of 1884, to go to Cleveland, Mr. 
Wire was presented by the city and rail- 
road employes with a handsome gold 
watch as an expression of esteem. His 
call to Cleveland at that time was to ac- 
cept the position of dockmaster on the 
" ]3ig Four," remaining thereon for seven 
and a half years, at the end of which time, 
Novennber 1, 1888, he returned to Lorain to 



fill the then vacant position of assistant 
superintendent for the C. L. & W. road, 
in which capacity he remained one year, 
and was then given charge of the docks as 
superintendent. In April, 1893, he left 
the railroad business, and moved to Glen- 
ville, Ohio. 

In 1853 Mr. Wire was married in Lake 
county, Ohio, to Miss Caroline Rosette 
Powers, of Perry, Lake Co., Ohio, a lady 
of French origin, and two children have 
been born to them: Samuel, a machinist in 
the employ of the C. L. & W. Railroad 
Company (he is married to a daughter of 
Capt. Coney, of Lorain), and Laura, who 
is a singing Evangelist, traveling through- 
out the country. Mr. Wire is a member 
of the F. & A. M., K. of H. and R. A., 
and of the Disciple Church. In politics 
he is a stanch Republican. 



^J 



VTflCHOLAS GRABENSTETTER, a 

yJ well-known farmer citizen of Graf- 

1 ton township, was born June 29, 

1820, in Baden, Germany, son of 

Paul and Rosa (Gross) Grabenstet- 

ter, farming people of that place. 

In June, 1833, the family, which then 
consisted of the parents and three children 
— Nicholas, Sophia and Alice — left their 
native country, the father having saved 
enough from his earnings to bring them to 
the United States. They embarked at 
Havre, France, in a full-rigged sailing 
vessel, and after a voyage of thirtj^-five 
days landed in New York, where they re- 
mained one week, strangers in a strange 
land. They then took a steamboat to Al- 
bany, thence to Rochester, N. Y., where 
they remained over winter, the father 
doing any honest labor he could there find, 
but as times were hard Nicholas could find 
nothing to do. In May, 1834, they left 
Rochester, traveling by canal to Buffalo, 
N. Y., thence by steamboat to Cleveland, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1023 



Ohio, where they remained two weeks, 
searching for latid. As his capital was 
small, Mr. Grabenstetter concluded to go 
to Stark county, and traveling by canal to 
Bethlehem (near Massillon), that county, 
remained three weeks, but finding himself 
unable to purchase land there, returned to 
Cleveland, taking the same route. He 
then went to Liverpool township, Medina 
county, wliere he purchased forty-seven 
acres at four dollars per acre, which land 
was entirely in the woods, not a tree having 
been cut, or a single improvement made 
thereon. A rude house, constructed of 
rough boards and a couple of forked stocks, 
was put up, which, though wet and un- 
comfortable, served as a shelter all sum- 
mer. Setting to work they began to clear 
the land, though during the first year they 
could raise nothing but garden stuff, and a 
log house was built, which was later sup- 
planted by one of hewn logs. Although 
wild game was plentiful, the forest teem- 
ing with deer, turkeys, etc., they could not 
take advantage of the abundance, as they 
could not afford firearms, and thus they 
were obliged to struggle on till crops grew 
better. Mr. and Mrs. Grabenstetter re- 
sided on this farm the remainder of their 
lives, dying at the ages of eighty-five and 
eighty-three years, respectively, and were 
buried in the Catholic cemetery in Liver- 
pool township. They were members of the 
Catholic Church. In Eochester, N. Y., 
the family was increased by one child, 
Frank, w-lio is now a farmer in Litchfield, 
Medina county. 

Nicholas Grabenstetter was reared to 
farm life, and attended school in his native 
country until thirteen years of age, when 
he came with his parents to the United 
States. He grew to manhood in the woods 
of Liverpool township, Medina Co., Ohio, 
where he became inured to hard work, and 
he resided with his parents until his mar- 
riage. Our sul)ject was not only employed 
at farm labor, l)ut also worked on the canal 
then in course of construction at Milan, 
Ohio, before he was sixteen years of age. 



He was afterward employed on various 
other canals, the Tuscarawas Canal, the 
Erie Canal, the Mauraee Canal, etc., toiling 
from sunrise to sunset for fifty cents a 
day, and all his earnings went to' assist his 
father. 

In 1841 he was wedded to Mary Yeager, 
a native of Baden, Germany, daughter of 
Lawrence Yeager, who came to the United 
States, locating in Liverpool township, 
Medina county, in pioneer times. After 
marriage Mr. Grabenstetter located on the 
farm of his mother-in-law, remaining 
there for eight years, wdien he purchased a 
tract of forty-five acres in Grafton town- 
ship, Lorain county; this land cost fire 
hundred dollars, and he was obliged to cro 
four hundred dollars into debt for same, 
but by hard work the loan was soon paid 
off. He resided thereon until 1863, when 
he purchased his present place, then com- 
prising ninety-eight acres, where he has 
since resided, following agricultural pur- 
suits. To our subject and wife were born 
eleven children, six of whom are yet livino-, 
namely: Odelia, Sophia, Aloiiys, Andrew, 
Rosa and John. The mother of these chil- 
dren died May 6, 1870, and was buried in 
the Catholic cemetery; she was a member 
of the Catholic Church. Mr. Grabenstet- 
ter has been a hard working man, and by 
his industry has accumulated a cotnfort- 
able property. He is an excellent farmer, 
and an honest, upright business man, 
highly respected and esteemed. He is a 
lifelong member of the Democratic party, 
hut does not mix in politics; he is a mem- 
ber of the Catholic Church. 



JM. SEELYE, a well-to-do farmer of 
liidgeville township, where he owns 
forty-four acres all in a good state of 
cultivation, is a native of Lorain 
county, born in Avon township, July 
26, 1836. 



1024 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



He is the son of Cornelius and Rachel 
(Smith) Seelye, who were natives of New 
York State, where they were married, and 
whence in an early day tliej came to Ohio, 
locating in the woods of Avon township, 
Lorain county, near French creek, where 
Mrs. Seelye died in 1843. They remained 
here till 1847, and then moved to Craw- 
ford county, Wis., where the father con- 
tinued to live until 1854, in which year he 
returned to Lorain county, taking up his 
home in La Porte. He died in Avon town- 
ship in 1866. For his second wife Mr. 
Seelye married, in Avon township, Mary 
Cad well, who died in Elyria in 1888. By 
his lirst marriage he had fourteen children 
— seven sons and seven daughters — as fol- 
lows: Humphrey, married, residing in 
Wellington; Esther, wlio married John 
Cockrell, and died in Wayne county, Ohio; 
Joseph, deceased in Iowa; Thomas, who 
resides in Michigan; Phebe, deceased wife 
of Hart Smith, of New York; Elmira, 
who was the wife of William Plubbard, 
died at French Creek; Daniel, married, 
residing in Crawford county. Wis.; 
Phineas, also residing in Crawford county, 
Wis.; J. M., subject of this sketch; Flor- 
entine, who married Asa Frary, and died 
in Wayne county, Ohio; Ursula, wife of 
William Vandeveer, of Kalamazoo, Mich.; 
McKindre, who enlisted in the Civil war in 
Avon tovvnship, and died from the effects of 
disease contracted in the service; and two 
others whose names have not been given. 
By his second marriage there were no 
children. Politically Mr. Seelye was first 
a AVhig, later a liepublican. 

J. M. Seelye, the subject proper of this 
sketch, I'eceived his education in part at 
the schools of Avon township, Lorain 
county, and in pai't at those (jf Wayne 
county, Ohio, whither he had removed at 
the age of twelve years. After a four 
years' residence there he returned to Lo- 
rain county, and in Ridgeville township 
worked by tlie month for Randall Stetson 
for about eight years, at the end of which 
time he moved to Crawford coutity. Wis., 



sojourning there one winter, and then 
coming back to his old home in Ridgeville 
township. Again he worked for Mr. Stet- 
son, getting out lumber, until May, 1860, 
when he went to California, and was there 
engaged in the dairy business till 1864, in 
whicli year he once more found himself in 
Ridgeville township. In 1866 he made a 
trip to Michigan, where in Van Buren 
county he bought 120 acres of land, and 
farmed three years; then in the city of 
Lawrence, same county, he conducted a 
butchering business eight years. Next we 
find our Protean friend in the lumber 
business, buying and selling until 1889, 
when he once more came to Ridgeville 
township to finally remain. 

In 1866 J. M. Seelye was united in 
marriage with Miss Jane M. Stetson, born 
in Ridgeville township. Lorain county, a 
daughter of Randall and Adeline Stetson, 
and by this union there was one son, Ran- 
dall, who died in Michigan at the age of 
six years. In politics our subject is a 
straight Denjocrat, and is a member of the 
school board. 



ng farmers of Rochester town- 
her best known 



H[ ENRY A. BARNES. One of the 
lead 
ship, and one of 

and most honored citizens, the sub- 
ject of this sketch enjoys the dis- 
tinction of being second to none in these 
respects. 

Mr. Barnes is a native of Massachusetts, 
born in Worcester county April 23, 1827, 
a son of Moses Barnes, whose nativity was 
Becket, Berkshire Co., Mass. When the 
latter was nine or ten years old his father 
died, leaving ten children, some of whom 
were bound out as apprentices, while 
Moses and other.s of the younger members 
of the family were kept at home. In his 
boyhood he suffered from a severe attack 
of fever, which resulted in his being left 
a cripple for life. When a young man, 



s,**-^ 




~r5^ CL ,/oca.^i^nL^ 



LOHAm COUXTY, OHIO. 



1027 



after leaving school, lie learned the trade 
of cloth dresser. In 1833 Mo^es, with his 
wife and children, set out for Lorain coun- 
ty, Ohio, making direct for Rochester 
township, he and his brother Sumner hav- 
ing traded land in Massachusetts for 200 
acres in that township, receiving also two 
hundred dollars as " boot money." The 
journey was made via canal and lake, and 
they landed at the mouth of the Black 
river in Lorain county, where they hired 
an ox-teani to convey them to Huntington 
township, and here the party remained at 
the home of Jesse Johnson, an acquaint- 
ance, during the illness and death of Silas, 
a son of Moses Barnes (Silas was the first 
to be buried in Huntington cemetery). 
They then settled on their own property in 
' Rochester township, where they had hasti- 
ly built a log cabin, which at first had 
neither door nor chimney, but was soon 
afterward much improved, both in-pppear- 
ance and comfort. The land was all cov- 
ered with timber, chiefly beech and maple, 
and wild animals were numerous. For 
their milling they had to go to Hayesville, 
Ashland county, the trip occupying two 
days. 

When a young man Moses Barnes had 
married, in Worcester, Mass., Miss Eliza 
Stone, a native of the same county, and 
who worked in a cotton factory, and in 
that State were born to them children as 
follows: Henry A. (subject of sketch), 
Milo, Silas (ali-eady referred to), and Orin, 
who died in Toledo, Ohio. Milo had 
rather an adventurous life. At the time 
of the breaking out of the Civil war he 
was living in Arkansas, where he was ar- 
rested hy the Confederates as a spy, and 
was confined to prison three months and 
five days, at the end of which time he was 
released on condition of his enlisting in 
tile Southern army, which he did, serving 
one year as a teamster. But securing a 

5)as8 one day, he escaped to Fort Scott, 
i!ans., where he found the Third Wiscon- 
sin Cavalry, for whom he acted as guide, 
but was shot at by some Confederates and 

S3 . 



wounded; after convalescence he enlisted 
in the Twelfth O. V. I. His regiment 
was sent to Johnson's Island at the time 
of the " Canada scare," and he was on duty 
eight hours that cold New Year's night of 
1863, which brought on a violent cold that 
settled on his lungs, causing his death, 
which occurred on the Island. 

In Rochester township there were born 
seven children to Mo.ses Barnes, namely: 
Rachel, who married Charles Day, and 
died in New London, Ohio; William, de- 
ceased at the age of twenty-one years'; 
Alvira, deceased when young; John, who 
died during the Civil war at Nashville, 
Tenn., of smallpox, while a member of the 
Tiiird Ohio Cavalry; Johan, deceased when 
five years old; Lecta, deceased in infancy, 
and Lewis, now living on the old home- 
stead, Rochester Station, Lorain county. 
The father died in September, 1888, in 
his eighty-seventh year, the mother in 
March, same year, at the age of seventy- 
eight years, and they are buried in Roch- 
ester cemetery. They were exemplary 
members of the M. E. Church, and of the 
first class formed in Rochester; politically 
Mr. Barnes was original!}' a Whig, after- 
ward a Republican. 

Henry A. Barnes, the subject proper of 
these lines, was six years old when the 
family came from Massachusetts to Lorain 
county, consequently his education was 
limited. Ho attended the first school 
taught in Rochester township by Martha 
Fay, she receiving one dollar a week, and 
boarding from house ta4iouse; the funds 
were raised by subscription. Her walk 
to the schoolhouse, never less than two 
miles, was through the woods, the direc- 
tion being found by marked trees. The 
old school-building was made of logs about 
sixteen feet square. Mr. Barnes' school- 
ing consisted of about three months a year 
until he was eitrhteen. At the age of six- 
teen he began working away from the pa- 
ternal roof, first on the farm of Dr. Seager, 
of ClarksfieM township, Huron county, 
later for Benjamin Perkins, of Rochester, 



1028 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Ohio, four years, and then working nearly 
a year at the building of the Cleveland 
& Columbus Railroad. After his marriage 
he settled on seventy acres of dense timber- 
covered land in Rochester township, for 
which he paid seven dollars per acre, and 
liere he built a rude log cabin, 12x16 
feet inside. This was the happiest era of 
his life, and from time to time he added 
to this purchase till he now owns 180 
acres of as rich farm land as can be found 
in this vicinity, for a part of this he paid 
fifty dollars per acre, and had placed on it 
all of the modern improvements. 

On January 23, 1848, Mr. Barnes was 
married to Miss Polly Day, who was born 
in New London township, Huron Co., 
Ohio, June 20, 1832, and died May 31, 
1892, in her sixtieth year. She was the 
youngest child of Dr. Samuel Day, who 
was one of the earliest pioneers of New 
London township. She was left an or- 
phan at the age of eleven years, after 
which she took care of herself, making her 
home mostly with her half-sister, Mrs. 
Hendrix, until she was married and set- 
tled on the farm in Rochester township, 
Lorain county. Here by their united ef- 
forts they built up the beautiful home and 
surroundings, and here she was residing 
at the time of her death. She was the 
mother of eight children, viz.: Samuel 
M., who is now a farmer in Michigan; 
Eliza (now Mrs. A. G. Fisher), Rosina 
(Mrs. John Dagnan), and Matilda (Mrs. 
Nelson Robinson), all living in Welling- 
ton, Lorain count}', Ohio; Henry W., a 
farmer on the homestead; Clarence, who 
died at the age of six years, and two de- 
ceased in infancy. Five of these yet re- 
main to comfort their father. 

Mrs. Barnes experienced religion thirty- 
seven years ago, and united with her hus- 
band in the M. E. Church at Rochester, 
Lorain Co., Ohio. Although in poor 
heHlth, and being prevented the greater 
part of the time from attending public 
worship, she ever lived a faithful and con- 
sistent Christian life. She was a loving 



and devoted wife and mother. Realizing 
that her end was near, she made needful 
preparations for her funeral, which was 
held at her late home June 2, 1892, and 
was attended by a large number of rela- 
tives and friends, after which she was in- 
terred in the cemetery at Rochester. 

In his political associations our subject 
is a Republican, and he served his township 
as trustee four years. He is a member of 
and steward in the M. E. Church, of the 
Sabbath-school of which he was superin- 
tendent some five years. On September 
10, 1893, Mr. Barnes was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Lina Braman (the daughter 
of Samuel and Belinda Braman), a resi- 
dent of Rochester and a member of the 
M. E. Church. 



TASSO DELOS PHELON, a resi- 
dent of Huntington township, is a 
native of same, born August 31, 
1843, a son of Delos and Louisa M. 
(Perkins) Phelon. 
Thefatherof oursubjectwasborn in 1812, 
in Hartford county. Conn., whence in 1833 
he came to Ohio, and built the first ware- 
house at the mouth of Black river, where 
is now the thriving town of Lorain (he had 
previously visited Cleveland with the in- 
tention of remaining, but returned to Con- 
necticut). At this place he carried on a 
forwarding and commission business from 
1833 to 1837, after which he had his resi- 
dence for a time in Sheffield township, Lo- 
rain county, and then moved to Hunting- 
ton township, where he kept a general 
merchandise store, and also farmed, dying 
October 4, 1888^ his wife had passed away 
June 19, same year, at the age of seventy- 
four years, seven months, ten days; she 
was born in Becket, Berkshire Co., 
Mass. Mr. Phelon in his political asso- 
ciations was originally an Old-line Whig, 
but in later years changed to a Democrat. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1029 



The}' were the parents of children as fol- 
lows: Daniel AV., who resides iu Kansas; 
Joseph Y., in Huntington; Deette, wife of 
L. Chapman, of Rochester; Mary, wife 
of G. W. Wilbur, of Hartland, Huron 
county, had one child, George J., who died 
when about twelve years old; and T. D. 
Grandfather Phelon was born in Suffield, 
Conn., and died in Lorain county, Ohio. 

T. D. Phelon, whose name opens this 
sketch, was educated at the common 
schools of Huntington, his summer months 
being occupied in learning the practical 
lessons of farm life. In December, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred 
and Twenty-eighth O. V. L, for three 
years or during the war, and served until 
the close of the conflict, when he was 
mustered out by order of the War Depart- 
ment, July 13, 1865. On his return home 
after the war he took up agricultural 
pursuits, and has since successfully con- 
tinued in same. In 1869 he married Miss 
Adelaide Noony, born in Hnntinjjton 
township, Lorain county, August 12, ISIB, 
and one child, Flora 1^., still under the 
parental roof, was born to them. Mr. 
Phelon is a Republican, and served his 
township as trustee two or three terms; he 
is in his tenth year as justice of the peace, 
and vvas school director some fifteen years. 
In 1888 he was elected county commis- 
sioner, an incumbency he is yet filling with 
ability and fidelity. Mr. Phelon owns a 
large tract of land, on which part of the 
village of Huntington now stands. He is 
regarded as one of Lorain county's strong- 
est and most popular citizens, and is a 
prosperous representative agriculturist. 



^RRIN T. BAKER, retired agricul- 
turist, and a leading prominent 
citizen of Lorain county, is a native 
of the State of N"ew York, born 
in 1818. 

His father, Elisha Baker, was born in 
Vermont July 25, 1782, and died in New 



York State vvhen his son Orrin T. was a 
child. He married Miss Ruth Davids, who 
was born November 11, 1787, and died at 
the age of eighty years. They were the 
parents of children as follows: Mary, born 
December 28, 1812, who was married to 
Lucas Adams, and resided in Michigan, 
where she died January 11, 1891; David, 
born January 10, 1814, who died in Illinois; 
Elisha, born September 18, 1815, who was 
a soldier in the Civil war, and died shortly 
afterward, in Illinois, from the effects of 
exposure; Hiram, born October 16, 1816, 
who lives in Chittenden county, Yt.-, Orrin 
T. (the subject of this sketch) and Alvin 
(twins), born in 1818; and George, born 
February 6, 1819, who lives in Michigan. 
The subject of this sketch was educated 
at the public schools of the locality of his 
place of birth, and at the age of fourteen 
was bound out to learn the trade of car- 
penter and joiner with A. L. Cook, serv- 
ing a seven years' apprenticeship in Hunt- 
ington township, Chittenden Co., Yt., 
whither he had removed, his residence be- 
ing in an adjoining township. In 1835 he 
came to Ohio with Mr. Cook, and located 
in Fitchville, Huron county, for two years, 
after which he returned to Huntington and 
resumed work with his former employer. 
In course of time he formed a partnership 
with Mr. Cook, and at the end of a year 
commenced journeyman work for himself. 
On October 11, 1844, he married Miss 
LydiaO. Perkins, a native of Becket, Berk- 
shire Co., Mass., born in 1824, a daughter 
of Col. Darius and Polly (Dewey) Perkins, 
the former of whom was born in Connec- 
ticut. He was a carpenter and joiner, and 
in 1833 came to Ohio, making a settle- 
ment in Huntington Center, Lorain county, 
where he cleared a farm out of the wild 
woods, game at that time being plentiful 
and wild animals numerous. Here Mr. 
Perkins died at the age of eighty-one 
years, his wife when seventy-two years 
old; they were members of the Congrega- 
tional Church, and in politics Mr. Perkins 
was a Whig. They were the parents of 



1030 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



seven children, to wit: Milton D., who 
married, and died in 1873, leaving a 
family; Marj L., who married * Delos 
Phelon, botii now deceased; Orrin M., who 
died young; Lydia O. and Abel Dewey 
(twins), of whom Abel died in 1892; 
Samuel John, who died in 1879; and Sarah 
J., wife of W. W. Wells. 

After marriage our subject and wife re- 
mained in Huntington township, Lorain 
county, till 1868, when they came to the 
town of Wellington, same county, and 
have lived in their present home twenty- 
two years. During his entire life Mr. 
Eaker has followed his trade of carpenter 
and joiner, and made sasli, doors and 
blinds in the winter season, also contract- 
ing for the building of houses, etc. When 
he first commenced business in Huntington 
township, there were some fifteen carpen- 
ters, but they all left, leaving him in un- 
disputed possession of the tielil, and as a 
result he put up more buildings in Hunt- 
ington than any other man. In that town- 
ship he owns 115 acres of land, besides 
the five acres on which his home stands in 
Wellington. Politically Mr. Baker is a 
Eepublican, his first Presidential vote 
being cast for William Henry Harrison, 
while in principle he has always been 
anti-slavery and a Prohibitionist. In mat- 
ters of religion he is a member of the 
M. E. Church, his wife -of the Congrega- 
tional Church. She is a charter member 
of the Daughters of Rebekah, and was 
first noble grand of Lilywood Lodge, of 
Wellington. Socially Mr. Baker is a mem- 
ber of Lorain Lodge ISTo. 281, I. O. O. F., 
and has passed all the Chairs of the Sub- 
ordinate Lodge. Two children have been 
born to this honored couple, namely: Ed- 
gar D., a sketch of whom follows, and 
Eosa Ophelia, born in April, 1S52, and 
married to M. N. Hill, of Kipton, Ohio 
(they have two children: Leo JST. and Ora). 

Edgar D. Baker was born in Huntington 
township, Lorain county, September 6, 
1845, and in his boyhood winters attended 
the common schools of the neighborhood. 



On December 10, 1863, he enlisted in 
Company 1, One Hundred and Twenty- 
eigiitli O. V. L, and during the greater 
part of his term of service did duty on 
JohuBon's Island as a private orderly; he 
was discharged in July, 1865, and returned 
home. In 1867 he married Miss Ella 
Moore, a native of Massachusetts, and 
three children have been born to them, 
viz.: Maude (born August 31, 1870, mar- 
ried to Arthur D. Eglin, of Wellington, 
Ohio), Lelia Belle and Ray 0. Mr. E. D. 
Baker is now farming on the homestead 

TT • 

in Huntington township. He is a straight 
Repni)lican, and a member of the G. A. R., 
in which he has filled various ottices. He 
is agent for the P. A. W. Railroad, and 
po.'tmaster at Baker's Crossino-. 



JAMES WYATT, who for a quarter 
of a century has been one of the suc- 
cessful farmers of Amherst township, 
is an Englishman by birth, born in 
Devonshire in 1825, a son of James and 
Hannah (Rich) Wyatt, also of Devonshire, 
where they were married, and where the 
latter died in 1854. 

In 1854, after the death of his wife, the 
bereaved father came to the United States 
with his children, making a settlement in 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he died 
the same year. He was the father of chil- 
dren as follows: Francis, married, and liv- 
ing in Minnesota; James, subject of sketch; 
John, married, a resident and pioneer of 
Dodge county. Minn.; Mary, wife of 
Samuel Kingston, living in Decatur coun- 
ty, Iowa; Harriet, wife of Edward Dow, 
of Corry, Penn.; Nancy, widow of Charles 
Hines, of Evansville, Wis. ; Anna, married 
and living in Dodge county, Minn.; and 
Samuel S., married, and a resident of Clay 
county, Iowa. 

James Wyatt, whose name opens this 
sketch, was educated in the schools of his 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1031 



native, county in England, and in 1854 
came with his father to America, and to 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he en- 
gaged in farming till 1807; he then came 
westward to Huron county, Ohio, whence 
in 1869 he moved to Lorain county, wiiere 
he has since followed agricultural pursuits. 
In 1855 our subject was married in 
Chautauqua county, N. Y., to Mrs. Phinna 
N. (Culver") Arnold, widow of Chauncey 
Arnold, and a native of New York. Two 
sons were horn to this union, viz.: George 
C, married, and residing in Butler county, 
Iowa (he has three children), and Frank 
D., married, and living on a farm. Tiie 
mother of these passed away July 9, 1892. 
and on November fi, 1893, Mr. Wyatt 
married Mrs. Ann E. Wilber. Mr. Wyatt 
in National elections votes the Kepublican 
ticket. He is a member of the M. E. 
Church. 




OYAL HARRIS, a prosperous and 
substantial agriculturist of Brown- 
helm township, is a native of same, 
born on his present farm, April 4, 
1849. 

Thomas Harris, father of our subject, 
was born in 1797 in Vermont, whence 
when eifihteen years old he came to Erie 
county (then a part of Huron county), 
Ohio, with his parents. His father, Nathan 
Harris, after a residence of some years in 
Ohio, removed to Indiana, wiiere lie died. 
Thomas Harris came to Lorain county in 
1847, making a settlement in the woods, 
where he cleared a farm. He was married 
to Sarah Call, a native of Essex county, 
N. Y., and they had a family of thirteen 
children, of whom the following is a brief 
record: Betsy married Ambrose Willard, 
and died in Kansas in 1890; Harriet mar- 
ried Henry Barber, of Marshall county, 
Iowa; Sarah was the wife of Richard Dim- 
mick, and died in March, 1883; Susan 
married Obed Noble, of Clay county, 
Kans. ; Clara is the wife of L. Brown, of 



Browniielm township, Lorain county; Al- 
ma is tile wife of Daniel Ilunicker, of 
California; Adelaide is married to David 
Neal, of Dallas county, Iowa; Angeline is 
the wife of James Bacon, of Marshall 
county, Iowa; Fannie died at the age of 
tjiree years; Cyrus died when one year 
old; Esse.x resides in Brownhelm townsliip, 
Lorain county; Charles died wiien aged 
thirteen years; Royal is the subject proper 
of this memoir. 

Royal Harris received his education in 
the public schools of iiis native township, 
and was reared to farming, which has 
been his life vocation. In 1877 he was 
married to Ella Tappenden, a native of the 
State of New York, daughter of Stepiien 
and Eliza (Moody) Tappenden, the former 
of whom was born in the eastern part of 
Kent. England, the latter in Monto-omery 
county, N. Y. The father, who was a 
cabinet maker by trade, at the age of four- 
teen years immigrated to New York, 
whence in 1872 he removed to Cleveland, 
Ohio, and in 1873 to Brownhelm town- 
ship, Lorain county, where he died in 1892 
at the age of seyenty-seven years; his wife 
had preceded him to the grave in 1889. 
Mrs. Royal Harris was their third child. 
To our subject and wife was born one 
child, Jessie. Mrs. Ella Harris died in 
1878, and in 1882 Mr. Harris married 
Alice Tappenden, sister to his first wife, 
and second child of her parents. By this 
union there are two children — Earl and 
Nellie. In politics our subject is a Demo- 
crat, and he is a member of Ely Lodge, 
No. 424, F. & A. M. 



NL. COTTON, widely known as a 
prosperous fruit grower and gar- 
dener, having his residence in North 
Amherst, was born in Sheffield 
township, Lorain county, in 1829, 
a son of George Washington and Rachel 
(Smith) Cotton. 



/^ 



1032 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



The fatlier of our subject was born in 
Warren, New Hampshire, in 1798. At 
the age of sixteen he started from his na- 
tive place on foot for Truxton,N.Y., whence 
he paid his way to Ohio by driving and 
caring for cattle. After his arrival he did 
farm labor for Jabez L. Burrell. In Shef- 
field township he married Rachel Smith, 
who was born in Berkshire county, Mass., 
and in 1832 they moved to Elyria town- 
sliip, same county, and opened up a fine 
farm. He died there in 1865; his wife 
was called from earth in September, 1850; 
in politics he was a strong Whig. They 
were the parents of five children, as fol- 
lows: Jerome G., born in Sheffield town- 
ship, Lorain county; died in Elyria town- 
ship, in 1852, was one of tlie first 
shorthand reporteis, and at one time owned 
the paper in Elyria. now edited by William 
A. Braman {he was employed as a reporter 
in Washington, D. C, about three years, 
for the New York Tribune and Cleveland 
//e/'«^c?); Charles W., also born in Shef- 
field township (he enlisted in the Civil war, 
in Company E, First Ohio Battery, three 
years' service); Martha R. (widow of 
Francis A. Younglove), residing in Vir- 
ginia; N. L., subject of sketch; and George 
J., born in Elyria township, enlisted in 
Company F, One Hundred and Third 
O. V. I., now residing in Lansing, Mich. 

Grandfather Benjamin Noys Cotton, a 
native of New Hampshire, was a Kevo- 
Intionary soldier, serving eight years; was 
with Gen. Warren at the battle of Bunker 
Hill, and was present through the winter 
at Yalley Forge; served to the close of the 
war, and was present at Washington's 
farewell address. He represented his 
District in the New Hampshire Legisla- 
ture four times, and was known as "old 
'76." He came to Lorain county in 1836, 
making his home in Elyria township, and 
both he and his wife died in Wayne county, 
Ohio, at the age of eighty-nine years. 

N. L. Cotton was educated at the public 
schools of Elyria township, Lorain county, 
and at the academy in the town of Elyria, 



after which he taught school for a time in 
Avon township, same county. Moving to 
Kendall county. 111., he was there engaged 
in farming about two years. On August 
6, 1862, Mr. Cotton enlisted in Sheflield 
township, Lorain county, in Company F, 
One Hundred and Third O. V. I., for 
three years or during the war, and was 
mustered into the service at Camp Mitch- 
ell, Ky., September 7, 1862. He par- 
ticipated in the battles of Blue Springs 
(Tenn."), Armstrong Hill, Resaca, Peach 
Tree Creek, Norse Creek, Atlanta, right 
of Atlanta, and Spring Hill. After the 
Atlanta campaign his regiment was made 
head-quarters guard for the Twenty- third 
Corps, their colonel being provost-marshal 
general of the Department under General 
Scofield, whose corps moved from Flor- 
ence, Tenn., to Cincinnati ; thence to Wash- 
ington, D. C; thence by steamer to Fort 
Fisher; thence through Wilmington and 
Goldsboro to Raleigh, N. C, where it was 
mustered out. Our subject was discharged 
June 23, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio, and 
returned home to Lorain county, and to 
the pursuits of peace. For some years he 
farmed in Sheffield township, and in 
March, 1882, he moved to Amherst, where 
he embarked in his present business. 

On November 27, 1851, Mr. Cotton 
was united in marriage, in Sheffield town- 
ship, Lorain county, with Miss Caroline 
M. Hecock, a native of Herkimer county, 
N.Y., and daughter of George W.and Sarah 
(Davis) Hecock, of New York State, who 
settled in Sheffield township in 1834. The 
father served in the war of 1812 as a 
drummer boy; he died in 1876, his wife 
in 1875. Grandfather Silas Hecock, a na- 
tive of Connecticut, and a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, died in New York; 
Grandfather Davis also served in that 
struggle. To Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Cotton 
were born children as follows: Clara M., 
wife (if Thomas C. Foote, of Amherst 
township, Lorain county; Elmer F., mar- 
ried and livingin Sheffield township; Cora 
B., wife of William E. Hart, of Lincoln, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1033 



Neb.; Nellie B. and Lillie D. (twins), the 
former of whom is the wife of Stilltnan 
Cotton, and resides in Cleveland, Ohio 
(Lillie D. died at the age of nineteen years) ; 
Martha R., married to Charles Straw, of 
Elyria, Ohio; Ina S., a teacher, and Minnie, 
attending school at Granville, Ohio (she 
bad been teaching for a time in Lorain 
connty). In his political sympathies Mr. 
Cotton is a Republican; for ten years he 
served as trustee of Sheffield township, and 
for several years as j ustice of the peace. He 
is a member of Rice Post No. 148, G. A. R., 
of wliich he has been commander and chap- 
lain. In church relationship he and his 
wife are Baptists. 

Joshua Smith, maternal grandfatlier of 
Mr. Cotton, came to Lorain county in 1812, 
and was the first white man to die in Shef- 
field township, the year of his death being 
1813. His daucrhter, the mother of Mr. 
Cotton, was the first white woman to come 
into the township of Sheffield. 



ffjf E. PARKER, M. D., the pioneer of 
fsH the medical profession at Lorain, 
I 1 since it became a town of any prom- 
■fj inence, was born November 20, 

1851, at Berea, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 
son of Dr. Henry and Elizabeth (Sher- 
wood) Parker. 

The father was born in Brunswick, Ohio, 
where he was reared, and received his medi- 
cal edncation at a college in Cincinnati, 
where he graduated. He at once settled in 
Berea, Ohio, and there commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession, in wliich to some ex- 
tent he still continues. Politically he is a 
Republican, and was a member of the con- 
vention which nominated John C. Fre- 
mont for President. Grandfather Parker, 
who was an early pioneer of Cuyahoga 
connty, was descended from emigrants of 
the same name who came from England 
during the seventeenth century, settling in 
Massachusetts. 



Dr. H. E. Parker was reared in Berea, 
Ohio, at the public schools of which place, 
and at Baldwin University, he received his 
early education. He attended his first 
course of lectures in 1876, in the Medical 
Department of Hudson School, Cleveland, 
and then, in 1877, began a course at the 
Bennett Medical College, Chicaijo, whence 
he graduated with the class of 1878. He 
commenced practice at Berea, in partner- 
ship with his father, and continued in same 
for three years, or until June 7, 1881, 
when he located iu Lorain, South End, 
where he has siuce resided. The Doctor 
is practically the pioneer of the South End, 
having erected the first house in that sec- 
tion, before the streets were even opened, 
and all the improvements have been made 
since his settlement. On March 5, 1878, 
he was married, in Medina county, to Miss 
Cora I. McConnell, a native of that county, 
where her parents (both of whom are now 
deceased) were early settlers. To this 
union has been born one child. Lulu V. 
Socially our subject is a member of Wood- 
land Lodge No. 226 K. of P., in which he 
is past chancellor. In his political predi- 
lections he is a Republican, and has seryed 
as a member of the school board. 



f[ T[ W. SEMPLE, proprietor of fash- 
l» ionable tonsorial parlors in the town 
I 1 of Wellington, is a native Virgin- 
J) ian, born in Fredericksburg, May 

10, 1857, a son of James and Rosa 
(Atkins) Semple. His father, by profes- 
sion a French chef de cuisine, is yet living; 
his mother died at the age of forty-six 
years. They were the parents of seven 
children, named respectively: John, Delila, 
Daniel, Maria, James, H. W. and Lucinda. 
In 1858, while yet an infant, our sub- 
ject was taken to Washington, D. C, and 
here he was reared and educated, graduat- 
ing in 1877; he also learned and worked 



1034 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



at his trade in tliat city. In 1879 lie en- 
tered the U. S. Coast Survey, and liis first 
experience in tliat branch of the public 
service was in New York with Prof. Agas- 
siz, of the Zoological Comparative Mu- 
seum, at Cambridge, N. Y. Hethen went 
to South America, Hayti, Jamaica, and 
other West India islands, also New Or- 
leans and many other seaports and water- 
ing places, serving over two years, at the 
end of which time he was offered a posi- 
tion in the State Department in Washing- 
ton, but arrived there a day too late, where- 
by lie not only did not get the new position 
hut lost the old one. In consequence of 
this he returned home, coming by way of 
Detroit, where he had relatives, and on his 
arrival in Wellington he i-esnmed his trade, 
working for eight years for one man, after 
which, August 26, 1889, he opened out liis 
present place of business, and has met 
with unprecedented success, having already 
four chairs in his establishment. While a 
resident of Washington he shaved many 
prominent men. In 1884 Mr. Semnle 
married Miss Laura A. Shepherd. A Re- 
publican in politics, he takes an active 
interest in the workings of his party ; in 
matters of religion he and his wife are 
Baptists. 



E' H. HASTINGS, who is one of the 
most successful native-born agri- 
I culturists of LaGrauge township, 

was born June 20, 1827, son of 
Curtis H. Hastings. 

The father was born December 1, 1796, 
in Jefferson county, N. Y., eldest of ten 
children born to Thomas Hastings, who 
first saw the light April 3, 1776. Curtis 
H. Hastings learned the carpenter's trade, 
and was married in his native county to 
Miss Pattie Graves, who was born October 
23, 1800. While residents of New York 
State they had children as follows: Ashley, 
who died when eighteen or nineteen years 



old; Wesley, of Penfield township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, and Diana S., now Mrs. Lyman 
C. Crane, of Chatham, Ohio. In June, 
1826, he came to LaGrange township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio., into which he drove the 
tirst horse-team. He had visited Lorain 
county before settling, walking the entire 
distance from New York, and later traded 
fifty acres of land in that State for a farm 
in LaGrange township, whereon he located. 
But little of this land had been cleared, and 
his cabin was the third in tiie township, 
but on this farm he passed the remainder 
of his life, dying at the age of eighty-two 
years. After coming to Ohio Mr. and 
Mrs. Hastings had children as follows: E. 
G. and E. H. (twins), who were the first 
white male children born in LaGrange 
township: a daughter that died in infancy 
unnamed; Samuel, afarmer of LaGrange; 
another daughter that died in infancy un- 
named; and J. Edson, a farmer of La- 
Grange. The mother of these died at the 
age of forty years, and Mr. Hastings then 
married Miss Asenath Amy, by whom he 
had one son, Frank, who married and died 
leaving four children. 

E. H. Hastings was born one-fourth of 
a mile from his present farm, and during 
liis youth attended the common schools of 
the vicinity a few weeks each year. He 
was reared to agricultural life on the home 
farm, and wlien eighteen years old, being 
of a roving disposition, he left home and 
hired out at ten dollars a month to John- 
ston Rawson, by whom he was employed 
for five seasons. Then, being anxious to 
return to school, lie went home, but after 
attending for only a few days found he had 
not time, as he was busy threshing; thus 
he continued to work, and, saving his 
money, was able by hard work to pay for 
some land. Having caught the " gold 
fever," he started, on December 29, 1851, 
for California, going from LaGrange, 
Ohio, by rail to New York, where he took 
passage on a boat going around Cape Horn, 
with two companions, William Rockwood 
and L. L. West, who went as far as Riode 




■■^.. 



?. ^ 




^^;#1^/^6Z^^ 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



1037 



Janeiro, Brazil, where they took passage 
on another vessel, while the "Racehonnd" 
lay in that port twelve days for repairs. 
After a voyage of six months and three 
days onr subject landed at San Francisco, 
where he was taken sick, and found him- 
self, after paying a week's board in ad- 
vance, nearly out of fiiu<ls. He entered 
the State Marine Hospital until he re- 
covered, and, while in California, he had 
some rather hard experiences, being with- 
out money among strangers. Later, 
through the etlbrts of a fanner, he secured 
Avork as an overseer, and remained away 
from home five years, also working in the 
lumber business (on Government land), 
in which lie made money. On the way 
home he crossed the Istlimus uf Panama 
at Aspinwall, and after remaining in his na- 
tive place for two weeks he returned west 
in company with three others, going to Mis- 
souri. Here they purchased five thousand 
head of sheep, which were driven across 
the plains to California, and during the 
trip they occupied fifteen days in crossing 
one river, the South Platte. The entire 
journey, which took six months, was very 
satisfactory, being comparatively free from 
loss, and after reaching their destination 
Mr. Hastings kept the sheep one year. Re- 
turning to Lorain connty, Ohio, he passed 
the winter in Pentield township, where he 
had fifty acres of land. 

Tliere lie was married, September 15, 
1859, to Rosanna Dalton, who was born in 
New York, daugliter of Benjamin Dalton, 
and the young couple began married life 
in a log house, on a farm in Penfield town- 
ship. In the spring of 18(50 they located 
in LaGrange township, since which time 
he has been engaged in farming and stock 
raising. He now owns 226 acres of land 
in LaGrange township, a house and three 
lots in Wellington township, and one and 
three-fourths acres in the corporation of 
Wellington. Mr. Hastings is a successful 
business man and slirewd financier. He 
voted for Abraham Lincoln, but otherwise 
he is always a Democrat in National af- 



fairs. On April 12, 1891, Mrs. Hastings 
passed from earth, and was buried in the 
East cemetery in LaGrange township; she 
was a member of the M. E. Church. 



EORGE W. NOBLE, a resident of 

, Elyria, was born August 10, 1821, 

in the town of Warren, Herkimer 

-11 Co., N. Y., a son of Hervey and 

Phoebe (Wilkinson) Noble. He is 

descended from one of three brothers who 

in a very early day came from England to 

the New World, settling in Massachusetts. 

Hervey Noble, also anativeof Herkimer 
county, 5f. Y., born April 1, 1795, moved 
from there in 1819 to Wilna, Jefferson 
Co., same State, and there resided till June, 
1827, when he came to Ohio, settling about 
one and one-half miles north of LaGrange, 
in LaGrange township, and there followed 
farming. He died June 16, 1871. On 
December 15, 1815, he married Miss 
Phffibe Wilkinson, who died in LaGrange, 
Lorain county, April 23, 1870. They had 
a family of eight children, our subject be- 
ing second. 

George W. Noble received a limited 
education at the district schools of La- 
Grange township, and remained on the 
home farm till he was twenty-one years of 
age, at which time he commenced house 
building, and many other kinds of mechani- 
cal work; for eight years he was engaged 
in a carriage works in LaGrange; then, for 
five years, was in a store. After that he 
bought a foundry and machine shop at 
Liverpool, Ohio, conducting same nine- 
teen years, doing all kinds of foundry 
work, including the complete making of 
engines. He has made carriages, wagons, 
plows, and wood-sawing machines, with 
great success, a large number of them being 
sold. In this he continued until December 
6, 1881, when he had to abandon work on 
account of his failing eyesight, and con- 



1038 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



sequently sold out. He then moved to 
Berea, Ohio, where he resided eiglit years, 
thence proceeding to Cleveland and there 
remaining till October, 1891, when he 
came to Elyria, Lorain county. 

In 1845 Mr. Noble married Miss Jane 
E. Garritt, who was born in Saratoga coun- 
ty, N. Y., January 15, 1829, and three 
daughters were born to them, as follows: 
Amanda Helen, now the widow of Erotus 
M. Dixon, has her residence at 130 Herald 
St., Cleveland, Ohio (she has no children); 
Melissa Ellen, the wife of William Edgar 
Parmelee, of Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, has 
two daughters and one son; Charlotte 
Phoebe, now the wife of Dr. Rufus V. Gam- 
ble, of New London, Ohio, has one daugh- 
ter, Grace. Politically our subject has al- 
ways been a Republican, but says that he 
" is now utterly disgusted with all parties." 
He believes in "equal rights of man and. 
woman "; Liberty for all. He belongs to 
no Church, Creed, or Lodge, " To do 
good''^ being his only religion: Hoping, 
doubting, and trying to investigate the 
great mysteries of this and a future 
existence. 



EiDWIN HALL, a well-known and 
widely- respected retired citizen of 
, Elyria, now in his seventy-ninth 

year, was born in the old town of 
Meriden, Conn., in April, 1815, and when 
seven years old was brought by his father 
to Ohio. 

Avery and Lucy (Bacon) Hall, parents 
of Edwin Hall, were of New England de- 
scent, and the more remote ancestors of 
the father came from England, while those 
of the mother (who was from Connecticut), 
claimed the land of Scott and Burns as the 
place of their nativity. Avery Hall was 
born in Meriden, Conn., in 1776, whence 
he removed with his wife (whom he had 
married in Meriden) to Berkshire Hills, 
Mass., and from there to New Connecti- 
cut, "Western Reserve" (now Ohio). 



where he died at the age of eighty-tive 
years. He had been an industrious and 
well-to-do farmer all his life. He was a 
member of and for a long time chorister 
in the Congregational Church, of which 
denomination at Meriden his great-grand- 
father had been a preacher. Politically he 
was an Old -school Democrat, and his tirst 
vote was cast for Andrew Jackson. At 
the time of the burning of New London, 
Coim., by the British during the war of 
1812, he was living at Meriden, and with 
others went to see the conflagration. 

Tiie subject proper of this sketch re- 
ceived his education at the primitive 
schools of Lorain county, whither, as 
already related, he had come when a lad. 
The country was wild and uncleared of the 
timber and underbrush, and Mr. Hall re- 
members of iiaving been chased by wolves 
on two different occasions, but he came to 
learn the habits of these animals and so 
knew how to elude them. He remained 
a few years on the farm with his father in 
what is now the southern extremity of Lo- 
rain county, and then, having a desire to 
revisit the scenes of his early boyhood, re- 
turned to Connecticut; but his health 
failing after a short time, by the advice of 
his physician he set out on a sea voyage on 
a merchantman, for China. This trip 
lasted one and one-half years, and in 1837 
he returned to Lorain county, again, how- 
ever, after a short sojourn, to pay a visit 
to his native place in Connecticut. In 
1838 he once more returned to Lorain 
county, where he has since made his home. 
In 1840 he entered mercantile business, in 
which he remained a number of years. 

In 1840 Mr. Hall was married to Miss 
Mary Beebe, daughter of A. Beebe, who 
was one of the original settlers of Elyria, 
who built the " Beebe House," whicii had 
a good reputation among the traveling 
men. Mr. Hall was the successful pro- 
prietor of this house for more than twelve 
years, and was known as a temperance 
man in principle and practice, never using 
or selling liquor himself, or renting any of 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1039 



his buildings for tlie sale of it. Two chil- 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Plall, viz. : 
Mary Beebe, who died at the age of twenty- 
live years; and Helen F., who married 
Rush R. Sloane, and has two children, 
Helen and Mary. Politically Mr. Hall is 
a stanch Republican. He and his wife 
live on the spot in which they began life 
together in 1840, enjoying life amid the 
scenes of early days. 



JAMES S. BALDWIN, one of the 
leading fanners of Pittsfield town- 
' ship, was born August 5, 1839, in Corn- 
wall, Litchfield Co., Conn. He is the 
fifth son and seventh child in a family of 
nine children born to William and Julia 
(TrafFord) Baldwin, as follows: William H., 
a lumber dealer of Lee, Mass. ; Mary E., de- 
ceased at the age of twenty; Noah, died in 
infancy; Lecta, who married Joseph W. 
Gaines, of Cleveland (both are now de- 
ceased); Horace F., a retired citizen of 
New Haven, Conn.; Russell P., of Pen- 
field, Ohio; James S., who will receive 
mention farther on; Edward D., a grain 
dealer of Detroit City, Minn.; and Frank 
C, a mechanic of New Haven, Connecticut. 
James S. Baldwin received his education 
in the commoTi schools, and was reared to 
the duties of agricultnral life. He re- 
mained at home until twenty-one years 
old, and then resided for some time with 
John Adams, of Salisbury, Conn., working 
a farm on shares. On December 31, 1863, 
he was married to Delphene L. Gray, who 
was born in Cornwall, Conn., daughter of 
Augustus B. Gray, a farmer, and after 
marriage the young couple spent two years 
in their native State, one year on a farm, 
the other in Falls Village. In the spring 
of 1866 they migrated to Ohio, and rented 
a farm in the western part of Pittsfield 
township, where they resided two years. 
They next took up their residence in 



Wellington township, where they remained 
three years, and in 1872 bought eighty 
acres in Pittsfield townshiji, from Horatio 
Gates, to which 'they removed; Mr. Bald- 
win has since added to this farm, which 
now comprises 205 acres of excellent land. 
He has erected several farm buildings, and 
his residence is one of the pleasantest in 
the township. In politics our subject is a 
Republican, though not strictly partisan, 
and has served as justice of the peace and 
in various other local positions of trust. 
He and his wife are leading members of 
the Congregational Church, and he also 
takes great personal interest in the Sunday- 
school. Mr. Baldwin is one of the most 
successful business men of his township; 
he deals extensively in poultry, shipping 
mostly to New Haven. Conn., and is one 
of the leading men in Lorain county in this 
line. He also deals in stock and produce, 
which he ships to larger markets; he has 
reared some fine-bred Chester White hogs 
and registered cattle, and his stock of all 
kinds is e.xcellent. His father being a 
poor man, Mr. Baldwin started in life with 
a capital of thirty-seven cents, and his suc- 
cess has been due to his energetic, pro- 
gressive and industrious habits, his enter- 
prise being well known throughout the 
county. He is fond of reading, and keeps 
himself well abreast of the times. 



^J 



NICHOLAS DIEDERICH, one of 
the leading representative agricul- 
turists of Shefiield township, is a 
native of same, born in 1849. 
His father, John Diederich, was 
born November 28, 1805, in Germany, and 
was there married October 29, 18*32, to 
Gertrude Sauerence, also a native of the 
Fatherland, born June 22, 1814. In 1843 
the family sailed from Antwerp to New 
York, whence they proceeded to Cleve- 
land, Ohio, reaching the city August 4. 



1040 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



In November of the same year the father 
bought and settled on the farm in Sheffield 
township, now occupied by his son Nicho- 
las. Nine children — fofir sons and five 
daughters — were born to John and Ger- 
trude Diederich, as follows: Matthias, 
born November 15, 1833, now a ship car- 
penter in Cleveland; Catherine, in Shef- 
field; Peter, in Cleveland; Margaret, who 
died in December, 1874, in Tennessee; 
Nicholas; Gertrude, in Milan, Ohio; Anna 
C, wife of Anton Born, of Avon town- 
ship, Lorain county; Frank, at North 
Kidgeville; and Mary C, living in Cuya- 
hoga county, Ohio. The parents are yet 
living. 

Nicholas Diederich, the subject proper 
of these lines, received a fair common- 
school education, and was trained to the 
pursuits of the farm. He now owns a tine 
property of seventy-six acres highly cul- 
tivated land, and does an extensive general 
farming business. 

In 1878 Mr. Diederich was married to 
Miss Anna Burkhart, who died November 
7, 1880, and in 1885 our subject wedded 
Catherine Schneider, to which union six 
children were born, as follows: Theresa, 
October 2, 1885; Juliet, January 11, 1887, 
died March 17, same year; Lidwina, July 
3, 1888; Zitta, October 20, 1889; Amanda, 
November 6, 1891, and Leonardo, March 
23, 1893. In politics Mr. Diederich is a 
Democrat, and has served as township 
trustee since 1881, having been recently 
reelected for another term; for several 
years he has been a member of the school 
board. 



T[ F. HASEEODT, a popular and 
k. I pi-ogressive citizen of Elyria, where 
\Ji he carries on a prosperous harness 
business, was born in Medina county, 
Ohio, July 8, 1836, a son of H. C. and 
Margaret (Berdz) Haserodt, natives of 
Prussia. 

The parents of our subject came to 
America in 1834, and made a permanent 



settlement in Medina county, Ohio, where 
the father carried on harness making and 
farming; he was born in 1799, and died 
in 1887, aged eighty-eight years and four 
months; the mother was born in- 1807, 
and passed away in 1891. Nine children 
were born to them, of- whom our subject 
is the fourth in order of birth. Mr. Hase- 
rodt received his education at the common 
schools, which was supplemented with 
considerable private study and close obser- 
vation of men and things. He learned 
his trade in Cleveland, Ohio, being ap- 
prenticed to it at the age of about seven- 
teen years. In 1857 he proceeded to Mem- 
phis, Tenn., and there remained until the 
breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, 
when he came north to Pittsburgh, Penn., 
and after a sojourn there of some eigiit 
months returned to Cleveland, Ijecoming 
foreman of a harness shop in that city. 
His business was such that he could not 
join the Union army, but he furnished a 
substitute. In 1867 he went on his father's 
farm in Medina county, and there remained 
thirteen years, in 1880 moving thence to 
Elyria, where he opened out his present 
business. He makes a specialty of light 
harness, and his trade is not confined to 
Lorain county, for he ships full harness 
sets to Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, 
and other cities. Mr. Haserodt is recog- 
nized as one of the most expert harness 
makers in the country, and commands a 
wide custom. 

In 1862 he was married, in Cleveland, 
to Miss Johanna M. Meyer, and eleven 
children have blessed their union, viz.: 
Lillie, George, Henry, Edmund, William, 
Otto, Oscar, Paul, Violet, Manuel and 
Elmer. Mr. Haserodt is a stanch Repub- 
lican, and in 1889 he was elected a mem- 
ber of the city council from the Fourth 
Ward, to which position he has since been 
twice reelected, his third term expiring 
in 1895. In church connection he is an 
Evangelical Lutheran, and has occupied 
the position of elder in St. John's Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church for six years, at 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1041 



present serving his third term. On Mr. 
Haserodt's settlement in Elyria, lie bought 
a lot on which Ins father built a house. 
He then removed his aged parents to the 
house, adjoining his own. Hud to the day 
of their death he cared for them with true 
filial devotion. 



L 



A. BARNES, M. D., a practicing 
physician and surgeon of Lorain, is 
a native of Columbus, Ohio, born in 
1853, a son of Dr. L. and Julia 
(Moulton) Barnes, the father a native of 
Connecticut, the mother of Vermont. 

When a boy Dr. L. Barnes came from 
his native State to Licking county, Ohio, 
where he was reared, and where he mar- 
ried. He has been a practicing physician 
for over forty years, and he and his wife 
now reside in Lorain, Ohio, whither they 
had come in 1888. Grandfather Mai lory 
Barnes, a native of Connecticut, became an 
early pioneer of Licking county, Ohio, of 
which he was in his day a prominent citi- 
zen, closely identified with its best inter- 
ests. He and his wife both died there. 
The parents of subject reared a fanuly of 
nine children, seven of whom are yet liv- 
ing. One son, Leroy, enlisted in Delaware 
county, Ohio, in 1861, in Company C, 
Fourth O. V. I., and served four years in 
the army of the West; he is now a prac- 
ticing physician in Laramie, Wyoming. 

The subject proper of this sketch re- 
ceived his elementary education at the 
common schools of Delaware county, Ohio, 
after which he attended the college at 
Delaware. On completing his course there, 
he enteied Columbus (Ohio) Medical Col- 
lege in 1878, and afterward further con- 
tinued the study of medicine in Cleveland 
Medical Institute, where he graduated with 
the class of 1880. The Doctor then prac- 
ticed his chosen profession, iii connection 
w|th his father, in Delaware, two years, 



and continued in same, alone, at Mechanics- 
burg, Champaign county, same State, 
until 1882, in which year he came to Lo- 
rain county, locating in Kipton, whence, 
in 1888, he removed to Lorain, where he 
now resides. He has now been some thir- 
teen continuous years in the profession, and 
is in the enjoyment of a large and lucra- 
tive practice. 

In 1882, in Champaign county, Ohio, 
Dr. L. A. Barnes was united in marriage 
with Miss Emma Davis, of that county, 
daughter of Martin Van Buren and Eliza- 
beth (Miller) Davis, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and Maine, respectively, and early 
pioneers of Champaign county, where the 
father died in 1891; the mother now re- 
sides in Mechanicsburg. To Dr. and Mrs. 
Barnes have been born three daughters: 
Clara, Ida and Lucille. Our subject is a 
member of the Knights of the Maccabees, 
Tent No. 1, Lorain, and is examining 
physician for theOrder; is also a member 
of Woodland Lodge No. 226, Lorain, 
Knights of Pythias. 



El C. FOSTER. The gentleman here 
named is one of the most widely 
I known, well-to-do citizens of North 

Amherst. He is a native of the 
township, born September 1, 1827, a son 
of Elisha Foster, Jr., and Anna Maria 
(Mason) Foster. 

The father of our subject was born Oc- 
tober 15, 1795, in Vermont, whence when 
a young man he moved to Herkimer 
county, N. Y. Here he resided until 1815, 
when he came west to Ohio, locating in 
Avon township, Lorain county, havino- 
purchased fortj'^ acres of land, which he 
cleared and cultivated; but in about a 
couple of years (in 1817) he came to Am- 
herst township, where he passed the rest 
of his days, dying January 23, 184:2, the 
owner of 309 acres of excellent farm land. 



1042 



LORAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



In his political preferences he was a Demo- 
crat. His widow is j'et living on the home 
farm with her daughter, Mary M., and is 
one of the oldest inhabitants of Amherst 
township. They had live children — three 
sons and two daughters — viz. : Leonard, 
who died at the age of ten years; E. C, 
subject of this sketch; Parks, a resident of 
Elyria; Mary M., wife of Ezra Straw, liv- 
ing on the old homestead; and Martha, 
wife of S. Porter, of St. Louis, Michigan. 
Elisha Foster, Sr., grandfather of sub- 
ject, was a native of IJoston, Mass. He 
came from Herkimer county, N. Y., to 
Lorain county, in 1815, with his wife, three 
sons and one daughter. He died in 1833 
aged sixty -eight years, his wife having pre- 
ceded him to the grave in September, 1828. 
E. C Foster, the subject proper of this 
sketch, received a libei-al education at the 
common schools of the vicinity of his place 
of birth, and was reared to farming pur- 
suits, which he followed until 1867. In 
that year, he and his bother. Parks, bought 
out a stone quarry which they successfully 
operated some time, and then sold out. 
On June 10, 1847, Mr. Foster married 
Miss Mary M. Aiken, who was born in 
Brooklyn township, Cuyhoga Co., Ohio, 
August 25, 1831. Four children were born 
to this union, namely: (1) Orlando E., now 
on a farm in Amherst township, was born 
March 23, 1848, married Sophia Lesley, 
and has two children: Edwin E. and Cora 
U., of whom Edwin E. was educated in the 
common schools and at Elyria High 
School, and is now teaching school; (2)N. 
Franklin was born June 23, 1849. married 
Lillian A. Wolcott March 17, 1872, and 
lives on the old homestead; (3) Ella U., 
born May 22, 1851, was married to Will- 
iam Hutton, foreman in a stone quarry, 
and they have two sons: Willie and "Frank; 
(4) Mrs. F. M. Barber, of Amherst, whose 
husband is a traveling man, has one son, 
Joseph E. Barber, now in Elyria High 
School. 

Mr. Foster has been eminently success- 
ful in all his business enterprises, of which 



there were some in Chattanooga, Tenn., also 
real-estate interests. He is a stockholder 
in the Lorain Steamship Company, etc. 
Politically he has been a Republican since 
the birth of that party, and he is an hon- 
ored citizen, respected for his integrity 
and moral worth, and for the valuable as- 
sistance he has rendered in developing the 
resources of his native county. 



L. SEARS, prominent and influen- 
tial among the prosperous agricul- 
turists of Elyria township, is a native 
of Massachusetts, born in Lenox, 
Berkshire county, April 8, 1825. 

The family, of which our subject is a 
worthy member, come of English ances- 
try, two brothers, Paul and Silas Sears, 
having emigrated from England to Amer- 
ica about the year 1600, and from Paul our 
subject is descended. Zachariah Sears, 
father of L. L., also a native of Massachu- 
setts, was a farmer by occupation. He 
married Miss Almira Butler, also of the 
Bay State, and they both died there. Nine 
children were born to them, of whom three 
are yet living, viz.: James, who resides in 
Pittstield, Mass.; Polly, who was married 
to George Whittaker, and resides in Marl- 
borough, Mass.; and L. L., subject of this 
memoir. 

L. L. Sears, of whom this sketch more 
particularly relates, was educated in his 
native S'ate, and was trained to the duties 
of the farm. He has been twice married: 
first time in 1848 to Miss Sarah Schotield, 
by whom he has one son, George L., a flo- 
rist and manufacturer of potteiy in Elyria. 
Mr. Sears' second wife was Miss Charlotte 
Schofleld, whom he wedded in 1858, and 
by this union there is one child, Lillian, a 
young lady of bright natural ability, and 
well educated; she is a popular school 
teacher, having taught first in Carlisle 
township, Lorain county, then in the high 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1043 



school at Mentor, same State, and is now 
superintendent of the public schools in 
Mentor. Siie graduated in Oberlin, Ohio, 
class of 1890. 

In 1861 Mr. Sears came to Ohio, first 
locating in Medina county, then in 1867 
settling in Lorain county on a farm within 
the corporate limits of Elyria, which he 
subsequently sold, purchasing his present 
fine property. A Republican in politics, 
he is one of tlie active and influential adher- 
ents of the party, is a member of the school 
board, and has served as township trustee. 
He and his wife are members of the Con- 
gregational Church at Elyria. 



dlOSEPH GANNETT, Wellington. 
This gentleman is descended from 
^ ' Benjamin Gannett, one of three 
— stalwart brothers who in an early day 
came from England to America, he settling 
in Suffolk county, Mass., the other two iji 
Virginia, but of whom nothing is known 
than that they both died bachelors, intes- 
tate, and their property went to the State. 
Jacob Gannett, grandfather of subject, 
M'as born in Suffolk county, Mass.; he was 
a millwright by trMde, went to New York 
State, and died there at tlie advanced age 
of eighty four years. Joseph, his son, 
was born in Massachusetts July 3, 177(3, 
and died March 10, 1847, in Spencer, 
Medina Co., Ohio. "When a child his 
parents moved to New York State, where 
lie was reared on a farm in Ontario county, 
near Palmyra, receiving but a limited sub- 
scription-school education. He was mar- 
ried there to a Miss Craft, by which union 
there were three children: Ellit, who mar- 
ried Mr. A. Hill, and resided in Lock- 
port, N. Y., and Genesee county, N. Y., 
finally moving to Spencer, Medina Co., 
Ohio, where she died; Ruth, who married 
R. Smith, and they lived near Spencer, 
Medina county, afterward in Wisconsin, 



where she died; and Olive, the deceased 
wife of S. Smith, lived in Wellington vil- 
lage. The mother of these died, and the 
father then married Miss Martha Stone, 
by whom there were four children, as fol- 
lows: Joseph, the subject proper of this 
sketch; Hannah, who was married to Mr. 
Nooney, and died of pneumonia in No- 
vember, 1893; Alvin, who died at the age 
of si.xty-eight years, resided in Spencer, 
Medina county (he left a family), and Mary 
Jane (who never married), killed in a run- 
away when she was thirty-four years of 
age. When the family came to Ohio, the 
journey was made in a wagon, the dis- 
tance being over 300 miles, and occupying 
about three weeks. They arrived in the 
month of November, and at once located 
in Spencer township, Medina county, the 
father having taken up one thousand acres 
of land there bv trading his New Y'ork 
farm for same. Here the parents of our 
subject passed the rest of their days, the 
mother dying in 1869 aged eighty-four 
years, having been born in 1785; the 
father was a Close Communion Baptist, 
and in his political sympathies a Whig and 
Republican. He was a very strong man, 
of fine physique, standing six feet in his 
stockings. 

Joseph Gannett, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Ontario county, N. Y^., 
near Palmyra, February 6, 1819. At the 
age of sixteen he came with the rest of the 
family toSpencer township, Medina county, 
and after leaving school, which in those 
early days was of a very primitive nature, 
he took up the private study of sciences, 
including philosophy, astronomy, etc. In 
Medina county he carried on mixed farm- 
ing, includino; dairying, and owned 160 
acres of good land. In 1871 he moved 
from there to Wellington township, Lorain 
county, and bought his present farm of 228 
acres, all in one body, located in the corner 
of the corporation of the village of Welling- 
ton. In 1841 Mr. Gannett was married to 
Miss Orra Warner, sister to S. S. Warner, 
ex-treasurer of Ohio, and they had one 



1044 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



child, Channcey Warner, who married, and 
li;id four children: Orra E., Jo, Elmer K. 
and Channcey W.; be died Jnne 5, 1890, 
aged thirty-nine years. This wife was 
called from earth in September, 1850, at 
the early age of twenty-six years, and in 
1851 Mr. Gannett wedded her sister. Miss 
Emma 0. Warner, by which union there 
were two ciiildren; Cora E. and Mary Eliza, 
the youngest of whom died at the age of 
nineteen months. Politically our subject 
was a straight Whig and Republican till 
the last State election, when he voted the 
Prohibition ticket; he cast his first vote for 
W. H. Harrison, and supported Birney and 
Hall. In matters of religion he is liberal, 
with leanings toward the Unitarian faith. 
[Since the above was written we have been 
informed of the death of Mr. Joseph Gan- 
nett. He died November 2, 1893, of 
pneumonia, after three days' illness; hiseis- 
ter, Hannah, died of the same disease two 
weeks later. — Editor. 



BPtECKENEIDGE. Norman Breck- 
, enridge, a native of Vermont, when 
' a young man came to New York 

State, and in Orange county mar- 
ried Triphena Rosencrans, who was born 
in that State. 

In Oswego county Norman Brecken- 
ridge carried on farming, and here three 
children were born to him, as follows: 
Alonzo L., living in Kipton; Norman, who 
was a member of the Twenty-third O. V. I., 
and was killed in the war of the Rebellion : 
and Mary, now Mrs. Arnold, of Oberlin, 
Ohio. In 1834 the family came to Ohio 
by way of the Erie Canal and Lake Erie, 
first locating in Wakeman township. Huron 
county, and then in the spring of 1835 re- 
moving to Camden township, Lorain 
county, settling east of the center, where 
the father bought sixty-six acres of wild 
land at two dollars and fifty cents per acre, 



which by steady industry he was not long 
in converting into a fine farm. Here he 
passed the rest of his days, dying in 1860. 
Mrs. Breckenridge, after the death of her 
husband, removed to Oberlin, Ohio, where 
she remained until her death in 1876, and 
they now repose side by side in Camden 
cemetery. The children born to them in 
Ohio are as follows: Daniel W., B, F., 
J. A., Henry C. and Frances (Mrs. R. H. 
Lamphier), all in Michigan (except B. F.), 
where the first named is a merchant. Po- 
litically the father was a stanch Whig and 
Republican, and served with fidelity and 
ability in various offices of trust in his 
township. He was a devout and liberal 
member of the Disciple Church (which 
was removed from the center of Camden 
township to Kipton), and was a highly 
esteemed citizen. 

Alonzo L. Breckenridge (eldest son of 
Norman Breckenridge), well known in 
the commercial circles of northern Ohio, 
more especially in Lorain county, where 
his business foe the most part has been 
conducted, is a native of New York State, 
born in Oswego county October 20, 1831. 

Ill 1834, then a three-year-old boy, he 
was brought to Ohio by his father, the 
family locating in Wakeman township. 
Huron county, and then in the spring of 
1835 removing to Camden township, Lo- 
rain county, where the father bought sixty- 
six acres of wild land at two dollars and 
fifty cents per acre, which with the assist- 
ance of his family he ere long converted 
into a fertile farm. Here young Alonzo 
attended, a few months in the winter time, 
the primitive subscription schools of those 
early days, his first teacher being a Miss 
Parker, while his summer months were 
devoted to working on his father's farms. 
At tiie age of eighteen he hired out to 
farm work at nine dollars per month. 
After his marriage he located in Henrietta 
township on a farm of seventy-eight acres, 
which he bought at twenty-eigiit dollars 
per acre, going into debt one thousand five 
hundred dollars, and here lived ten years, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1045 



at the end of which time he came to Kip- 
ton and commenced the business of fur 
buying, conducting at tlie same time a 
firocery store for SDme years. Tiie firm of 
Brecken ridge Bros., general storekeepers, 
was then formed, and ccmtinued twelve 
years, our subject then embarking in the 
elevator business, and buying grain, etc., 
in which lie has since continued; has also 
a half interest in an elevator in Elyria. Of 
late years he has been somewhat retired 
from active work, but superintends his 
business affairs. Forty years ago lie re- 
ceived a kick on the leg from a horse, and 
the hurt has ever since troubled him, 
keeping him at times from attending to 
business. 

On June 15, 1857, Mr. BreckenridCTc 
was united in marriage with Aravilla Bo- 
hall, who was born in Lewis county, N. Y., 
in 1828, a daughter of John Bohall, and 
to this union there is one child, Nina, now 
Mrs. Williard Granger, of Kipton. Po- 
litically our subject is a Republican, his 
first vote being cast for John P. Hale, and 
he has held various offices, such as town- 
ship treasurer over eighteen years. 

B. F. Bkeckenbidge (fourth son of Nor- 
man Breckenridge), one of Lorain county's 
leading merchants, carrying on a prosper- 
ous business in the town of Kipton and 
elsewhere, was born in Camden, Ohio, 
November 11, 1840. 

For a time he attended the comtnon 
schools and Oberlin College, which pre- 
pared him for teaching, a profession he 
followed some time. \\\ 1863 he bought 
a fai'm in Camden township, Lorain 
county, on which he went to live, leaving 
the paternal roof, and this he conducted 
until 1868, when he moved into the town 
of Kipton, and purchased the general store 
of Thomas La Nell, which he at once took 
charge of, and under his direction and 
management the business has increased to 
mammoth proportions. He has erected 
several good business blocks in the town, 
and his own store occupies a substantial 
and commodious room. In addition to this 

B4 



extensive concern Mr. Breckenridge is in- 
terested in several other stores in Kipton, 
and is owner of one in Lorain. 

On June 4, 1864, our subject was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary Arnold, born in Cam- 
den township in 1844, daughter of Oeorge 
and Mary Ann (Moore) Arnold. Mr. and 
Mrs. Breckenridge adopted the following 
children: Earl N., who died at the age of 
seven years, and Georgie M., a higiily edu- 
cated young lady. Politically Mr. Breck- 
enridge was a Republican till 1872, when 
he voted for Horace Greeley, since when 
he has been a straight Democrat. He in- 
variably declines oflice, as his various 
commercial interests demand and receive 
his undivided attention. 



TfOHN HAWKE, an extensive agri- 
w I culturist and landowner of Eaton 
\^) township, has been a resident of Lo- 
rain county since 1858. He was horn 
in 1833 in Cornwall, England, son of 
Richard and Grace (Hugglow) Hawke, both 
natives of England, where the father died; 
in 1858 the widowed mother came with her 
son John to Lorain county, Ohio, whence 
she subsequently moved to Jefferson coun- 
ty, Wisconsin. 

The subject proper of this sketch was 
reared to farm life, and was educated in the 
schools of his native country. In 1858 he 
was married, in England, to Miss Ann 
Sheer, who was also born in that country, 
daughter of John and Margery (Denis) 
Sheer, natives of Cornwall, who lived and 
died in their native land. In the year of 
their marriage the young couple came to 
the United States, locating first in Ridge- 
ville township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where 
they lived some years, and then coming to 
Eaton township, settling near North Eaton. 
Here Mr. Hawke purchased a cleared farm, 
where he has since been successfully en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits, and his place 



1046 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



now comprisee 200 acres of land in a good 
state of cultivation, upon which he has 
erected a good barn. Mrs. Ann Hawke 
died in 1878, and in 1890 he married, in 
Columbia township, Lorain county. Miss 
Clara Holbrook, who was born in Eaton 
township; her parents, Charles and Fhebe 
(Hathaway) Holbrook, were natives of 
Massachusetts, who in an early day came 
to Lorain county, where the father died 
August 1, 1893; the widowed mother now 
makes her home on the old farm. To the 
union of John and Clara Hawke have come 
two children : One who died in infancy, and 
Esther. Mr. Hawke has also reared an 
adopted child, Ernest James, now of Cleve- 
land. In politics our subject is a Kepub- 
lican, and takes an active interest in the 
welfare of his party; Mrs. Hawke is a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church. 



EORGE LYON, a prominent and 
progressive farmer of Elyria town- 
ship, was born in 1836, in Huron 
county, Ohio, a son of John and 
Elizabeth (Tluirston) Lyon. 
John Lyon, father of subject, was born 
and reared in Eockland county, N. Y., 
where he married Elizabeth Thurston. In 
an early day they moved westward to Buf- 
falo, whence they proceeded by lake to 
Cleveland, Ohio, and fi-om there by road 
to Huron county, where he followed farm- 
ing and carpentry. Aftei' a time they re- 
moved to Cleveland, where the mother 
died. She had children as follows: Jane 
(deceased in Cleveland), who was married 
to George W. Shepherd; Eleanor, who 
died in Michigan; Jacob, deceased in Cuya- 
hoga county, Ohio, about 1850; George, 
subject of sketch; and Elizabeth, who 
died in Cleveland. John Lyon married, 
for his second wife, Clarissa Huntington, 
and by her had two children: Melissa, who 
died in Brooklyn township, Cuyahoga Co., 



Ohio, and Charles, married, and residing 
in Elyria township, Lorain county. The 
father was called from eartli in 1880, in 
his eighty-ninth year. 

George Lyon, whose name introduces 
this biographical sketch, received his edu- 
cation in the common schools of his boy- 
hood period. In April, 1861, he enlisted 
for three months in an independent com- 
pany at Cleveland, which served chiefly in 
western Virginia. Lie participated in the 
engagements at Carrick's Ford and Laurel 
Hill, and in July, 1861, received his dis- 
charge in Columbus, Ohio. In 1864 he 
re-enlisted, this time in Capt. Babcock's 
Light Artillery, which was sent to San- 
duaky and to Johnson's Island, guarding 
prisoners; at Sandusky he was discharged 
in November, 186-1:, and returned to 
Cleveland. In 1860 he came to Elyria 
township, and settled on his present farm 
of fifty-five acres, where he has since been 
actively engaged in general agriculture, 
including the rearing of Hereford cattle. 

In 1866 Mr. Lyon was married, in Me- 
dina county, Ohio, to Miss Jennie E. 
Blanchard, to which union were born three 
children: Ulysses G., married, and living 
in Elyria, Ohio; Ida A., who died at the 
age of five years, and William K., at home. 
The mother of these died in 1882, and in 
1888 Mr. Lyon married Mrs. Mary Ann 
Fitzirerald, a native of Canada. Foliti- 
cally our subject is a Republican; socially 
he is a member of the G. A. R. and 
I. O. O. F., Elyria, and of the American 
Hereford Cattle Breeders Association. 



dl B. CHAPMAN, vessel owner and 
I hardware man, Lorain, is a native of 
^< that town, born in the year 1859, a 
son of James and Elizabeth (Burk) 
Chapman. 

He received a liberal education at the 
common schools of his place of birth, and 
at the age of nine years commenced sail- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OUIO. 



1047 



ing on the lakes as cook on his father's 
boat. After leaving the water, at the ago 
of fourteen, lie entered a hardware store in 
Lorain, in which he remained twelve con- 
secutive years, less one. For some tinae 
past he has been engaged in F. W. Edi- 
son's hardware store in Lorain, and is at 
present employed there. He has held in- 
terests in the following vessels: The"C. 
H. Burton," '• Itasca." " St. Lawrence," 
" Gen. Sigel," and the " Selkirk." 

Mr. Chapman was united in marriage 
with Miss Carrie R. Bemis, of Lorain, Ohio. 
In ])olitic8 he is a Kepublican, promi- 
nently identified with the party ever since 
casting his first vote, and he is a member 
of the city council. Socially he belongs 
to the K. O. T. M. 



// 



fJjARRISON A. CRAGIN, a pros- 
'5^1 perous farmer, an unpretentious 
1} citizen and an agreeable neighbor, 
is one of the best known and most 
popular men in LaGrange town- 
ship, of which he may be said to be a life 
resident. 

Mr. Cragin was born in May, 1835, in 
"Weston, Windsor Co., Vt., a son of Ben- 
jamin Cragin, a farmer, who married Miss 
Mahala Boyington. In the Green Moun- 
tain State they had children, as follows: 
Lorena, Benjamin N., Charles C, Adna A., 
Esther, Plorace B., and Harrison A.; in 
Oiiio was born Elizabeth, the youngest in 
the family. 

In September, 1835, tiie family set out 
from Vermont in a wagon for Buffalo, 
N. Y., whence they proceeded by Lake 
Erie to Cleveland, Ohio, and from there 
by road to Lorain county. Here, while 
stopping with an acquaintance to rest after 
their long journey, tliey became so im- 
pressed with the country that they decided 
to remain, and Mr. Cragin purchased a part 
of Lot No. 01, in Grafton township, con- 



taining 160 acres of woodland, at four 
dollars per acre; there was no house of any 
kind on the place, but it was not long be- 
fore a dwelling 22x32 feet, and one and 
one-half stories high, was erected, all the 
timber for it being cut by Mr. Cragin him- 
self. Here this piotieer toiled and pros- 
pered, assisting in the develo])ment of the 
country, and witnessing the onward march 
of civilization close on the heels of the 
retiring Red Indian and the yet more fierce 
panther, wolf and bear. He died July 31, 
1865, his wife in 1855, and they were buried 
in West Grafton cemetery. They were 
members of the Methodist Church, in which 
he was trustee, steward and class-leader, 
and in politics he was originally an Old- 
line Whig, afterward a Republican. He 
was a very robust man, and at sixty years 
of age could rake and bind all day after a 
cradler in the harvest held. 

Harrison A. Cragin, the subject proper 
of this sketch, was about five montlis old 
when the family came to Lorain county. 
He received such education as the subscrip- 
tion schools of those early times afforded, 
was reared to the onerous duties of farm 
life, and has passed his entire life on the 
old homestead. 

On September 6, 1855. he wedded," in 
Wood county, Ohio, Miss Fanny Richard- 
son, born in February, 1837, in Franklin 
county, Maine, a daughter of Asa and Jane 
(Staples) Ricnardson, wiio came to Ohio in 
1850, and later moved to Michigan, where 
the father died in 1878, and the mother 
is yet living. The record of the children 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Harrison A. Cragin 
is as follows: Flora, born March 24, 1856, 
now Mrs. Frank Foster, of LaGrange; Fred, 
born December 11, 1860, of Grafton town- 
ship; Earl, born July 7, 1863, a farmer of 
LaGrange township; and Ernest, born Oc- 
tober 24, 1874, who resides at home. Mr. 
Cragin is the owner of 160 acres prime 
land, where he carried on general farming 
until a few years ago, since when he has 
lived a comparatively retired life. He had 
bought the old home farm, satisfying the 



1048 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



claims of the other heirs, and has con- 
siderably remodeled and improved tjie 
dwelling and ontbnildings. He is a Re- 
publican, and cast his first vote for John C. 
Fremont, but is no politician, though he 
has never missed a vote since his first 
ballot. He and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Church, in which he has held 
various offices, for a considerable time 
serving as superintendent of the Sunday- 
school. 




State, 
1839. 
His 
(Cainl 



OBERT J. COWLEY, whose name 
on the Great Lakes, wherever they 
can be navigated, is the synonym 
of carefulness and superior seaman- 
ship, is a native of the Bnckeje 
born in Cleveland, I^Jovember 2, 



parents, Robert A. and Catherine 
Cowle3', were natives of the Isle of 
Man, the father born in the town of Peel, 
the mother in the village of Ballaugh. 
They immigrated to America about the 
year 1826, and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, 
where the father followed shipbuilding. 
He was the youngest of seven brothers, all 
of whom were sea-faring men; he died at 
the age of seventy years, the mother when 
sixty-seven years old. 

The subject proper of this biographical 
notice received a sound practical educa- 
tion at the public schools of Cleveland, 
and when old enough learned the trade of 
shipbuilder, which he followed afterward, 
for some time, during the winter months; 
sailing the lakes as a man before the mast 
in the summers of open seasons. In 1858 
he removed from Cleveland to Black Lake, 
near Graiid Haven, Mich., where he was 
engaged in fishing and Inmbering for 
three years. Late in the summer of the 
year preceding the breaking out of the 
Civil war, he went South, first to St. Louis, 
then to New Orleans, working at his trade 
in shipyards, and he was in the latter city 
at the breaking out of the Rebellion. As 



soon as possible in the spring of 1861 he 
returned North, and took up his residence 
in Black River (now Lorain). In the 
summer of 1864 he entered the navy in 
the service of the U. S. Government, and 
assisted in the blockade of the West Gulf 
under Commodore Farragut. While at- 
tempting the capture of Mobile, Ala., the 
gunboat on which our subject served was 
blown up by a torpedo, causing a loss of 
one half the crew in killed and wounded, 
Capt. Cowley himself having a narrow 
escape. After the close of the war he re- 
turned to Lorain, and in the summers 
sailed the lakes, in winter time working at 
his trade, iintil 1879, in which year he 
entered into an engagement with the 
Menominee Transportation Co., with 
whom he was employed winters until 
1885, superintending repairs on their ves- 
sels; during the summer seasons sailing 
one of their steamers. Since then he has 
been employed by Corrigan & Co.. and 
also by H. J. Webb & Co., both of Cleve- 
land, on their steamers as master. The 
first steamship he ever sailed on was the 
"David W. Rush," and many a fine pro- 
peller has he since commanded. 

In 1866 Capt. Cowley was married, in 
Lorain, to Miss Celia E. Lyons, who was 
born in Lorain, as were alfo her parents, 
Winfield Scott and Mary (Brooks) Lyons. 
Three children have been born to this 
union, viz.: Scott L., Rittie C. and Robert 
H. In politics the Captain is a Republi- 
can, and he is a member of the F. & A. M. 



L. FISHER, a prominent and enter- 
prising farmer and dairyman of Hun- 
tington township, was born June 11, 
1839, in Brighton township, Lorain 

Co., Ohio, a son of Danfoith and Lucinda 

(Wilcox) Fisher. 

The father of the subject of sketch was 

born in Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y., July 

9, 1807, and was married in Henderson, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1049 



Jefferson county, January 1, 1832, to Miss 
Lucinda Wilcox, born in tliat county April 
14, 1812. In New York State they had 
born to tliein two children, and then, in 
1836, they came by water to Ohio, settling 
in the southeast corner of Brighton town- 
ship, then a wilderness, and here were born 
to them nine children. In 1863 the par- 
ents removed to Michigan, and made their 
final home in Johnstown, Barry county, 
dying there, the mother May 12, 1888, the 
father April 16, 1889. Mrs. Fisher was a 
member of the Disciple Church ; Mr. Fisher 
was a strong Republican in his political 
preferences. Their family numbered in all 
eleven children, one of whom Phcfibe Alice 
died in infancy, the rest being as follows: 
Eliza, wife of Joseph Powers, residing in 
Michigan; H. Clinton, who was a resident 
of Michigan, now deceased; Edward B., a 
farmer of Huntington township, served one 
year in the Tenth Michigan Cavalry; O. L., 
subject of sketch; Alma, who was married 
to Hiram Wilson, and lived in Cleveland, 
and who is now a widow, residing in Cali- 
fornia; Newton D., late a resident of Cleve- 
land, where he was a lumber merchant, who 
served four years in the Second Ohio Cav- 
alry (he died November 17, 1893); George 
F., a carpenter, of Chicago; Oren D., who 
was educated at Oberlin College, at Olivet 
(Mich.) College, and later at Yale College, 
and is now a minister in the Congregational 
Church at Toledo, Ohio; Peter, a farmer 
in Michigan; and Wilbur, in the lumber 
business at Cleveland. 

0. L. Fisher, whose name opens this 
sketch, attended during the winter months 
the district schools of Wellington town- 
ship, Lorain county, and worked on his 
father's farm summers. In 1862, in 
Brighton township, he enlisted in Battery 
I, First Ohio Light Artillery, and was sent 
to Eastern Virginia. He participated in 
the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, 
Lookout "Valley, Rocky Face, Resaca, Kene- 
saw Mountain, bombardment of Fredericks- 
burg. Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta, Ga., 
in fact all the engagements bis battery took 



part in. On June 13, 1865, he was dis- 
charged, after having been in hospital five 
months, and returned to his liotne in 
Brighton township, Lorain county, whence 
after a month's stay he went to Michigan, 
whither his parents had gone, as above 
stated. At the end of si.x years he again 
came to Lorain county, and bought his 
present farm of 127 acres in Huntington 
township, where he successfully carries on 
general farming, including a lucrative 
dairying business. On December 27, 1865, 
Mr. Fisher married Miss Sarah A. Led- 
yard, a native of Huntington township, 
born July 11, 1846, and they have two 
children, viz.: Louis, at present residing at 
home, and Erva. 




j LLEN SANDERS. Among the 
l\ several prosperous and enterprising 
native-born agriculturists of Lorain 
county, none, probably, is deserving 
more prominent notice in this vol- 
ume than the gentleman whose name here 
appears. 

Mr. Sanders was born in LaGrange 
township in 1835, a son of Horace and 
Maranda (Clark) Sanders, natives of the 
State of New York, who came before mar- 
riage to Ohio. They were wedded in La- 
Grange township, Lorain county, and 
settled on a farm which he had purchased 
in 1826. Here they passed the rest of 
their pioneer lives, the father dying in 
1879 aged seventy-two years, the mother 
in 1883, also aged seventy-two. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Horace Sanders were born six chil- 
dren, as follows: W. B., Allen, Melinda 
(deceased), De Loss (deceased in LaGrange 
township), Eber (a farmer of LaGrange 
townshipj, and Clark (who died in New- 
burgh, Ohio). Grandfather Sanders was 
born in New York State, and Grandfather 
Nathan Clark was a pioneer of LaGrange 
township, subsequently moving to Eaton 
county, Mich., where he died. 



1050 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Allen Sanders, the subject proper of this 
sketch, received his education at the dis- 
trict schools of LaGrange township, and 
was practically reared to farm life. Up 
till 1883 he was engaged in farinino; in La- 
Grange and Pittstield townships, and then 
came to Elyria township, buying an im- 
proved farm known as the "Cochran 
farm." In 1858 he was married to Miss 
Amelia Tiiorpe, a native of Carlisle town- 
ship, Lorain county, and daughter of 
Maletus and Emily (Sfj^iiires) Thorpe, na- 
tives of Vermont, who came to l^orain 
county at an early day, and died here. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Sanders was born one child 
that died at the age of three months. In 
politics our sul>ject is a Democrat of in- 
fluence, active in the affairs of his party, 
and he is noted for his industry and fru- 
gality, and liberality toward schools, 
churches and all public enterprises. 



EiDWm H. BACON, than wiiom 
probal)ly no one in Lorain county 
I is better known, is a native of 

Brownhelm township, born Novem- 
ber 19, 1838, only son of John C. and 
Mary (Peck) Bacon. 

The father of subject was born in Mas- 
sachusetts, June 10, 1811, and died in 
Brownhelm township, Lorain county, 
whitlier he had come in the spring of 
1818, being brought by his parents. His 
father, George Bacon, bought land from 
the State of Connecticut, and carried on 
farming up to the time of his death, 
which occurred when he was eighty years 
old. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. 
His fathei', also named George (great- 
grandfather of E. H. Bacon), received a 
life pension for services rendered in the 
Revolutionary war, part of which was, 
being disguised as an Indian, the throwing 
of the tea overboard the English ships in 
Boston harbor. John C. Bacon was a 



well-known business man in Brownhelm 
township, and built up tjje place known as 
Bacon's Corners. He married Mary Peck, 
by whicli union there was but one child — 
Edwin H. John C. Bacon, in his political 
predilections, was a Republican, ever active 
in the interests of his party. 

Edwin H. Bacon received a liberal edu- 
cation in the schools of the vicinity of his 
place of birth. In September, 1861, he 
was united in marriage with Celia S. Haw- 
ley, who is also a native of Browniielin 
township, Lorain county, born February 
19, 1862. She is a daughter of J. K. and 
Margaret (Wells) Hawley, the former of 
whom was born February 19, 1807, in 
JefJ'erson. Ashtabula Co., Ohio, the latter 
on July 11, 1808, in Hartford, Conn. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have come eight chil- 
dren, as follows: Alice M., wife of John 
Shotton; Edith M.; Elizabeth F.; Edna 
C, wife of L. A. Busche; Bertha M., 
wife of W. E. Fisher; Minerva S., Grace 
A. and Edwin K. After marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Bacon made their home on a 
farm in Brownhelm township for three 
years, and then moved to Wood county, 
Ohio, where they resided a few years, re- 
turning to Brownhelm township, and re- 
suming farming there. After about fif- 
teen years they proceeded to Vermillion, 
Ohio, but at the end of four years returned 
to Lorain county and took charge of the 
" Farrell House " in the town of Lorain, 
for two and one-half years. In 1891 they 
moved into Elyria (where they yet reside), 
and for one year kept the old-established 
"Beebe House" in that town. Politically 
Mr. Bacon is a Republican. 



HflRAM PRENTICE, one of Cam- 
den township's most highly re- 
_[ spected citizens, is a native of the 
State of New York, born Septem- 
ber 15, 1824, in Lewis county, a 
son of William and Sallie (Bates) Prentice. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1051 



William Prentice, father of subject, was 
a miller by trade in New York State, con- 
diictiiig saw and grist mills. In 1835 he 
came to Ohio with liis wife and five chil- 
dren, the journey being made with wagons, 
and they brought with them such house- 
hold goods as were necessary for them by 
tlie way, the bulk of the effects being con- 
veyed by water to Huron, at that time a 
port on Lake Erie. Coming to Camden 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, the family 
located one half mile south of the present 
village of Kipton, where Mr. Prentice 
bought one hundred acres of uncleared 
latid for eight hundred dollars cash, and 
had sufficient nu)uey left to equip the farm 
with all necessary outhouses, etc., for there 
was nothing in the way of buildintrs on it 
save two small huts. He also conducted 
a gristmill. On May 1, 1836, less than 
one year after settling on his purchase, he 
passed from earth, and was buried on iiis 
rami, but his remains were afterward re- 
moved to Camden cemetery. His widow 
died in February, 188P), at an advanced 
age, and was laid to rest by his side. They 
were the parents of five children, all born 
in New \ork State, as follows: Diantha. 
widow of Obediah Bowen, of Elyria; 
Obadiah, late a physician of Norwalk; 
"William, of Rice county, Minn.; Hiram, 
subject of this memoir; and Harvey, of 
New York City. 

On Friday, December 29, 1893, died 
Dr. Obadiah Prentice, at his home in Nor- 
walk. He was born at Lowville, Lewis 
Co., N. Y., November 6, 1819. In 1835, 
with his parents, he moved to Camden 
township, Lorain county, where he lived 
for many years. In 1848 he was gradu- 
ated from the Cincinnati Medical College, 
and began to practice in Ashtabula, where 
he remained for six years; thence removed 
to Monroeville, where he lived until 1881, 
at which time he came to Norwalk, where 
he has since resided. In 1844 he married 
Miss Harriett D. Webster, of JeffersoTi, 
Ohio. His wife and two children — Dr. 
C. M. C. Prentice, of Chicago, and Mrs. 



L. D. Lindsley, of Norwalk — survive him. 
His life is too well known to need eulogy, 
for by his death the community has lost a 
helping friend in all kinds of trouble. 

" Life's work well done, 
Lite's race well run, 
Life's crown well won, 
Now comes rest." 

The remains were interred in Camden 
cemetery, where his fatiier and mother are 
sleeping, Camden being his old bijyhood 
home. 

Hiram Prentice, whose name opens this 
sketch, was reared a farmer boy, and re- 
ceived a liberal education at the public 
schools. A good deal of his boyhood time 
was spent in his father's mills, and being 
a briglit mechanic he was able to dress buhrs 
in the gi-istmill before he was twelve years 
old. Li 1835 he came to Ohio with the 
rest of the family, as above related, and 
was at once put to work at the plow, driv- 
injj and steering the oxen between the 
many stumps that remained in the ground. 
AYilil animals were still plentiful, and deer, 
turkeys and occasional bears were to be 
seen in the woods. He was at that time 
aged about twelve years, and when a little 
older he entered Oberlin College, where he 
made considerable progress in his studies. 
Having htted himself for teaching, he fol- 
lowed the profession in Camden town- 
ship, Lorain county, and also in Lyme 
township, Huron county. For seven 
years he studied medicine under the pre- 
ceptorship of his brother, in Ashtabula, 
Ohio, but circumstances compelled him to 
give it up and return to the home farm, 
which gradually fell into his possession, 
he buying out the interests of the other 
heirs, and he lias resided thereon ever 
since. 

On March 17, 1853, Mr. Prentice was 
married to Laura A. Webster, who was 
born October 3, 1831, in Kingsville, Ash- 
tabula Co., Ohio, a daughter of Smith and 
Margaret (P.lodgett) Webster. She is a 
well-educated lady, and for seven or eight 
terms taught school in Ashtabula county, 



1052 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



at which time it was she formed the ac- 
quaintance of Mr. Prentice. The chil- 
dren born to this union were Eugene S., 
agent for the Michigan Southern and Lake 
Shore Kailroad at Kipton; Minnie E., who 
died at the age of seventeen years, and 
Jennie E., at home. Politically Mr. Pren- 
tice was originally a Whig (his first Pre- 
sidential vote being cast for John P. Hale), 
then a Free-Soiler, later a Kepublican 
until 1884, when he united with the Pro- 
hibitionists. While under the Republican 
banner he served his township in several 
offices. He and hie wife are leading mem- 
bers and liberal supporters of the Christian 
Church at Kipton, in which he is an elder. 



llOHN WOLF. One of the represen- 
k. I tative thorough business men and 
\Jj shrewd financiers of Lorain county, 
and not the least of Rochester town- 
ship's systematic and progressive farmer 
citizens, is the gentleman whose name here 
appears. 

Mr. Wolf was born July 27, 1832, iu 
Knox township, Columbiana Co., Ohio, a 
grandson of Adam Wolf, who in 1805 
came from Virginia to Ohio, and died in 
Indiana. William Wolf, father of John, 
WHS a native of Virginia, born in Londonn 
county, and came with his parents to Ohio, 
where in Columbiana county he married 
Miss Catherine Fetterhoff, who was born in 
the Keystone State, a daughter of Jacob 
Fetterhoff. In 1848 the family removed to 
Troy township, Ashland Co., same State, 
thence after a time to Steuben county, Ind., 
where, near Pleasant Lake, William died 
in 1888; he lies buried in Mt. Zion Church 
cemetery in that county. His widow, now 
well advanced in life, resides in DeKalb 
county, Ind., with her eldest daughter, 
Susanna Smith. Of their large family of 
seventeen children, fifteen married, and 



fourteen are yet living in various parts of 
the United States, the sons for the most 
part being farmers. 

John Wolf, of whom this sketch chiefly 
relates, received his education in the pub- 
lic schools of his day, which in some re- 
spects, he avers, are superior to those of 
the present time. He was practically 
trained to farming under the tuition of his 
father, and at the same time learned car- 
pentry, although not apprenticed to the 
trade. From the age of sixteen he was 
reared in Tro^' townsiiip, Ashland Co., 
Ohio, and remained under the paternal 
roof till he was twenty-two, at which time 
he commenced working out as a farm hand. 
In August, 1862, he enlisted in Troy town- 
ship, Ashland county, in Company K, One 
Hundred and Second O. V. I., which went 
into camp in Mansfield, Ohio, and was then 
detailed to do guard and scout duty in 
Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. At 
the close of the war he was honorably dis- 
charged, and returned home, arriving in 
July, 1865. Not prepared to at once set- 
tle down to the pursuits of peace, he mar- 
ried, in the fall of the same year, Miss 
Eliza A. Sponsler, born in Columbiana 
county, Ohio, November 24, 1839, a daugh- 
ter of Andrew Sponsler, at that time a 
farmer of Sullivan township, Ashland Co., 
Ohio. The children born to this union are 
as fallows: Cliarlie, a farmer of Rochester 
township; Piiosbe E., deceased in infancy; 
Carrie, Mrs. Winter Close, of Orange 
township, Ashland county; John F., a 
farmer of Rochester township, and Min- 
ner, Mrs. Emmer Hileman. 

In Troy township. Ashland county, Mr. 
Wolf bought, out of liis savings at the time 
he was working by the month at thirteen 
dollars per month, a farm which he after- 
ward resold. Later, out of his savings 
from ills pay while in the army, he pur- 
chased ninety-seven acres near his father's 
place. In the following year, after making 
a home on bis last purchase, he bought of 
Cephas Clark a farm of 153 acres in 
Rochester township, Lorain county, whereon 



^:% 



'^f*" 






LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1055 



be now lives, and to this he has since 
added until he now has 190 acres of as fine 
agricultural land as can be seen in his sec- 
tion. This has all been accnmulated, not 
by speculation, but by assiduous, honest 
toil, hacked by sound judgment and care- 
ful economy, in which he has been loyally 
and valuably assisted by his amiable and 
thrifty wife. They are worthy leading 
members of the Congregational Church, in 
which be is trustee. Politically he is a 
Democrat, and in Rochester township, 
though largely Republican, he has filled 
the office of trustee for a number of terms 
with acknowledged ability. 



FW. MARTIN, for about sixteen 
months a member of the firm of 
__ Martin & Smith, of Elyria, Ohio, 
and still of Martin Brothers, Chi- 
cago, 111., and now doing business as F. W. 
Martin, at Elyria, is a native of Rhenish 
Bavaria, born May 4, 1861, about four 
miles from Landau. 

In that city he was reared and educated 
np to the age of fifteen years, at which time 
he emigrated to America. Having no 
knowledge of English, he proceeded to Illi- 
nois in order to attend the Noi-thwestern 
College at Naperville in that State. At 
the end of one term he left that institution, 
expecting to spend the vacation in Chicago 
and then return to school; but instead he 
came to Elyria, where he had a brother liv- 
ing, a clergyman of the German Evangelical 
Church. After attending school six weeks 
here, in order to liecome better acquainted 
with the English language, he entered the 
employ of D. C. Baldwin & Co., with 
whom he remained fifteen months, and then 
found employment in the dry-goods estab- 
lishment of Goldberg Brothers, Elyria. 
With them he also remained some fifteen 
months, after which he accepted a position 
with Strauss »fe Knpfer, till September, 



1885, when he commenced business on his 
own account, in carpets, wall paper, curtains, 
oil-cloth, etc. He had purchased the stock of 
Strauss & Knpfer, and commenced business 
under the firm name of F. W. Martin & 
Co., his father-in-law, W. F. Hurlbut, being 
associated with him. At the latter's death 
Mr. Martin changed the firm to F. W. 
Martin, which so continued from Decem- 
ber 18, 1880, to October 1, 1892, when 
he formed a partnership with H. H. Smith, 
and opened out an establishment on Cheap- 
side, in Elyria, at which place he was in 
business until January 12, 1894. He sold 
his interest in this firm, and opened np in 
the same line at No. 27 Broad street as 
F. W. Martin. Mr. Martin, early in 1888, 
opened a branch business in Lorain, but in 
May his health tailed, so that he could not 
properly atlend to it, and he consequently 
sold this branch out the following July. 
In September, 1891, he commenced busi- 
ness in Chicago, 111., at No. 503-5 West 
Madison street, the firm name being Mar- 
tin Brothers (he having received his broth- 
er into partnership), their line of trade 
being furniture and household goods on 
the installment plan. On May 1, 1892, 
he opened another branch in that city, at 
No. 307 Ogden avenue, for the sale of 
wall paper, paints, oils, etc., which latter 
he discontinued after one year's trial. 

On January 13, 1885, our subject was 
united in marriage with Alice G. Hurlbut. 
He is a Republican in politics, and is a 
member of the Knights of Pythias, Blue 
Lodge. Mr. Martin continues to reside in 
Elyria, as his Chicago house is in a flour- 
ishing condition, and does not require his 
personal attention. 



El C. BURGE. This well-known resi- 
dent of Brighton township is a 
J native of Ohio, born in Orange 
township, Richland (now Ashland) 
county, September 11, 1830, a son of John 
Y. and Mary (Lowry) Burge. 



1056 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



The father of our subject was born in 
Loudoun county, Va., a son of William 
Burge, who came to Pennsylvania in early 
days, residing for some years in Greene 
county. In the early part of this century 
he moved to Ohio, finally settling in Rich- 
land county, where he died. He had a 
family of seven children, of whom the 
following is a brief record: John Y. is 
the father of our subject; Henry, who 
was a blacksmith by trade, remained in 
Pennsylvania, where he died; Mary mar- 
ried Andrew Newman, and died near 
Jeromesville, Ohio; Benjamin M. died in 
New Haven township, Huron Co., Ohio 
(he was accidentally killed in the following 
manner: He and others were logging, 
and had several logs rolled together. They 
were pntting a single log on the top of the 
pile, and Benjamin Bui-ge had one end of 
it lield up with a handspike, one end of 
this lever being under the log, the other 
resting on his shoulder. "When the rest 
of the men were lifting iip the far end of 
the log, Burge's foot slipped and he fell, 
the handspike, being suddenly released 
from his shoulder, striking him on the 
neck with great force, dislocating it and 
producing death); Ruth married LTsher 
Goldsmith, and died near Mansfield, Ohio; 
Sarah married Christopher Lamberton, a 
lawyer of Mansfield, Ohio; William L., 
who was well educated, died in St. Louis, 
Missouri. 

John Y. Burge was reared on a farm, 
and learned the trade of cooper under his 
father. He was married in Pennsylvania 
to Mary Lowry, who was born in Loudoun 
county, Ya., a member of one of the lead- 
ing families of that State. After marriage 
they remained in the Keystone State some 
time, and then came with his family to 
Ohio, locating on a farm in Stark county, 
where Mr. Burge stopped temporarily, and 
engaged with a farmer to work his place 
for a period of three years; then moved to 
Richland county, whither his parents had 
preceded him, and in the township of 
Orange he and his wife passed the re- 



mainder of their lives. They had a family 
of fourteen children, as follows: Lemuel 
G., who died in Orange township after 
reaching adult age; William W., who died 
in infancy, in Stark county, Ohio; Samuel 
W., who died of typhoid fever in Orange 
township; Benjamin M., of Greenwich, 
Pluron Co., Ohio; John, a farmer of 
Brighton township; Elizabeth, who died 
at the age of twenty-iive years; Sarah, who 
married John Goldsmith, and now lives in 
Richland county, Ohio; Ruth, who died 
unmarried; Mary, who died in youth; 
E. C, subject of this sketch; Rachel, un- 
married, residing in Ashland county. Ohio; 
Ezra L., of Oberlin, Ohio; Ellzey K., who 
died in Lawrence county, Penn.; and one 
that died in infancy unnamed. Mr. Burge 
followed his trade, coopering, with much 
success in the various places where he 
lived, and succeeded in accumulating a 
pleasant home, comprising 153 acres of 
prime land, and an elegant house. In his 
political associations he was a Whig, and 
he and his wife were members of the 
Methodist Church. 

E C. Burge, whose name opens this 
sketch, received his education at the com- 
mon schools of his native township, and 
when a young man came to Lorain county 
with his brother John Y. He took up his 
residence in Brighton township, where he 
worked as a farm hand at first-class wages, 
and after his marriage located on the old 
homestead in Orange township, Ashland 
county, then consisting of 153 acres, con- 
siderably encumbered, however, and here 
resided three years. In 1850 he again 
came to Brighton township, Lorain county, 
and worked as a hired man until 1859, sav- 
ing money sufKcient to buy the land where 
he now lives, and in 1860 he moved there- 
on. Here he has since carried on general 
farming, and built a new residence, barn, 
etc. ; for some years he has also done a very 
profitable dairy business. In addition to 
all this Mr. Burge taught school during 
the winter months in various parts of Ohio 
— Lucas, Ashland, Huron and Lorain 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1057 



counties — in all thirty-three terms, giving 
eminent satisfaction to all concerned; but 
he had to retire from the profession on 
account of impaired eyesight. 

On October 17, 1852,' Mr. Burge was 
married to Nancy Thompson, who was born 
February 13, 1836, in Wayne county, Ohio, 
daughter of William and Rachel (Kearnes) 
Thompson, and the children born to them 
are as follows: John Y., a school teacher; 
Martha A., Mrs. John Burrows, of Brigh- 
ton; Mary, Mrs. O. L. Rolfe, of Brighton; 
and Vernie, a school teacher, also of Brigh- 
ton. Our subject is a prominent member 
of the Republican party, and has held va- 
rious offices of trust in his township. In 
matters of religion he and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Episconal 
Church. He is in all things remarkably 
temperate, and never drinks intoxicating 
liquors. 



(SALTER SMITH, a native-born 
\J/ agriculturist of Lorain county, 
\L[ was born September 5, 1S43, in 
Penfield township, on the same 
farm which he now owns and resides upon. 
Levi Smith, father of our subject, was 
born December 23, 1815, in Camden, 
Oneida Co., N. Y., son of Joel B. Smith, 
a cabinet maker, and was reared to 
farm life. During the winter season 
he attended the common schools, but 
he was actively engaged as well in farm 
work even in his early boyhood, when he 
was so small that he could not hold the 
plow handles, or yoke the oxen without 
standing on a box; and from the time he 
was sixteen years old he had charge of a 
small farm which his father owned. 
About 1836 he came to Lorain county, 
Ohio (the passage over Lake Erie being 
very rough), accompanied by his parents, 
who first located in Andierst and then in 
Penfield township. He remained with 
them until 1840, when he returned to his 
native county in New York, and there 



married Miss Harriet Johnson, an old 
schoolmate, who was born July 9, 1819, in 
Oneida county, N. Y., daughter of Russell 
Johnson, a farmer. Immediately after 
marriage the young couple set out for the 
home in Ohio, where they located on a 
tract of forty-six acres, all of which, with 
the exception of tlie riverland, was in the 
woods, and here erected the house our sub- 
ject now resides in. Llere were born to 
them two children, as follows: George, 
who enlisted August 9, 1862, at Cleveland, 
in Battery B, First Ohio Light Artillery, 
and died December 9, 1862, of typhoid 
fever, in Hospital No. 9, Nashville, Tenn., 
where he was buried in the National 
cemetery, the day before his father arrived; 
and Walter, who is the subject proper of 
this sketch. Mr. Smith was a lifelong 
farmer, and at the time of his death owned 
228 acres of land, which property he had 
accumulated by hard work and good man- 
agement, and he kept 500 head of sheep 
when wool sold at one dollar per pound. 

Levi Smith was one of the best finan- 
ciers of his time, and was a close oI)server 
of men and events. Politically he was ori- 
ginally a Whig, later a Republican, was a 
regular attendant at all elections, and 
served for many years as township trus- 
tee. He was very patriotic, and during 
the Civil Avar contributed much toward 
freeing the township from the draft. When 
about forty-five years of age he united with 
the M. E. Church, of which he remained a 
member until his death, which occurred 
March 6, 1884. After his decease his widow 
removed to Wellington, where she passed 
a retired life until her death, December 
11, 1888, when she was buried by the side 
of her husband in Center cemetery. She 
was a member of the M. E. Church for 
over forty-five years. 

Our sul)ject obtained such an education 
as the common schools of his time afforded, 
meantime receiving his airricultural train- 
ing on the home farm. On August 23, 
1866, he married Alice M. Crane, also a 
native of Penfield township, and they had 



1058 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



two children, as follows: Blanche, now Mrs. 
E. M. Smith, of Cleveland, Ohio; and 
George, now a resident of California. The 
mother of these died in 1870, and in 1872 
Mr. Smith married, for his second wife. 
Miss Sarah E. Pierce, who was born near 
Auburn, N. Y., daughter of James M. 
Pierce, who removed to Ohio in his later 
years. To this union came four children, 
namely: Guy E., Mary Etta, Harry H. 
and Levi. After his marriage Mr. Smith 
located in Peniield township, and worked 
the farm owned liy his father, after whose 
death he moved to his present place, where, 
with the exception of two years passed in 
Wellino'ton for the benefit of his children's 
education, he has since made his home. 
In politics he is a stanch member of the 
Republican party, and is well posted on 
the issues of the day. Mrs. Smith is a 
member of the M. E. Church. 



in 



dl C. SMITH, one of the most success 
ful business men in Pentield town 
I ship, was born April 9, 1827, 
Camden, Oneida Co., New York. 
Joel B. Smith, father of our sul>ject, 
was born February 2, 1788, in Connecti- 
cut, and when a young man was bound out 
for six years to learn the trade of carpen- 
ter and joiner. He was married in Con- 
necticut, on February 13, 1811, to Miss 
Harriet Bronson, who was born in that 
State January 1, 1791, and they shortly 
afterward removed to Oneida county, N. Y., 
locating in the town of Camden, where he 
worked steadily and industriously at his 
trade. He purchased property and owned 
a farm, and here children as follows were 
born to him: Myron B., born November 
30, 1811, now of Lapeer, Mich, (he was at 
one time State surveyor of Michigan): 
Levi, born October 13, 1812, who died 
November 27, 1812; Sarah S., born March 
6, 1814, who was married in New York 



State to Edward Ackley, and died June 6, 
1839 (she was the second woman interred 
in Penfield cemetery); Levi, born Decem- 
ber 23, 1815; Hervey P., who was a resi- 
dent of Michigan many years ago, but left 
that State to locate some coal mines in 
Pennsylvania, and has never since been 
beard from; George L., a farmer, who died 
in Lapeer, Mich. ; Harriet, who married 
William Hart, and died in Grafton; Hiram, 
a very successful lumberman, who died in 
Flint, Mich.; J. C, the subject of this 
sketch; and Henry, of Cleveland, Ohio. 

During the winter of 1836-37 Joel B. 
Smith had come to Lorain county, Ohio, 
and passed a short time in Amherst town- 
ship with his brother Isaac, who was a 
Methodist Episcopal niinister, while there 
making some arrangements for the pur- 
chase of a farm, while the snow was on the 
ground. He next went to Michigan on a 
visit to his son Myron B., and then returned 
to his liorae in New York, in the spring of 
1837 bringing his family to Lorain county. 
They came by way of the Erie Canal 
from Utica to Buffalo, N. Y^., and thence 
by Lake to Cleveland; during their pas- 
sage through the ice in the lake the paddle- 
wheel of the vessel was broken, but Joel 
Smifh, being a carpenter, repaired it. Their 
progress was still very slow, however, three 
days and three nights being occupied in 
traveling twenty miles, but they finally 
landed at Black River (now Lorain), from 
which town they drove their own team to 
the home of Isaac Smith in Amherst town- 
ship. By this time the snow had melted 
from the ground, and Mr. Smith, seeing 
that the land he had partially bargained 
for was stony, declined to take it, but hear- 
ing of a farm for sale in Penfield township 
he came hither and bought 150 acres at 
thirty dollars per acre, the place on which 
our subject now resides. The bottom-land 
on this tract had been partly cleared, but 
the rest was all in the woods, and here Mi". 
Smith resided until his death, from heart 
disease, on May 13, 1850. He was buried 
in Center cemetery, and his widow then 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1059 



made her home with her eon J. C. for 
seven years. She next went to Michigan, 
to live with her son Myron B., wliere she 
died in IS-tO; she was buried by the side 
of her husband. After coming west Mr. 
Smith followed his trade, and erected the 
residence on his own farm and various 
other buildings in the township. He was 
also able to make tine furniture and manu- 
factured a number of colfins. He was a 
soldier in the war of 1812, and the old 
musket he carried at Sacket's Harbor is 
still in the possession of our subject. He 
was a Republican in politics, formerly a 
Whig, and kept himself posted on the 
issues of the day. 

Our subject attended the common schools 
of the neighboriiood of his boyhood home 
up to the age of ten years, when he came 
with his parents to Ohio, at which time 
there was no schoolhouse in his district. 
Later, however, he attended a school one 
and a half miles south of his home, taught 
by J. B. Wilson, in the meantime being 
trained to agricultural pursuits on the 
home farm, where he remained until his 
marriage. On April 9, 1851, he was 
wedded to Miss Mary A. Knapp, a native 
of Pentield township, daughter of Schubie 
Knapp, an early pioneer of same, who was 
killed by the falling of a hollow log, which 
struck him on the head while he was build- 
ing a smoke-house. Mrs. Mary A. Smith 
died March 3, 1852, leaving one child, 
Mary E., now Mrs. Charles Lang, of Pen- 
field, and on April 24, 1853, Mr. Smith 
married Miss Minerva Starr, who was 
born November 6, 1827. in HarpersHeld, 
Delaware Co., N. Y., daughter of Orrin 
and Abigail (Hickok) Starr, pioneers of 
Bentield township. To this union were 
born children as follows: Burton, of Graf- 
ton, Ohio, in the employ of the C. C. C. 
& St. L. R. R. Co.; Josephine M., now 
Mrs. William Mander, of Toledo. Ohio; 
Alonzo B.. a farmer of Van Buren county, 
Mich.; and Marian, widow of Edward- 
Worrell, of Port Clinton, Ohio. Mr. 
Smith has made farming his principal vo- 



cation in life, and for live years also en- 
gaged in droving, buying cattle throughout 
southern Ohio. For forty years he con- 
ducted a dairy, and for two years was also 
in the milling business at Grafton Station, 
having won success in all his business en- 
terprises. During the season he makes 
maple syrup and molasses. Politically he 
is a lifelong Republican, but is not an as- 
pirant for public office. He and his wife 
are both members of the M. E. Church, 
in which he has held various positions 
of trust. 



B. CHAPMAN, a well-known early 
resident of Lorain county, is a son 
of James Chapman, who was reared 
in Lorain county. He married Eliza- 
beth Bark, a native of Germany, who came 
to America at the age of fourteen, and 
they had six children, three of whom are 
now living, namely: C. B., Bird (clerk in 
a hardware store at Elyria, Ohio) and T. B. 
(editor of the Lorain Timeft). The father 
of this family followed sailing on the lakes 
for some time; he died in 1868. His 
widow is still living. 

C. B. Chapman was born April 12, 
1845, in Sheffield township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio. Li 1849 he came to Lorain, where 
he received his education, and, in 1857, at 
the early age of eleven years, commenced 
sailing on the Lakes, a vocation in which 
he has ever since continued, being now 
captain of a tng-boat plying between 
Sandusky and Lorain. Mr. Chapman has 
also dealt in real estate; he owns two 
dwelling houses in Lorain besides his own, 
and has also several lots in the West End. 
He sold five acres in the southwesiern part 
of the town. 

In 1806 the Captain was married, in 
Cleveland, Ohio, to Mrs. Elizabeth Snider, 
a native of Germany, who in an early day 
came with her p'lrents, Henry and Mary 
(Brown) Snider, also natives of Germany, 
to Lorain county. Ohio, where the father 



1060 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



died; her mother died in June, 1893, at 
the age of eighty-six years. Socially onr 
subject is a member of the K. O. T. M., of 
the Excelsior Marine Benevolent Associa- 
tion, of Cleveland, of Black River Lodge 
No. 680, I. O. O. F., and of the Order of 
Rebekah. Politically he is an active mem- 
ber of the Republican party, and served 
one term as member of the town council 
his brother has also served in tlie same 
capacity. Mr. Chapman is a member of 
one of the early families of Lorain, and 
has watched her growth and progress from 
a village of 600 people to her present pros- 
perous condition. 



L 



F. CLIFFORD, a leading and pro- 
gressive farmer of Wellington town- 
ship, is a native of same, born April 
18, 1834, of German ancestry on the 
paternal side, his great grandfather hav- 
ing come from Germany to America in 
time to serve in the Revolutionary war. 
He received a regular discharge from the 
army; his wife died December 9, 1844, 
aged ninety-three years. 

John Clifford, grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in 1777, in Providence, R. L 
He married Miss Margaret Williamson, 
who bore him children as follows: John, 
Jr., born September 8, 1797, died Decem- 
ber 25, 1857; Daniel, born February 7, 
1799, died January 31, 1886 (he was the 
father of our subject); Luther L., born 
March 8, 1801, died March 12, 1864; 
Hannah, born July 15, 1803, died April 
28, 1857; Theodocia, born May 15, 1805, 
died May 31, 1880; George W., born June 
18, 1807, died September 28,1861; Elijah, 
born March 13, 1810, died in July, 1880; 
PoUie M., born June 6, 1813, died July 
1, 1849; Benjamin F., born January 19, 
1816, died December 21, 1885; Harriet, 
born May 30, 1819, died December 5, 
1869; and Adeline E., born in Ohio Sep- 



tember 23, 1821, died September 2, 1841. 
The mother of these was born March 15, 
1779, and died May 22, 1845. 

In 1818 Joiin Clifford, leaving his fam- 
ily behind, came west to Ohio in company 
with four others — Ephraim Wilcox, Will- 
iam Welling, Joseph Wilson and Charles 
Sweet — the entire journey being made 
with a horse and cutter. Having selected 
a suitable location i'or a settlement, oti the 
banks of Wellington creek, about half a 
mile from where the town of Wellington 
now stands, Mr. Clifford returned east for 
his family, consisting of wife and ten chil- 
dren, and they all arrived safely at their 
new home in March, 1820. One week after- 
ward they had cut the timber and erected 
alog house, covered it with shakes, chinked 
and " mudded " it, and laid the floor, ul- 
timately finding themselves comfortably 
settled. This building also became the 
first schoolhouse, the first meeting house 
and the first tavern. It was the first point 
immigrants would reach as they entered 
the settlement, and its doors were always 
open to welcome new comers. There the 
first sermon was preached by Presiding 
Elder McMahon, a Methodist, and at that 
meeting Adam Poe received his license to 
preach. Mr. Clifford was proverbial for 
his industry and thrift. In addition to his 
labors in clearing land, cutting roads and 
raising crops, he plied his trade of shoe- 
maker, for many years supplying the wants 
of his neighbors for many miles around, 
being the only shoemaker in the settle- 
ment. One daughter was born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Clifford shortly after coming here, 
making the eleventh in the family. Mr. 
Clifl'ord died September 17, 1869, after a 
few weeks' illness from cancer under the 
left arm; and at the time of his death there 
had been of his family of eleven children 
seventy-nine grandchildren, ninety-seven 
great-grandchildren and one great-great- 
grandciiild — 188 in all. 

Daniel C. Clifford, father of the subject 
proper of this sketch, was born February 
7, 1799, at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1061 



Mass., and was, as will be seen, a young 
man of twenty-one when he arrived with 
tiie rest of the family in Wellington town- 
ship, where all his life he followed farm- 
ing. On March 13, 1S25, he married 
Miss Sarah P. Hall, of Brecksville, Ohio, 
and twelve children were born to them, 
named as follows: Edward, Henry, Elvi- 
ra, Jane, Christopher, Franklin, Andrew, 
Charles, Harriet, Adeline and Ageliiie 
(twins) and Fiancis, all yet living except 
two. On March 13, 1875, Mr. and Mrs. 
Daniel C. Clifford celebrated their golden 
wedding, and there were present at the fes- 
tival many of those wlio had attended the 
marriage half a century before. On Jan- 
uary 31, 1886, within one week of his 
eigiity-seventh birthday, Mr. Clifford was 
summoned to his long home. He had lived 
on the same farm sixty-six years, and " was 
a man of a remarkably vigorous frame, in- 
domitable energy and independence of 
character, industrious, thrifty, provident, 
a fair type of the men who conquered the 
diiiioulties of pioneer life." He was a 
member of the First Methodist Episcopal 
Society of Wellington, but did not until 
shortly before liis death syiripathize with 
or appreciate modern innovations or recent 
methods. His widow survived him a little 
less than one year, dying January 23, 
1887, at the age of eighty-four. She was 
a woman of remarkable enei'gy and ability, 
and heroically braved tlie toils, dangers and 
privations of pioneer life. She possessed 
a cheerful, happy disposition, and " Aunt 
Sarah " (as she was familiarly called) was 
universally loved and respected. 

L. F. Clifford, the subject proper of 
these lines, received his education at the 
subscription schools of Wellington town- 
ship, Lorain county, his attendance there 
being confined to a few months in the 
winter seasons, the balance of the year be- 
ing devoted to farming operations, in which 
he became remarkably successful. In 1866 
he was united in marriage with Mrs. Alice 
Houghton Drake, and they have two chil- 
dren, viz.: Paul Carlton, born August 18, 



1870, and educated at the high school of 
Wellington, and Robert Houghton, born 
December 28, 1872, who graduated at the 
high school of Wellington, and is now 
taking a four years' course in the " Case 
School of Applied Science," Cleveland, 
Ohio. In his political preferences Mr. 
Clifford is a Republican, and in matters 
of religion he is a member of the M. E. 
Church. 



DANIEL TOLHURST, whose name 
is intimately associated with the 
agricultural interests of Lorain 

county, more particularly of Am- 
herst township, is a native of the eastern 
part of the county of Kent, England, born 
March 18, 1836. 

His father, John Tolhurst, was born in 
the same county in 1800, and was there 
married to Miss Mary Standen; in 1851 
tliev emigrated with their family to the 
United States and to Ohio, settling on a 
farm in Amherst township. The father 
died in 1885; the mother is yet living, 
and makes her home with her son Daniel, 
who is the only survivor of her family of 
children. The voyage across the ocean 
took five weeks, while now it can be made 
in about that number of days. Daniel's 
fifteenth birthday was passed on the water. 
A particularly sad event on the trip was 
the death and burial at sea of an only sis- 
ter, not quite two years old. 

The subject of these lines was a youth 
of fifteen summers when he came to Lo- 
rain county, and has been a resident ever 
since of Amherst township, where he 
owns a well-cultivated farm of seventy-two 
acres. In 1861 he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Harriet Standen, a native of 
England, and two children were born to 
them, both of whom died when young. 
This wife departed this life in 18(55, and 
in 1866 Mr. Tolhurst married Miss Ame- 
lia Chapman, who was born in Michigan, 
and reared in Lorain county, Ohio. Four 



1062 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



children came to bless their union, viz.: 
Cora, deceased; Ward, born in October, 
1871, who received a liberal commercial 
education at Oberlin, and lives on his 
father's farm ; Mary, wife of Howard 
Walicer, of Amherst township, and Arthur, 
attendincr school. In politics our subject 
is independent, invariably voting for the 
best men and most sahitary measures, irre- 
spective of party. 

Mrs. Amelia Tolhurst is a daughter of 
William Henry and Jane (Sackett) Chap- 
man, the former of whom was born in 
New York State in 1816, and died May 
26, 1891. He lived in Michigan for a 
time, and was there married to Miss Jane" 
Sackett, who was a resident of Lorain 
county. Eight children were born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Chapman, as follows: Celia, 
wife of Captain S. Gilmore, of Lorain 
county, Ohio; Amelia, wife of Daniel Tol- 
hurst; Arthur, who was lost on the 
schooner " Clough," when aged twenty-six 
years; William, deceased in childhood; 
Ella, wife of Dr. Smith, of Olmsted Fails, 
Ohio; Cora and Alice, both of whom died 
young, and one that lived not beyond the 
days of infancy. 



CHARLES A. FINLEY. prominent 
at one time among the general agri- 
culturists, stock and dairy men of 
Lorain county, and now a leading 
capitalist of Camden, was born in Buffalo, 
N. Y., December 23, 1847, a son of Thomas 
A. Finley, anativeof the District of Colum- 
bia, whose father was a sailor. 

Thomas A. Finley received a good edu- 
cation, and on leaving school entered the 
TJ. S. Navy, in which he served some time. 
He was married, December 30, 1846, in 
Buffalo, N. Y., to Lucretia Spooner, who 
was born in Penoltscot county, Maine. 
She died August 12, 1849, leaving one 
child, Charles A. The father then re- 
turned to the sea, and for a short time 



thereafter wrote home occasionally till all 
at once his letters ceased, and he has never 
been heard of since; he may be dead, but 
his fate is enshrouded in mystery. 

Charles A. Finley, after the death of his 
mother, was taken to be reared under the 
care of his grandmother, Mrs. Lewis 
Spooner, whose husband died of cholera in 
1849. With her Charles continued to live 
nntil he was six years of age, when he was 
placed in a boarding school at Buffalo, 
N. Y., and there remained until he reached 
the age of thirteen years, at which time 
he was bound out to Levi House, a farmer 
of Marilla township, Erie Co., N. Y., and 
M'ith him remained till he was twenty 
years old, part of the time attending school. 
After this he obtained work on a farm, but 
did not remain long, as in 1867 he came 
to Ohio, locating in North Amherst, Lo- 
rain county, for a couple of years, still en- 
gaged in farm work. At the end of that 
time he moved into Wellington township, 
same county, working as a farm hand for 
S. D. Bacon, whose daughter, Eupheniia, 
he married January 13, 1874. One son, 
Archer S., was born to them, but died in 
infancy, the mother following to the grave 
in January, 1875; her remains are interred 
in Wellington cemetery. For his second 
wife Mr. Finley married on March 8, 
1877, Miss Emma O. Johnson, who was 
born in Greenwich township, Huron 
county, December 26, 1853, daughter of 
John and Betsy (Snyder) Johnson, who 
came to Brighton township, Lorain county, 
in 1860. To this union have been born 
two children: Mabel L. and ErwiuE., both 
living at home. 

In April, 1877, our subject came to 
Camden township, Lorain county, and 
bought 121 acres of land at forty-two dol- 
lars per acre, going in debt over four thou- 
sand dollars. For nine years he lived on 
this farm, engaged in agriculture, stock 
raising and dairying, and then moved into 
Kipton, for two years thereafter retaining 
his farm, which he then sold. In 1887 he 
started a broom factory, a new industry, 




(^^^L^tA^,^^^- 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1065 



which he successfully carried on two years, 
and then disposed of his interest in it. He 
has since been engaged in various enter- 
prises, meeting in all his ventures with 
unqualified success. He is a shrewd dealer 
and a good financier, and is jjossessed of 
more than ordinary business qualifications, 
as his entire career amply testifies. He 
controls a considerable amount of capital, 
and much credit is due him for the man- 
ner in which he has accumulated property 
and wealth, and controlled what he has. 
A Democrat in politics, he has held several 
offices of trust in his township, for six 
years being trustee thereof. He is a mem- 
ber of the K. O. T. M., Tent No. 92, Kip- 
ton. Mrs. Finley is a member of the 
Baptist Church at Camden Center. 



El H. NICHOLL, druggist and phar- 
macist, was born October 10, 1867, 
1 at Brownhelm, Lorain county, the 

sixth child of James and Jane 
(Lawson') Nicholl. 

When our subject was four years of age 
his parents moved to North Amherst, 
where he attended school and studied 
pharmacy. They are prominent repre- 
sentative citizens of that place, and the 
father, who has always been interested in 
tJie stone business, is now general super- 
intendent of the Cleveland Stone Co. At 
the age of seventeen E. H. Nicholl went 

• 

into partnership, in the drug business, 
with J. F. Utile, who died two years later, 
when Mr. Nicholl continued alone in the 
business. Shortly afterward, owing to ill 
healtli, he took a trip through the south- 
ern States, returning greatly improved. 
He is an active member of the Ohio 
Pharmaceutical Association, and is licensed 
by that State. 

In 1892 he married Miss Anna Miller, 
of North Amherst, and they have one 
child, Alson. Politically Mr. Nicholl is 



inclined toward the Democratic party, but 
does not take much interest in political 
affairs, as he spends the greater part of his 
time in study and in making his business 
a success. He is a member of the K. of P. 
and K. O. T. M. Lodges, and is one of the 
leading, progressive and enterprising 
young men of North Amherst. In the 
spring of 1892 he was elected member of 
the town council for a term of two years. 



EL DURKEE, Je., an enterprising, 
native-born farmer of Eaton town- 
ship, was born December 2, 1844, a 
son of Oel and Betsy (Terry) Dur- 
kee, the former of whom was born in 1808 
in New York State, the latter in 1809 in 
Vermont. 

Oel Durkee, Sr., was reared in his 
native State, where he married Betsy 
Terry, and in 1832 they came westward to 
Lorain county, Ohio, settling in the woods 
of Eaton township, where they yet reside. 
They had a family of nine children (five of 
whom are still living), viz.: Mason, mar- 
ried, residing in Henry county, Ohio; 
Nancy, who was the wife of Josiah Lind- 
ley, of Henry county, Ohio, died in 1881; 
Cordelia, who married Nelson Cornwell, 
of Henry county, died in 1878; Hiram, 
who enlisted in 1861, in Company D, 
Twenty-third O. V. I., and served two 
years, was killed in the battle of Antie- 
tam; Pncis, deceased when eight or nine 
years old; Oel, Jr., mentioned farther on; 
Evaline, Mrs. Myers, residing in LaPorte, 
Ohio; Horace, married, residing in Graf- 
ton, Ohio; and Oscar, ujarried, residing in 
Eaton township, Lorain county. The 
father of this family, though now over 
fourscore years of age, is still a strong, 
active man. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party, takes considerable interest 
in politics, and served for many years as 
trustee of Eaton township. 



1066 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Oel Durkee, Jr., was reared in Eaton 
township, received liis education in the 
common scliools of same, and has devoted 
the greater part of his life to agriculture, 
engaging also in the manufacture of 
cheese. In 1861 he enlisted, for three 
years or during the war, in Company E, 
Forty-second O. V. I., and served with 
the army of the Cumberland. He par- 
ticipated in the engagements in Kentucky, 
siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, and New 
Orleans, was through the Red River cam- 
paign, and subsequently at Brownsville, 
Texas. In 1865 he was honorably dis- 
charged, at Columbus, Ohio, and imme- 
diately returned to Lorain county, where 
he resumed farm life. In December, 
1866, he was united in marriage, in Eaton 
township, with Miss Emma Phillips, a 
native of same, daughter of Edwin and 
Betsy (Wilmott) Phillips; the father, a 
native of Vermont, who was an early set- 
tler in Eaton township, was drowned about 
1857, while sailing on the " Henry Clay." 
His widow, who afterward remarried, died 
in Eaton township in 1891. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Oel Durkee were born 
eight children (si.K of whom are yet liv- 
ing), viz.: May (deceased at the age of 
three years), Juna (deceased at the age of 
seventeen), Edward, Leo, Stella, Blanche, 
Elza and Flossie. Our subject owns a 
farm of eighty-three acres of good land, 
where he carries on general farming. In 
politics he is a Repiiblican; socially he is 
a member of Richard Allen Post, G. A. E., 
Elyria. 




E. HOLCOMB, farmer and stock 
raiser, and a popular citizen of La- 
Grange township, is a native of 
same, Vjorn September 28, 1840. 
He is a son of Asal and Fannie 
(Hastings) Holcomb, the former of whom 
was born in Jefferson county. N. Y., son of 
Noah Holcomb, Asal Holcomb received 
an education in the common schools, and 



learned the carpenter's trade, having a 
natural aptitude for mechanical work. 
When a young man he came to Lorain 
county, Ohio, where he married Miss Fan- 
nie Hastings, up to which time he had 
been engaged in various kinds of labor. 
He then bought land in LaGrange town- 
ship (the farm our subject now resides on), 
and here all their children were born, as 
follows: A. I., a farmer of LaGrange; 
R. E., subject of this sketch; Jeanette, 
Mrs. D. C. Nichols, of LaGrange; Wesley, 
who died young; and Fannie, Mrs. Ed- 
ward Nichols, of Penfield, Ohio. Mrs. 
Holcomb died at the bii'th of her daughter 
Fannie, and was interred in East cemetery, 
and Mr. Holcomb subsequently married 
Miss Maria Hunter, of Richland county, 
Ohio. There were no children by this 
union. Mr. Holcomb was a lifelong agri- 
culturist, and met with considerable suc- 
cess in his vocation, accumulating a com- 
fortable competence. In politics he was a 
Democrat, and in religion they were Chris- 
tians — though not members of any Church. 
He passed from earth in 1867, and he and 
his wife lie buried in East cemetery. 

R. E. Holcomb was educated first in the 
common schools, and later at select school, 
being a pupil of E. G. Johnson at La- 
Grange Center. He was trained to agri- 
cultural life, and remained on the home 
farm until his enlistment, September 5, 
1861, at LaGrange, in Company B, First 
Ohio Artillery, with which he went to 
Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati. His 
first active service was at Wild Cat, Ky. 
theirs being thefirstartillery discharged in 
Kentucky during the war), and subse- 
quently lie was in the battles of Mill 
Springs, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, 
Crawfish Springs, following his command 
through to the close of the war, during 
which time he was never obliged to be in 
hospital. He had studied while in camp, 
sending home for books, and thus prepar- 
ing himself to teach, and after coming 
home to LaGrange he taught school three 
terms in that township. On December 10, 



t 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1067 



1868, Mr. Holcomb was married to Miss 
Margaret Henderside, who was l)orii in 
Litciifield, Medina Co., Ohio, daughter of 
James Henderside, who catnc from Scot- 
land. He then bought out the other heirs 
of the home place, being obliged to go into 
debt therefor, and here he has ever since 
been engatred in general farming and stock 
raising. He is a self-made man in every 
respect. In politics he is a Republican, 
and has served in various local positions, 
but is not an active partisan. Mr. and 
Mrs. Holcomb are the parents of the fol- 
lowing children: Belle F., now Mrs. 
George Nichols, of LaGrange; and Bertie 
A., who is living at home. 



I H. REMINGTON, for over si.xty 
V. I years a resident of Lorain county, 
}^j bavins; been born here in 1828, comes 
of old Massacliusetts stock, his parents 
— Henry J. and Matilda (Williams) Re- 
mington — being natives of that State. 

In February, 1822, the parents set out 
for Ohio, with a yoke of oxen and one 
horse, and after a journey of six weeks ar- 
rived in Lorain county, and made a, settle- 
ment in Pittstield township. Ciiauneey 
Remington, brother of Henry J., accom- 
)>anied them, and his wife, Mary (Williams), 
was the first white woman to enter Pitts- 
field township, where she died in 1823. In 
1828 our subject's father moved to Am- 
herst township, where he cleared a farm, 
but in 1836 he migrated to Steuben cnunty, 
Ind., returning thence in 1839 to Amherst 
township, and passing the remainder of his 
days in the county, dying January 7, 1889. 
He was a lifelong Democrat, and filled 
several township offices; in church connec- 
tion he was a Baptist. His wife died in 
Amherst township in 1881. They were 
the parents of seven children, as follows: 
Faimie, born in Massachusetts, widow of 
O. D. Worden, of Gritmell, Iowa; H. W., 



born August 9, 1823, the first male white 
child born in Pittsfield township, Lorain 
Co., (3hio, who now lives in Wood county. 
Wis.; Amandfi, wife of Horace Steele, 
living in California; J. H., subject of 
sketch; Benedict Bliss, who died in Ash- 
tabula county, Ohio, in 1885; Sarah Ann, 
deceased in infancy; and Lydia, who was 
married to William Kelley, of Kelley's 
Island, and died at the age of eighteen. 

J. II. Remington was born in Amherst 
township, where he received his education 
and was reared, excepting for about three 
years which he passed in Steuben county, 
Ind. For his trade he learned carpentry, 
and in early manhood worked at same in 
Dane county, Wis. While there he en- 
listed, in 1861, in Company A, Eleventh 
Wisconsin Infantry, and was mustered into 
the service at Madison, the regimetit being 
assigned to the Western Department. 
During the first winter they guarded pris- 
oners at St. Louis, Mo., after which they 
we(:e at the siege of Vicksburg, and the 
engagements at Magnolia Church and Port 
Gibson, whence they proceeded to Jack- 
son, Miss., and then returned to Vicks- 
burg. Our subject then came home on a 
thirty-days' furlough, a,fter which he re- 
joined his regiment at New Orleans. In 
their second campaign they marched 215 
miles, and they served in the campaign of 
western Tennessee and northern Missis- 
sippi, thence going to Mobile, Ft. Morgan 
and Ft. Blakeley, where Mr. Remington 
captured a revolver from a Confederate 
oflicer. After this the regiment was sta- 
tioned at Brownsville, Texas, etc. At 
Mobile, Ala., our subject received his dis- 
charge in September, 1865, and returned 
to Madison, Wis., having seen over four 
years' hard service. 

In 1852 Mr. Remington was united in 
marriage, in Amherst township, Lorain 
Co., Ohio, with Miss Maria Spencer, who 
was born in LaGrange, Lorain county, 
daughter of E. C. and Angeline (Rock- 
wood) Spencer, natives of New York. 
Grandfather Asa Rockwood came to La- 



1068 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Grange township in 1826, being one of 
the first settlers of the place. Mrs. Rem- 
ington's lather came to Lorain county 
in 1832, was married in 1833, and after 
some years moved to Henry county, Ohio, 
where he died in 1892; the mother had 
passed away in 1885. To our subject and 
wife were born seven children, namely: 
Frank, married and living in Pottawat- 
tamie county, Iowa; Ella, deceased at the 
age of one year; Addie, wife of L. L. Jack- 
son, of Ashtabula, Ohio; Lydia, wife of A. 
A. Sharp, of Centerville. Kans., Willie and 
Lillie (twins), theformerliving athome, the 
latter married to G. R. Coleman, of Omaha, 
Neb., and Angie, at home. In politics 
Mr. Remington is an ardent Republican, 
and takes a live interest in the affairs of 
his county and township He is a mem- 
ber of tiie Union Veteran League, quarter- 
master of Post No. 148 G. A. R., now 
servins liis fifth term, and has been com- 
mander of the Post. Prior to coming to 
North Amherst, he followed farming in 
Lorain county. [Since the above was writ- 
ten, we have been informed of the death 
October 1, 1893, of Mr. Remington.— Ed. 



THOMAS H. JONES. The land of 
the Cymri has given to America 
many of her most stalwart, loyal 
and honorable citizens, such as was 
the gentleman whose name here 
appears. He was born in Wales in 1843, 
a son of John and Maria (^Monroe) Jones, 
also natives of that country, whence they 
came to the United States when our sub- 
ject was a boy, making their new home in 
Cleveland, Ohio, where the father died; 
the mother is now living in Cuyahoga 
county, same State. 

Our subject received his education in 
Cleveland, and October 6, 1862, he en- 
listed, in that city, in Company H, One 
Hundred and Twenty-fourth O. V. I., three 
years' service, or during the war. His 



regiment was attached to the army of the 
East, and participated in many bloody 
battles, among which may be mentioned 
Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, 
Gettysburg, Wilderness and Atlanta. On 
July 9, 1865, Mr. Jones was honorably 
discharged at Nashville, Tenn., and re- 
turned home to Cleveland, where he con- 
tinued to reside until 1870, when he came 
to Lorain, Lorain county, with which 
thriving town he was closely identified i;p 
to his death, which occurred April 4, 1891. 
Thomas H. Jones and Miss Augusta M. 
Lampman were united in marriage in 1868. 
She is a native of Lorain county, Ohio, a 
daughter of Mark and Elizabeth (Church- 
ill) Lampman, of New York and Connect- 
icut, respectively. Her father was a sailor, 
then a hotel and store keeper, later custom- 
house officer for over twenty years at Lorain, 
and he is yet remembered as one of the 
early merchants of Lorain county. He 
served in the war of 1812. He died in 
July, 1885, his wife surviving him till 
August, 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 
H. Jones were born two children: Mark, 
sketch of whom follows, and Gnssie. Mr. 
Jones was for some time engaged in the 
real-estate business, and at tiie time of his 
death was collector for the Port of Lorain. 
Politically he was a Republican, and he 
was a member of the Protected Llome 
Circle. His grandfather, Stephen Church- 
ill, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. 



^/ 



t JI^ARIv JONES, who for the past 
^/\ two years has been in the employ 
I] of the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheel- 
ing Railroad, as time- keeper, is a 
native of Lorain, born June 10, 
1869, a son of T. H. Jones. Our subject 
was reared in his native city, receiving 
his education in the public schools of same. 
He was for some time in the employ of 
the Cleveland Paper Company, and later 
studied stenography in Chicago, after 



'LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1069 



which he became bookkeeper in a tbuiidry 
at Lorain, and has held iiis present posi- 
tion since March 9, 181)1. On July 14, 18'J1, 
Mr. Jones was united in marriage with 
Miss Rowena Moore, who was born in Lo- 
rain, Lorain county, daughter of Captain 
Trnman Moore; her parents reside in Lo- 
rain. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members 
of the M. E. Church, in which he holds 
the ofBce of trustee. 



FII. BACON. This gentleman, who for 
many years lias been recognized as a 
_^ leader among the leading business 
men of Lorain county, is a native of 
same, born in Brownbelm township), March 
13, 1840. 

Benjamin Bacon, father of subject, was 
a native of Massachusetts, born in Old 
Stockbridge, whence in 1818 he came to 
Ohio, locating in Brownhelm township, 
Lorain county. He made the entirejourney 
with a one-horse wagon, and had but four 
dollars in money when he arrived in Brown- 
helm. He made his settlement where 
William Bacon now lives, having bought 
wild land from one William Brown. In 1820 
he erected a mill at what is known as 
" Mill Hollow," on the Vermillion river, 
and about 1835 enlarged it from aone-Vnirr 
to a four-burr capacity. Ten years later he 
equipped it with modern improvements. 
He was twice married, his second wife 
(mother of the subject of this sketch) be- 
ing Miss Anna W. Wells, a native of West 
Hartford, Connecticut. 

F. H. Bacon, whose name opens this 
sketch, received his education in tlie cfis- 
trict schools of Brownhelm township, and 
at Norwalk High School, after which he 
commenced the milling business with his 
lather. In this he continued until 1860, 
when he engaged in shipping grain to vari- 
ous points. On May 13, 1861, he joined, 
as lirst lieutenant, Company K, Twenty- 



third O. V. I., which was assigned to the 
army of the West, and he participated in 
the battles of Bull Run, South Mountain 
and Antietam, after which the regiment 
returned to West Virginia. In January, 
1864, lie resigned his commission, and re- 
turned to Lorain county, once more en- 
gaging in the milling and shipping busi- 
ness. In 1873 he sold the mill; in 1879 
rebought it; in 1882 rebuilt it, putting in 
rollers and making it a 150-barrel mill; in 
1892 again sold, but now (1893) once more 
owns it. This is the same mill, in Brown- 
helm township, which his father had built 
and enlarged. For some years he has had 
large interests in southern Indiana — 800 
acres of the best coal and grain land. 

In 1860 F. H. Bacon and Miss Abbie 
S. Wells were united in marriage. She 
was a daughter of George and Maria B. 
(Butlei-) Wells, who came from Connecti- 
cut to Brownhelm township, Lorain county, 
about the year 1821, and here passed the 
rest of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Bacon 
were born eight children, as follows: Sarah, 
assisting her father in the ofKce, as amanu- 
ensis, etc., and who is considered one of 
the best all-round businesswomen in Ohio; 
Anna, who died in 1883 at the age of six- 
teen; De Wight, Martha W., Melvin S., 
Lewis C, Charles and Julia W. The 
mother was called to her long home in 
1882. Mr. Bacon is a member of Rice 
Post, G. A. R., at North Amherst, and is 
a Republican. In thoughts and acts he is 
tlioroughly metropolitan, perfectly famil- 
iar with Boards of Trade and other busi- 
ness interests, in all parts of the country. 
He is now managing two mills of 150- 
barrels capacity each, and is largely en- 
gaged in farming and shipping stock. 



d( C. BIGGS. England has given to 
the United States many stalwart and 
1 loyal citizens, plodding and indus- 
trious in time of peace, and cour- 
ageous and resolute in the fight for liberty 



1070 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



and riglit. Such an one is the subject of 
this sketch, wlio is recognized as a "typical 
tightiiiff common soldier." He is of me- 
dium height, very hardy and muscular, the 
dogged determination peciiliar to the Brit- 
on, l>eing, perhaps, his strongest charac- 
teristic. 

Mr. Biggs was born in Northampton- 
shire, England, in 1839, a son of Thomas 
and Frances (Paxton) Biggs, the former of 
whom carried on farming in Pittsiield 
township, this county, south of Eiyria. 
Here the parents passed the remainder of 
their days, the father dying in 1876 at the 
age of Kfty-nine years, the mother in 18S9, 
aged sixty-eight years. They had a family 
of six sons and otie daughter, our subject 
being the eldest, and the only one born in 
England; the youngest son now owns tlie 
old homestead. 

J. C. Biggs, the subject proper of this 
memoir, was but a boy when liis parents 
brought him to America, and to Pittsfield 
township, Lorain county, at the common 
schools of which he received a liberal edu- 
cation. He also attended for a tiine the 
high school, and while a student there the 
war of the Rebellion broke out, which 
turned his attention from the schoolroom 
to the field of Mars. On April 18, 1861, 
he enlisted in Company I, Eighth O. V. I., 
Capt. E. G. Johnson, which was tlie first 
company to go out from the county. He 
served four years, ten months, fifteen days 
in the army of the Potomac, Hancock's 
corps, and participated in the following 
battles: Winchester, Antietara, Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, 
hesides numerous minor engagements. At 
Gettysburg (his last battle) he was severe- 
ly wounded in the arm, which necessitated 
his confinement to hospital for six months. 
He then reentered the service, enlisting 
xthis time in Company K, Ninth Regiment 
Hancock's Veteran Corps, in which he 
served till March 3, 1866, at which date he 
was niustered out at Washington, D. C, 
having served a much longer period in the 
army than most of his comrades. Return- 



ing home to the pursuits of peace, he fol- 
lowed farming for a few years; then em- 
barked in the newspaper agency business 
in Eiyria, and has had the sale of the lead- 
ing newspapers for over fifteen years. He 
now disposes of about 400 papers per day, 
and is agent for twenty-three dailies. Mr. 
Biggs was married March 3, 1869, to 
Emma Clark, also a native of England, and 
five children have come to bless their home: 
Clark, Elsworth, Norris, Harry and Edith. 
Our subject is a Republican and an Episco- 
palian. He is a vice-commander in the 
G. A. R., and is a member of the Union Vet- 
eran Legion, No. 44, Eiyria, Oiiio, of which 
he is colonel and presiding officer, and in 
which he has served as officer of the day, 
past commander and in other prominent 
positions. He is also a memher of the 
Society of the Army of the Potomac, and 
was /the only member of it from the State 
of Ohio to attend the reunion held in 
Scranton, Penn., in June, 1892. 



^/ 



I l/ENRY F. BEESE, one of the en- 
'sH terprising proprietors of the f ar- 
il famed "Boston Store," in Lorain, 
is a nativeof Eiyria, born September 
19, 1867. 

His father, Frederick Beese, was born 
in 1825, in Germany, where he married 
Miss Mary Stark, also a native of Ger- 
many, born in 1827. In 1856 they im- 
migrated to the United States, and, settling 
in Elvria same year, iiave here since re- 
sided. They are the parents of five chil- 
dren, of \*hom Henry F. is the youngest. 
Frederick Beese was a private in Company 
G, One Hundred and Seventh Regiment 
O. V. L, serving three years. 

Until the age of fourteen the subject of 
this sketch was educated in the German 
Lutheran School at Eiyria, afterward at- 
tending the public schools of the same 
place some three and one-half years. On 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1071 



completion of his literary education Mr. 
Beese entered tlie employ of Straus & 
Kupfer, dry-goods merchants, and was en- 
gaged in the same store until September 
1, 1892, during which time it changed 
hands three times: first to M. Straus; 
then to Biggs, Bowen & Co., and lastly to 
Geo. T. Biggs & Co. In the fall of 1892, 
in company with Max Morehouse and 
"William E. Carter, Mr. Beese opened out 
a dry goods store in the new "Smith 
Block," Lorain, occupying the first floor 
and basement, tiie dimensions of'-the large 
store room being 40 x 80 feet, and here 
with characteristic push and energy, close 
attention to business, they have since con- 
ducted a thriving trade. Politically Mr. 
Beese is a Democrat; socially he is a mem- 
ber of the Sons of Veterans and Knights 
of Pythias. 



/ 



MflLAN CONE (deceased). Roger 
Cone, the father of this gentleman, 
J was born August 17, 1803, in 
Berkshire county, Mass., son of 
Frederick Cone, and in his early 
manhood learned the millwright's trade. 
He was married to Emeline Brown, who 
was born April 21, 1803, in Tyringham, 
Berkshire Co., Mass., daughter of Lyman 
Brown, and while in Massachusetts two 
children were born to this union, namely: 
Marshall, a farmer, who died in 1870 in 
Pentield, Ohio; and Mary, who resides in 
Wellington, Ohio. 

In 1843 Koger Cone came west to 
Charlestown, Portage Co., Ohio, driving 
the entire distance with a covered one- 
horse wagon, and en route stopping at 
various places in New York and other 
States. He remained in Portage county 
one year, and in 18-14 removed to Pen field 
township, Lorain county, locating oti the 
farm where he passed the remainder of his 
life, and which he purchased at sheriff's 
sale at nine dollars per acre; it was form- 



erly the property of an early settler. Dr. 
Hall, who had met with reverses, losing 
his sawmill and other property. Here 
Mr. Cone erected a residence, which is 
still standing. After coming to Ohio, the 
following members were added to the fam- 
ily: Mercy, now the wife of David Peters, 
of Wellington, Ohio, who has one child, 
Lavina; Merritt, who died in 1853, and 
Milan, whose name opens this sketch. 
The father of these was a systematic acri- 
cultnrist, and took great interest in the 
neatness of' his farm and surroundings. 
He was very successful, and at the time of 
his death was the owner af 252 acres of 
excellent land. In ^politics he was a 
stanch Democrat, thoucrli not an active 
politician,, and in religious cormection lie 
and his wife were both members of the 
'M. E. Church at Penfield. He passed 
from earth March 11, 1884, preceded to 
the grave by his wife March 12, 1876, and 
they now lie buried in Penfield cemetery. 
Milan Cone, the subject proper of this 
sketch, was born April 4, 1848, on the 
farm in Penfield township where he passed 
his entire life. He obtained his elemen- 
tary education in the common schools of 
the neighborhood, and this was afterward 
supplemented with a short term of study 
in a school in Delaware, Ohio. On De- 
cember 25, 1871. he was united in mar- 
riage, by Rev. A. Pollock, with Miss 
Esther Drake, who was born November 
20, 1851, in the town of Ames, Mont- 
gomery Co., N. Y., daughter of David and 
Julia (Alger) Drake, who came to Ohio in 
1862, locating first in Harrisville town- 
ship, Medina county, and later in Penfield 
tov^ship, Lorain county. After marriage 
our subject located on the honie farm, liv- 
ing in a small house near the family resi- 
dence, whither he removed after the death 
of his father. To the union of Milan and 
Estiier Cone were born children as follows: 
Letha E., bookkeeper for a wholesale 
house at Chicago, 111.; Kate W., attending 
school at Penfield; Mercy A., and Fred 
M.; all living. Mr. Cone engaged chiefly 



1072 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



in the breeding of fine cattle, especially 
Jerseys, and was a most excellent judge of 
stock. In politics he was a leader in the 
Democratic party in his section. He died 
Jannary 19, 1892, of consumption, after a 
lingering illness, and was buried in Pen- 
field cemetery. Since his decease his 
widow has had charge of the farm, in the 
management of which she has shown con- 
siderable ability. She is a member of the 
Methodist Church at Penfield Center, and 
is highly respected in the community. 



AMUEL NAYLOR, one of the most 
extensive landholders and wealthiest 
farmers of Penfield township, is a 
native of Pennsylvania, born Feb- 
ruary 27, 1823, in Carlisle, Cumberland 
county. 

He is a son of Samuel Naylor, who was 
born in what was then known as Little 
York, Penn., a son of Jacob Naylor, who 
was a farmer and a distiller. Our sub- 
ject's father was reared on a farm, and 
when a young man followed teaming, 
hauling whiskey from his father's and 
other distilleries to Baltimoi-e, Md., where 
was found the best market for that com- 
modity. In those days it took six horses 
to haul thirty ban-els of whiskey. Samuel 
Naylor, Sr., was married in Cumberland 
county to Elizabeth Uhler, a native of that 
county, born of German ancestry. After 
marriage the young couple located on a 
small farm in Cumberland county, which 
he rented. In Pennsylvania children, as 
follows, were born to them: Mary, now 
the widow of Amos Fritz, residing at Me- 
dina, Ohio; Samuel, our subject; Benja- 
min K., a farmer and blacksmith, now of 
Lucas county, Ohio; Jacob, a farmer of 
Spencer, Ohio; and Rebecca, Mrs. W. W. 
Hntchisson, of Wood county, Ohio. In 
the fall of 1829 the family came to Ohio 
over the Alleghany Mountains in a cov- 



ered two-horse wagon, bringing with them 
considerable household etfects, including 
their bedding, whicli they found of the 
greatest use on their two weeks' wearisome 
journey. Mr. Naylor. the father, had pre- 
viously visited Ohio, and in Guilford town- 
ship, Medina county, had selected land 
then looked after by Judge Heman Ely, of 
Elyria, Lorain county. On the occasion 
of that visit Mr. Naylor had hired a man 
to build a log house for the convenience of 
the family when they should arrive, liut 
they found it in such an unfinished state 
that they had to rent another cabin in the 
neighborhood, wherein to pass the winter. 
In the meantime their own was made habi- 
table, and in the following spring they 
moved into it. While the family were en 
route, one child, named Eliza, was born at 
Lancaster, Penn., which interesting event 
delayed them three days. In Medina 
county the family were further increased 
by four, to wit: John, who died at the age 
of twenty-one; William, of Wood county, 
Ohio, who served in the Civil war; Sarah, 
deceased ; and Henry, of Wood county. 
On this farm in Medina county the mother 
of these children passed from earth, and 
the father then moved into the village of 
Seville, same county, having purchased in 
the vicinity a farm of thirty acres, and also 
a residence in the village. In Guilford 
township he married, for his second wife, 
Miss Harriet Sheldon, and one child w\as 
born to this union, Harriet, now Mrs. 
James Ross, at the frontier teaching In- 
dians. Mr. Naylor died at the age of 
seventy-three years, and lies buried in the 
Lutheran cemetery, Guilford township. 
Politically, he was originally a Whig, and 
after the formation of the party was a 
stanch Republican. He had traveled all 
through the Southern States, and, from 
observations he made during his visit, pre- 
dicted the Civil war many years before it 
broke out. 

Samuel Naylor, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received but a limited educa- 
tion at the common schools of Guilford 




-^^i-or-LA'Ce^ 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1075 



township, Medina county, as in early boy- 
hood he was put to work to help clear his 
father's farm of heavy timber and under- 
growth, and in reality he was able to do a 
man's W(jrk while yet a boy. Besides 
working at home he hired out to different 
parties to make shingles, at which he be- 
came very expert, being able to turn out 
in a single day one thousand shingles, 28 
inches long by 6 wide. Up to the time of 
his marriage he lived at home, and turned 
all his earnings over to his father. In An- 
gust, 1845, Mr. Naylor was married in 
Guilford township, Medina county, to Bar- 
bara Long, who was born in September, 
1824, near Toronto, Canada, a daughter of 
John Long, a farmer of Wadsworth town- 
ship, Medina county, and for a time there- 
after the young couple made their home 
with Mr. Long. Our subject then rented 
land in Litchfield township, same county, 
where he lived for three or four years, after 
which he came to Penfield townsliip, Lo- 
rain county, where he bought 107 acres of 
wild land at six dollars per acre. At that 
titne not a road led to the spot, and he had 
to cut his way through as he came along. 
The first thing he did was to erect a cabin, 
and then commenced to make a clearing 
for purposes of cultivation. This land he 
bought entirely on credit, and with but a 
rude equipment of farming implements he 
heroically set to work to convert the al- 
most impenetrable forest into smiling fields 
of grain, and the land was soon all paid for. 
The record of the children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Samuel Naylor is as follows: Jacob, 
who enlisted in the Civil war before he was 
seventeen years old, died at Camp Dennison 
while in the service; Henry died young; 
Elizabeth is Mrs. Stewart Long, of Penfield; 
Rebecca is the deceased wife of Andrew 
Sigourney; Harriet A. lives at home; Lany 
E. died at the age of seven years; Emma 
(Mrs. William Bradstock) lives in Penfield; 
Mary died when seventeen years old; Har- 
vey G., a farmer, is living in Spencer, 
Ohio; and Dora (Mrs. Lemuel Ilower) also 
lives in Spencer. The mother died Janu- 



ary 7, 1874, and was buried at Spencer, 
Medina county. She was a member of 
the United Brethren Church. For his 
second wifeMr. Naylor wedded Miss Nancy 
E. Yocom, who died in 1882 leaving no 
issue; she is buried in Congress, Wayne 
Co., Ohio. In politics our subject is a Re- 
publican, but has never been an aspirant 
to office, his own affairs demanding and re- 
ceiving his undivided attention. He now 
owns about 400 acres of superior farming 
land, on wliich in 1892 he erected a line 
modern residence. He is a leader in edu- 
cational matters, and in an early day was a 
prime mover in the formation of the school 
district in his section, he and his brother 
Jacob contributing the land where the first 
school building stood in their section. For 
several years Mr. Naylor has been a con- 
sistent member of the United Brethren 
Church. 



HARLES BEAVER, a prominent, 
representative agriculturist of Eaton 
township, was born in Monroe 
county, N. Y., in 1828, a son of 
William and Rebecca (Matthews) Bearer, 
natives of Long Island and Genesee county. 
New York. 

About the year 1841 the parents of our 
subject came to Lorain county, first lo- 
cating in LaGrange township, afterward 
moving to Eaton township, where they 
continued in agricultural pursuits, which 
had been their life work. The father died 
in Grafton in 1878, the mother in Adrian, 
Midi., in 1892. They reared a family of 
nine, of whom seven are yet living, as fol- 
lows: Benjamin, a farmer of Lenawee 
county, Mich.; James, a farmer of La- 
Grange township; Charles; Edward, a car- 
penter, residing in LaGrange township; 
Catherine, wife of S. C. M. Hardy, of Mon- 
roe county, N. Y.; Alice, wife of C. Jen- 
nings, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Susan, wife 
of S. W. Sharp, of Adrian, Michigan. 



1076 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Charles Beaver received a liberal edu- 
cation at the schools of his native place, 
and was broaght up a farmer's boy. At 
the age of thirteen he came with his par- 
ents to LaGrange township, Lorain county, 
and from there moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., 
where he engaged in the livery business. 
In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, Fifth 
Michigan Cavalry, for three years, and was 
assigned to the army of the Potomac. He 
participated in the battles of the Wilder- 
ness, Second Bull Kun (where he received 
a gunshot wound in the right hand) and 
Strasburg, after which he was detailed as 
wagon master on a wagon train. He was 
honorably discharged at Detroit, Mich., 
July 3, 1865, and returned to the pursuits 
of peace in Lorain county. In September, 
same year, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Harriet Felt, a native of Lorain 
county, Ohio, daughter of Votnan and 
Julia (Peck) Felt, natives of Vermont and 
early settlers of Lorain connty; the father 
died in 1872, the mother is still living, 
now at the advanced age of ninety years. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beaver were born 
three children: George; Nora, wife of 
Bernard Worthington, of LaPorte (they 
have two children); and Natlia. Politi- 
cally our subject is a zealous Republican; 
socially he is a member of Richard Allen 
Post, G. A. R., Elyria. 



THOMAS KING, than whom no one 
is better known as an agriculturist 
and breeder of fine stock in Lorain 
county, is a native of Massachu- 
setts, born November 25, 1828, in 
Taunton, where he resided until twelve 
years of age. He then removed with his 
parentstoColumbiana county, Ohio; thence 
to Eaton, Lorain Co., Ohio. He received 
a common-school education, and was reared 
to agricultural pursuits. Farming has been 
his life work. He has made a specialty of 



rearing Cotswold sheep and Holstein 
cattle, which have frequently taken prizes 
at county fairs. 

On March 7, 1871, Mr. King was mar- 
ried at Niagara Falls to Harriet Van- 
"Wagnen, of Eaton, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
daughter of G. H. Van Wagnen. The 
following named seven children have been 
born to them: Eva, Grace, Myrtle, Minnie, 
Clara, Richard, and Nellie. 

Mr. King is owner of a farm of one 
hundred and ninety-two acres, all in agood 
state of cultivation. He is interested in 
politics and votes the Republican ticket; 
has been township trustee three terms, and 
is a member of the school board. 

Richard King, father of the above, was 
born in Leicestershire, England, in 1796, 
and was there married to Elizabeth Ball, of 
the same town. In 1826 they moved to 
Taunton, Mass. Mr. King was engaged 
in the Taunton print works until 1840, 
and then moved to East Liverpool, Colum- 
biana Co., Ohio. In 1841 he came with 
his family to Eaton, Lorain county, at 
that time an uncultivated forest tract. 
Here he set to work with a will, and with 
the assistance of his older children soon 
cleared a tine farm. He was one of the 
first in the settlement to build a brick kiln 
and sell brick to other pioneers. He died 
at the age of ninety-two, and his wife at 
eighty-two. In his political predilections 
he was an anti-slavery Whig until the for- 
mation of the Republican party, when he 
enrolled himself under its banner. Ten 
children were born to this honored 
couple, four of whom died in childhood. 
The following is a record of the six 
remaining: 

The first, George W., was born in 1822; 
went to Galena, 111., thence to Clark 
county, in the Territory of Wisconsin, 
where he married. He was admitted to 
the bar in Wisconsin; was prosecuting at- 
torney in Clark county, and represented 
same in the State Legislature. Later he 
engaged extensively in the lumber busi- 
ness, but sustained serious reverses in tiie 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1077 



panic of 1873. Being in Idalio at the 
time that Territory was admitted as a 
State, he was elected a delegate to the 
Constitutional Convention. He now re- 
sides in Colorado, where he is interested 
in mining, and is widely known as a 

S)litical speaker and writer on free silver, 
e has three children, one of wliom, 
George R., served for two years in the 
Fourteenth A¥isconsin Regiment. 

The second, Myra, was born in 1825, 
and married Charles H. Merrick who 
served for three years in the Eighth O. V. I. 
She studied medicine, graduating in 1852 
from the Eclectic Medical College of 
Rochester, N. Y. Later she adopted 
Homeopathy, becoming a member of the 
American Institute. She was the first 
woman physician in Ohio. From 1S52 to 
1892 she practiced in Cleveland, having 
an extensive and very lucrative business. 
She was actively connected with college, 
hospital and dispensary work. She has 
now retired and lives in Cleveland with 
her only child, Richard L. Merrick, a me- 
chanic and contractor. He married Eliza 
Johnson, daughter of A. C. Johnson, of 
Huron county, Ohio. She is a physician, 
a graduate of Oberlin and of the Homeo- 
pathic Medical College of Cleveland, and 
now a professor in the Cleveland Medical 
College. 

The third, Thomas, is the subject of this 
memoir. 

The fourth, John, born 1830, married in 
1860, and moved to Clark county, Wiscon- 
sin, where he engaged in farming and lum- 
bering. He enlisted in 1862 for three 
years, in the I^ourteenth Wisconsin In- 
fantry, and served with the army of the 
West in Louisiana; was honorably dis- 
charged in 1865 at the close of the war. 
He died in 1886 in Clark county, Wiscon- 
sin, leaving widow and six children. 

The fifth, Elizabeth, born in 1836, was 
married in 1863 to Alfred Fauver on his 
return from the war. He had received a 
very severe wound at the battle of Win- 
chester. They are now living at Oberlin, 



educating five of their children. The 
eldest son, Lester, is City Civil Engineer 
of Lorain county, Ohio. 

The sixth, Sara Ellen, was born in 1840. 
She became the wife of Capt. John Booth, 
who was a soldier, serving in the One 
Hundred and Third O. V. 1. They now 
live on the Booth homestead in Carlisle 
township. Mrs. Booth is an active church 
worker. They have three children, one of 
whom is being educated at Oberlin. 

The King family has been intimately 
and honoral)ly connected with the history 
of the county in its war record, its anti- 
slavery, temperance, and educational senti- 
ment, and in all that makes for good citi- 
zenship. 



/George battle, who from in- 
I J, fancy, with the exception of five 
\J^ .years, has been a resident of Well- 
^^ ington township, is an agriculturist 
of no small prominence. He is a 
native of Massachusetts, born in Great 
Barrington, Berkshire- county, October 5, 
1823. 

Ithel Battle, his father, also a native of 
Massachusetts, a farmer by vocation, mar- 
ried Miss Sarah Smith, and when our sub- 
ject was some six months old they came 
west to Ohio, traveling with a two-horse 
wagon. They settled in Wellington town- 
ship, Lorain county, where the father car- 
ried on agricultural pursuits up to the 
time of his death. He died in May, 1869, 
when he was seventy-seven years old; his 
wife passed away in October, same year, 
aged seventy-two years. They were honored 
people of the Old-school Presbyterian per- 
suasion, industrious and frugal in their 
habits; politically the father was a Repub- 
lican at the time of his death, originally a 
Wliig, and he was a very robust, erect 
man, even in his old age. Our subject's 
maternal grandfather. Smith, was from 
Orange county, N. Y., and when he was 
twenty years old he (Mr. Battle) visited 
his grandmother there. 



1078 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



George Battle, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was reared on the farm he now 
owns and resides on, and attended the dis- 
trict seliools during the winter months for 
a few seasons. For some five years he re- 
sided in Brighton township, then six years 
in the village of Wellington, and finally 
on his present farm of 112 acres of prime 
land. He also at one time owned land in 
Hardin county, Ohio. In 1850 he married 
Miss Arvilia Dyar, who was reared in 
Hanover, Ind., and two children have been 
born to them: Viola, and Durell, who 
married a Miss Johnson, by whom he has 
five children, namely: George 0., Darwin 
Blake, Clyde, Carl and Bernice L. Politi- 
cally Mr. Battle is a stanch Republican, 
and was a strong Abolitionist and Union 
man at the time of the Civil war. 



ALVIN SAGE, insurance agent, 
Wellington, is one of the leadincr, 
pushing business men of the town. 
He is a native of Lorain county, 
born in Huntington township, October 15, 
1837, and comes of long-lived ancestry, 
his grandparents having reached patri- 
archal ages, the grandnmther being over 
one hundred years old at the time of her 
death. * 

Martin L. Sage, father of our subject, 
was born in Torrington, Conn., and came 
as a pioneer to Lorain county, Ohio, build- 
ing the lirst frame house put up in Hunt- 
ington township, and becoming a success- 
ful farmer. In Connecticut he had married 
Miss Hulda Sanford, l)y whom he had four 
children, namely: Luther, born in Con- 
necticut, and now about sixty-live years of 
asre, who is living a retired life with his 
children in Minneapolis, Minn.; Orrin, 
who passed all his life in Lorain county, 
where he died ; Ellen, w-ife of James A. 
Newton, of Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio; 
and Calvin, our subject. The father died 



at Huntington Center in 1860, at the age 
of sixty-four; the mother, born near Tor- 
rington, Conn., died in 1888, aged eighty- 
eight years. 

Calvin Sage, whose name opens this 
sketch, received his education at the graded 
schools of his native township, was reared 
on the home farm, and learned the trade 
of harness maker. In 1861 he enlisted, 
in the first call for three years' volunteers, 
in Company H, Second Ohio Cavalry, 
which was attached to the army of the 
Frontier during the lirst year; half of the 
following year in the Western Depart- 
ment, during which it participated in sev- 
eral skirmishes, including the light at 
Lone Jack and other points. In the streets 
of Independence, Mo.. February 22, 1862, 
it had a short, sliarp and decisive hght 
with Quantrell's Cavalry, in which the lat- 
ter was routed in fifteen minutes, and for 
several months thereafter they followed 
him up. The regiment was then ordered 
back to Columbus, Ohio, and recruited at 
Fort Smith, Fort Leavenworth and Fort 
Scott, after which it took part in Burn- 
side's campaign, including the siege of 
Knoxville, where they lay six months. 
Mr. Sage was on detailed service a con- 
sideral)le part of the time, and for the last 
six months of his term of enlistment was 
in the quartermaster's department. At the 
close of his service he received an honora- 
ble discharge, and returned iiome to the 
pursuits of peace, which was at the time of 
the assassination of Lincoln. For fifteen 
years thereafter he was with Horr, War- 
ner & Co., Wellington, Lorain county, and 
on leaving this he took up his present in- 
surance business, in wiiich he has met 
with well-merited success. 

In 1858 Mr. Sage married Miss Cerrin- 
tha Chamberlain, who was born in Portage 
county, Ohio, in 1836, and three children 
were the result of this union, viz.: Walter, 
a partner with his father in the insurance 
business, and representing, as traveling 
agent throughout Ohio, the German-Amer- 
ican Insurance Company (he is owner of a 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



1079 



ranch in California); Florence, who died 
at the age of fourteen; and Emily C, 
stenographer in her father's office. Politi- 
cally Mr. Sage is a Republican; socially he 
is a member of the F. & A. M., Blue Lodge 
and Chapter, and of the G. A. R. Post at 
Wellington. 



LH. WADSWORTH, a prominent 
young business man of the county, 
_^ was born in ISGi at Rochester, 
Oiiio, and is descended from an old 
Massachusetts family. 

He passed his boyhood at Wellington, 
Ohio, received a primary education there, 
and then was enrolled as a student of the 
University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. 
Subsequently he entered the Law Depart- 
ment of that University, graduating with 
the law class of 1882. lie did not pursue 
his law studies with any intention of mak- 
ing it his professsion, but rather as a mat- 
ter tending to mental discipline. Some 
short time after completing this liberal 
education, he established himself in busi- 
ness at Wellington, Lorain county, where 
he carried on a large and successful busi- 
ness until 1885. In that year he removed 
to Greenwich, established his lumber yard 
and planing-mill, and engaged in the 
business of contractor and builder. At 
the death of his father he removed to 
Wellington, and during the period of one 
year was manager of the estate. At the 
end of that time he purchased the lumber 
plant at Wellington, and is now running 
it for himself, having sold out at Green- 
wich, and Wellington will probably be his 
home in the future. 

As a business man Mr. AVadsworth ex- 
emplifies the true value of such a college 
training as that which he received. Not 
only does he attend to his own affairs 
closely, but also to the public affairs of his 
town, which are studied by him. He is 
justly accepted as a leader in all move- 



ments, the object of which is the improve- 
ment of the town or the better government 
of the township and county. His personal 
interest in the welfare of his town cannot 
be questioned. A large employer of labor, 
having sixty-eight men on his pay-roll, 
and transacting an extensive business, it is 
but natural that municipal affairs should 
claim a good deal of his thought. The 
yards are well stocked with standard lum- 
ber, shingle and lath, while the planing- 
mill is thoroughly equipped with modern 
machinery. The enterprise of this young 
business man is well known. 

Mr. Wadsworth's marriage with Miss 
Mary E. Trinter, took place at Vermillion, 
Ohio, October 14, 1885, and to this union 
one child, William Luther W., was born. 
Mr. Wadsworth is a member of the Masonic 
Fraternity, and K. T.; of the I. O. O. F., 
and of the National Union, in all of which 
organizations he is popular. 



CLARENCE G.WASHBURN, a ris- 
ing young attorney at law of Lorain, 
is a native o^ Ohio, born February 
19, 1867, in Huron county, a son of 
Henry C. and Charlotte (Griffin) Wash- 
burn, who came to Huron county, Ohio, 
from the State of New York. 

Clarence G. AVashburn received his lit- 
erary training at the schools of Green- 
wich, in his native county, and on complet- 
ing his studies became a traveling man, his 
business taking him over as many as seven- 
teen States, besides Canada and the Indian 
Territory. In 1887 he gave up traveling, 
and proceeding to Kansas served as deputy 
postmaster at Wendell, a town near Kins- 
ley. Returning to Ohio, he there for a 
year carried on a boot and shoe store, in 
both New London and Plymouth, for a 
Cleveland firm, conducting a safe and pro- 
fitable business. Mr. Washburn then 
studied law a year and a half, in Green- 



1080 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



wich, Huron county, under the preceptor- 
ship of T. K. Strimple, after which he took 
a law course at Ann Arbor, Mich., which 
he completed June 30, 1892, after having 
commenced the practice of his chosen pro- 
fession in Lorain April 10, 1892. He is 
also a member of the real-estate iirm of 
Buell, "Washburn &Co., in the same town. 
In his political predilections he is a liberal 
Republican ; socially he has been a member 
of the I. 0. 0. F. since twenty-one years 
of age. 



T OHN DUNNING, who for many 
w I years has successfully conducted a 
%J) general farming and grape-growing 
business in Avon township, has been 
a resident of same since October, 1838. 
He was born in 1880 in County Down, 
Ireland, and when eight years of age came 
to America with his parents, Alexander 
and Margaret (Smith) Dunning, also na- 
tives of County Down. 

Immediately after their arrival in the 
United States tliey proceeded to Avon 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, settling in the 
woods on the farm now occupied by our 
subject, and here passed the remainder of 
their lives. The father died in 1878, the 
mother in 1862. They had a family of 
six children, as follows: David, married, 
who first resided in Avon township, thence 
moving to Michigan and later to Kansas, 
where he died; Catherine, who married 
Charles Ketcham, of Avon township, 
where she died in 1869; Elizabeth, wife of 
Wolcott Mitchell, of Avon township; Jane, 
Mrs. "William Lucas, who died January 
25, 1853; John, the subject of this sketch; 
and Alexander, who died November 19, 
1852. 

John Dunning, whose name appears at 
the opening of this sketch, received his 
education in the common schools of Avon 
township, and in his early youth aided in 
clearing the pioneer farm, also learning 



the trade of carpenter and joiner, which 
he followed for many years. In 1855 he 
was united in marriage, in Avon township, 
to Miss Mahala Moore, who was born in 
Essex county, N. Y., daughter of Joseph 
and Ruth (Sheldon) Moore, natives, re- 
spectively, of Massachusetts and New 
1 ork, in which latter State they were mar- 
ried. In 1846 thev came west to Lorain 
county, Ohio, locating on the lake shore iu 
Avon township, thence removing in 1864 
to Wisconsin, where they both died. They 
had the following children: Orlena, wife 
• of Charles Jarvis, of Lorain; Mahala, Mrs. 
Dunning; Ransom, of Waupaca county. 
Wis.; and Dwight, married, who resides in 
Minnesota. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Dunning have been 
born eleven children, seven of whom are 
now living, namely: Alfred and Ernest, 
both married, and living in Avon town- 
ship; Eva, wife of Frank Masten, of Roch- 
ester township, Lorain county; Edson, a 
resident of Avon township; Bertha, wife 
of Floyd Crandall, of Huntington, Ind. ; 
Allen, also in Huntington, Ind.; and 
Carl, residing at home. Those deceased 
are Harriet Augusta, who died when 
eighteen months old; Rose May, who died 
at the age of seven years, four months; a 
twin of Rose May, deceased in infancy; 
and May, a twin sister of Ernest, wlio 
died in infancy. Mr. Dunning is actively 
engaged in general farming, and owns a 
nice farm of 100 acres in a good state of 
cultivation, fourteen acres of which are 
devoted exclusively to the culture of 
grapes. Politically, our subject is a Re- 
publican, and in religious faith he and his 
wife are members of the Baptist Church 
at French Creek. 



I 



Co., Ohio. 



RNEST S. JACKSON, county sur- 
veyor for Lorain county, having his 

J residence in Elyria, was born July 
24, 1861, in Avon township, Lorain 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1081 



His f'atlier, Ezra S. Jackson, born in 
1816, in Js'ew York State, came to Ohio in 
1834, settling in Avon township, where 
he has since remained, with the exception 
of a tiiree-years' residence in Oberlin, 
where he was educating his children. Ue 
married Miss Cordelia Moon, who was 
born in Avon township, Lorain county, 
in 1826, and children as follows were born 
to them: Lillie. wife of H. A. Kinney, of 
Milwaukee, Wis.; Jennie, wife of R. E. 
LoveJand, of Freeport, 111.; Lena, at home; 
and Ernest S. The parents are yet living, 
hale and hearty, in Avon township; they 
are members of the Methodist Cbnrch, 
and in politics Mr. Jackson is a Repub- 
lican. 

Ernest S. Jackson, whose name opens 
this sketch, received a libera! education at 
tlie common scliools of the vicinity of his 
place of l)irth, and he developed a natural 
talent for mathematics. He was reared 
on his father's farm, but in youth turned 
his attention to civil engineering, making 
a study of the practical part of tlie profes- 
sion at Akron, Ohio, and he did his lirst 
surveying work in Lorain county. In 
November, 1892, he was elected, on the 
Republican ticket, county surveyor of 
Lorain county, a position he fills with 
eminent ability and the utmost satisfac- 
tion. Mr. Jackson was married to Miss 
Sylvia Moon (in no way related to his 
mother's family), and they have three 
children, to wit: Roy, Leon and Herbert. 
The family are adherents of the M. E. 
Church, and socially Mr. Jackson is a 
member of the F. & A. M. and the 
Chapter. 



E' C. SCHULER, manager of the 
North Amherst Furniture Co., 
I which has been in active operation 

since 1.S81), is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, horn in Fasten, Northampton 
county, in 1845. He is a son of George 
and Aima Catherine (Luezler) Schuler, 



natives of Germany, the father of Baden, 
the mother of Hessia. George Schuler 
was a locksmith by trade, which he fol- 
lowed in this country for a time, and then 
revisiting Germany, remained there seven 
years, at the end of which time he returned 
to the United States, making his perma- 
nent residence in Pennsylvania, where he 
died ; his wife, whom he married in Ger- 
many, passed from earth in 1887, also in 
Fennsylvania. They were the parents of 
six children, as follows: George Theodore, 
a graduate of Heidelberg College, Ger- 
many, now in business in Georgia; Amelia, 
widow, living in Allentown, Penn.; 
Aurelia, wife of J. Rohrer, in South 
Easton, Penn.; Isabella, widow, a resident 
of Allentown, Penn.; Harmon, living in 
Arkansas (he enlisted in the Nineteenth 
P. V. C, and served throughout the war 
of the Rebellion, veteranizing), and E. C, 
subject of sketch. 

E. C. Schuler received his elementary 
education at the schools of Heidelberg, 
Germany, to which country the family re- 
turned when he was two years old. After 
staying seven years in Heidelberg the 
family again came to the United States, 
and for three years resided in Mauch 
Chunk, Penn., and then at Easton (where 
E. C. was born), at which place he finished 
his education, passing finally through 
Easton High School. In 1867 he came to 
Brownhelm township, Lorain county, 
where he worked for Rice & Co., as molder, 
having previously learned the trade, and 
in 1868 came to Amherst, continuing in 
the same line of business for some time, 
lie then carried on a meat market about 
eight or ten years. In 1889 he commenced 
in the furniture manufacturing business, 
in which he has met with much success. 

In 1869 Mr. Schuler was married, in 
Erownhelm township, Lorain county, to 
Mary E. Shotton, a native of that town- 
ship, daughter oi John and Irene (Thrall) 
Shotton, the father a native of France, both 
now deceased. To this union four chil- 
dren have been born, viz.: Frances, wife of 



1082 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



H. R. Hart, of Toledo, Ohio; Fred; and 
Anna and George, twins. Our snbject 
and wife are members of the M. E. Chnrch, 
of the Sunday school of which he is super- 
intendent. Politically lie is a Democrat, 
and durine: Cleveland's first administration 
served four years as postmaster at North 
Amherst. He has been a member of the 
town council, and of the school board twelve 
years. Socially Mr. Schuler is a member 
of the F. & A.'M., Stonington Lodge, No. 
503, of which he was W. M. three times; 
also of the Marshall Chapter, No. 49, Ely- 
ria, Ohio; is a member of Amherst Lodge 
No. 47 K. of P., of Plato Lodge No. 301, 
I. O. O. F., and of the K. O. T. M. 



EORGE JACKSON. This gentle- 
man, who enjoys the distinction of 
being the most extensive and pros- 
perous agriculturist of Penfield 
township, is deserving of more than 
a passing notice in the pages of this work. 
He is a great-grandson of Reuben Jack- 
son, and a grandson of Daniel, who was 
born in 1775 in Pittstield, Mass., where he 
learned the blacksmith's trade under his 
father. Daniel was married in his native 
State to Patty Kellogg, who was born in 
Pittstield in 1785, and while residing in 
Massachusetts three children were boru to 
them, as follows: Jane, who married Har- 
vey Birdseye, and died at the age of eighty- 
four years in Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y.; 
Pliny, father of our subject; and Sally, 
who married William Gillett, and died in 
Penfield, Ohio, when aged thirty-six years. 
Between 1812 and 1815 the family re- 
moved west to Jefferson county, N. Y., and 
bought the farm whereon the parents 
passed the remaining years of their lives, 
the father engaging chiefly in agriculture, 
although he also followed his ti-ade to some 
extent. In New York State were born the 
following named children: Susan, the wife 



of William Chapman, who died in Chicago 
at an advanced age; Maria, who married 
Ferdinand Turnicliff, and died in Pitts- 
field, Ohio; Elisha, a farmer of Penfield 
township, Lorain county; Jason, a farmer, 
who died in Champion, Jefferson Co., 
N. Y. ; Daniel, who also died in Champion, 
N. Y.; James, a farmer of Penfield town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio; Charille, who 
married Hiram Hopkins, and died in Well- 
ington, Ohio; Jesse, late a farmer of Hum- 
boldt county, Iowa, where he died Novem- 
ber 29, 1893; and Belah, who died after 
reaching adult age. in Champion, Jeffer- 
son Co., N. Y. Mr. Jackson was a very 
successful farmer. He was a man of 
wonderful vitality, active and capable of 
performing a hard day's work to the very 
end of his life; he died suddenly, while 
chopping wood, in his eighty-fourth year. 
He frequently remarked that he did not 
know what it was to feel tired. In poli- 
tics he was an Old-line Whig, a stanch 
member of the party. His wife died at 
the age of ninety-three years, and now lies 
buried by his side in Champion cemetery; 
they were devout members of the Old- 
school Presbyterian Chnrch, and he was a 
man so highly respected, esteemed and 
loved everywhei'e, that it could almost be 
said he had not an enemy in the world. 

Pliny Jackson, fatherof subject, was born, 
in 1806, in Jefferson county, N. Y., near 
Carthage, was educated at the common 
schools and reared to farming pursuits. 
When a young man he was married, near 
Ogdensburg, N. Y., to Miss Sarah Rowlin, 
who bore hiui two children in New York 
State, viz.: Jane, now Mrs. Henry Rey- 
nolds, of LaGrange, Ohio, and Martha, 
wife of Eli Griffith, also of LaGrange. In 
the early spring of 1835 the family set out 
for Ohio with a sled, drawn by oxeti, which, 
the snow having in the meantime melted, 
stuck in a deep mud hole, and they had to 
hire another yoke of oxen to drag out the 
sled. Pliny Jackson had previously visited 
Ohio, prospecting for laud, but made no 
definite purchase. They landed in Penfield 





(^^^^j^^jKM^..^' 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1085 



townebip, Lorain county, after a lon^ and 
tedious journey, ami iiere the father 
traded his oxen, sle<l and the entire outlit 
for 120 acres of wild land, the same our 
subject now owns and lives oti. Here they 
made a clearing, built a log house, and set 
to work to make further improvements on 
their new home. The nearest neighbor 
was on the opposite side of the road from 
the Jacksons, wliiie the next nearest was 
three miles distant. Game was plentiful, 
and the family larder was always well pro- 
vided witii venison, wild turkey, pheasants, 
quail, rabbits, etc. By and by Mr. Jack- 
son added to this property 121 acres ad- 
joining. Here were born to Pliny Jackson 
and iiis wife children as follows: George, 
our subject; Alonzo, who died at the age 
of twenty-five; Malissa, now Mrs. William 
Snow, of Oakland, Cal.,; Harriet, Mrs. 
Ed. Rock wood; and Eliza, who died of 
smallpox when young. The father in af- 
ter years moved into Wellington village, 
thence to LaGrange, where he died; for 
several years he had been a sufferer from 
rheumatism. His wife survived him a few 
years, dying at the home of her daughter, 
Mrs. Griffith. They were buried in Pitts- 
lield township cemetery, near the farm 
whereon they had first settled. Mr. Jack- 
son was a hard-working, industrious man, 
and a leading farmer of his day, in his 
political proclivities a stanch Democrat. 

George Jackson, the subject proper of 
this sketch, was born July 6, 1835, on the 
farm he now owns and lives on in Peniield 
township, Lorain county. He received a 
liberal education at the schools of the 
neighborhood, which in those early days 
of the county were most primitive in their 
furnishino-8 and educational facilities. On 
his father's farmhe wa.s thoroughly trained 
to the arduous duties of farm life, and 
agricultural pursuits in all phases have 
been his life work. In August, 1861, he 
married Miss Mercy Hoxley. of Summit 
county, Ohio, where she was born in 184:0. 
and children as follows were the result of 
this union: Arthur, of LaGrange; Alonzo, 

S6 



of Peniield; Eliza, Mrs. Ford Gott, of La- 
Grange; William, of Penfield township; 
Frances, who is married to Frank Hrad- 
stock, of Pentield, and Bei'uice, who died 
young. The mother of these died Octo- 
ber 21, 1873, and lies buried in Pittsfield 
cemetery. In September, 1874, Mr. Jack- 
son married, for his second wife. Miss 
Frances E. Hull, who (vas born in Pen- 
tield township, Lorain county, a daughter 
of Joel and Polly (Huxley) Hull, and 
four children have come to this marriage, 
all yet living and named respectively: 
Mabel, Jay, Ernest and Sylvester. 

Mr. Jackson may truly be said to be a 
representative self-made man, as from 
small beginnings, by dint of indefatigable 
energy, coupled with sound judgment, 
good management and unsurpassed finan- 
ciering, he has attained a comfortable 
competence. He now owns 431 acres of 
prime farm land, well equipped with com- 
modious buildings, is a thoroughly practi- 
cal as well as theoretical agriculturist, and 
is an excellent judge of stock. Demo- 
cratic in politics, he has held various town- 
ship offices in a strongly Republican com- 
munity, and he has proven himself as 
capable as he is popular. For a few years 
the family lived in the town of Welling- 
ton, in order that the children might there 
be educated. 



[[ I[ANS HEINRICH JULIUS 
hH KROHN, city marshal of Elyria, 
I 1[ is a native of Schleswig-Holstein, 
•fj Germany, born April 24, 1841. 

His father, Henry William 
Krohn, was born in Flensborg, Schleswig- 
Holstein, where he married Miss Lucy 
Muellerstedt, a native of the same city. 
Here he died; his widow is now living in 
Denmark, with her son Henry Ernst 
Georg, who is in the service of the 
Government as mail agent. Three mem- 
bers of this family, ineuding our subject, 
came to America in 1809, l)ut prior to that 



1086 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



he had served hia time as florist and land- 
scape gardener. After his arrival in this 
country he first located in North xVinherst, 
Lorain county, and in September immedi- 
ately following moved to Lake Forest, 111., 
where he had charge of the horticulture 
and floriculture at a family residence. 
From Lake Forest he went to Clinton, 
same State, where he followed farming, af- 
ter which he came to Elyria, and has here 
since made his home. Mr. Krohn from 
the time he came to Elyria has been en- 
gaged in various capacities, railroading 
being one of his experiences, bnt findino- 
that his age stood in the way of promotion, 
he abandoned that, and took a position on 
the night police force. He made an 
efficient oflicer, gaining the confidence of 
the people of Elyria, and in the spring of 
1890, after one year's service as night 
policeman, he was elected to his present 
position of city marshal, and is ex-ofiicio 
chief of police. In the spring of 1891 he 
was reelected for two years, and in the 
spring of 1893, Elyria having been changed 
from a village to a city, his term of office 
was nullified, and he was reelected for two 
years under the city ordinance. 

In 1866 Mr. Krohn was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Elise C. Freese, a native 
of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and 
three children were born to them, namely: 
Henry, who died at the age of seventeen 
years; Edith, wife of E. J. Moser; and 
Elizabeth, recently married to Reno F. 
Mnssey. In his political pi-eferences our 
subject is a Republican; socially he is a 
meuiber of the Royal Arcanum, and of the 
K- of P., Uniform Rank. 



\ILLIAM A. SAYLES. The sub- 
ject of this sketch, William Allen 
Sayles, was born June 11, 1847, 
in Onondaga county, New York. 
His father. Smith F. Sayles, was born in 
Rhode Island in 1822, but moved with his 




parents to the State of New York in his 
early boyhood. At the age of twenty-two 
he married Evalyn Allen, and William A. 
was the only child of this marriage. Hav- 
ing lost his first wife, he married Clara 
Van Slyke in 1853, and soon after moved 
to Lorain county, Ohio. For the first five 
years he lived first in Ridgeville, then in 
Eaton township, and finally bought 140 
acres for his permanent home in Carlisle 
township, a most beautiful tract of land on 
the banks of Black river. Two children 
were the fruit of this second marriage, 
neither of whom lived to years of matur- 
ity. The father died April 22, 1890. sur- 
vived only by his wife and son, William 
A. Politically he was a Democrat until 
the outbreak of the Rebellion. Then he 
became a Republican and remained such 
until the latter years of his life, when he 
gave his support to the Prohibition party. 

William A. Sayles spent his boyhood 
upon his father's farm, and was educated 
in the public schools of Lorain county. On 
November 5, 1863, he enlisted in Com- 
pany L, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, and served 
until April 25, 1865, when he was honor- 
ably discharged. He then spent some time 
in study at Berea College. After leaving 
school he remained with his father upon 
the home farm until the time of his mar- 
riage, except a part of three years spent in 
Wisconsin, near Kenosha. In 1872 he mar- 
ried Lillian Brush, daughter of William 
Brush, a pioneer of Lorain county. Until 
the death of his father he lived in a home 
upon the bank of the river near the home 
of his father. Here his three children — 
Clare, Lynne and Bertrand — were born. 
Upon the death of his father he moved with 
his household to the old homestead, where 
he now lives. 

Mr. Sayles isasuccessful farmer, hisfarm 
being one of the best kept and most fruitful 
in the neighborhood. An ardent lover and a 
good judge of horses, he has given some 
attention to horse raising, and has the dis- 
tinction of having sold to the Royal stables 
of Austria an animal now pronounced by 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1087 



competent authorities to be the finest trot- 
ting horse in Europe. Our subject takes 
a prominent part in the politics of tiie 
county, and is a stanch Republican. He 
is one of the foremost in a community of 
progressive and prosperous farmers. 



D, CROWELL, for over sixty years a 
resident of Eaton township, is a son 
/ of Richard and Mary B. (Little) 

Crowell, who were natives of New 
Jersey, where they were married in 1824. 
In 1832 they caine west to Ohio with a 
team owned by Alvah Brooks, and settling 
in the woods of Eaton township, Lorain 
county, set to work to open up a farm. 
Here tiiey made their home several years, 
then moved to Grafton township, same 
county, where they passed the remainder 
of their pioneer lives, dying, the father in 
1875, the mother in 1879. They had a 
family of eight children, as follows: Re- 
becca, Mnfe of Isaac B. Ross, of Eaton 
township; Mary Louisa, wife of Chandler 
Eaton, died in Michigan in 1873; D. 
Crowell, subject of this memoir; Aaron 
and Moses (twins), the latter of whom died 
at the ajje of fourteen (Aaron married, and 
made his home in Eaton township, where 
he died in 1882); one deceased in infancy; 
Silas, married, residing in Grafton town- 
ship; and Phebe, who married David Phe- 
lan (a soldier), and died in Eaton township 
in 1863. 

D. Crowell, whose name appears at the 
opening of this sketch, was born in New 
Jersey in December, 1829, and was two and 
a half years old when his parents brought 
him to Eaton township, where he was 
reared and educated. He ably assisted in 
clearing up the home farm till he came of 
age, when he bought 156 acres of wild 
land in the same township, whereon to 
build up a home for himself. Tin's he has 
so well improved and cultivated that it is 



now one of the best farms in the county, 
and, by additions, at tliis time comprises 
1()5^ broad acres. He has erected resi- 
dences thereon, both two stories high, 
16x28 and an L 16x28; also a good 
horse barn 30 x 44. In connection with 
general farming he pays considerable at- 
tention to dairying, and in all his under- 
takings success has followed his efforts. 

In 1849 Mr. Crowell was united in mar- 
riage, in Eaton township, with Miss Sarah 
Smith, a native of England, daughter of 
T. P. Smith, who came from that country 
to America, making his first home in the 
United States at Olmsted Falls, Cuyalioga 
Co., Ohio, afterward moving to Amherst 
towtiship, Lorain county, then to Elyria, 
and finally to Henry county, same State; 
he died in 1866, his last days beino- spent 
at the home of our subject. To this union 
has been born one child. Smith Ebenezer, 
who is married and is the father of three 
children: A. D., Bertrand M. and Richard 
Hubert. Politically Mr. Crowell is a 
Democrat, and he is a member of the 
M. E. Church. 



EORGE MATHEWS, one of the 
, most pi-osperou8 of the native- 



\Jb, born agriculturists of Eaton town 
"^ ship, was born in 1842, a son o{ 
Edward and Ellen (McDermotj 
Mathews, natives of Ireland. 

Edward Mathews when a young man 
emigrated from his home in Erin to Can- 
ada, whence after his marriage he came to 
Lorain county, sojourning for a time in 
Columbia township, thence moving to 
Eaton township, and making his final home 
on the farm where our subject now resides, 
which locality was then all wild woodland, 
teeming with game of all sorts. He died 
in 1855; he was a strong Democrat for a 
time, butin later years supported theWhio- 
party. His widow is yet living, making 
her home now with her son George. The 



1088 



LORAIir COUNTY, OHIO. 



record of their children is as follows: James 
E. went to Michigan when a young man, 
whfre he married, and died in 1890; Ann 
is the widow of R. R. Steele, of Milwaukee, 
Wis.; Martha is the wife of Stephen Tyler, 
and resides in St. Joseph, Berrien Co., 
Mich.; Jane is the wife of Henry Foster, 
of Kalamazoo, Mich.; George; William is 
married, and residing in Berrien, Mich, (he 
enlisted in Lorain county, Ohio, and served 
two years in the Civil war); Ellen is the 
wife of Reuben Learn, and resides at Og- 
den, Ufah; Emma is the wife of Martin 
Terry, of Elyria, Ohio. 

George Mathews, the subject of our pres- 
ent writing, received a fair education at 
the schools of his native townsliip, which in 
those early days were somewhat primitive 
in their character, both in their furnishings 
and in the quality of the literary pabulum 
provided tiierein. He was thoroughly 
trained to the pursuits of the farm, and has 
all his life carried on general agriculture 
on the old homestead, which he owns, and 
which comprises some seventy acres of land, 
all in a good state of cultivation. Li 1869 
he was married in Eaton township to Miss 
Emma, daugliter of John and Harriet 
(Wilson) Shadford, sketch of whom follows. 
Two children have been born to this union, 
namely: Leon, who received his education 
in Elyria, is tiow in tiie employ of Salyer 
& Allen, clothiers, Elyria; and Mamie. 
Politically Mr. Mathews is a loyal mennber 
of the Republican party. 

J. Shadford, father-in-law of Mr. 
Mathews, was born in 1814 in Lincoln- 
shire. England, a son of John and Mary 
(CoUinson) Shadford, of Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, the latter of whom died in her native 
land. 

John Shadford, father of subject, came 
in 1828 with his family to the United 
States, first locating in Grafton township, 
Lorain county, thence in 1831 moving to 
Eaton township, where he cleared up a 
farm out of the woods, and which after- 
ward came to be known as the " Wilson 
farm." Here he died some time before 



the breaking out of the war of the Re- 
bellion. He had two brothers who came 
to the United States, viz.: William, who 
enlisted in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the Civil 
war, serving as orderly sergeant (he is now 
residing in the West, it is thought in 
Iowa); and Major, who lived in Lorain 
county, Ohio, nearly all his life, dying 
about the year 1873. 

J. Shadford, of whom this writing 
chiefly relates, received his education in 
the schools of his native place, and after 
coming to this country, which he did at 
the age of fourteen, attended the schools 
of Grafton and LaPorte, in Lorain county. 
The main business of his life has been 
farming, but he owned and for some years 
operated steam mills at Grafton, which l)e 
had erected about the year 1859. He is 
now owner of ninety-one acres of first-class 
land, all improved from the woods, and 
under a good state of cultivation. In 
1886 he was married to Miss Harriet 
Wilson, a native of England, and daugh- 
ter of Thomas Wilson, who died in that 
country. Two children have been born to 
this marriage, viz.: Edward W., and 
Emily, wife of George Mathews. In poli- 
tics Mr. Shadford is a Democrat, and he 
has served on the school board. 



JEREMIAH MARTIN, Jr., a well- 
to-do agriculturist of Columbia town- 
ship, was born October 8, 1850, in 
Devonshire, England. 
His parents, Jeremiah and Mary (Sheer) 
Martin, were also natives of England, the 
father of Devonshire, the mother of Corn- 
wall, whence in 1867 they came to the 
United States, locating in Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, where Mrs. Mar- 
tin died in 1868; Mr. Martin now resides 
in Jasper county, Mo. They had seven 
children, namely: Jeremiah, subject of 
this sketch; William, married, residing in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1089 



Columbia township; Natlianiel, married, 
who makes his home in Missouri; John 
Thomas, married, also living in Missouri; 
Jane, wife of Clifton Baker, in Missouri; 
Mary, wife of Lafe House, of Hillsbor- 
ough, Oregon ; and Charles Wesley, mar- 
ried, a resident of Missouri. 

Jeremiah Martin, Jr., whose name in- 
troduces this sketch, passed his early years 
in England, where he received an educa- 
tion in the common schools. In 1S67 he 
came with his parents to Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain ('o., Ohio, and in 1869 went 
to jasper county. Mo., residing there until 
1873, when he returned to Columbia 
townsliip. Here he was united in mar- 
riage, in 1875, with Lucy R. Peachey, 
who was a native of Columbia township, 
daughter of Thomas and Philomela 
(Smith) Peachey, early pioneers of same, 
where they both died. In 1881 Mr. 
Martin located on his present farm, com- 
prising 14:5i acres of land in a good state 
of cultivation, upon which he has erected 
a good barn, 40 x 72 feet, with ten-foot 
basement and milk house 9i x 16 feet, two 
stories high, with a geared windmill and 
water tank on top of it; here he conducts 
a general farming business. In peilitics 
our subject is a member of the Republican 
party, and has served on the school board. 
Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the 
M. E. Church of Columbia, in which he is 
trustee and treasurer. They are the par- 
ents of four children, namely: B. A., 
Alonzo B., Charles Wesley and Philomela. 



IfSAAC B. ROSS, well-known in Eaton 
township as a solid, practical farmer, 
J was born in 1826 in New Jersey, a son 
of William R. and Hannah W. (Du- 
rand) Ross, natives of the same State. The 
father, who was by trade a surveyor, died 
in February, 1877, in good circumstances; 
bis widow came to Lorain county, Ohio, 



and here passed tiie rest of her days, dying 
July 5, 1887. They had a family of six 
children, as follows: Isaac B., subject of 
this sketch; Harriet, wife of Lucian Bur- 
rett, of Lorain; Mary, residing in Lorain; 
Juliet, wife of Zadoc Reeve, of New Jer- 
sey; John, residing in Eaton township, 
and George, who died in Eaton township, 
Lorain county. 

Isaac B. Ross, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was educated in New Jersey, 
and there resided till 1848, when he came 
to Eaton township, Lorain county. He 
was originally a shoemaker, a trade he fol- 
lowed successfully until about the year 
1855, when he turned his attention ex- 
clusively to agriculture. In that year he 
moved to his present fine farm in Eaton 
township, comprising 137 acres of as good 
land as can be found in the county. In 
1849 Mr. Ross was married, in Eaton town- 
ship, to Miss Rebecca Crowell, a native of 
New York, daughter of Richard and Mary 
(Little) Crowell, natives of New Jersey, 
who about 1831 came from New York 
State to Lorain county, settling in Eaton 
township, where they made their home for 
many years; they died in Grafton, the 
father October 25, 1875. aged seventy-three 
years, the mother February 24, 1879, aged 
seventy-eight. They were the parents of 
eight children, as follows: Rebecca, Mrs. 
Ross; Daniel, residing in Eaton township; 
Silas, married, residing in Grafton; Moses, 
who died in 1844; Phebe, the wife of 
David Phelan, died in 1868; Mary L., wife 
of Chandler Eaton, died about 1872; Aaron, 
deceased December 1, 1882; and one de- 
ceased in infancy. In 1832, when Mrs. 
Ross was a little girl, she got lost in the 
woods of Eaton township, while on her 
way to visit a neighbor — the only one for 
miles around. On lieing missed a search 
party set out, and after a long and patient 
hunt found her about 1 o'clock the next 
morning. She had waded in water up to 
her arm-pits, and altliough she often heard 
her mother and others calling lier name, 
she was so frightened that she thought the 



1090 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



sounds caine from the howling wolves, of 
which there were many in those pioneer 
days. To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac B. Ross were 
born three children, namely: Moses C, 
married, residing in Eaton township; 
M. D., married, living on the home farm; 
and Perry, married, who died in Eaton 
township in 1880. In politics onr subject 
is a Prohibition-Republicau, and he is 
serving as a njsmber of the school board. 
He and his wife are members of the M. E. 
Church at Eaton, of which he is steward. 



JOHN LANTSBERY, who for over a 
quarter of a century has been among 
the leading successful agriculturists 
of Carlisle township, is a native of 
England, born in Little Creaton, North- 
amptonshire, July 26, 1842. His parents, 
John and Aim (Haddon) Lantsbery, na- 
tives of the same county in England, 
were farming people, industrious and 
economical. The father died there in 
1846, the mother in Lubenham, England, 
November 24, 1873, at the age of fifty- 
one years. They had four children, our 
subject being the only survivor. 

He was educated in the schools of his 
native place, and in 1864 etnigrated to the 
United States, arriving in December of 
that year in Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
where he resided till 1867, in which year 
he came to Carlisle township, agriculture 
having been his occupation in both town- 
ships. Plis first land purchase was seventy- 
one acres partly improved, but he now 
owns ninety-six acres, all in a good state 
of cultivation. 

In 1863 Mr. Lantsbery was married in 
England to Mary Ann Eady, a native of 
Cottesbrook, Northamptonshire, daughter 
of Thomas and Susan (Holt) Eady, of the 
same county, where her father died in 1862, 
her mother in 1884, at the age of seveuty- 
eight years (for her second husband the 



latter had married a Mr. Kilworth). Of 
their six children, William now resides in 
New Zealand; John died in England; 
Francis lives in London, England; Thomas 
is also in England, and Henry J. is a drug- 
gist in Elyria, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Lantsbery were born six children, as fol- 
lows: Jolm Thomas died of pneumonia in 
1891, aged twenty-six years; Henry W., 
born in 1867, is married, and resides near 
his parents; Alice, born in 1869; Anna S., 
born May 20, 1874, is attending f-chool in 
Elyria; Fannie, born in 1877, died in 1883; 
Nellie McE., born May 22, 1880. The 
parents are members of the Disciple 
Church at Elyria, of which Mrs. Lantsbery 
has been organist for several years, and for 
a long time she taught music throughout 
the county; she is correspondent for the 
Republican, the Democrat and the Ol>er- 
lin jVews. In his political sympathies 
Mr. Lantsbery is a Republican. 



Tl S. CRAWFORD, who for some five 
k. I years was a prominent merchant in 
^J) Lorain, South End, but has been re- 
tired since 1887, came to the town in 
1882 from Seville, Medina county, Ohio. 

He was born in Medina county January 
15, 1847, a son of William and Rebecca 
(Smith) Crawford, natives of Pennsylvania, 
the father of Washington county, the 
mother of near Philadelphia. In 1821 
they came to Ohio, settling on a farm in 
Medina county, which is still in the family 
name. The father was a sergeant in tlie 
Home Guards. He died in 1877, the 
mother in August, 1888. Our subject 
was educated in part at the district schools 
of the vicinity of his birthplace, and in 
part in the schools of Seville. On August 
9, 1882, he came to Lorain county and 
opened a grocery store at Lorain, South 
End. He put up a frame building which 
was destroyed by fire February 2, 1883, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1091 



and lie afterward erected a double brick 
store, two stories high, 50x48 feet, and 
continued in business till 1887 — tive years. 
Prior to this he followed farming till 1869; 
then went west, remaining away sutne 
eight years, part of the time in Missouri 
(Henry county), Mississippi, Illinois and 
Michigan. 

Mr. Crawford was married in Medina 
county, Ohio, in 1876, to Miss Chestina 
Hay, a native of that county, and daughter 
of Henry Hay, and to this union has been 
born one child, Mary R. Mrs. Crawford 
is a member of the Baptist Church. Po- 
litically Mr. Crawford is independent, in- 
variably voting for the best men and 
soundest measures. He is a member of 
Woodlawn Lodge No. 226, K. of P., and 
of Lorain Lodge No. 552, A. F. & A. M., 
of which he is treasurer. His present tine 
residence on the corner of Washington and 
Franklin streets, Lorain, he erected in 
1891. Grandfather James Crawford came 
to Medina county, Ohio, from Washington 
cou:ity, Penn.,in 1821, and made his future 
home there. 



D' 



^AVID DRAKE, a leading farmer 
and dairyman of Carlisle township, 
is a native of Schoharie county, 
N. Y., born April 20. 1820, a son 
of Alexander and Lucy (Benson) Drake, of 
Vermont, who migrated to New' York 
State in an early day. The Drake family 
are of English descent, and in early Colo- 
nial days three granduncles of Mr. Drake 
— Benjamin, Cyrus and Alexander — came 
from England to Vermont, where they 
settled as farmers. The father of David, 
who was by trade a blacksmith, was born 
in the year 1766, and died in Montgomery 
county, N. Y., July 2, 1838, being buried 
July 4. He was twice married, and by his 
first wife had three children — Pi'eserve, 
Polly and Sally. The children by the 
second marriage were: Apollos, Pliny, 



Gilbert, Abrara, David, Dennis (of Iowa, 

now deceased), and Caleb (living in Mis- 
souri); of whom Apollos, about the year 
1830, came from Delaware county, N. Y., 
to Medina county, Ohio, and died at 
Hamilton's Corner in 1883, a lifelong 
Democrat. 

David Drake, the subject proper of 
these lines, received his education in Scho- 
harie and Montgomery counties, N. Y., 
and until he was twenty-seven years old 
worked on farms by the month or day, 
two seasons for twenty shillings per 
month. In 1862 he migrated from New 
York State to Medina county, Ohio, where 
he i-emaiued one year, and then moved to 
Spencer township, same county, whence 
in 1867 he came to Penfield township, Lo- 
rain county. Here he bought an improved 
farm which he lived on and conducted 
eighteen years, and then moved to La- 
Grange township, same county, making 
his home there one year. In 1885 he 
finally settled in Carlisle township, where 
he owns the old Golden farm, bought by 
him from William A. Braman, and which 
consists of 144 acres of highly- improved 
land; he also owns ninety acres in Carlisle 
besides the tract he resides on, making, in 
the aggregate, 234 acres. 

On February 7, 1848, in New York 
State, Mr. Drake was married to Miss 
Julia Alger, of New York, daughter of 
William and Casadena Alger, natives of 
England, who when young came to New 
York, where they married and died. To 
this union were born three children, viz. r 
William, married, and living in Carlisle, 
has three children: Olivia, Ray and Lulu; 
Esther, widow of Milan Cone, of Penfield 
township, has four children: Letha, Kate, 
Mercy and Fred; Ilattie, wife of George 
Plase, in Carlisle township, has one child 
— Claude — by a former marriage with 
Charles Spicer. Mrs. Julia A. Drake died 
October 10, 1875, and February 13, 1878, 
Mr. Dralae was united in marriage, in 
Medina county, Ohio, with Miss Aurelia 
Graham, a native of that county, daughter 



1092 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



of Andrew Graham, an early settler of 
Medina, who died August 18, 1892. By 
tluit marriage there is one child, Lucy, 
living at home. In his political affilia- 
tions our subject is a Republican. He is 
a representative self-made man, having ac- 
cumulated all he owns by his individual 
perseverance and industry. 



than 



D. STOCKING, a prominent and 
prosperous agriculturist of Brighton 
township, is a native of same, born 
November 17, 1840, a son of Jona- 
S. Stocking. 
Joseph Stocking, grandfather of subject, 
was born in Ashfield, Franklin Co., Mass., 
November 1, 1781, and in 1815 came to 
Dover township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, with 
his family, including Jonathan S. Tbey 
traveled with an ox-team, the journey 
occupying six weeks, other immigrants 
coming at the same time. Mr. Stocking 
had visited the locality twice before bring- 
ing his family — once in 1811 or '12, and 
again in 1814. He built a log house on 
the site where he last resided. When h^ 
first came to Dover township thei-e was but 
one frame building in Cleveland, that 
place, in fact, being a mere point, a nucleus 
around which a village afterward grew up, 
from which was evolved the great city of 
Cleveland. Mr. Stocking was prominent 
and active in the township, and was equally 
active in its religious and educational in- 
terests. His first Presidential vote was 
cast for Jefferson, and it is said he voted 
at every Presidential election afterward, 
his last vote being cast for Hayes. He 
died February 23, 1877, aged ninety-five 
years, three months, twenty-two days, 
having been a resident of Dover township, 
Cuyahoga county, over sixty years. He 
lived to see the wilderness ttansformed 
into fruitful fields, and towns and cities 
rise up out of the dense forest; he lived to 



hear the rusli and roar of the railroad train 
where once could be heard naught but the 
howling of wolves, the angry growling of 
no less ferocious bears, and the war-whoop 
of the Indian. But to essay to mention 
what was consummated in those three- 
score years would be to attempt a history 
of all the Northwest, with its most won- 
derful growth and marvelous development. 

In Dover township, Cuyahoga county, 
in November, 1836, Jonathan S. Stocking 
married Sabrina Lilly, born in Ashfield, 
Mass., daughter of Austin Lilly, who 
came from New England in pioneer times. 
Jonathan S. Stocking lived in Cuyahoga 
county till 1836, in which year he moved 
to Brighton township, Lorain county, and 
in company with Harry Hawes bought 222 
acres of heavily-timbered land, and they 
felled the first tree that ever felt the axe 
on tliat farm. This land cost them six 
dollars per acre, but it proved a valuable 
property. Jonathan Stocking died here in 
1890, aged eighty years, two months, seven- 
teen days, liis wife in 1887, aged seventy- 
two years, four months, five days, and they 
are interred at Brighton Center. He was 
very successful, not only in general farm- 
ing but also in stock raising, and was a 
hard-woi'king man up to within two years 
of his death. In politics he was first a 
Whig, and, after the formation of the 
party, a stanch Republican. Mrs. Stock- 
ing, in Churcli relationship, was an Epis- 
copalian. They were parents of children 
as folfows: C. D., subject; Byron, de- 
ceased in infancy; Elmns B., who enlisted 
in Company K, One Hundred and Seventy- 
eighth O. V. I., was detailed to hospital 
work at Wilmington, S. C, and while 
handling corpses in the dead house became 
poisoned (he died at home at the age of 
twenty-two years); Abigail, who died in 
1865 when sixteen years old; Ralph G., 
deceased in infancy; and Darwin, a farmer 
of Brighton township. 

C. D. Stocking, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received a good practical edu- 
cation at the common schools of his native 




^ ^iJ Jo./^^eJz^^^ 



■^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1095 



township, and was reared to agricultural 
])tH'suits. He Las always lived on the old 
homestead with the exception of the few 
months during the Civil war he worked 
for his uncle, Joseph Stocking, in Cuya- 
hoga county. His farm, the largest in the 
township, now comprises 331 acres of ex- 
cellent land, equipped with as tine resi- 
dence and outbuildings as can be seen in 
the county. 

On January 7, 1874, our subject was 
married to Miss Ann Eliza Fish, who was 
bora, in 1838, in Ashland county, Ohio, a 
daughter of Daniel Fish, and two children 
— Abigail M. and Jane R.^have been 
born to them. Mrs. Stocking is a member 
of the Congregational Church at Brighton. 
Politically Mr. Stocking is a Republican, 
and has served as township trustee ten 
consecutive years; socially he is a member 
of the Knights of the Maccabees. 



I( L. REED, widely known in the 
k. I county as a thorough business man, 
^^ and an active member of the enter- 
prising firm of Teasdale & Reed, 
proprietors of the People's Shoe Store, and 
of the livery tirm of Moysey& Reed, Ely ria, 
is a native of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, 
born February 7, 1846, in Strongsville. 

Joseph Reed, father of subject, was a 
native of Cornwall, England, a son of 
Thomas Reed, who was born in the parish 
of St. Agnes, in the same county, and was 
a farmer and landowner there. In an early 
day he (Thomas) immigrated to the United 
States, bringing with him his family of 
thirteen children, of whom Joseph was the 
seventh in order of birth. They settled in 
Strongsville (near Cleveland), Cuyahoga 
Co., Ohio, where the father of this large 
family followed farming to the close of his 
life, which was a long and active one, he 
being close on ninety years of age at the 
time of his death. He was a member of 



the Congregational Church. His wife, 
Mary (Hitchens), was nearl}' eighty years 
old at the time of her death, and all the 
ancestry, on both sides, seem to have been 
long-lived. Joseph Reed, their son, was 
barely twenty years old when he came to 
America. He was married in Strongsville, 
Ohio, to Miss Tamar Lyman, and six 
children were born to them, J. L. being 
the eldest. The father of these was born 
in 1818, and died August 14, 1880; the 
mother, now in her seventy-fourth year, 
is living in Columbia. After marriage 
Joseph Reed settled in Columbia town- 
ship, where he followed farming. By trade 
he was a shoemaker, which he followed in 
England, and to a limited extent in this 
country. 

J. L. Reed, the subject proper of this 
biographical memoir, in his boyhood 
worked about the quarries in Berea and 
Columbia, and chopped wood by the cord, 
in order to earn money to pay for his 
schooling. His elementary education he 
received at the commoti schools of his na- 
tive place, which he supplemented with 
three terms study at Oberlin, and three 
terms at Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio, 
besides a course at Oberlin Commercial 
School. He then took up farming, secur- 
ing a lease of his wife's father's farm in 
Ridgeville township, Lorain county, where 
lie now owns 110 acres of well-cultivated 
land. He also, in connection with his 
farming interests, deals in wagons, agri- 
cultural implements, etc., and runs a shop 
in which repairing of wagons and imple- 
ments, in all of its branches, is done. In 
1889 he became associated with the 
People's Shoe Store, in Elyria, in company 
with Mr. Teasdale, as successors to Stone 
& Campbell. In May, 1891, he became 
a piirtner with Mr. Moysey in the present 
livery business, both of which enterprises 
are in a sound flourishing condition. 

In 1869 Mr. Reed was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Healy, and two cliildren have 
been born to them, viz.: Fred, at present 
a student at Garfield School, in Portage 



1096 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



county, Ohio, and Elsie, better known as 
" Kittle" among her many friends and ac- 
quaintances. In his political affiliations 
he is a stanch Republican, and he served 
as justice of the peace nine years, declin- 
ing to accept further election. He is a 
notary public, a member of the Church of 
Christ at North Eaton, and Is the superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school in said 
church. He is now vice-president of the 
Lorain County Agricultural Society, of 
which he has been a director four years. 



0,REN MOORE, a prominent repre- 
sentative farmer of Sheffield town- 
' ship, was born February 13, 1848, 
in Lorain county, Ohio. 
He is a son of Norman Moore, a native 
of Massachusetts, who came to Ohio when 
a young man. He was married in Huron 
county, Ohio, to Honore Messenger, and 
later settled at Avon Point, Lorain county. 
He was a sailor and farmer, and also con- 
ducted a saw and yrist mill. He built two 
vessels; one of these, the "Rainbow," sev- 
enty-live tons burden, at the time created 
considerable excitement, people coming for 
miles to see it launched. He afterward built 
the "Young Leopard," 125 tons burden, 
which he sold at Oswego. Mr. and Mrs. 
Moore had live children, all of whom grew 
to maturity, namely: Amaneer, who be- 
came a sailor, and died of cancer at the age 
of lifty-eight (he was a custom-house 
officer at Put-in-Bay for about three years 
during the latter part of his life); Oswell, 
who enlisted at Elyria in the Civil war 
and was killed at Gettysburg, being shot 
through the heart; Oren, our subject; 
Charles, and Amanda, widow of John 
Nesbitt, who died on his return home 
from the army. During the latter part of his 
his life Mr. Moore was an invalid; he died 
when about seventy-five years old. 



Oren Moore was reared at Avon Point, 
Lorain county, and received his education 
in the comujon schools. When yet a 
young man he was married to Miss Abbie 
Jaycocks, a native of New York, and they 
have had eight children, as follows: Lo- 
renzo, who died at the age of forty- 
three; William, a farmer of Michigan; 
Marietta, wife of L. Cahoon; Hattie, wife 
of Harry Haylor; Horace, a farmer of 
Michigan ; Sadie, wife of L. Robinson, of 
Lorain; Millie, married to Harry Groene, 
and Lennie, wife of John Faragher. After 
his marriage Mr. Moore lived in a log 
house in Avon township, on the Center 
road, later coming to Sheffield township, 
where he now owns a good farm of one 
hundred acres. His wife died of cancer at 
the age of sixty four. Our subject is a life- 
long farmer, progressive and enterprising in 
every respect. Politically he is a Repub- 
lican; socially he is a F. & A. M. Mr. 
Moore has eighteen grandchildren. 



FETER MEYER, one of the promi- 
nent, progressive and prosperous 
German agriculturists of Lorain 
county, is a native of Bavaria, born 
in 1844, a son of Andrew and Mary 
Catherine (Wack) Meyer, also of Bavaria, 
and in 1846 they set sail with their 
family from Havre, France, for the New 
World. 

After a voyage of forty-eight days they 
landed at New York, from which city 
they proceeded westward to Ohio, making 
a settlement on a farm in Ridgeville town- 
ship, Lorain county. P'or eleven years 
the parents resided in the town of Elyria, 
and here the father died in 1882, the 
mother in February, 1892. By trade An- 
drew Meyer was a carpenter, which he fol- 
lowed in his native land, but in this 
country he carried on agriculture almost 
exclusively. He had a family of eight 



LORAIN COUNTY, OIIIG. 



1097 



cliildren, of whom we give a record of 
t-eveii, as follows, the eldest two being by 
a former wife, and, consequently, half- 
brother and half-sister to the others: Eliza- 
beth, wife of Henry Neipfoot, of Elyria 
township; John, who enlisted during the 
Civil war in Company G, One Hundred 
and Seventh O. V. I., and was killed in 
the battle of Gettysburg; Peter, subject of 
tin's sketch; Catherine, wife of Adam 
Berres, of Ridge ville township; Mathias, 
a resident of New York City ; Gertrude, de- 
ceased; Adam, married, a resident of 
Hartford, Conn., in the employ of the Gas 
& Electric Light Company, near San- 
Francisco, Cal. 

The subject of this biographical sketch 
was two years old when he came to Ridge- 
ville township, and he here received a fair 
English education, in the meantime being 
trained to the arduous duties of the farm. 
In 1862 he enlisted in Company G, One 
Hundred and Seventh O. V. I., for three 
years or during the war, his regiment be- 
ing first attached to the army of the Po- 
tomac, and later to the Department of the 
South. He participated in the battles of 
Gettysburg and St. John's Island (S. C); 
was in the charge on Fort Wagner, and 
then with Sherman in the Carolina cam- 
paigns; was present at the destruction of 
the Columbia & Georgetown Railroad at 
Sumter, S. C, in the campaign in which 
State he served over ten months. At 
Gettysburg he was wounded, but not in- 
capacitated. In June, 1865, he was dis- 
charged at Charleston, S. C, mustered out 
at Cleveland, Ohio, same year, and re- 
turned to the pursuits of peace in Ridge- 
ville township, Lorain county, farming be- 
ing his lifework, although he was engaged 
two and one half years at carpenter work. 

Mr. Meyer was married in Ridgeville 
township, in 1872, to Miss Catherine 
Stander, and twelve children have been 
born to them, all vet living, named as fol- 
lows: Barbara, Emma, Peter Jacob, Mary 
Magdalene, Bridget, Rosa. Henry, Mary, 
Clai'a, Lawrence, Henry, and Gregory. 



Politically our subject is a stanch Demo- 
crat; socially he is a member of Wesley 
Kibby Post No. 708, G. A. R., Ridgeville. 
His wife and family are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Meyer is 
owner of 121 acres of land, all in a good 
state of cultivation, and well improved. 



EiLDEN WORTHINGTON is one of 
the most substantial and well-to-do 
I of the agriculturists of Carlisle 

township, of which he is a native. 
He was born March 9, 1833, a son of 
Jonathan B. and Elizabeth (Orr) Worth- 
ington, natives of Luzerne county, Penn., 
the father born January 16, 1807, the 
mother October 23, 1818. They were 
married in that county, and shortly after- 
ward came with a one-horse wagon to 
Huron county, Ohio, thence moving to 
Lorain county, locating in Carlisle town- 
ship^ Here the father opened up a farm, 
then bought land in Eaton township, near 
La Porte, and some years later moved 
thereon. He died in LaPorte September 
5, 188-1, the mother in Carlisle township 
October 25, 1869. In politics he was first a 
Whig, and afterward, on the organization 
of the party, a Republican; he was a jus- 
tice of the peace, and for many years town- 
ship trustee. Nine children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan B. Worthington, 
as follows: Maria, widow of Alfred Rug- 
gles, of Norwalk; Elden, subject of sketch; 
Benjamin, born in Carlisle township, served 
in the Civil ' war, three-months' service, 
and died in Cleveland in May, 1880; Eli- 
jah, married, and engaged in the real-estate 
business in Cleveland; Elizabeth, wife of 
O. Humphrey, of Eaton township, Lorain 
county; Henry, married, and living in La- 
Grange township, Lorain county; Erwin, 
who served in the Civil war, three-months' 
service, is married, and lives in Norwalk, 
Ohio; Augusta, who married Charles 



109S 



LORAIN COUNTY OHIO. 



Warner, of Eaton townsliip, and died June 
16, 1891; and Mary, deceased in July, 
1888. Tiie Worthington family are of 
English lineage. Grandfather Worthing- 
ton was a native of Massachusetts, a school 
teacher bv occupation, and in an early day 
moved to Pennsylvania. Grandfather Orr 
was born in New Jersey of German an- 
cestry, and became a pioneer of Luzerne 
county, Pennsylvania. 

Elden Wortiiiugton received his educa- 
tion at the common schools of Carlisle and 
Eaton townships, learned the trade of 
shoemaker, and worked at same witii his 
lather some ten years at LaPorte. He then 
commenced farming in Eaton, and in 
course of time owned a farm in that town- 
ship, and one in Carlisle. In his political 
predilections he is a Republican, and for 
several terms was trustee of Eaton town- 
ship, as well as member of the school 
board. He and his wife are members of 
the M. E. Church of Elyria. In addition 
to his regular agricultural interests Mr. 
Worthington deals considerably in real 
estate — both buying and selling. 

On September 16, 1857, our subject was 
united in marriage in Carlisle township 
with Miss Elizabeth J. Cornell, a native of 
Eaton township, daughter of James and 
Betsy (Dolbee) Cornell, of New York, 
wiio came to Lorain county in 1834, lo- 
catingin Eaton township, but subsequently, 
in 1838, removing to Carlisle township, 
where the father passed from earth in 
April, 1860; the mother died in June, 
1888. They had a family of ten children, 
six of whom are yet living, viz.: Louisa, 
wife Rev. N. S. Worden, of Ridcreville, 
Henry Co., Ohio; Heiro, married, and 
living in California; Nelson, married, and 
residing in Chickasaw county, Iowa; Fan- 
nie, wife of Rev B. D. Jones, of Coshoc- 
ton county, Ohio; Elizabeth J., wife of 
Elden Worthington; and Fidelia, widow 
of Walter Fauver, of Ridgeville, Henry 
Co., Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Elden Worth- 
ington iiave been liorn five children, of 
whom the following is a brief record: 



Edith is the wife of An.son E. Pitmey, of 
Ithaca, Mich., and they have four children: 
Clyde, Lila, Charles E. and Ruth Eliza- 
beth; Clara is the wife of Samuel Dew- 
hurst, of Carlisle township, and they have 
three children: Wilfred. Mabel and James 
E. ; Frank A. resides in Michigan; Nelson 
Orr is married, and makes his home at 
Avon Lake, Lorain county (he has one 
child, Carlotta); Lila died in 1888 at the 
age of eleven years. 



P 

/ 



ENRY DE LLOYD, who for the 
past twenty-live years has been 
prominently identified with Lorain 
county, and known far and near as 
a successful fast-horse trainer and 
speeder, is a native of England, born May 
26, 1846, in Shropshire. He is a son of 
Henry and Sarah (Capper) De Lloyd, of 
the same county, both of whom died there. 
The subject of this menaoir received his 
education at the parish schools of his 
native countv, and from early boyhood has 
been with and among horses; indeed, it 
may truly be said of him that what he 
does not know about that noble animal is 
not worth knowing. In England, where 
fast horses are run less "mechanically," 
probably, than in this country, he followed 
the business of trainer, and also rode in 
steeplechases and other races, when a boy, 
sitting the saddle with the ease and confi- 
dence of a veteran. In 1867 he immi- 
grated to the United States and to Ohio, 
making a settlement in Ridgeville town- 
ship, Lorain county, where he has since 
been engaged in farming in connection 
with his other business interests. He 
owns a good half-mile track, laid out about 
eight years ago. and at the present time 
has some nine or ten horses, besides colts, 
training on it. He has some animals with 
good records, including a colt, " Dolwood," 
a " Standard," one of the best-bred in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1099 



Northern Ohio. Mr. De Lloyd has made 
several races in both Ohio and Michigan. 
His farm in Kidgeville township is all 
well improved and highly cultivated, and 
is devoted to cereals and root crops. 

Mr. De Lloyd was united in marriage 
wiih Miss Emma J. Hudson, born in 
RidgevilJe township, Lorain county, a 
daughter of Frederick and Mary (Colly) 
Hudson, natives of England, the father of 
Camhi'idgeshire, the mother of Yorkshire, 
and both early immigrants to Ohio, their 
first home in the New World being in 
Cleveland, their last one in Ridgeville 
township, Lorain county, where they died. 
Four childien have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. De Lloyd, namely: Leonard (married 
to Miss Esther Fortune, and now residing 
in Ridgeville township), Hudson, Martin 
and Lee. Politically our subject is a 
prominent Republican, active in the inter- 
ests of the party, and served as president 
of the school board nine consecutive years. 
Socially he is connected with Elyria Lodge, 
No. 103, L O. O. F., and the Encamp- 
ment; also of the Knights of the Macca- 
bees at Ridgeville, being a charter member 
of both Societies. 




NDREW OSBORN, one of the 
oldest and most prominent of the 
agricultural citizens of Columbia 
township, is a native of Ohio, born 
in Summit county in 1823, a son 
of Joseph and Phila (13all) Osborn, of 
Connecticut. 

About the year 1811 Joseph Osborn, 
father of subject, came from the "Nut- 
meg State" to Ohio, making the journey 
in four weeks on foot, and after locating 
in Brimtield township. Portage county, re- 
turned for his wife, whom he had left be- 
hind in Coiniecticut. From Portage they 
moved to Summit county, Pame State, 
whence they came, in 1836, to Columbia 
township, Lorain county, and heweil out a 



new home in the wild woods. He was a 
useful man in his day, serving as trustee 
and assessor of Columbia township, of 
whicli he was a resident half a century. 
He was born at Waterbury, Conn., May 
13, 1794, and died August 27, 1887, a't 
the advanced age of ninety-three years, 
three months; he had served in the war of 
1812, and was the recipient of a pension. 
Before coming to Columbia township he 
built the locks at Akron, Ohio, and helped 
to raise the first building. Mr. Osborn 
was twice married, first time to Phila Ball, 
who bore him three children: Andrew^ 
subject of sketch; Phebe Ann, deceased at 
the age of thirteen; and Hannah, wife of 
Ormal Smith, of Olmsted township, Cuya- 
hoga county. The mother of these died 
in 1831, and in 1832 Mr. Osborn married, 
in Summit county, Roba Harrington, who 
died April 17, 1875. Grandfather An- 
drew Osborn was a native of Connecticut, 
born of English ancestry. 

The subject of this sketch was thirteen 
years old when he came with his parents 
to Lorain county, and as a consequence he 
received part of his education in Summit 
county, Ohio, and part in Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain county. Since coming to Co- 
lumbia he has lived with his father upon 
the old homestead, iiis present ])lace, com- 
prising 180 acres of well-cultivated land, 
where he is engaged in general agriculture. 
In September, 1843, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Harriet Ives, daugh- 
ter of Albert and Betsy (Russell) Ives, 
natives, the father of Connecticut, the 
mother of New York, who became early 
settlers of Columbia township, Lorain 
county, where they passed the rest of their 
days. Nine children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Osborn: George, married to 
Mrs. Mary (Hill) Harrington; Joseph, 
married to Jessie Jasper, and has one 
child, Bertha; Charley, who married Liz- 
zie Yunnan, and has two children, Lilly 
and Leon; Phila, married to Warren Good- 
man, and has two children, Guy and For- 
est; Mary, wife of George Howard, of 



1100 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Columbia township, has three children, 
Emma, Vivian and Clare; Frank, born 
November 6, 1851, died at the age of 
nineteen, and three that died in infancy. 
In his political predilections Mr. Osborn 
was originally a Whig, and, since the 
formation of the party, has been a straigiit 
Republican. He and his wife have now 
for half a century traveled together the 
highway of life; and it is the earnest wish 
of their many friends that they may be 
spared to see many more anniversaries of 
the commencement of their married life. 




J. SNYDER. This gentleman, 
who for many years was a success- 
ful tradesman, is now justly classed 
among the progressive farmer citi- 
zens of Lorain county. 
He was born November 12, 1828, in 
Upper Augusta township, Northumber- 
land Co., Penn., and is a son of Joseph 
Snyder, a farmer, who was born in Lancas- 
ter, Penn., July 1, 1791, and died January 
8, 1872. He was a soldier in the war of 
1812. He was twice married, the name 
of his first wife being unknown. For his 
second he married Mrs. Elizabeth Millet, a 
widow, nee Noaker, who was born July 5, 
1792, and she became the tnother of the 
subject of this sketch. The parents both 
died in Schuylkill county, Penn. Grand- 
father Snyder, whose name was also Joseph, 
was a native of Germany, and came to Lan- 
caster, Penn., immediately after marriage. 
A. J. Snyder received a good prac- 
tical common-school education in reading 
and writing, mathematics being entirely 
omitted. When about sixteen years of age 
he was bound out as an apprentice for 
three and one-half years to Edward Finney, 
a shoemaker in Danville, Columbia (now 
in Montour) Co., Penn., with whom he re- 
mained from June 23, 1845, to March 1, 
1848, at which time, having effected a 



compromise with Finney, he purchased his 
freedom. With what little money he had 
saved from his earnings he proceeded to 
Northumberland, then to Port Carbon, 
thence to Pottsville, in all of which places 
he followed his trade, successfully. While 
in Port Carbon he was married, August 
21, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Ann Pluuket, 
daughter of Michael and Mary Plunket. 
Their wedding tour was made with a horse 
and buggy, and by the time they reached 
home they found themselves absolutely 
^jenniless, so poor was he when he plunged 
into the sea of matrimony. In the spring 
of 1850 Mr. and Mrs. Snyder came to 
Ohio, being accompanied by her parents, 
making among themselves quite a party of 
immigrants. They had some time pre- 
viously started for Ohio, but were detained 
at Hoilidaysburg, Penn., where Mr. Sny- 
der worked at his trade. On their jour- 
ney westward the party passed through 
Canton, New Lisbon, Massillon, Wooster 
and Ashland, finally halting at Plymouth, 
where our subject found himself forty 
dollars in debt. He worked at his trade 
in Norwalk and New Haven, and again at 
Plymouth, in the latter place for eleven 
years, saving a little money there, and 
providing a home for the family. Here 
he lost his first wife, she dying January 1, 
1859, and here she was buried; she left 
three children, viz.: Lucinda A., now Mrs. 
Samuel Markle, of Ashland, Ohio; Willis, 
a farm laborer of Miami county, Ohio; and 
Antoinetta, now Mrs. Morris Risser, of 
Ashland, Ohio. For his second wife Mr. 
Snyder married, October 15, 1859, Mrs. 
Melinda Shurter, a widow, and two chil- 
dren, both deceased in infancy, were born 
to this union. Mrs. Melinda Synder died 
December 18, 1861, and our sul)ject on 
March 31, 1863, married Miss Mary Qninn, 
who bore him two children (twins): One 
deceased in infancy, and William, now in 
Bloominggrove township, Richland Co., 
Ohio. Mrs. Mary Snyder died January 4, 
1864, and January 1, 1865, the thrice- 
bereaved husband wedded Miss Lydia 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1101 



Simonson, by whom there were two chil- 
dren: .Foseph G., a fanner of Richland 
county, Ohio, and Bertha M., who died at 
the age of fifteen years. This wife passed 
away December 21. 1872, and for his fifth 
and present spouse Mr. Snyder married, 
September 4, 1873, Miss Victoria Mc- 
Miilen, of Oliversburg, Richland Co., 
Ohio. To this last marriage five children 
were born, to wit: Etta A., deceased at the 
age of nine years; and Carlos L., Leroy V., 
Autha P. and Ralph V., all at home. 

In Plymouth our subject made his home 
until 1861; then lived on a farm a short 
time, after which he moved to Shelby, 
Ohio, where for a brief period he worked 
at his trade; thence went to a farm in 
Bloominggrove township, Richland county, 
and then again resided in Shelby a short 
time. In the spring of 1865 he came to 
Lorain county, settling in Rochester town- 
ship, where he had purchased of Erastus 
Knapp 150 acres of ]irime land (his present 
home), on which he has made many im- 
provements. Mr. Snyder is not only a 
good farmer, but a systematic business 
man, keeping a regular set of books, show- 
ing expenditure and revenue in all his deal- 
inijs ever since he commenced on his pres- 
ent farm. Politically he is a zealous Re- 
publican, taking a lively interest in the 
affairs of the party, and has been a dele- 
gate to various county conventions. In 
Church relationship he is a member of the 
M. E. Church, his wife being a Baptist. 



dl B. PARKER, a prominent business 
man of North Amherst, well-known 
' in insurance circles, is a native of the 
State of New York, born October 28, 
1830, in Lexington, Greene county. He is 
a son of Abrani and Elizabeth (Buel) 
Parker, of the same county, the former of 
whom, a farmer by occupation, and a Dem- 
ocrat in politics, died in April, 1852, the 



latter dying in Williamstown, Oswego 
county, N. Y., in October, 1864, and was 
buried in Jewett, Greene county, N. Y. 

J. B. Parker received his education at 
the district schools of his native place, and 
was reared on his father's farm. In 1856 
he moved to Wayne county, Penn., where 
he had charge of a store, and was book- 
keeper for Morse, Martin & Co. (later 
Morse, Cook & Co.) until 1862, when he 
proceeded to Williamstown, Oswego coun- 
ty, N. Y., and engaged in general mer- 
chandising, continuing in business there 
until 1869, the year he came to New Lon- 
don, Ohio. In that town he remained till 
1874, and then moved to North Amherst, 
where he has since resided, intimately 
identified with the business interests of the 
place. 

In 1851 Mr. Parker was married, in 
Greene county, N. Y"., to Miss Louisa Ben- 
jamin, who died without issue, and in 1855 
he became united in marriage with Mrs. 
S. C. Pain, nee Wolcott, by which union 
there were four children (two of whom are 
yet living), viz.: (1) Metta A., widow of 
J. B. Norton, of Amherst; (2) Lillie and 
(3) Willie, twins (the former of whom died 
in Williamstown, Oswego county, N. Y., 
the latter in Ledge Dale, Wayne Co., 
Penn.), and (4) Caj-rie E., wife of E. E. 
Kimmel, residing at Cedar "Valley, Iowa. 
Mr. Parker is a Democrat of the first water, 
and was elected a justice of the peace in 
1891; is now serving his second term as 
notary public, and has been a member of 
the town council. In his fire, life and 
accident insurance business, in which he 
has been engaged the j)ast six years, he 
represents, among other offices, the Glens 
Falls, Manchester, North Western and 
National and Wayne County Fire Com- 

Kanies, besides the New York Life and 
fational Life of Vermont. In addition to 
all this he is secretary of the North Am- 
herst Shear Co., incorporated December 
18, 1890, with which he has been con- 
nected since its organization. He and his 
wife are membeis of the M. E. Church, in 



1102 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



the Sunday-scbool work of which, and in the 
choir, he has taken much personal interest. 
Mrs. Parker was born Septeiriber 4, 
1830, in Lexington, Greene Co., N. Y., a 
dangliter of Reuben I. and Artemesia 
(Buel) Wolcott, natives of New York, who 
in 1831 came west to Huron county, Oliio, 
niakina: their residence for a time in Fitch- 
ville, tlicnce moving to Ruggles township 
(now in Ashland county). The mother 
departed this life in Huron county, Ohio, 
in 1842, the father in Ruggles township 
(then in Huron county) in 1863 or '64. 
He was a farmer of prominence, and in his 
day an active politician, first as a Whig, 
afterward as a Republican. Mrs. Parker 
was educated in Oberlin,and has been twice 
married, as already recorded. Mr. Parker's 
grandfather, William Parker, a native of 
<J(jnnecticut, was a drummer boy in the 
Revolutionary war; in after life he settled 
in Lexington, Greene Co., N. Y. Her 
grandfather, Munson Buel, also a native 
of Connecticut, moved in an early day to 
Lexington, Greene Co., N. Y., and died at 
the advanced age of eighty-two; he was a 
cloth dresser by trade, and also owned a 
flour and grist mill. 



JIACOB SCHAIBLE, in his day a well- 
known Lorain county pioneer, was 
_) born March 27, 1807, in Boulanden, 
Wnrtemberg, Germany, and died 
February 7, 1874. 

When but five or six years old he lost 
both of his parents by death, leaving him and 
his only brother, Michael, orphans. After 
the death of the parents, his grandmother, 
on the mother's side, undertook the care 
of the two little boys, and gave them both 
a common-school education. 

Jacob took up the pursuit of farming 
(and it was in this career that he grew up 
to manhood), in which he was eminently 
successful. In January, 1834, he was 
united in marriao-e with Miss Catharine B. 
Ramsaver, granddaughter of the then emi- 
nent physician and surgeon, C. H. von 



Ottein, who had engaged the best teachers 
money could procure and gave her a good 
education. Mr. Schaible, with his young 
wife, settled on his estates, on which he had 
made many improvements after his major- 
ity, and as they both liked country life 
their home life was attractive and pleasant. 
Nothing, in fact, marred their every-day 
life until in the fall of the year 1846, when 
Mr. Schaible was suddenly stricken down 
with an illness so severe that his life hung 
in the balance for many a day; finally, 
however, his strong constitution prevailed 
over the disease, although he did not fully 
recover his former health. Then his at- 
tending physician and several other phy- 
sicians held a consultation, and their 
unanimous decision was that Mr. Schaible 
should take a sea voyage for the restoration 
of his health. 

Accordingly in May, 1848, with his wife 
and five children, Mr. Schaible wended his 
way toward the seaport of Havre, took pas- 
sage there on a sailing ship, and after a tem- 
pestuous voyage of seven weeks landed at 
New York. Their stay there was of short 
duration, for they soon turned in the di- 
rection of Ohio, taking steamer on the 
Hudson river as far a-< Albany; from 
there in a canal boat to Buffalo, thence to 
Cleveland, whence they came directly to 
Elyria, arriving there August 1, 1848. 
The three months' travel restored Mr. 
Schaible to his former health. Elyria was 
then but a mere village, straggling out 
over several streets of mud and under- 
brush, and the only approaches at that time 
were by the way of lake and t^tage coach. 

Mr. Schaible soon after his arrival pur- 
chased land one mile west of Elyria, built 
a small house and settled on his farm, 
which was nearly all covered with under- 
brush and forest. He immediately began 
to clear and improve his property until he 
had one of the best farms in the county, 
also buying more land from time to time 
until he had some three or four hundred 
acres of well-improved land at the time of 
his death. He was honest and iiuius- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1103 



trious, kind and obliging, and his name be- 
came tlie synonym for integrity and up- 
rightness. Being temperate in his liabits, 
he was a rare specimen of the hardy pio- 
neer. He was a t'aitiifui member of tlie 
Evangelical Lutheran Church from early 
youth, and for many years was its stanchest 
supporter. In the family he was a loving 
husband, a kind and indulgent father. His 
faithful wife, who had so long shared his 
joys and sorrows, preceded him but eight 
weeks in death. His remains were placed 
beside those of his wife in Murry Ridge 
Cemetery, in the bosom of mother earth, in 
full iiope of a glorious I'esurrection. 

Mr. Schaible left four sons and five 
daughters to mourn his loss, viz.: Agnes 
B. Theiss, of Cleveland; Margaretha M. 
Limb, of Woaster; J. Frederich Schaible, 
who died February 12, 1875; C. Hen- 
rietta Krieger, of Wooster, Oliio; Jacob 
E Schaible, of Elyria; Carrie Schaible, 
Charles H. Schaible, John G. Schaible and 
Sophia C. Schaible, all of Eljria. 



T ACOB E. SCHAIBLE was born in 
w I Germany, and was but two years old 
S^j when he came with his father to this 
country. He now lives on his farm 
of 140 acres on "West Ridge, and is one of 
tlie most thorougii farmers in Lorain 
county. Mr. Schaible has over sixteen 
thousand tile under ground, and has one 
of the best- improved farms. He and his 
two children are members of St. Paul's 
Church. 

In 1886 he took a trip across the ocean, 
and visited the principal cities in England, 
France and Germany, spending some time 
in his native country. 



El LI AS BAUMHART, one of the 
leading, most prosperous and enter- 
1 prising agriculturists of Black River 

township, is a native of Erie county, 
Ohio, born in 1845. 

57 



His father, Capt. Adam Baumhart, was 
born in Hessia, Germany, whence at the 
age of fourteen years he came to America 
and to Erie county, Ohio, with his father, 
Elias Baumhart. In 1846 Adam moved to 
Black River township, Lorain county. He 
was married in Erie county to Christina 
Herwig, daugher of Jacob and Catherine 
(Blech) Herwig, all of Hessia, Germany, 
who came to tho United States when 
Christina was eight years old. They were 
nine weeks crossing the ocean. Jacob 
Herwig was a miller in the Fatherland, 
but in tills country he followed fai'ining. 
He died in 1873, his wife in 1853. Capt. 
Adam and Christina Baumhart are the 
parents of eleven children, viz.: Emeline, 
wife of Benjamin Ciaus, of Brownhelm 
township; Elias, subject of sketch; Jacob, 
deceased at the age of two years; Henry, 
who died when a^ed fifteen years; Cather- 
ine, wife of Charles Holin, of Black River 
township, Lorain county; Armina, at home 
M'itb her parents; Martha, wife of Henry 
Furber, of Erie county, Ohio; Adam, Jr., 
studying medicine at the University of 
Ann Arbor, Michigan; Edward, who died 
when five years old; Jacob, on his father's 
farm in Brownhelm township, and James, 
also a farmer in that township. The par- 
ents are yet residing in Brownhelm town- 
ship, highly respected and honored. 

Elias Baumhart received his education 
at the district schools of Black River town- 
ship, whither he was brought when an in- 
fant. He was reared toagricnltural pursuits, 
and after attaining his majority bought 
fifty-six acres of land, which he cleared. 
This he subsequently rented, and bought 
his present fine farm of 240 acres, well 
watered by a good creek and equipped with 
all necessary buildings. In December, 
1869, Mr. Baumhart was united in mar- 
riage, in Brownhelm township, Lorain 
county, with Miss Amelia Lutz, who died 
March 16, 1873, the mother of two chil- 
dren: Charles and Thomas, the latter of 
whom died when eight months old. On 
April 12, 1874, our subject married, in 



1104 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Black River township, Lorain county, for 
his second wife, Miss Margaret Jacobs, a 
native of that township, and daughter of 
Peter and Dora (Smith) Jacobs. To this 
union have been born six children, viz.: 
Delia, Benwill, Nelson, Armina, Robert, 
and Edward, who died when seven months 
old. The parents are members of the 
Evangelical Church; in politics Mr. Eanm- 
hart is a Democrat, and has served his 
township as trustee. 




\ILLIAM A. BATES. William 
Bates, the paternal grandsire of 
our subject, was born and reared 
in Connecticut, but passed the 
greater portion of his life in Lewis county, 
N. Y., near the town of Lowville. His 
vocation in life was that of a farmer. He 
married Mrs. Sarah Woods, and the results 
of this union were ten children; by a pre- 
vious marriage live were born. 

In about 1836, then in his seventy-fifth 
year, he removed to the then wilds of 
Ohio, whither several of his sons had pre- 
ceded him a year. The journey was made 
overland, the means of locomotion bein? 
four strong horses, and the conveyance a 
large covered wagon, into which were 
crowded the family and many personal 
effects. The remaining years of his life 
were passed with his children, all of whom 
were located in Lorain county, Ohio. He 
was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, 
bravely fought for liberty as a trooper, 
and was commended by his officer for 
gallantry and bravery in the battle against 
the British at Sacket's Harbor. He de- 
parted this life in 1848, at the age of 
eighty-four years. His good wife sur- 
vived him some thirteen years, and was a 
like number of years his junior. She also 
lived to the age of eighty-four, and was 
remarkably well preserved and hale, in 
fact, a few months previous to her demise 
shp thought but little of a walk of a half 



mile. They were formerly Presbyterians, 
but after removing to Ohio they joined 
the Methodists, and they were exemplary 
Christian people. The following children 
accompanied and located in Lorain county, 
with their father: Francis, Ottis, Bennett, 
Hannah, Moses, Lyman, Thaxter, Norton 
and Charles, all now deceased, Bennett be- 
ing the last to pass away, dying in De- 
cember, 1892. The father of these was a 
Highland Scotchman, and was a man of 
giant-like dimensions, being six and one- 
half feet in stature, and weighing over 
three hundred pounds. His sons averaged 
six feet in height, and were of massive 
proportions. 

Francis Bates, the father of subject, 
. was born in Lewis county, N. Y., in 1800, 
and was there reared. He was possessed 
of skill in the use of tools of any sort, but 
his attention chiefly turned toward farm- 
ing, and the trade of shoemakina. In 
1835, at the age of about thirty-five years, 
he gathered together his savings and 
started for the then wilds of Ohio, almost 
immediately on his arrival locating upon 
a tract of lifty acres in the western portion 
of Lorain county. To pay for the land he 
was employed at working for others, his 
leisure being used in the clearing of his 
own land. At that period the wages re- 
ceived "at clearing" were fifty cents to 
seventy-five cents per day. At the time 
of his advent into this then "wilderness" 
there were several log houses in Camden 
township. In 1820 he married Miss Maria 
Obits, a lady of German parentage, though 
of American birth, and a native of the 
same county as her husband. To this 
union were born four sons and one daugh- 
ter, namely: Nelson, Sallie Ann, Justin, 
Elbirge and William A. Of these the 
last mentioned and Justin, a prominent 
citizen of the Hawkeye State, are the only 
ones living. Francis Bates was, politically, 
an Old-line Whig, an earnest Abolition- 
ist, and religiously a devout member of the 
Methodist Church, as was also his faithful 
wife. Both were well and kindly known 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1105 



throughout a large community, and their 
deeds of charity are traditional in many of 
the pioneer homes of the county. In Oc- 
tober, 1858, Francis Bates departed this 
life, his wife following him to eternal rest 
in 1869. 

William A. Bates, the subject proper of 
this memoir, was born in St. Lawrence 
county, N. Y., and there reared to the age 
of fourteen, when he came west with his 
parents to Ohio. Here he attended school 
in the old log school building with its slab 
benches and other primitive furnishings. 
Soon, however, he was compelled to shoul- 
der his portion of the labor of clearing his 
father's land, and working for others to 
assist in the payment of the indebtedness, 
into which his father had gone in the pur- 
chase of same. For such work he received 
twelve dollars per acre cleared, and, for only 
chopping or felling the timber, six dollars 
per acre. Mr. Bates' health was never ro- 
bust, and he received many setbacks in his 
progress even in his youth, because of this 
misfortune. When about twenty-seven he 
had about two hundred dollars, all saved 
from his earnings, and he then linked his 
fortunes with those of Miss Sarah Sigs- 
worth, the date of their marriage being 
June 29, 184:8. She is the daughter of 
Thomas Sigs worth (now deceased), who 
was one of the first, if not the first, of 
Camden township's citizens. He was a 
native of England, and by many of the 
older residents of Camden he is remem- 
bered as an industrious, loyal, thoroughly 
esteemed citizen. To our subject and wife 
were born children as follows: S. Olive, 
William Duane, Ella M., Mary A., Fran- 
cis W., Elma R., Willnettie and L. Clem- 
ant; the first three were born in Ohio and 
died in infancy, the others were born in 
Iowa. Of these Mary A. is the wife of 
Floyd Twining, of Henrietta township; 
Francis W. and Elma R. reside at home 
with their parents; Willnettie (Mrs. Ed- 
ward Bell) is a resident of North Royal- 
ton, Ohio; L. Clemant is a successful clerk 
in Lorain, Lorain county. In October, 



1854, thinking a change of climate would 
benefit his health, he removed to the then 
new State of Iowa; accompanied by his 
wife he made the trip in a covered wagon. 
After remaining in Iowa thirteen years, he 
returned to Ohio in May, 18G7. 

Mr. Bates has been a successful aori- 
culturist, and is highly respected through- 
out his wide acquaintance. He has given 
his children the advantage of a good edn- 
cation, and that they appreciate the efforts 
of their parents in their behalf is shown 
in their devotion to them, in these their 
declining years. Mr. Bates is a Republi- 
can, politically, and takes an active and in- 
telligent interest in local and national 
affairs, and has held several local offices. 
His farm displays the hand of enterprise 
and thrift, the many improvements bespeak- 
ing well his praise. Mrs. Bates and other 
members of the family are earnest and de- 
vout members of the Methodist Church. 



W 



|^|ESLEY HASTINGS, a worthy 
representative of one of the earli- 
est pioneer families of Pen field 
township, is a native of Wilna, 
Jefferson Co., N. Y., born December 21, 
1822. 

He is a son of Curtice and Pattie 
(Groves) Hastings, the former of whom 
was born in Vermont, and when a young 
man removed to New York State, where 
he married and had children as follows: 
Ashley, who was accidentally killed by the 
e.xplosion of a signal gun in LaGrange 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio; Wesley, sub- 
ject of this sketch; and Submit, Mrs. Ly- 
man Crane, of Chatham Center, Medina 
Co., Ohio. Curtice Hastings followed the 
carpenter's trade, for which he had a na- 
tural inclination, and in 1825 came west 
to Ohio, in company with Henry Towns- 
end, walking the entire distance from 
New York State. He visited in Harris- 
ville and Lodi, and, after looking over the 



1106 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



land in Lorain and Medina counties, re- 
turned home. In June, 1826, he set out 
for Ohio witli his family, heing a long time 
on the road, as they drove tlie entire dis- 
tance, and their team was the first one to 
enter the township. They made their home 
at the house of a family named Holcomb 
until their cabin of logs and bark was 
erected on tlie tract which Mr. Hastings 
had bargained for, which at tliat tinie was 
a dense wilderness, abounding with wild 
animals; and many were the exciting ad- 
ventures and narrow escapes which the 
pioneers had in these forests. Their cabin 
was a rude one, and for the first year had 
no floor, and neither door nor window. At 
first they had to go a long distance east to 
have their milling done, hauling the grist 
on a sled drawn by oxen, the journey oc- 
cupying five days and nights, and marked 
trees being their only guide, as there were 
no roads. 

After locating in LaGrange township 
the family was increwsed by the following 
members: E. H. and E. G. (twins), who 
were the first white male children born in 
the township; Sanniel, a farmer of La- 
Grange township; a daughter that died in 
infancy; Edson, now a farmer of LaGrange 
township; and a son, who was adopted in 
infancy, on the death of his mother, by the 
Dreher family of Gi'afton township, who 
moved to Utah and joined the Mormons, 
which was the last heard of tiieni and the 
child. Mrs. Hastings was interred in East 
cemetery, LaGrange township, and for his 
second wife Mr. Hastings married Asenath 
Amie, who bore him one child, Frank, wlio 
served in the Civil war (he died in La- 
Grange townsliip). After coming west 
Mr. Hastings engaged in agriculture, and 
also continued to follow the carpenter trade, 
erecting many of the first gristmills in his 
section. He also conducted tlie sawmill at 
Eawsonville for some time, and he was the 
builder of the Jonathan Rawson mill that 
stood at Grafton Stg,tion. He began to 
prosper, accumulated property, and at the 
time of his death was in very comfortable 



circumstances. His second wife preceded 
him to the grave. Politically he was a 
Democrat. 

Wesley Hastings was but a child of four 
years when he came to Ohio, at whicli time, 
and for several years following, there were 
no schQols of any kind in his district. The 
first one opened was of the subscription 
variety, but he was unable to attend even 
this regularly, as his services were needed 
at home. He was reared to agricultural 
life on the pioneer farm, and learned the 
trade of a carpenter under his father. On 
April 2, 1843, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Elinira Loorais, a native of Jef- 
ferson county, N. Y., daughter of Justin 
and Sally (Sillick) Loomis, who came to 
LaGrange township in an early day, locat- 
ing on Vermont street. To this union 
were born children as follows: Charles, a 
carpenter, in the employ of the D. L. Wads- 
worth Lumber Co., of Wellington, Ohio; 
and Irwin, who died young. After his 
marriage our subject located on Vermont 
street, LaGrange township, where he re- 
mained for a year, and then removed to a 
farm directly opposite this place and sepa- 
rated from it by the Black river. Here 
he lived four years, with Dorias Holcomb, 
a brother-in-law, in a house which they 
erected, thence moving to his present farm 
in Penfield township, where lie has now 
had his home for over fifty years. The 
section was then a vast wilderness, and 
here Mr. Hastings purchased fifty acres at 
six dollars per acre, to which he has since 
added, and all of which has been cleared 
and improved by his own labor. In con- 
nection with farming he continued to fol- 
low his trade until 1875, and he has erected 
more buildings in his section than any 
other man living; he has also worked in 
other parts of the county. For a number 
of years he has given his principal atten- 
tion to farming, and, though he has passed 
his threescore and ten years, he is yet 
capable of doing a good day's work. In 
political matters Mr. Hastings has always 
sympathized with the Democratic party. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1107 



although he voted for Abraham Lincoln; 
in former years he took considerable inter- 
est in party affairs, and served in various 
local offices. He is a hicrhly respected citi- 
zen of tiie community, and now, after many 
years of toil and hardship, enjoys a com- 
fortable competence. 



E 



■J A. TURNEY, a thoroughly repre- 
sentative farmer and influential citi- 
zen of Amherst townsiiip, is a na- 
tive of Ohio, born in Lake county, 
March 23, 1815. 

Tl)e father of subject was born in Fair- 
field, Conn., October 15, 1759, and was 
married to Polly Downes, who was born in 
Reading, same State, December 2, 1768. 
He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, 
his first enlistment being in 1777, and his 
first battle at Danbury, his second at Black 
Rock, both in Connecticut; later he served 
in the baggage train of the army till the 
close of the war. From the year 1832 to 
theclo.^eof his life he was in receipt of a pen- 
sion from the Govei-ninent of eight dollars 
per month. While a resident of Connecticut 
he was for a time a sailor on merchant ships, 
trading with the West Indies. In 1809 he 
came to Ohio, and bought 100 acres of wild 
land in Madison township, Lake county, 
which he improved; later he purchased 160 
acres in Perry township. Lake county, and 
finally another seventy acres in Madison 
township, aggregating 330 acres, of which 
he crave to each of three sons 100 acres. 
In politics he was an Old-line Whig, his 
first vote being cast for George Washing- 
ton, in Connecticut; after coming to Madi- 
son, he served as trustee of that township. 
He died April 5, 1833, aged seventy- three 
years, five months and twenty days; his 
wife on October 9, 1835, aged sixty- si.K 
years, ten months and twenty-three days; 
they were members of the Baptist Church. 
To this honored pioneer couple were born 
children as follows: Daniel Turney, a 
farmer, born May 11, 1788, died March 9, 



1841, in Lake county, Ohio, whither he had 
come on foot from Connecticut; Phebe 
Turney, born March 9, 1791, who was mar- 
ried to Erial Cook, and died in Lake county, 
March 4, 1852; David Turney, born De- 
cember 25, 1794, died in Lake county, March 
5, 1826, aged thirty-one years, two months 
ten days; George Washington Turney, born 
March 13, 1797, died in Lake county, 
February 19, 1830; Charlany Turney, born 
August 20, 1799, mjirried James Gage, and 
died in Lake county, in June, 1829: Asa 
Squire Turney, born March 20, 1804, died 
in Lake county, February 16, 1886 (he was 
a minister of the Disciple (Jhurch); Marvin 
Turney, born in Connecticut, August 11, 
1807, who resided on a farm in Dearborn 
township, Wayne Co., Mich., where he set- 
tled in 1834, until his death, which occurred 
April 28, 1893, when he was aged eighty- 
six years; and Eli A., subject of sketch. 

Eli A. Turney received his education at 
the public schools of Lake county, Oiiio, 
which were first held in a blockhouse, after- 
ward in a log house, and he was reared to 
agricultural pursuits, which he followed for 
some time. He then engaged in ship- 
building at Black River, Sandusky, Ver- 
million, Huron and Milan, lake port towns 
of Lorain and Erie counties, Ohio. Subse- 
quently he entered the Freewill Baptist 
ministry, was licensed to preach in 1850, 
and ordained in June, 1856, ever since 
which he has been a minister in that church 
as a member of the Freewill Baptist As- 
sociation. In 1833 Mr. Turney moved to 
Lorain county, and to Amherst township, 
where he bought 118 acres of wild land, 
which he improved, erecting thereon the 
first log house he ever saw built, and, con- 
trary to the prevailing custom of those days, 
no whiskey was used during the work. Prior 
to coming to Lorain county he resided for 
a time in Geauga county, same State. 

On May 12, 1833, our subject married, 
in Ridgeville, Ohio, Minerva Seeley, a na- 
tive of Tioga county, N. Y., born Septem- 
ber 15, 1815. The result of this union 
was seven children, of whom the following 



1108 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



is a brief record: Albert Tnrney, who was^ 
educated at Oberlin, Ohio, is now a resi- 
dent of Bowling Green, Wood Co., Ohio; 
he married Hannah Harris, of Oberlin, and 
has two daughters: SophiaaudCory. Cjrena 
R. Turney became the wife of Perry Belden, 
of Amherst, and died in 1860. La Fayette 
Turney, born April 6, 1838, was educated 
at Amherst, and lives at Grand Rapids, 
Ohio, where he is a salesman; helms three 
children,oneofwiiom,E.E. Turney, is study- 
ing for the ministry. David M. Turney, 
born March 20, 1848, a railroad man, lives 
in Kansas. Mary, born July 10, 1853, is 
the wife of P^rank Bissell, of Columbus, 
Ohio. Henry Tnrney died in Lorain county 
October 21, 1858. Charles Wesley Turney, 
born October 1, 1841, died at the age of 
fourteen months. The mother of these 
died May 29, 1868, and September 11, 
1869, Mr. Turney married Mrs. Arvilla 
(Crocker) Branch, who was born in North 
Amherst, Ohio, daughter of Roswell and 
Perlina (Barnes) Crocker, the father a native 
of New York, the mother of Becket, Mass. 
They came to Lorain county. Ohio, in 1817, 
locating near Amherst, but in 1834 moved 
to Madison, Lake county, where Mr. Crocker 
died in 1868, his widow in 1880, at the age 
of eighty years. They reared a family of 
eight children, as follows: Eliza, widow of 
O. Barney, of North Amherst; Alonzo and 
Lorenzo (twins), born in 1819, the latter of 
whom died at the age of sixty-eight; Ar- 
villa, wife of subject; Fannie, whose hus- 
band. Dr. Martin Lnce, died of cholera on 
Sand Bar in the Ohio river; John W., a 
resident of Lake county, Ohio; Hulda, 
wife of D. D. Fo,\, of Doylestown, Wis.; 
and Erastus AV., a resident of Hawaii, Sand- 
wich Islands. Mrs. Tnrney is the oldest 
living lady born in Amherst township. In 
1840 she was married to S. G. Branch, of 
Madison, Lake Co., Ohio, and three chil- 
dren were born to them, viz.: E. P., mar- 
ried and residing in Florida (he served in 
the Civil war); W. S., in Dakota; and 
Fannie, wife of C. M. Parsons, uf Cleve- 
land, Ohio. Mr. Branch died in 1863. 



In politics Mr. Tnrney is a Republican- 
Prohibitionist, and cast his vote for W. H. 
Harrison in 1840; he has been a member 
of the school board for years. He is a mem- 
ber of the Freewill Baptist Church, Mrs 
Tnrney of the Congregational Church. 



fjHILIP SIPPEL, well-known in Lo- 
rain county and elsewhere as a prom- 
inent contractor and builder, is a 
native of Hessia, Germany, born 
July 20, 1831. He is a son of 
George and Mary (Schaffer) Sippel, who 
both died in Germany, the father in 1836, 
the mother in 1871, at the age of seventy- 
seven years; they were members of the 
German Presbyterian Church. 

Our subject was educated in the public 
schools of his native land, and in 1853 
came to the United States, landing in New 
York with but three dollars left, which he 
afterward gave to a less fortunate com- 
rade, who was unable to secure work. Our 
subject, finding employment in New York, 
saved his earnings, and when he had laid 
by enough to carry him westward, set out 
for Lorain county, Qliio, and, in about 
three months after first setting foot on 
American soil, he found iiimself settled in 
the then village of North Amherst, which 
has since been his home. In the Father- 
land he had learned the trade of carpenter 
and joiner, and for some time followed it 
in this country. Having bought a farm, 
he laid aside his trade for a time, and fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits, but selling the 
property he resumed carpentry, at which 
he made a success. Mr. Sippel is now 
recognized as the leading contractor and 
builder of North Amherst, having the full 
confidence of the community, and has been 
tiie architect and builder of the M. E. and 
Presbyterian churches, besides various 
business blocks. 

In 1856 Mr. Sippel was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Catherine Keller. Polit- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1109 



ieally he is a Democrat, and for nine years 
was a member of the board of education, 
was township trustee one term, and served 
his town as treasurer six years. Socially 
he is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. 
O. F., in which latter he has passed all the 
Chairs. 



El BIGLOW, proprietor of the West 
View Tile and Brick Works, is a 
I native of Lorain county, born in 

Columbia township in 1845, a sou 
of Daniel and Martha L. (Stranahan) Big- 
low, also of Columbia township, where 
both are yet living. 

Ephraim Biglow, grandfather of sub- 
ject, was born in Massachusetts, whence 
when a boy he moved to Maine, from there 
to New York, and from there migrated to 
Lorain county, Ohio, settling in Colum- 
bia township, where he passed the rest of 
his days. 

E. Biglow, the subject proper of this 
sketch, received a liberal education at the 
public schools of his native township, and 
lived on a farm up to the age of twenty- 
eight, when he embarked in mercantile 
business in West View, Cuyahoga county, 
continuing in same till the spring of 1893. 
In 1880 he became the proprietor of the 
West View Tile and Brick Works, which 
were built in 1880 for the manufacture of 
all kinds of brick and tile; they do the 
most extensive business and have the 
largest plant of any concern of the kind in 
the county. The capacity of the works is 
400,000 brick each season, with a corre- 
sponding capacity for tile, and they gener- 
ally have on hand a large supply of both 
products. The storage room is three stories 
high, 40x64, with a wing, two stories, 
24x80; engine-room 20x24; drying shed 
18 x 64, heated by steam pipes throughout; 
clay house, a brick building, 26 x 30, lo- 
cated on the " Big Foiir" Bailroad, with 
side track running to the works. There is 
also an iron track for carrying clay. 



In 1874 Mr. Biglow was married in 
Columbia township, Lorain coutity, to 
Miss C. R. Osborn, daughter of Asahel 
Banner and Sophronia (Scales) Osborn, all 
natives of that township; both parents are 
deceased. To this union there is one, 
child, Ernest O., at present attending 
Berea College. In politics Mr. Biglow is 
a Republican, and for eighteen years he 
served as postmaster at West View. He 
and his wife are members of the M. E. 
Church of that town, and they are held in 
the highest respect by all who know them. 



D- 



NIEL BIGLOW, a prominent, na- 
tive-born agriculturist of Columbia 
township, lirst saw the light in the 
year 1820. 
His parents, Ephraim and Nancy (Frink) 
Bio-low, were natives of Massachusetts and 
Connecticut, respectively, and were mar- 
ried in New York State, whence, in 1816, 
they migrated westward to Ohio, coming 
with a team. They located in the woods 
of Columbia township, Lorain county, 
where they passed the remainder of their 
lives, the father dying in 1838, the mother 
in 1861. He was an ardent advocate of 
the principles of the Whig party, voting 
for Thonias Jefferson, and took an active 
interest in the politics of his day. Mr. 
and Mrs. Biglow had a family of eight 
children, but two of whom are now living, 
viz.: Daniel, the subject of this sketch, 
and Amasa, married, who resides in Olm- 
sted Falls, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. 

Daniel Biglow was reared and educated 
in his native township, and during his 
early youth aided in clearing the home 
farm. He has made agriculture his life 
vocation. In 1852 he settled on his pres- 
ent farm, then consisting of seventy-eight 
acres, which he has since im])roved and 
from time to time added to until he now 
has 137 acres, 110 of which are cleared 



1110 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



and in a good state of cultivation. In 1844 
Mr. Biglow was married, in Columbia 
township, to Miss M. L. Stranalian, daugli- 
ter of Joshua C. and Mary (Mason) Strana- 
han, natives of Connecticut, where the 
mother died; in an early day the father 
came to Columbia township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where he passed away in 1859. To 
this union were born three children, two 
of whom are living, namely: Ephraim, 
res-iding in West View, who is married 
and has one child, Ernest; and G. J., re- 
siding at home. In political matters our 
subject is a Kepublican, and has served 
as trustee of Columbia township. He is 
one of the three oldest residents of same. 
Mrs. Biglow is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 



P)ETEE FORTHOFER, a prominent 
farmer citizen of Avon township, and 
trustee of same, is a native of Bava- 
ria, Germany, born July 14, 1841. 
He is a son of John and Joanna 
(Schwartz) Forthofer, of the same locality, 
who in 1853 immigrated with their family 
to the United States, coming to Ohio and 
locating in Dover township, Cuyahoga 
county, for live years, and thence moving 
to Avon township, Lorain county. Here 
the father, who was a lifelong farmer, died 
in 1880, the mother in 1885. They were 
the parents of four children, as follows: 
Joseph, who died in Avon township in 
1891: John, married, residing in Avon 
township; Mary Susan, wife of George 
Nagel (both deceased in 1893), and Peter. 
The subject of this commemorative ar- 
ticle was twelve years old when he came 
from Bavaria to America, so that he was 
partly educated in his native land and 
partly in this country. On coming to 
Avon township he engaged in farm labor, 
and was so employed until 1868, when he 
settled in same township on his present 



farm, which then consisted of fifty-four 
acres of partly-improved land, which he 
has since improved and added to until now 
it is a tine property of 193 acres, all under 
excellent cultivation. In 1865 Mr. Fortho- 
fer was married, in Sheffield township, Lo- 
rain county, to Miss Margaret Friedman, 
daughter of George and Margaret (Miller) 
Friedman, all natives of Bavaria, who im- 
migrated to America, first locating in 
Ravenna, Ohio, and thence in 1852 moving 
to Sheffield township. In 1865 they 
finally settled in Mercer county, Ohio, 
where Mr. Friedman died in 1869, Mrs. 
Friedman in April, 1885. To our subject 
and wife were born ten children, as follows: 
Mary, wife of George Bohland, of Dover, 
Ohio; George; Joseph, married, residing 
in Avon township; John; Anna, wife of 
George Conrod, of Avon township; Peter; 
Andrew; Maggie; Anton, and Jacob. The 
parents are members of the Catholic Church 
at Avon, and in politics Mr. Forthofer is a 
sound Democrat. 



H. VAN WAGNEN, who for the 
past fifty-five years has been a lead- 
ing agriculturist of Lorain county, 
,^ is a native of the State of New 
York, born May 5, 1817, a son of 
Garrett C. and Mary (Welton) Van- 
Wagnen, natives of New Jersey. 

They were married in New York State, 
whence in 1832 they moved to Portage 
county, Ohio, where they carried on farm- 
ing, and reared a family of fifteen children, 
eight of whom are yet living, namely: 
Sally Ann, wife of Samuel Voorhees, of 
Elmira, N. Y.; Mary, widow of Ambrose 
Johnson, of Sullivan. Ashland Co., Ohio; 
G. H., our subject; Alonzo, married, and 
residing in Missouri; Evaline, widow of 
Madison Johelyn, late of Brownhelm 
townsliip, Lorain county; Agnes, wife of 
Edward Frost, of Mantua, Portage Co., 
Ohio; Charles, married, residence Chi- 



"I 




J 


/ 



0^ 7/ i/^^*^t '^^^^xfi'^x. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1118 



cago, 111.; and Sabrina, wife of Albert 
Hastings, of Kent, Portage Co., Ohio. 
The lather of thi.s family passed from 
earth in 1851, the mother surviving him 
till 1876. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on 
a farm in New York State, and received 
his education at the schools of the neigh- 
borhood of his place of birth. In 1832 
he came west to Ohio, making his home 
for a time in Portage county, and in the 
following year proceeded to Cleveland, 
where he learned the trade of carpenter, 
at which he worked thirty years. In 1838 
he came to Lorain county, plying his trade 
in Grafton and Eaton townships till 1848, 
in which year he bought ninety-six acres 
totally unimproved land in the wild woods 
of the last nairied township. This he set 
to work to reduce to a state of cultivation, 
subsequently adding to it thirty-eight 
acres, now presenting in the aggregate 
as tine a farm as can be found in the 
county. Here he carries on general agri- 
culture, including the rearing of Holstein 
cattle. 

In 1840 Mr. Van Wagnen was married 
in Grafton township, Lorain county, to 
Miss Lucinda Cornning, a native of New 
York, daughter of Nathan and Clarissa 
(Smith) Cornning, both of Connecticut, 
whence in 1832 they came to Lorain 
county, Ohio, settling in Grafton town- 
ship, and here the father followed his 
trade, that of mechanic, up to the day of 
his death ; he passed away about the year 
1854, his wife surviving him some years, 
and dying in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Van Wagnen were born seven children, as 
follows: (1) Welton, married, and residing 
in Michigan. (2) Clarissa, wife of C. G. 
Reynolds, of Tuscola county, Mich.; have 
four children: Ida Ettie, wife of George 
Clark, of Brighton, Lorain county (have 
two children: Tracey and an infant, un- 
named), Hattie, Clark and Delos. (3) 
Irving, married and residing in Tuscola 
county, Mich.; have children as follows: 
Martin, Plenry (married, and living in 



Michigan), Katie, Lo, Olive and Frederick. 
(4) Hattie, the wife of Thomas King, of 
Eaton township; tbeir children are Eva, 
Grace, Myrtle, Clara, Minnie, Richard 
and Nellie. (5) Henry, a resident of 
Eaton township, a sketch of whom follows 
this. (6) Frank, married to Susan Cham- 
bers, and has three children, Lura, Cora 
and Gertrude. (7) Charles, twice mar- 
ried, first time to Elinira Bingham, and 
by her had one child, Ida; second wife 
Martha Bingham; he is a painter by 
trade, and they reside in Lorain. In poli- 
tics our subject is an ardent Republican, 
and cast his first vote for William II. Har- 
rison; he served his township as justice of 
the peace and as trustee several terms. 



f^ 



HfENRY VAN WAGNEN, a prom- 
inent farmer of Eaton township, 
( was born February 5, 1848, in La- 
Porte, Lorain county, son of G. H. 
and Lucinda (Cornning) Van- 
Wagnen, early pioneers of Lorain county. 
Henry Van Wagnen was reared in 
Eaton township, where he received his 
education, and he has always followed 
agricultural pursuits. In 1884 he pur- 
chased a tract of sixty acres, which had 
been improved by John Allen, and here 
engaged in general farming. He was 
first married, in 1867, to Miss Clara Ben- 
nington, a native of Eaton township, 
daughter of Thomas and Jane (Robson) 
Bennington, early pioneers of Eaton town- 
ship, where they died. To this union were 
born six children: Ada. George, Jennie 
(who married Edward Johnson, and has 
one child, Clara), Minnie, James and 
Alonzo. The mother of these children 
died in Michigan in 1881, and on July 3, 
1884, Mr. Van Wagnen married, in Hen- 
rietta township, Miss Florence Kelly, a 
native of Henrietta township, Lorain 
county, daughter of Richard and Jane 



1114 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



(Peabody) Kelly, who reside in that town- 
ship. To this union has been born one 
child, Dolly. In 1876 Mr. Van Wagnen 
went to Michigan, and engaged in fanning 
in Tuscola county, where he remained 
until 1881; he was burned out in 1880. 
He is now engaged in general t'arniing 
and stock raising, and makes a specialty 
of Cotswold sheep. He is a member of 
the Republican party. 



TEUMAN MOORE, for about thirty 
years a mariner on the Great Lakes, 
fifteen as captain, is a native of Lo- 
rain county, born in Sheffield town- 
ship December 1, 1844. 
Therou Moore, grandfather of subject, 
came to Lorain county in about 1816, lo- 
cating in what is now Avon township, 
whence he afterward moved to Wisconsin, 
where he died. His son, Theron, was 
born in Plattsburgh, N. Y., and came with 
his parents to Lorain county, where he 
was reared and educated. fie was mar- 
ried in Avon township to Miss Delia Ann 
Case, a native of Ohio, and after marriage 
they made their liome at a place called 
Lake Breeze, in Sheffield township. He 
was by occupation a sailor and ship builder 
in his younger days, but later in life fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits on a farm in 
the last mentioned township. He died 
November 28, 1877, on board a vessel at 
Detroit. He was a Republican and a 
Methodist; his wife survived him till 
1880, being called to her long home while 
living in Trumbull county, Ohio. Eleven 
children — four sons and seven daughters — 
were born to them, of whom the follovvinff 
IS a brief record: Menzies died in Kansas 
November 6, 1881 (he was a sailor); 
Leonard is married and resides in Lorain; 
Elmitia is the wife of Thomas Gawn, of 
Lorain; Amelia is the widow of John Far- 
agher, of Sheffield township; Melvina died 



in childhood; Truman is the subject of 
this sketch; Charlotte is the wife of Bert 
Briggs, of New York; Maria is the wife of 
Mair Poyntou,of Yellow Medicine county, 
Minn.; Bert died in childhood; Rowena is 
the wife of Theron Merry, of Kansas; 
Mary is the wife of W. A. Jewett, of 
Cleveland. 

The suljject of these lines received a lib- 
eral education at the public schools of his 
township, and early in life commenced 
sailing on the lakes, serving in different 
capacities on board ship till his appoint- 
ment as captain some fifteen years ago. He 
is captain of the "Robert Rhodes," pro- 
peller, and has a controlling interest in the 
" Alice B. Norris " and the " Kate Wins- 
low." In 1881 the Ca[)tain moved to Lo- 
rain and bought a residence lot, whereon 
he built a two-story^ house, in addition to 
which he owns three other houses, which 
he rents. 

In 1863 Capt. Moore was married to 
Miss Esther Carron, a native of the Isle of 
Man, by which union three children were 
born, viz.: Edward, married, and having 
his home in Green Bay, Wis. (he is cap- 
tain of the scliooner " Kate Winslow," 
plying between Buffalo and Green Bay); 
Rowena, wife of Mark Jones, of Lorain; 
and Ettie. The mother of these died in 
Sheffield township in 1880, and in 1881 
our subject was mai-ried to Mrs. Rosa 
Rice, a native of Medina county, Ohio. In 
his political sympathies Capt. Moore is a 
Republican, and has served on the town 
council. Socially he is a member of the 
Royal Arcanum, and of Tent No. 1, 
K. O. T. M. He and his wife are associated 
with the M. E. Church. 



Q LOVER MILLER, a native-born 
f prosperous agriculturist and grape- 
grower of Avon township, was born 
.1 on his present farm in 1838. His 
parents, P. J. and Ruth ( Houseworth) 
Miller, natives of New York, came in 18 17 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1115 



to Ohio and to Lorain county, settling in 
Avon township on the farm above referred 
to, where they died, the fatlier in 1851, 
tiie mother in 18iJ3. 

Glover Miller, of whom this sketch is 
written, received his education at the pub- 
lic schools of the neighborhood of his place 
of birth, was reared to farm life, and has 
followed general agriculture with rather 
more than average success. He is owner 
of the old homestead settled by his parents, 
comprising some sixty acres of highly fer- 
tile land, on the lake shore, four of which 
are devoted to grape culture. In 1879 he 
was married, in Avon township, to Miss 
Hannah Titus, who was born in the town- 
ship, daughter of Henry and Orrie 
(Gaboon) Titus, a sketch of whom follows. 
Three children were born to this union: 
Ruth, Orrie and Minnie. Mr. Miller is a 
Republican in his political views. 



^J 



HfENRY TITUS, a truly progressive 
and well-to-do farmer and fruit- 
grower of Avon township, is a na- 
tive of Essex county, N. Y., born 
in 1811, a son of Anson and Hannah 
(Moore) Titus, natives, respectively, of 
Coimecticut and Massachusetts. 

The parents of our subject were married 
in New York State, and in 1829, with their 
family, came to Ohio and to Lorain county, 
making a settlement in the woods of Avon 
township, where they cleared a farm, erect- 
ing a sturdy and comfortable log house. 
Here the father died in 1865, the mother 
some time later. Five childi-en were born 
to this honored pioneer couple, as follows: 
Treat, residing in Avon township; Henry, 
our subject; Mary, widow of Leonard 
Gaboon, of Avon tovrnship; Sarah, widow 
of William Curtis, of Port Clinton, Ohio; 
and Joseph, married; who is a resi<lent of 
Iowa. 

Henry Titus, the subject of these lines, 
was reared and educated in Essex county, 
N. Y., until the age of eighteen, wlien he 



came with his parents to Avon township, 
where he assisted in clearing the home 
farm. In 1846 he was married in Avon 
township to Miss Orrie Gaboon, also a na- 
tive of New York State, dauirhter of Wil- 
bur and Priscilla (Sweet) Gaboon, of the 
same State, who in 1809 came to Ohio 
and to Avon township, Lorain county, 
where they cleared a farm and passed the 
rest of their busy lives. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Titus were born three children, namely: 
John, residing on the farm, who is n)ar- 
ried, and hai* four children: Arthur, Clar- 
ence, Marietta and Edith; Ora, married, 
who resides in Wisconsin; and Hannah, 
wife of Glover Miller, a sketch of whom 
appears above. Our subject is the owner 
ot as fine a farm as can be found in the 
township, comprising 140 acres of highly 
productive land, twenty-eight of which are 
devoted to the growing of grapes, eighteen 
at the present writing being covered with 
fruit-bearing vines. 



L 



UCIUS R. MARSH. Among the 
many useful and enterprising citi- 
Lorain county is promi- 



zens of 

nently mentioned 



th 



IS 



is 
gentleman. 



He is a well-known fruit farmer in Brown- 
helm township, the owner of thirty- five 
acres of fruit-growing land, whereon are a 
vineyard, peach, apple and cherry orchards, 
300 plum trees (the finest orchard of the 
kind in the county), and all kinds of small 
fruit shrubs. 

Mr. Marsh is a native of Erie county, 
Ohio, born in 1848, a son of O. H. P. and 
Minerva M. (Rockwell) Marsh, whose ante- 
cedents are traced to Boston, Mass. They 
came west to Ohio, first locating in Paines- 
ville, afterward in Erie county, where he 
carried on farming, and also conducted a 
general stoi-e in ]\Iilan, in the palmy days 
of that town. Ho died there in 1860, and 
his widow subsequently married C. D. 
Perry. To O. H. P. and Minerva M. 
Marsh were born two children: Mary M., 



1116 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



wife of A. D. Wilder, of Ciiaiitauqna, N. Y., 
and Lucius R., the subject of this sketch. 
Lucius R. Marsh was reared and edu- 
cated in Erie county, and passed six years 
of his earlier life there, working at tlie car- 
penter's trade. In 1864 he came to Lorain 
.county, and in 1876 bought his present 
farm. In 1870 he married, in Erie county, 
Miss Georgiana Ennis, a native of that 
county, and daughter of Alexander Ennis, 
a pioneer of same. To this union have 
been born three children: Willie, Lulu and 
Lottie Belle. In his political sympathies 
Mr. Marsh is a Republican. 




^ILLIAM EDGERTON, a leading 
and prosperous agriculturist of 
Columbia township, is a native of 
same, born in April, 1832, son of 
Austin Edgerton. 

The father was born in Connecticut, 
near New Haven, and was there married to 
Miss Mary Brad way, a native of Massa- 
chusetts. In 1831 they came westward to 
Cleveland, Ohio, via canal, etc., to Buffalo, 
thence by lake, and from there proceeding 
by wagon to Columbia township, Lorain 
county, where he opened up a farm in the 
dense forest. For some thirty years he re- 
sided here, and tlien removed to Blooming- 
dale, Van Buren Co., Mich., where he and 
his wife passed the rest of their days, he 
dying in 1874, a lifelong Democrat, she in 
1891. They reared four children, namely: 
William, our subject; Albert, a carpenter 
and joiner and farmer, of Michigan; Eliza, 
wife of A. J. Broadwell, of Berea, Ohio, 
and Mary, wife of Andrew Coy. of Van- 
Buren county, Michigan. 

William Edgerton, whose name intro- 
duces this sketch, was educated at tlie 
public schools of Columbia township, and 
reared on his father's farm. iHe bought 
his present place in 1855, and has always 
followed agricultural pursuits. His first 
purchase was fifty acres of wild land, which 
he improved and added to until he now 



owns eightj-tive acres, all in a good state 
of cultivation. In February, 1855, in 
Columbia township, Mr. Edgerton mar- 
ried Miss Mary Elizabeth Worden, who was 
born in Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio, a 
daughter of Virgil H. and Caroline (God- 
dard) Worden, natives of Connecticut, who 
in early times came westward to Ohio, locat- 
ing in Liverpool, Medina county, thence re- 
moving to Columbia township, Lorain 
county. Mrs. Caroline G. Worden died in 
1845, her husband in 1875. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Edgerton has been born one child, 
Carrie, wife of Thomas Healey, of Eaton 
township, Lorain county, by whom she has 
one child, Melvin. Politically our subject 
is a Republican, and lias been a delegate 
to the party conventions, notably the one 
held in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1893. Socially 
he is a member of the F. ife A. M., Berea 
Lodge No. 382, and of Berea Chapter 
No. 134. 



CHAPMAN MORGAN COOK, a 
well-known retired agriculturist of 
Henrietta township, was born May 
13, 1818, in Hamilton, Madison Co., 
N. Y., a son of Jesse and Nancy (Morgan) 
Cook, the former of whom was a native of 
Jefferson, N. Y., and died at the age of 
seventy- two years. He was a farmer and 
shoemaker by occupation, and in politics a 
Whig. They had a family of nine chil- 
dren, viz.: Orrin, Newell, Jessie, Nancy, 
William, Norton, Judson,Roxie and Chap- 
man M., the last named being the only 
survivor. Their mother passed from earth 
when aged seventy years, after an illness 
of nine years. In Church connection she 
was a Baptist. 

The subject of th^s sketch was reared 
and educated in Oswego county, N. Y., 
and at the age of twenty came to Lorain 
county, at that time a complete wilder- 
ness, with no roads and little clearing of 
any kind. His first purchase of laud was 
one hundred acres in what is now Hen- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1117 



rietta township, toward which he paid 
forty dollars, all the money he hroiiglit 
with him, tlie balance being paid after- 
ward. On this place he built a log house, 
and in course of time cleared every part of 
it with his own hands. By and by, in 
1855, he erected his present comfortable 
home, sun-ouTided with commodious barns 
and other outhouses, and here he now 
lives in peaceful letirement, liaving rented 
his farm. He points with pride to a cer- 
tain tree on Ills grounds which he planted 
himself in 1853, at that time two inches 
thick, and which is now (1893) two and 
one-lialf feet in dinmeter. Lumber on his 
farm, worth iive dollars per 1,000 feet 
fifty years ago, now readily fetches forty 
to forty-five dollars per 1,000 feet. 

In 1842 Mr. Cook was married, in New 
York State, to Fidelia Tinney, daughter 
of David Tinney, of Oswego county, N. Y., 
and three children were born to them, as 
follows: Theresa and Mary (buth de- 
ceased), and Hannah, wife of Mortimer 
Brown, a farmer, living in Wakeman, 
Huron Co., Ohio. In politics Mr. Cook 
was originally a Whig, and later, since the 
organization of the party, a Republican. 
He is a member of the Baptist Church at 
Henrietta and Camden Center, Lorain 
county. 



HAKLES W. HILL, whose fine 
farm of 144 acres, in an advanced 
state of improvement, is one of the 
most productive in Eaton township, 
is a native of the locality, born in 1851. 
Edward Hill, father ot subject, was born 
in Enijland, where he married Miss Jane 
GuUiford, and on their wedding day they 
set sail with a fair wind for the shores of 
the New World — the loadstar of many 
thousands of England's liest blood. On 
arrival at the port of debarkation, they 
proceeded at once westward to Ohio, where 
they made a settlement in Eaton township, 
Lorain county, opening out a farm of 



sixty acres. To this Edward Hill from 
time to time added until he was owner of 
300 acres of good farming land at the 
time of his death, September 10, 1889, 
and where his widow is yet living. In his 
political preferences lie was a Republican. 
Their children, five in number, are all resi- 
dents of Lorain county, and a brief record 
of them is as follows: Charles W. is the 
subject of this sketch; George E., married, 
is a farmer of Ridgeville township; Mary 
J. is the wife of George Osborne, Columbia 
township; Lucy A. is the wife of J. Z. Cole, 
of Eaton township; and Emma is the wife 
of Thomas Dair, also of Eaton townsiiip. 

C. W. Hill, whose name introduces this 
sketch, received his education at the com- 
mon schools of Eaton township, and was 
early in life inducted into the mysteries 
of farming. For eighteen months lie fol- 
lowed that vocation in Piatt county. III., 
and since his return to Eaton township 
has been most successful in general agri- 
culture. In 1871 he mai'ried Miss Mary 
M. Hathaway, a native of Eaton township, 
and daughter of John M. and Sarah M. 
(Clark) Hathaway, of whom special men- 
tion will be presently made. To this 
union have lieen born five children, viz.: 
Edward J., W. C, Ford, Mildred and 
Elmer. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members 
of the Disciple Church at North Eaton ; 
in politics he is a Republican, and has 
served as township trustee and supervisor. 

John M. Hathaway, father of Mrs. C. 
W. Hiii, was born in Richland county, 
Ohio, in Septeinl)er, 1822, a son of Elilni 
and Aiinette (Mallory) Hathaway, natives 
of Vermont and New York State, respec- 
tively. They were married in the last 
named State, and then moved to Medina 
county, Ohio, thence to Richland county, 
returning in 1836 to Medina county, and 
in 1838 locating in Columbia township, 
Lorain county, on a tract of wild land. 
Selling this, however, Mr. Hathaway moved 
to Crawford county, same State, and he 
died in Wood county, March 12, 1875, his 
wife having preceded him to the grave in 



1118 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Columbia township, Lorain county, Octo- 
ber 31, 1865. In politics he was an un- 
compromising Democrat of the Jackson 
type. The children born to this pioneer 
couple were as follows: Phebe, widow of 
Charles Holbrook, of Eaton township; 
John M., of whom we write; Mary, a 
widow, who died in Wood county ; Baldwin, 
married, residing in Marion county, Ohio; 
Hiram, married, residing in Kent county, 
Mich.; James, deceased about 1888, in 
Wood county, Ohio; Hamner, deceased in 
Wood county; Lucy Jane, wife of Chaiiiicy 
Ryal. of Ridgeville; Charles, married, re- 
siding in Ottawa, Oliio; William, residing 
in California; Alvira, wife of Dr. W. W. 
Hill, of Weston, Wood county. Jesse 
Hathaway, grandfather of John M., was a 
native of Vermont, where he died. Grand- 
father John Mallory served as a captain in 
the war of 1812, and while traveling on 
horseback with some important documents 
in his possession, from Lake George to 
New 1l ork City, he was lost, and not a 
vestige of either himself, horse or papers 
was ever afterward seen. 

John M. Hathaway was reared in Medina 
county, and'educated in the old-fashioned 
log schoolhouse of the period, and when 
sixteen years old came to Lorain county, 
where for a time he worked by the month. 
He then commenced sailing on the lakes, 
a vocation he followed seven years, as mate 
one season, and wheelman, two. On aban- 
doning this somewhat adventurous life, 
lie came to his present farm of hfty acres 
well-improved land, where he carries on 
general agriculture. On March 7, 1852, 
he was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah 
M. Clark, born in Medina county, Ohio, 
daughter of Nathan and Nancy (Smith) 
Clark, natives, respectively, of Berkshire 
county, Mhss., and Vermont; tiie father, 
a carpenter and joiner by trade, at the age 
of nineteen traveled on foot from New 
York to Grafton, Lorain Co., Ohio, and 
thence to Medina county, where he died in 
1866, his wife in 1859. To Mr. and Mrs. 
John M. Hathaway have been born six 



children, to wit: Mary M., wife of Charles 
W. Hill; Flora E., wife of Frank Lewis, 
of Columbia township, Lorain county (has 
two children: Ilaymondand Ivyj; Perry T., 
married, residing in Columbia township; 
Anna N., in Columbia township; E. M., 
married, residing at Eaton Center (has 
two children: Blanche and Vira); and 
Fred C, a successful teacher of Lorain 
county, residing at home. In 1851 Mrs. 
Hatiiaway taught school in Columbia and 
Eaton townships, in an old log cabin, 
" boarding around;" also taught in Strongs- 
ville, Cuyahoga county. Her great-grand- 
father, Nathan Turner, was one of tiie pil- 
grims wiio landed on "Plymouth Pock." 



Q 



EOVE HANCE, a popular and pro- 
gressive farmer of Eaton township, 
is a native of same, born on his 
present farm in 1839, a son of 
Hiram and Rhoda Ann (Ames) 
Hance, the former of whom was born in 
New York, the latter in Massachusetts. In 
an early day they came to Ohio, where they 
married, afterward settling on the farm in 
Eaton township, Lorain county, where 
their son Grove now resides. The father 
died January 2, 1888, the mother July 2, 
1887. 

The subject of this sketch received hie 
education at the common schools of his 
native township, and was reared to farm- 
ing, whicli has been his life vocation. He 
owns part of the old homestead of his 
father, as well as other land, aggregating 
170 acres, all in a good state of cultiva- 
tion. In September, 1861, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Susan Gregory, a native of 
Medina county, and four children have 
been born to them, as follows: J. G., who 
i-esides on the farm, has one child, Lois; 
Minnie, wife of Burt Carr, of Liverpool, 
Medina county, has one son, Harlan; Ger- 
tie, wife of Elmer Tucker, of Elyria, lias 
one son. Grove; Lilly, wife of Charles 
Austin, of Elyria, has one son, Hugh. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1119 



Mrs. Hance's father went to California 
in 1849, one of the many thonsatuls of 
gold seekers of that period. Her step- 
father, V. H. AVorden, was the first tnaii 
to cross Hance's swamp with a team, got 
"mired," but managed to pull through. 
In politics our subject is a useful and 
zealous member of the Republican party, 
and has served as constable of Eaton 
township. He is a member of Leonard 
Tent No. 31, Knights of tlie Maccabees, 
at North Eaton. Mrs. Hance is a member 
of the Disciple Church at North Eaton. 



djOB ALEXANDER, a progressive, 
1 wide-awake agriculturist of Eaton 
' township, was born in 1841, in 
Grafton township, Lorain Co., Ohio. 
He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Frank- 
nm) Alexander, natives of Gloucestershire, 
England, who immigrated to the United 
States, locating tirst in New York State, 
whence in 1840 they moved to Grafton 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, thence in 
1844 to Eaton township, where they were 
well-known agriculturists, and the home 
farm is still in the family. The father 
died in 1886, the mother in 1883, at the 
age of eighty and seventy-eight years 
respectively. They had a family of eight 
children. 

The subject of this memoir received a 
liberal education at the schools of Eaton 
township, Lorain county, and was reared 
to agricultural pursuits, which have been 
his life work. In 1863 he enlisted in 
Company H, One Hundred and Third 
O. V. I., which was assigned to the army 
of tiie West, Twenty-third Army Corps. 
He was in the battle of Resaca, Ga., and 
the capture of Atlanta, after which event 
the Twenty-third and Fourth Corps "took 
care of " Hood's army. When the latter 
had been defeated and broken up, our sub- 
ject went with his regiment to Washing- 



ton, D. C, and from there to North Caro- 
lina; finally reunited with Sherman's 
army there. Mr. Alexander first started 
in Kentucky, and accompanied Burnside's 
expedition across the mountains into Tenn- 
essee, and he was present at the siege of 
Knoxville. In June, 1865, he was honor- 
ably discharged at Raleigh, N. C, and 
returned home to the pursuits of peace, 
laying aside the rifle for the plough. He 
owns a highly cultivated fertile "farm of 
105 acres. 

In 1866 Job Alexander was united in 
marriage, in Carlisle township, with Miss 
Ann D. Pierce, daughter of Philemon and 
Diantha (Hovey) Pierce, natives of New 
York, who in an early day came to Lorain 
county; the father died in Carlisle town- 
ship, the • mother in Eaton township, at 
the home of her daughter, in 1880. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Job Alexander were born 
six children, as follows: Hattie (wife of 
Orlando Eose), Albert (deceased at the 
age of twenty -five years), Ida, Loren, Lu- 
ther and Rosa. Politically Mr. Alexander 
is a Republican ; socially he is a member 
of Richard Allen Post, G. A. R., Elyria. 



n 



ORASTUS WAITE, one of the 
widest known pioneer citizens of 
1L«^ LaGrange township, Lorain county, 
was born June 21, 1810, in Cham- 
pion, Jefferson county. New York. 

His father, Doi-astus Waife, a farmer, 
was a native of Vermont, where he married 
Miss Sally McNitt, and later moved into 
New York State, where he lived comfort- 
ably and reared a large family, all of whom 
are now dead but two — our subject and a 
half brother, Guverry M., who is a farmer 
in Jefferson county, N. Y. The mother 
of our subject was the second wife of Do- 
rastus Waite, Sr., and at the time of her 
marriage to him was the widow of Rufus 
Blodgett; her maiden name was Malinda 
Canfield. Mr. Waite died in Champiou, 



1120 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Jefferson Co., N. Y., at the age of eighty- 
two years. But two of his family — James 
and Dorastns — came to Ohio. 

Dorastus Waite passed liis early years 
on his father's farm, assisting in the many 
duties of the agricultural work, and re- 
ceived an education in the common schools, 
attending, however, only in the winter sea- 
son, when he conld he spared from home. 
In October, 1831, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Diantha Fitts, who was 
born in 1813 in Massachusetts, daiicrliter 
of Daniel Fitts, who moved to Jefferson 
county, N. Y., where our subject met his 
daughter. After marriage the youngcouple 
began housekeeping on a small farm owned 
Ijy his father, remaining there but a few 
years. In the fall of 1834 he rode to 
Ohio on horseback, the trip 'occupying 
three weeks, and after looking over the 
land purchased one hundred acres in Lot 
86, LaGrange township, Lorain county, 
for which he paid four hundred dollars. 
He then returned to Jefferson county, 
N. Y., in the same manner, and remained 
over winter, in the spring of 1835 coming 
out with a one-horse wagon, and bringing 
his wife and only child, Sarahetta L., who 
is now the widow of Ferguson Zang, and 
makes her home in LaGrange village. 
They commenced life in Ohio in a log 
cabin on the pioneer farm, where he at 
once set to work clearing the land, and re- 
sided until 1871, when he removed to La- 
Grange village, where he has since lived a 
pemi-retired life. The children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Waite in Ohio were as fol- 
lows: James E., a farmer of LaGrange; 
Mai-yette, who became the wife of Frank 
Beckwith, and in 1855 died on the home 
farm, aged nineteen years; Everett L., 
who died at the age of four years; and 
Everett L., who died at the age of twelve 
years. The mother of these died in 1873, 
and was buried at LaGrange; in 1874 he 
married Mrs. Martha J. (Pelton) Belden 
(widow of Daniel Belden), who was born 
in Middlefield, Mass. Mr. "Waite has dur- 
ing his long life accomplished no small 



amount of hard work; when first settling 
on his place it was all in the woods, but by 
constant labor and untiring energy he has 
now one of the most productive farms in 
the entire township. Politically he was 
originally an Old-line Whig, is now a 
member of the Republican party, and he 
has served in various township offices. In 
religious connection he was an attendant 
of the Congregational Chiirch until the 
Society disbanded, when he united with 
the M. E. Church. He is remarkably well 
preserved for one of his years, and is a man 
of e.'ctremely temperate habits, does not 
use tobacco in any form, and has not even 
tasted spirituous or malt liquor for over 
sixty years. He had several great-grand- 
children. [Since the above was written we 
have been informed of the death of Mr. 
Dorastus Waite, which occurred December 
31, 1893. -Ed. 




G. DAWLEY. In the front rank 
of the prosperous and progressive 
farmers of Eaton township, stands 
prominent this gentleman. He is a 
native of Portage county, Ohio, 
born in Ravenna township in 1825, a son 
of Daniel and Eunice Dawley, the former 
a native of Vermont, the latter of Massa- 
chusetts. They were married in Portage 
county, Ohio, whither the father had come 
when a young man, in 1790, and here fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits the rest of iiis 
busy life. He died in 1871, his wife in 
1863. Four children were born to them, 
a brief record of whom is as follows: Cor- 
nelia is the widow of Miletus Clark, of 
Portage county, Ohio; Darius, married, is 
a farmer in Ravenna township, Portage 
county; Perry died in Portage county in 
1882; A. G. is the subject of this memoir. 
A. G. Dawley was reared to farm life in 
his native township, receiving his elemen- 
tary education at the common schools, and 




4 '^ 0cu^^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1123 



attending select school one or two terms. 
In 1854 he came to Eaton township, Lo- 
rain county, where he made a new home 
for himself and family. In 1862 he lo- 
cated on his present farm, a highly im- 
proved one of 111 acres, on which he 
carries oti general agriculture with much 
success. In 1847 he was united in mar- 
riage in Portage county, Ohio, with Miss 
Sophia Moulton, a native of Brimtield 
township, that county, a daughter of Har- 
rison and Bethsheba (Coburn) Moulton, 
very early pioneers of Portage county; the 
father was killed in 1826 by a falling tree 
while out chopping, the mother dying some 
time later. To Mr. and Mrs. Dawley four 
children were born, as follows: William, 
married, residing in Norristown, Penn. 
(had live children — Frank, Addie Sophia, 
Carl Albert, one deceased in infancy, and 
Sumner E., deceased); Cornelia, wife of 
George Johnson, residing in Eljria. had 
ten children: Floren, Edwin, Gertie, 
Albert, Vernon, Georgie (deceased at the 
age of six years), Jennie, Cassie, May, and 
an infant; Clifton, married, residing in 
Eaton township, had five children : Lena, 
Perry, Wilton, Charles and Ivy; Mary 
was the wife of Williain Allen, and resided 
in Macomb county, Mich, (she died in 
1885). The mother of these was called 
from eartli in February, 1888. In politics 
Mr. Dawley is an active adherent of the 
Republican party, and he is a member and 
deacon of the Christian Church of Eaton. 



^J 



Vyjl B. JAMESON, a well-known 

^/\ successful agriculturist of Avon 

I] township, is a native of same, 

born in 1837, son of Joseph B. 

and Mary (Horr) Jameson. 

Tiie father of our subject was born in 

1787 in New Hampshire, and in 1824 

came to Lorain county, Ohio, settling in 

the woods of Avon township, where lie 

58 



opened up a farm. Here he passed the 
remainder of his years, dying in 1867, in 
politics a stanch Wiiig; lie served for many 
years as justice of the peace. He was mar- 
ried three times, first to Thankful Clement, 
who died in 1817, leaving two children, 
Thankful Jane, born in 1814. in New 
York, now the deceased wife of Ora B. 
Cahoon; and Mary, born in 1816. His 
second wife was Avis Smith, and she bore 
him six children, three of whom are now 
living — William (in Avon township), 
Joseph (married, a resident of Avon town- 
ship), and Sarepta (wife of C. Blackwell, 
of Avon township); those deceased are 
David C, who died in 1833; Clarissa A., 
Mrs. R. Steele, who died in 1866 in Cali- 
fornia; and Mary E., Mrs. Collin Ford, 
who died in 1870 in Lebanon, Ohio. For 
his third wife Mr. Jameson married, in 
New York State, Miss Mary Horr, a na- 
tive of Vermont, and to this union were 
born four children, as follows: M. B., sub- 
ject of this sketch; Daniel, who died in 
Avon township at the age of ten; Robin- 
son, wlio died in Colorado in 1873; and 
Lucina H., who died in Avon township in 
1866. The mother of tliese died in 1893, 
at the advanced age of ninety-two years. 

M. B. Jameson received his elementary 
education at the common schools of his 
native township, and in early life was in- 
ducted into the mysteries of agriculture, 
which he has continued to follow. He 
subsequently attended college at Berea 
and Lebanon, Ohio, and for several years 
pursued the vocation of teacher. He was 
married, in 1860, in Avon township, to 
Miss Cordelia S. Wilder, also a native of 
same, daughter of Thompson and Sabrina 
(Fuller) Wilder, who were born in the 
State of New York, and in 1836 came to 
Avon township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where 
they passed the remainder of their lives, he 
dying in 1874, she in 1876. Mrs. Jameson 
tausht school with her husband several 
terms. To their union have been born 
five children, viz.: Clifton E., married, 
who resides in Montesano, Wash.; Torrey 



1124 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



W., living at home; Mary B., wife of 
H. H. Carter, of Washington; Annette, 
and Plynn C, both living at home. Our 
subject is engaged exclusively in aeneral 
agricnlture, and he owns a fertile farm of 
sixty acres in a good state of cultivation. 
In his political synijiathies he is a Kepub- 
lican, and in religious connection he and 
his wife are members of the M. E. Church 
at French Creek. [Since the above was 
written, we have been informed of the 
death, December 9, 1898, of Mr. Jameson. 



ffjf D. STETSON, a native-born, wide- 
1;^ awake and enterprising agriculturist 
I 1| of Kidgeville township, lirst saw the 
^J light in 1850. 

Randall Stetson, father of sub- 
ject, was born in Massachusetts, where he 
was first married, and in 1832 came with 
his family to Lorain county, settling in 
Ridgeville township, where he had bought 
a lifty-acre tract of timber laud, which he 
improved, adding thereto until he owned 
215 acres (the homestead), besides other 
laud in the county, and about one thou- 
sand acres in the West. He dealt largely 
in real estate, and was extensively engaged 
in stock dealing — buying and selling 
blooded animals. By his first marriage 
he had four children, viz.: Emily, widow 
of Willard Kemp, of Cleveland; Martha, 
widow of William Nelson, of Cleveland; 
Jane, wife of J. M. Seelye, of Ridgeville 
township; and Ellen, widow of Monroe 
Dean, of Michigan. The mother of these 
dying in 1836, Mr. Stetson married, in 
1837, in Ridgeville township, the widow 
Loorais, who bore him three children, as 
follows: John, residing in Olmsted town- 
ship; H. D., subject of this memoir; and 
Isabelle, who lives in Oberlin. The 
mother of thesse was called from earth in 
1883, the father in 1886. He was a 
straight Republican, and served his town- 



ship as trustee several terms. In 1884 he 
and his son, H. D., bought a gristmill in 
Ridgeville, which they improved and re- 
modeled, putting in the new roller process, 
and this was operated by father and son 
until the decease of the former, when the 
latter bought out the interest therein of 
the heirs, and conducted same until 1889, 
in which year he sold it. 

The subject proper of this memoir re- 
ceived his primary education at the com- 
mon schools of his native township, which 
was supplemented with a two years' at- 
tendance at Oberlin College. In addition 
to the gristmill above referred to, he car- 
ried on general farming, and he is now 
the owner of 190 acres of the old home- 
stead, besides 600 acres in the West. He 
was married in Ridgeville township, in 
1871, to Miss Florence Simonds, a native 
of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, daughter of 
Simeon and Marcia (Beebe) Simonds, of 
Massachusetts and Ridgeville township, 
Lorain county, respectively. They are 
now residing at Dover, Cuyahoga county. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Stetson were born six 
children, to wit: Ray, who graduated from 
Oberlin College with the cla>.s of 1893, 
and is now Professor of Chemistry at the 
same college; Carl, residing at home; 
Marcia, deceased at the age of fifteen ; 
Adaline, Dora and Merritt, residing at 
home. In politics our subject is a Re- 
publican, and he enjoys the respect and 
esteem of a wide circle of friends and 
acquaintances. 



d[AY HART, who stands foremost 
among Penfield township's proniinent 
' citizens and thorough, successful 
farmers, was born November 10, 
1851, a son of Lewis Hart, Jr., who was a 
son of Lewis Hart, Sr. 

When but a lad of eleveu years our sub- 
ject lost his father by death. Prior to 
this he had received such an education as 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1125 



the common schools of the period alloi-ded, 
and when a mere boy found employment 
as a farm hand. He worked at various 
places, and for different people, being em- 
ployed for two years by Orrin Starr, a like 
time by Lntber Penlield, and also by G. 
L. Starr, all of whom are well-known and 
successful farmers. He also spent several 
years in the employ of Miles Leech and 
Henry Whitbeck, of Litchiield, Medina 
Co., Ohio, receiving under such competent 
instructors a complete knowledge of agri- 
cultural life, in which he has been very 
successful. 

On November 5, 1876, Mr. Hart was 
united in marriage with Miss Ida Sheldon, 
who was born November 15, 1854, in 
Cortland county, N. Y., daughter of 
Abijah and Jane (Kiff) Sheldon, and from 
the age of seven years made her home 
with her aunt. Amy Andrews, for whom 
our subject had worked some time, and 
where he and his young wife made their 
first home after marriage. They havethree 
children, viz.: Amy, Ina and Rhe. Mr. 
Hart is a substantial representative farmer 
and leading citizen of Pentield township, 
and bis progressive, active spirit is recog- 
nized throughout the community. He has 
prospered well in his agricultural opera- 
tions, and has succeeded in accumulating 
a fine farm of 200 acres, the excellent con- 
dition of which is sufficient evidence of its 
owner's ability as a systematic farmer. In 
his political preferences Mr. Hart is a 
stanch member of the Republican party. 
Mrs. Hart is a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 



dj ACOB H. GLAUS, blacksmith, North 
Amherst, descends from an early 
^' German family, and was born in 
Brownhelra township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, April 27, 1837. He is a son of 
Henry and Martha (Hilderbrand) Claus, 
the former of whom was born in Hessia, 



Germany, and in 1828 came to the United 
States, making a settlement in Brownhelm 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where he fol- 
lowed farming, and the trade of carpenter 
and joiner. He and his wife both died 
young, at the ages of thirty- three and 
twenty- three, respectively. They had three 
children, of whom our subject is the eldest. 

Jacob H. Claus received but a limited 
public-school education, being left an 
orphan when yet a boy. He learned his 
trade in the shop where he is now work- 
ing, and has been in business for himself 
more than thirty years. The cheerful 
ring of his anvil, and the merry sparks 
that burst from his forge, are not more 
welcome to the wayfarer than his own 
honest greeting; and his shop is the resort 
of customers and others, who come miles 
to visit his well-known smithy. In 18(30 
Mr. Claus was united in marriage with 
Miss Marie Geabauer. They have one 
child, a daughter. 

In politics our subject has been a Re- 
publican since Garfield's election, and he 
has held many municipal and township 
offices. He has been a member of St. 
Peter's Evangelical Church at North Am- 
herst for the past forty years, and for 
twenty-five years he has been a member of 
the I. O. O. F. ; he is also a member of the 
Daughtersof Rebekah,andof the K.O.T.M. 



llACOB SCHWARTZ, an old and 
k. I highly esteemed resident of Russia 
Vyj township, was born February 20, 
1819, in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, 
a son of Jacob Schwartz, who died in 
Germany in 1834. 

In 1846 Jacob Schwartz was married, 
in his native country, to Catherine Burg, 
and they had one child born in Germany, 
Daniel, who died in infancy. Our subject 
was a weaver by necessity, and also worked 
at anything else he could find to do. In 
1848, in company with his wife, his 
widowed mother, bis brother David, and 



1126 



LORAIN COUNTY OHIO. 



his sisters Elizabeth and Margaretta, he 
left the Fatherland, taking passage at 
Antwerp, and landing in jSfew York after 
a voyage of forty-two days. They imme- 
diately set out for Cleveland, Ohio, travel- 
ing via the Erie Canal and Lake Erie, and 
thence proceeded to Russia township, Lo- 
rain connty, where Jacob bonght land. 
By gathering the funds of the entire party, 
which amounted to about three hundred 
dollars, he was able to purchase a tract of 
thirty acres, and then borrowing si.x dol- 
lars from a neighbor, John Schramm, pur- 
chased a cow. On this farm Mr. Schwartz 
resided until 1871, when he bought, from 
"Bachelor Bailey," his present farmland 
sixty-one additional acres, which latter he 
has given to his children. A brief record 
of his family is as follows: Elizabeth, who 
married William Sump, died January 6, 
1876, leaving four children, viz.: Charles, 
William, Millie and Alva; Mary is the 
wife of Alva Gibson, of Russia township; 
Carrie (twin of Mary) is the wife of Charles 
Albright, of Russia township; Margaret 
resides at home; Emma is married to 
Henry Bassett, of Russia township. Mr. 
Schwartz has always been a hard-working 
fanner, and has fully deserved the success 
he has won. He is an honest, upright, 
kind-hearted citizen, ever ready to assist 
those in need, and is highly esteemed and 
respected by all who know him. In his 
political preferences he is a Democrat, 
though non-partisan and but little inter- 
ested in aflfairs of State. In religious 
connection he is a member of the Evan- 
gelical Church at North Amherst. 



JOHN A. MILLER, prominent among 
the prosperous agriculturists of Avon 
township, is a native of same, born in 
October, 1831. 
Peter Miller, father of the subject of 
this sketch, was born in Palmyra. N. Y., 
August 10, 1803, and in 1819 was brought 



by his parents. Adam and Anna (Tea- 
mount) Miller, natives of the same State, 
to Avon township, Lorain county, they 
settling in the woods near the shore of 
Lake Erie, where they opened out a farm. 
Here Adam Miller died in 1834, his wife 
in 1848. They reared a fanjily of ten chil- 
dren, of whom Peter was reared on the 
farm; he followed agricultural pursuits, 
and also worked at ship carpentry at Black 
River, he having learned the trade of Cap- 
tain Jones before he was twenty years old. 
There was only one honse betweeti the 
home in Avon township and Black River, 
and wild animals were numerous and fero- 
cious. In 1821, as he was returning home 
from his work one Saturday evening, Peter 
Miller lost himself in the woods, and was 
treed by a bear that tive times climbed 
after him, finally catching him by the feet, 
which were badly lacerated. The boy, 
however, managed to get away from Bruin, 
who was herself not a little alarmed, and 
ran for his life as fast as his wounded feet 
would permit, reaching the nearest neigh- 
bor's in a sorry plight. He was married in 
Black River township in 1828, to Miss 
Ruth Houseworth, a native of New York 
State, daughter of .lacob and Ruth (Hart) 
Houseworth, the father born on the ocean, 
the mother in Rhode Island; they moved 
to New York State, and thence in 1819 to 
Ohio, settling in Black River township, 
the journey being made by water from 
Buffalo. Here Mr. Houseworth died at 
the age of fifty-nine years, his wife passing 
away in her eighty-fourth year, at the 
home of her daughter, Mrs. Peter Miller. 
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Peter Miller 
continned to reside in Avon township, 
where they successfnlly conducted a highly 
improved farm. The father died in 1851 
at the age of forty-seven years, the mother 
on August 18, 1893, in her eighty-sixth 
year; she had been a resident of the connty 
seventy-four years, and of Avon township 
sixty-five years, having lived on the same 
farm all her married life. They had a 
family of five children, all yet living, viz.: 



LORAIN COUNTY, QUID. 



1127 



John A.; Amanda, wife of Leonard Moore, 
of Lorain; Glover, married, residing in 
Avon townsliip, on part of the old farm; 
Julia, wife of M. H. Lampman, of Lorain, 
and .feanette, residing in Avon township. 
John A. Miller, whose name opens this 
sketch, received his education at the com- 
mon schools of tlie neighborhood of his 
birthplace, and was brought up to farming 
pursuits, which have been his life work. 
In 18G8 he was married, in Elyria, Lorain 
county, to Miss Catherine Burrell, a native 
of Sheffield township, Lorain county, and 
daughter of Hiram and Harriet (Hall) 
Burrell, pioneers of that township, he a 
native of Massachusetts, she of Dover 
township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Grand- 
father Isaac Burrell was an early pioneer 
of Sheffield township, Lorain county. By 
tiiis union was born one child, Catiierine, 
at home, who lost her mother March 26, 
1869. In politics Mr. Miller is a stanch 
Repulilican, and has held several township 
offices of trust, such as trustee. Socially 
he is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge at 
Elyiia, and of Marshall Chapter. 




I( LEXANDER PORTER, ship cap- 
^\ tain and vessel owner, well known 
on the lakes as a careful and skill- 
ful mariner, and respected on shore 
as a nseful and loyal citizen, is a 
native of the town of Lorain, Ohio, born 
March 16, 1843. 

He is a son of Nathaniel and Clarissa 
(Nelson) Porter, the former of whom was 
a native of the North of Ireland, born in 
1801, an Orangeman, one of twelve liroth- 
ers who came to this country and to Ohio, 
settling in Elyria, Lorain county. In 
1830 Nathaniel came to Lorain, about the 
commencement of the "boom,'" where he 
opened a brickyard, which he carried on in 
connection with farming and teaming. He 
was married in Massachusetts, and had a 
family of eight children, all yet living ex- 



cept one drowned in the lake, in the fall of 
1892, from the steamer "W. H. Gilcher." 
The father died in 1878; the mother passed 
away in 1857. 

Alexander Porter, whose name opens 
this sketch, received his education in part 
at the public schools of his native town, 
and in part at Oberlin College. At about 
the age of fourteen years he commenced 
sailing on the lakes, and in 1859 he was a 
seaman on the barge " Pierson," which 
sailed from Cleveland to Liverpool, Eng- 
land, touching at Bristol, and returning 
by same route lay in the Welland Canal, 
Canada, all the following winter. Since 
then he has sailed the lakes every summer, 
for the past twenty-five years as captain, 
and the first boat he was skipiier of was 
the " R'jscue." He and two of his broth- 
ers owned a vessel, the "Three Brothers," 
which for several years successfully traded 
on the lakes. He is now owner or part 
owner of no less than five boats that turn 
in a good revenue every year. 

In 1871 Capt. Porter married Miss Dor- 
liska Freeman, a native of LaGrange, Lo- 
rain county, daughter of S. V. R. Free- 
man, of Albany, N. Y., a farmer, who 
came to Lorain county in 1829, and settled 
on a farm at LaGrange. He was twice 
married, and he had four sons and three 
daughters; he was born in 1801, and died 
in 1878. Capt. and Mrs. Porter have had 
no children. In politics our subject is a 
Repul)lican, and he is a member of the 
F. & A. M., Knights of the Maccabees and 
Royal Arcanum. 



JOHN H. ECKLER, a well-known 
farmer of Carlisle township, is a na- 
tive of Germany, born November 24, 
1835, a son of Henry and Anna 

g5arber) Eckler, also Germans, born in 
essia. 

The father of our subject emigrated 
with his family to the United States in 
1838, making his new home in Erie 



1128 



LORAIK COUNTY, OHIO. 



county, Ohio, where he first worked as a 
day laborer in Vermillion township, clear- 
ing; land in the wintei-s. In siuntner time 
he worked on the Maumee Canal at 
eighteen dollars per month, out of which 
he had to pay his board Sundays, and pro- 
vide for his family, then consisting of wife 
and five children. He was very poor, 
and could not speak English, but he had a 
willing heart and hands, and by industry 
prospered. For some time he lived in Ver- 
million township, Erie Co., Ohio, as al- 
ready related, thence, in 1852, coming to 
Carlisle township, Lorain county. He 
succeeded in accumulating 200 acres of 
land, and at the time of his death had 
money in the bank, notwithstanding the 
fact that I)e had given liberally to his 
children. He died July 9, 1890, in his 
eighty-sixth year, his wife in 1866, aged 
lifty-si.\. They were members, first of the 
Presbyterian Keformed Church, afterward 
of the Lutlieran Church, and in politics he 
was always a Democrat. They had in all 
seven children, as follows: Catherine, wife 
of H. M. Hempy, of Cleveland, Ohio; 
Margaret, wife of J. F. Irish, both now 
deceased ; Ann, wife of Fred Stroble, of 
Wood county, Ohio; Mary, wife of J. 6. 
Kinsey, of Lorain; Elizabeth, wife of Ed- 
ward Bickle; John H.; and Emanuel, in 
Elyria. 

At the age of two and a half years the 
subject of these lines came to Ohio, and re- 
ceived his English education at the schools 
in Vermillion township, Erie county, and 
at the Center School in Carlisle township, 
Lorain county. He has been engaged all 
his life in farming, with the exception of 
six years he worked as a carpenter in 
Cleveland, and is now the owner of 213 
acres, all in a good state of cultivation. 
Like his father before him, he votes the 
straight Democratic ticket, and at one time 
was elected trustee of his township, serv- 
ing but a few months, as he was elected 
against his wishes. 

In 1862 our subject married Miss Cor- 
nelia M. Hart, who was born in Carlisle 



township, Lorain county, and five children 
have come to them, as follows: Henry, 
married and living in Elyria (has three 
children — Hazel, Georgie and Edith); 
Bertha M., wife of Harold Hinkson, of 
Elyria (they have one child — RoUin); 
Catherine, wife of Arthur Champney, of 
Oberlin (they have one child — Bertha); 
Frank R. and Charles R., both at home. 
[Since the above w^as written we have been 
informed that Mr. John IT. Eckler died of 
typhoid fever November 23, 1893, havino- 
been a great sufferer to the last. — Ed. 




i^ J. FULLER, proprietor of livery 

and boarding stable, in the town 

of Oberlin, of which he has been 

a resident some nine years, is a 

native of Ohio, born in Portage county, in 

1850, son of C. C. and Mary (Bierce) 

Fuller. 

The father of our subject was born in 
Nelson township. Portage Co., Ohio, in 
1818, and was there reared and trained to 
farming, which has been his life vocation. 
He there married Mai-y Bierce, a native of 
the same township, born in 1830. who died 
there in 1885, aged fifty-five years. 
Grandfather Jeremiah R. Fuller, a native 
of Cornwall, Conn., came west in about 
the year 1804 to Portage county, Ohio, 
where he opened up a farm in Nelson 
township, dying thereon in 1853. Grand- 
father Horatio Bierce also died in that 
county; great-grandfather AVilliam Bierce. 
a native of Connecticut, served in the war 
of the Revolution, and died in Nelson 
township. Portage county. 

W. J. Fuller received a liberal educa- 
tion at the public schools of his native 
township, after which he was engaged in 
the milling business in Portage county; 
he was also three years in tlie oil fields of 
Pennsylvania. In 1884 he came to Lorain 
county, and commenced in his present 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1129 



livery business, in wliicli he has met with 
gratifying success, iieeping a fnll line of 
vehicles. 

In 1874 Mr. Fuller was united in mar- 
riage with Mrs. Mary (Tinker) Tracy, also 
a native of Portage county, Ohio, daugh- 
ter of Benjamin and Mary (Hopkins) 
Tinker, of Massachusetts and Connecticut, 
respectively, and who in an early day came 
to Portage county, Ohio, where the father 
passed from earth in 1877; the mother is 
still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Fuller has 
been born one child, Helen D. By her 
former marriage Mrs. Fuller had one 
daughter, Mary E., wife of J. C. Ball, 
of Pompey, N. Y. In politics our subject 
is a Republican, and he has served as con- 
stable. He and his wife are members of 
the First Congregational Church. 



JOHN SMITH TOWNSHEND, a ris- 
ing young farmer of Sheffield town- 
ship, was born there in 1860, a son 
of John and Ann (Smith) Townsliend. 
The father of our subject was born in 
1809 ill England, whence at about the age 
of twenty-two years he came to America 
with his parents, the entire family tirst 
making their home in Cleveland, Ohio. 
Later John Townshend moved to SliefHeld 
township, Lorain county, where he carried 
on farming during the rest of bis life. He 
was twice married, his first wife being 
Hannah Hurst, by whom he liad four chil- 
dren: Martha Fox, living in Sheffield 
township; Sarah, wife of Joseph Walker; 
Josiah H., married, and living in Sheffield 
township, and Alfred, deceased. His second 
wHfe, whom he wedded in Elyria township, 
was Miss Ann Smith, a native of Leicester- 
shire, England, and two children were born 
to this union; Mary E. and John S., the 
former living with the latter. John Towns- 
hend died in Elyria April 15, 1875. 



John S. Townshend, the subject proper 
of this sketch, received his primary educa- 
tion in the district schools of his native 
place, and at the age of fifteen attended the 
high school of Elyria, after which he at- 
tended school one year at Oberlin. He 
then commenced farming, which has been 
his life vocation; he now works eighty 
acres of land, and is the owner of fiftv-one 
acres well improved, and a sawmill. 

In 1889 our subject was married to Miss 
Carrie M. Buck, born in Avon township), 
Lorain Co., Ohio, and two children, named 
respectively Ann E. and John, have been 
born to them. Mr. Townshend's political 
views are Republican, and he is a member 
of the Baptist Church. 



G ON RAD WIEGAND, one of the 
wiile-awake progressive citizens of 
' Lorain, is a native of Hessen-Cassel, 
Germany, born May 31, 1849. He 
is a son of Henry and Christina (Roth) 
Wiegand, also natives of Germany, and 
who were the parents of eight children — 
six sons and two daughters — two of whom 
are now living in America. John Wie- 
gand, one of the sons, came here in 1857, 
and during the war of the Rebellion en- 
listed in the Seventh O. V. I., at Cleve- 
land; he was wounded at the battle of Win- 
chester, and taken prisoner, but was re- 
leased, dying soon after, however, in 
hospital, in 1862. 

Our subject was educated at the public 
schools in the Fatherland, and at the age 
of twenty (1869) came to the United States,- 
totally ignorant of the English language, 
but of which he soon made himself mas- 
ter. From the port of landing he made 
his way direct to Lorain county, Ohio, and 
first located in Elyria, working at his trade 
there till 1872, when he and a brother 
opened a boot and shoe store in Lorain. 
This partnership continued until 1883, in 
which year Conrad Wiegand bought out 
his brother, and has since continued in the 



1130 



LORAIN aOUNTY, OHIO. 



business alone. He commenced with a 
small stock, about five iiundred dollars 
worth, and has now one valued at as many 
thousands. His present brick buildinor he 
erected in 1892, and moved therein No- 
vember 1, that year, and he still owns his 
old store on North Broadway. He lias a 
nice residence on Second avenue. 

In 1871 Mr. Wiegand was married, in 
Elyria, Ohio, to Miss Minnie Beese, and 
they have had three sons: Fred, Carl and 
Alvin. Our subject is a Eepublican in 
politics, and in religion is associated with 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He 
has been a member of the board of educa- 
tion since 1882, with the exception of one 
year and eight months. Socially he is a 
member of the K. O. T. M. 



\sli\ ^' P^^LPS. This gentleman, a 
^/\\ member of one ot' the earliest fam- 
II ilies to settle in Lorain county, as 
■J) a man of unbounded popularity 

and well-known generosity, and as 
one who has done much toward the progress 
of Eaton township and the establishment of 
the town of North Eaton, claims more than 
a passing notice in the pages of' this Biog- 
raphical Record. 

Our subject was born November 18, 
1821, in Jefferson county, N. Y., a son of 
Joseph and Dollie (Waite) Phelps, the 
former of whom was born in 1800, in Jef- 
ferson county, N. Y., the latter in New 
York about 1801. They were married in 
Jefferson county, and in 1826 migrated 
westward to Ohio, traveling by water to 
Cleveland, thence by team to LaGrange 
township, Lorain county, having to cut 
their way through the timber and under- 
brush, Mrs. Phelps walking the entire dis- 
tance with one child in her arms, and 
others toddling by her side. The farm 
they settled on contained 160 acres of wild 
land, and this by dint of hard and assidu- 



ous labor they succeeded in reducing to a 
state of culture. Their cabin was built 
with the assistance of men brought from 
Grafton. Occasionally the Indians, for the 
first two years, lived in their wigwams 
alongside of the Phelps family. Leaving 
the farm, Mr. Phelps kept hotel twenty- 
five years at LaPorte, Carlisle township, 
and then moved to Butternut Ridire, where 
he died in 1861; he was, in politics, a 
Whig, later a Republican. His wife had 
preceded him to the grave in 1857, the 
mother of a large family of children, of 
■whom we give a record of ten: George W. 
died in LaGrange township at the age of 
five years; Harriet A. resides in Chicago, 
111.; Roger (married) died in Sandusky, 
Ohio, about 1870; Erastus (uiarried) re- 
sides in Elyria (he is the oldest engineer 
on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 
Kailroad, having been on the road for forty 
years) ; Clarissa is the wife of Edwin 
Beardsley, and resides on Chestnut Ridge, 
Eaton township; Elvira resides in Min- 
neapolis, Minn.; Jefferson (married) is an 
attorney at law in Chicago, 111.; Elizabeth 
resides in St. Paul, Minn.; Joseph Elston 
(married) resides in Toledo (he is one of 
the best engineers on the Lake Shore & 
Michigan Southern Railroad); George 
Washington, who was married and resided 
in Toledo, and was an engineer on the Lake 
Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad for 
thirty years, was killed at Believue, Ohio, 
in February, 1891. 

Joseph Phelps brought the first yoke of 
oxen into LaGrange township, and they 
did hard work not only on his own farm, 
but also on those of his neighbors. At 
the time the family settled in the county, 
wolves, bears and otiier wild animals 
abounded, and the first cow they owned, 
also their first flock of sheep, eighteen in 
uTiniber, were destroyed by wolves and 
carried off, not the least part of the loss 
felt being the wool on the sheep, on which 
the family depended for future clothing. 
On another occasion, during the month of 
March, two or three hunger-driven wolves 







(//7f7)fl^%o6^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1133 



got into tlie sheep pen, and would have 
made much havoc among the sheep bat for 
a povverfnl mastiff that fought the wolves 
furiously, succeeding in driving them 
away, minus a considerable amount of fur 
they left behind in the pen. The brave 
dog was so sorely wounded that he lay as 
dead on the floor, but with careful nursing 
he recovered in the course of a week. The 
last grey wolf seen was killed on Mr. 
Phelps' farm in the winter of 1839; after 
being pursued two days it turned on its 
pursuers, and was then shot. In the 
summer of 1852 a doe reared two fawns, 
which the following winter were killed by 
hunters. Prior to this all large game, in- 
cluding the elk, panther and bear, had dis- 
appeared. 

Eoger Phelps, father of Joseph, and 
grandfather of subject, was a native of 
Connecticut, where he learned the trade 
of tanner and currier. In an early day he 
moved to Jefferson county, N. Y., and in 
1826 came to Lorain county, where he 
died. 

M. W. Phelps, the subject proper of this 
sketch, received his education in the pub- 
lic schools of LaGrange township, Lorain 
county (whither he was brought by his 
parents when a child of five summers), and 
finished his studies at a select school in 
Elyria. In his early manhood he taught 
school in Elyria and Grafton townships, 
and also at Olmsted Falls, Cuyahoga 
county, at which latter he taught a num- 
ber of terms. On retiring from his scho- 
lastic duties he commenced farming opera- 
tions, in which he has since continued with 
well-merited success in Eaton township, 
where he owns an excellent farm of 275 
acres, all well improved. In addition to 
the usual grain and root crops, he does an 
extensive business in dairying, milking 
from thirty-seven to forty cows ; and he has 
also dealt largely in live stock. 

In August, 18'44, Mr. Phelps was united 
in marriage in Dover, Cuyahoga Co.. Ohio, 
with Miss Harriet Ann Grimes, a native 
of Vermont, daughter of Johnson and Amy 



(Hamilton) Grimes, also of the Green 
Mountain State, who came, in 1837, to 
Dover township, Cuyahoga county, and 
theuce moved to Kalamazoo county, Mich. ; 
the father died in 1809 at the residence of 
his son-inlaw, our subject; the mother in 
1891. Two children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Phelps, viz.: Vernon Beresford, mar- 
ried and residing in Eaton township (he 
has five children); and Frank Herbert, who 
is married and resides in Elyria. 

Mr. Phelps is not only progressive, but 
also aggressive, and has proven to the 
county of his adoption a most useful, loyal 
citizen. To him is due the credit of hav- 
ing secured the Eaton Station (situated on 
his farm) for the Cleveland, Cincinnati, 
Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, toward 
which he subscribed one thousand live 
hundred dollars, besides paying out of his 
own pocket $600 for labor done. Poli- 
tically he was originally a Whig, then a 
Kepublican, voting for McClellan, since 
when he has been a stanch Democrat. 



THOMPSON CLARK, a well-known, 
native-born agriculturist of Avon 
township, first saw the light April 
7, 1822, on the farm where he yet 
resides. 
He is a son of Samuel and Polly 
(Seward) Clark, the former of whom was 
born in Connecticut, at the age of thirteen 
years removing thence to Vermont, where 
he was married in 1816. In the fall of 
the last named year he set out with a team 
for Ridgeville township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
and in the spring of the following year 
settled on a farm, then entirely in the 
woods, where he built a log cabin and 
passed the remainder of his days. He 
passed from earth in 1867, preceded to the 
grave by his wife in 1865. They had 
born to them eight children, as follows: 



1134 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Samuel, who died here at the age of thirty- 
two; Lyman, wlio died September l-i, 
1876, in Stenben county, Ind.; Daniel, who 
married and removed to Indiana, where 
he died in 1889; Thompson, whose name 
introduces this sketch; Clarissa, Mrs. 
Amos Moon, who died in Avon township; 
Anna, who married Justus Butler, and 
died in Indiana in 1885; Orilla, who mar- 
ried David H. Barnard, of Kidgeville, and 
died in Olmsted, Ohio, in 1885; and 
Naomi, who became the wife of Wilkes 
Kathbuu, and died in 1885 at the home of 
our subject. Grandfather Gaylord Clark 
was a native of Connecticut, and in an 
early day removed thence to Addison, Vt., 
where he died. 

Thompson Clark I'eceived his early edu- 
cational training in the log cabin subscrip- 
tion schools of that early period, and was 
reared from boyhood to agricultural pur- 
suits, which he has made his life vocation. 
In 1841 lie was married to Miss Jane 
Young, a native of Addison county, Vt., 
daut^hterof Alvahand Lucretia(^Wilkison) 
Young, also natives of that State, and early 
settlers of Medina county, Ohio, where both 
died. In 1871 this wife died, leaving no liv- 
ing children, and in 1873 Mr. Clark wedded, 
for his second wife. Miss Amelia Chand- 
ler, daughter of Harry and Beulah (Ter- 
rell) Chandler, all natives of New York 
State, whence in an early day they came to 
Ohio, locating lirst in Huron county, and 
subsequently taking up there home in 
Grafton township, Lorain county. Harry 
Chandler died in 1885 at the home of our 
subject, preceded to the grave by his wife, 
who died in Huron county, Ohio. By his 
second marriage Mr. Clark has one child, 
Samuel. Our subject now owns the old 
home farm, comprising forty-eight acres of 
fertile land, all in a good state of cultiva- 
tion. In his party preferences he is a 
liberal Republican, though in local poli- 
tics he takes an independent stand. In re- 
ligious connection Mrs. Clark is a member 
of the Congregational Church. Mr. Clark 
is now the only representativeof one of the 



first six families who settled in Avon town- 
ship. On the paternal side the family is 
of English origin, while on the mother's 
side they come of Scotch and French ances- 
try, who located in Connecticut in Colonial 
days. William Seward, an uncle of our 
subject, was a soldier in the war of 1812. 



FRANK E. BON SO R, a well-known 
contractor and builder, of Lorain, is 
_^ a native of Iowa, born December 28, 
1860. Charles E. Bonsor, father of 
our subject, was born in England, where 
he learned the trade of brick mason and 
contractor. In 1849 he came to America, 
and here followed his trade in New York 
City, from which place he came to Cleve- 
land, Ohio, thence nroving to Indianapolis, 
Ind., and thence to Iowa, where he fol- 
lowed contract work for a number of years. 
He then returned to Ohio, locating in 
Oberlin, whence, after a residence of eigh- 
teen or nineteen years, he moved to Fred- 
erickstown, Mo., where he and his wife 
now reside. Mr. Bonsor married Anna 
Watts, who was also a native of England, 
and they had nine children — seven sons 
and two daughters — eight of whom grew 
to maturity. 

Frank E. Bonsor was reared in his na- 
tive State until three years of age, when 
he came with his parents to Oberlin, Ohio, 
where he received his education. He 
learned the trade of brick mason with his 
father, and in 1871, then but eleven years 
old, he worked at same in Chicago. He 
was connected with his father in the con- 
tracting business at Oberlin for a few 
years, and when a young man superin- 
tended work undertaken by him. Among 
the many buildings erected in Oberlin 
under their supervision may be mentioned 
the E. J. Goodrich and the Henry Blocks, 
Carter Building, Carpenter Building, 
Ladies Society & Call Building, Morris 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1135 



Building, Wooster Block, the Town Hall, 
besides many dwelling lionses. They 
erected the greater part of the brick build- 
ings in Oberlin until 1880, when Mr. Bon- 
sor came to Lorain, and he has since 
followed contracting and building in vari- 
ous places. He and his brothers took the 
contract for the Home State Building, in 
Knightstown, Ind., and they received the 
highest recommendations for work done 
on this edifice. Mr. Bonsor has also done 
contract work in Columbus, Cleveland, and 
Vermillion, Ohio, and his record duringhis 
entire career has been second to none. In 
1886 he and his brothers built the Bonsor 
Block, the largest business block in Lo- 
rain, a fine building 78 by 80 feet, and 
three stories in height. In 1892 he 
erected the Opera House, a handsome 
three-story brick building, 41 by 101 feet. 
In 18S6 Mr. Bonsor was married to 
Miss Flora B. Mapes, and they have two 
children, namely: Frank and Cleora. In 
politics he votes with the Republican 
party, and socially he is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and F. & A. M. Mr. Bon- 
sor comes from a family of brick masons. 
It was the trade of his father and grand- 
father, and three uncles and three brothers 
also follow same. 



ri( E. STIWALD, a progressive, en- 

l[\\ terprising citizen of North Am- 

ir%^ herst, was born in August, 1842, 

■fj at Cleveland, Ohio. His parents, 

George Michael and Mary (Fox) 

Stiwald, were natives of Germany, whence 

they emigrated to the United States in 

about 1838, locating at Cleveland, Ohio. 

They were the parents of six children, 

namely: Catherine, a widow, residing in 

North Amherst; _John, who died in 187B 

in Amiierst township; Conrad, living in 

Michigan; Emma, who died iti 1862; 

Gertrude, who died in 1875; and A. E. 



The father of this family died in 1846, in 
Cleveland, and in 1852 his widow came to 
Avon to*nship, Lorain county, settling on 
a farm, where she resided until her death, 
which occurred in 1885, in North Amherst. 
A. E. Stiwald, our subject, was reared 
up to the age of ten years in Cleveland, 
where he received his early education, and 
in 1852 came with his mother to Avon 
township,' where he assisted in clearing the 
farm. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted 
in Company G, One Hundred and Seventh 
O. V. I., for three years or during the war, 
and was assigned to the army of the Poto- 
mac. He participated in the battles in 
Kentucky, and was also at Gettysburg, 
Fredericksburg, and most of the other en- 
gagements participated in by the army of 
the Potomac, and took part in the Grand 
Review at Washington, D. C, where he 
was honorably dischai-ged in 1865. He 
returned to Lorain county, and in 1868 
came to Amherst township, there engaging 
in farming until January 1, 1870, when 
he came to North Amherst and engaged 
in the manufacture of cigars, in which he 
continued until 1880. He is now ensao-ed 
111 raismg fruit. 

In 1865 Mr. Stiw^ald was united in mar- 
riage, in Lorain county, Ohio, with Miss 
Sarah Ann Jaycox, a native of Lorain 
county, daughter of Smith Jaycox. She 
died i'n 1869, and in 1878 Mr. Stiwald was 
married, for his second wife, to Miss Maria 
White, a native of England. She was a 
daughter of Robert White, who was also 
born in England, and came to America, lo- 
cating in Amherst township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where he died in 1885. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Stiwald were born the following 
named children: Florence Eva, Earl C, 
Maria G., Grace L. and Grover Allen. In 
politics our subject is a Democrat, very 
prominent in his party, and has been 
elected to various offices of trust; lie filled 
the position of town clerk in North Am- 
herst for twelve consecutive years, the 
longest period of time for which that office 
has been held; he was assessor of North 



1136 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



Amherst two years: served for twelve 
years as township trustee, and did much 
toward the improvement of Amherst; and 
was clerk of the joint board (township and 
village) during the building of the Town 
Hall. Socially he is a member of Rice Post 
No. 148, G. A. R., in which he served as 
commander two terms, and is now officer 
of the day; of Plato Lodge, No. 203, 
I. O. O. F., in which he has been secretary 
(he has passed all the Chairs); and of Am- 
herst Lodge No. 74, K. of P., of which he 
is deputy grand chancellor. Mr. Stivvald 
is an energetic citizen, deeply interested 
in everything tending toward the improve- 
ment of the community in which he resides. 




\ILLIAM JAMESON, a native- 
born farmer citizen of Avon town- 
ship, isasonofJosephB. and Avis 
(Smith) Jameson, the father a na- 
tive of New Hampshire, the mother of 
Massachusetts, where they were married. 
In 1824 they came to Lorain county. Ohio, 
settling in the woods of Avon township, 
wiiere they opened up a farm and made a 
permanent iiome. Mrs. Jameson died in 
1834, and Mr. Jameson subsequently mar- 
ried Miss Mary Horr, who died in Avon 
township in 1893; to that union were born 
four children, of whom M. B., the only 
survivor, resides in Avon township. 

William Jameson, whose name opens 
this memoir, was born in 1824, in Avon 
township, where he was reared, and re- 
ceived his elementary education in the 
common schools, supplemented by one 
term at Norwalk. He taught school for 
seven winters in Lorain and Cuyahoga 
counties, since when he has chiefly en- 
gaged in farming. In 1849 lie located on 
a farm in Sheffield township, which is now 
known as Randall's Grove, and first built 
a log cabin thereon, which was afterward 
supplanted by a frame house. ' On that 



place he resided for sixteen years, improv- 
ing the land, and then, in 1865, bought an 
improved farm of 102|^ acres in Avon 
township, to which he himself has made 
n)any new improvements, and where he 
has since been successfully engaged in 
general farming; at one time he worked on 
this farm for twelve dollars per month. In 
1852 Mr. Jameson was married, in Bir- 
mingham, Erie county, to Miss Laura La- 
more, who was a native of LaGrange town- 
ship, Lorain county, and the adopted 
daughter of Dr. Beaman, an early settler 
of French Creek. Mrs. Laura Jameson 
died in 1859, leaving one child, Clyde 
Burton, who is married and has two chil- 
dren: Everett E. and Norris Morey; he 
resides in Buffalo, N. Y. In 1859 our sub- 
ject wedded, for his second wife. Miss 
Delia F. Stephens, who was born in Berk- 
shire county, Mass., daughter of Benjamin 
and Lovicia (Foote) Stepiiens, both natives 
of Massachusetts and early settlers of Avon 
township, where they died. To this union 
was also born one cliild, George Chauncy, 
who graduated from the Philadelphia 
Medical University, class of 1893, and is 
now located at Oberlin, Ohio. His mother 
died in 1887. In politics Mr. Jameson is 
a Republican, and has served as assessor 
of Sheffield township. In religious faith 
he is a member of the Baptist Church at 
French Creek, 



LAYTON CHAPMAN, a rising and 
brilliant young attorney at law, and 
a justice of the peace, Elyria, is a 
native of Lorain county, Ohio, born 
February 5, 1868, a son of Lucian H. and 
DeEtte (Phelon) Chapman, also natives of 
the Buckeye State, and descended from old 
Massachusetts families. 

He received a liberal education at the 
common schools of the neighborhood of 
his place of birth, and for a time taught 
school. At the age of about twenty he 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1137 



commenced the study of law with A. R. 
Webber, the prosecuting attorney of Lo- 
rain county, whose office was in Elyria. 
On Marcli 5, 1891, he was admitted to the 
bar, and at once commenced the pi-actice 
of his chosen profession in Elyria. In 
November, 1890. being then but twenty- 
two years old, he was elected a justice of 
the peace of Elyria township, and is proba- 
bly the yonngest justice in the State of 
Ohio. He has already proven himself a 
jurist of considerable ability, and has the 
reputation of interpreting the law in its 
strictest sense and bearing, particularly in 
criminal cases. Politically he is an ardent 
Republican in politics, and socially he is 
a member and Regent of tiie Royal Ar- 
canum. 

Mr. Chapman was united in marriage 
August 31, 1892, with Miss Frances 
Mooers, of Elyria, daughter of A. H. and 
Arlette Mooers. 




E. CAHOON is a native of the 
city of Elyria, where he resides, 
and was born May 15, 184:6, a 
son of William 0. and Melissa 
(Eldred) Gaboon, rhe former of whom was 
born in the State of New York, and in 
1810, then two years old, came to Ohio 
with his parents. 

Joseph Gaboon, grandfather of subject, 
was the first settler in Dover, Cuyahoga 
county, and the old home place is still in 
the possession of members of the family. 
Many changes have taken place on it in 
the lapse of years, but the old fireplace 
where they cooked their meals is still ex- 
tant, also apple trees jilanted by Grand- 
father Gaboon, which have borne fruit 
ever since. On this place William O. 
Cahoon lived till he was about seventeen 
years old, when he moved to the southern 
part of the State for a time; then return- 
ing northward ho finally, in 1835, settled 
in Elyria, where he passed the remainder 



of his days, dying in 1878. His widow 
passed away in 1888. In politics he was 
a Republican and Free-soiler, and in church 
connection he was a Methodist. His 
family numbered five sons and one daugh- 
ter. The eldest son, E. A., was a member 
of Battery E, First Ohio Artillery, in 
which he served two and one-half years, 
when he was honorably discharged. 

W. E. Cahoon received his education at 
the public schools of the neighborhood of 
his home, and at the age of seventeen en- 
listed in Company K, One Hundred and 
Thiity-fifth O. V. I., one hundred days 
service, which regiment was sent to Vir- 
ginia, Maryland, Harper's Ferry, Martins- 
burg and Maryland Heights, participating 
in the tight at John Brown's Schoolhouse. 
On his return home Mr. Gaboon learned 
the trade of tinner, which he followed 
about twelve years, but accidentally losing 
his right arm while firincr off a cannon on 
Decoration Day, 1874, he closed up his 
business in 1878. In 1875 he was elected 
assessor of Elyria township, filling the 
office four consecutive years; in 1882 he 
was elected county recorder, serving till 
January 1, 1892, since when he has been 
abstracter of titles. 

Mr. Gaboon was married, July 30, 1874, 
to Mrs. M. P. (Bush) Tyler, who was born 
in Fremont, Ohio, daughter of Rev. 
Enrotus H. and Mary (Goodsell) Bush, 
both of whom w^ere born in Rochester, 
N. Y. Politically our subject is a stanch 
Republican, and socially he is a member 
of the G. A. R. and Royal Arcanum, 



% OBERT COWLES, well-known in 
Eaton township as a well-to-do 
farmer and dairyman, and respected 
as a loyal and useful citizen, is a 
native of the Isle of Man, born 
in 183(5. 

He is a son of William and Mary (Com- 
mode) Cowles, also natives of the Isle of 




1138 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Man, who in 1837 immigrated to the 
United States, locating in Rochester, 
N. Y., where the father worked at his 
trade, that of liatter. In 1849 they came 
to Eaton townsliip, Lorain county, and 
here in the wild woods the family made a 
clearing for a new home, there residing till 
about 1861, when the father moved to 
Fulton county, Ohio, thence to Lake town- 
ship. Wood Co., same State. He died in 
1875, his wife in 1854, while they were 
living in Eaton township. A brief record 
of the children born to this couple is as 
follows: John died about 1866 in Fulton 
county, Ohio (during the Civil war he en- 
listed, in Fulton county, in the Sixty- 
seventh O. V. I., served three years, 
veteranized, and served till the close of the 
war) ; Jane was married to Thomas Crane, 
and died June 14, 1889, in Wood county, 
Ohio; Robert is the subject of this sketch; 
Charles resides in Michigan (he enlisted in 
the Civil war in Fulton county, Ohio); 
Henry died in April, 1891, in Wood county 
(he enlisted in Fulton county in the Sixty- 
seventh O. V. L, and served till the close 
of the war); William also enlisted in Ful- 
ton county, Ohio (he died in Michigan); 
Mary, who was the wife of Peter Domito, 
died in 1875 in Adrian, Michigan. 

The snl)ject proper of this sketch was, 
as will be seen, an infant when his parents 
brought him to this country. He received 
his education at the schools of Rochester, 
N. Y., and was trained to the arduous 
duties of the farm. In 1851 he moved to 
Cleveland, Ohio, whei-e he learned the trade 
of carpenter and joiner, at wliich he worked 
in that city for some years. In 1860 he 
went to Pike's Peak by the overland route, 
and tiiere labored, and followed his trade; 
thence proceeded to South Park, where he 
worked two years, making salt. From 
there, in 1863, he proceeded by overland 
route to California, and engaged in team- 
ing at Sutter. Creek until 1865, in which 
year he went to Boise City, Idaho, where 
he was engaged in the construction of a 
building to be used as a factory wherein 



to grind quartz rock. After one year he 
returned to Amador county, Cal., and 
from there, in 1873, came to Ohio, first 
tarrying in Wood county, and then from 
there coming, in 1880, to Lorain county, 
finally settling in Eaton township, where 
he has since carried on farming operations, 
including dairying. 

In. 1878 Mr. Cowles was married to 
Miss Betsy Jane Spaulding, born in Eaton 
township, a daughter of Jesse and Repta 
(Howard) Spaulding (both now deceased), 
natives of New Hampshire, who in 1836 
came to Lorain county, and in 1839 moved 
on a farm in Eaton township now owned by 
R. Cowles, with their family of six children 
— four sons and two daughters. One 
daughter died at the age of twelve years; 
the rest grew up on the farm. In their 
wilderness home they lived for some time, 
the nearest neighbors being one mile dis- 

-» r 

tatit, and the farm was slowly cleared. Mr. 
and Mrs. Spaulding died on the farm, 
June 10, 1863, and April 22, 1875, re- 
spectively. The remaining daughter still 
lives on the farm. Politically Mr. Cowles 
is a Republican; Mrs. Cowles is a member 
of the Baptist Church in Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain county. 



AMUEL BEAL, a leading agricul- 
turist of Elyria township, is a native 
of Lorain county, born May 7, 1846, 
^ a son of Philip and Eva (Smith) 
Beal, who were married in Germany, where 
three of their children were born. They 
came to the United States, and settled in 
Lorain county, Ohio, on a farm where the 
father died in 1866, at the age of seventy- 
seven years. They were the parents of eight 
children, as follows: Eva (wife of Chris- 
topher Decker), Maria (wife of John Kolpe), 
Lewis (now in Michigan), Susie (wife of 
C. Heeg), Paul, Mary, Moses and Samuel. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1139 



The subject of this sketch received his 
education at the common schools of his 
native township, and was reared to agri- 
cultural pursuits. In 1870 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Catherine Eppley, and eight 
children were born to them, named as fal- 
lows: Frank (married to Mary Barth), 
Cora (wife of Vernon Bender, and has one 
child, Lydia), Ora, Samuel, Charles, Har- 
vey, Earl and Elmer. Mr. Beal owns 144 
acres of land, and by industry and per- 
serverance has accumulated a snug com- 
petence. In his political preferences he is 
a Kepublican, and in matters of religion he 
is an adherent of the Evangelical Church. 



fll MASA WEST, retired farmer and 

//l\ blacksmith, the cheerful ring of 

fr\^ whose anvil has been heard for 

■^ miles around his " smiddj' '' for 

many a day in Kussia township, is 

a native of Massachusetts, born June 9, 

1817, in Berkshire county, a son of Joshua 

and Mary (Newell) West, both also natives 

of Berkshire county, the mother born in 

the town of Lenox. 

Joshua West, father of subject, was 
born in 1774, and his father hailed from 
the Cape Cod District. The family de- 
scend from one of three brothers who came 
from England to America many years ago, 
one of whom was entirely lost sight of. 
Joshua AVest was a lifelong farmer. He 
married Mary Newell, and in Lee, Berk- 
shire Co., Mass., were born to them eleven 
children, eight of whom reached maturity, 
as follows: Washington, a farmer, who 
died in Pittsfield township, Lorain county; 
Carlos, a blacksmith by trade, who died in 
Tabor, Iowa; Josiah N., a blacksmith by 
trade, who also died in Tabor, Iowa; 
Oliver, a farmer of Pittsfield township, 
Lorain county, where he died; Mar}', who 
became the wife of Henry AVoleott, died 
in Pittstield; Aniasa, subject of this sketch; 



Jesse, who died in Tabor, Iowa, being the 
first of the family to pass away (he was a 
strong Abolitionist and a warm fiiend of 
the negro); and Jane, widow of Albert 
Root, of Pittsfield, Ohio. 

In the early spring of 1832 our subject 
and his brother Oliver came to Ohio by 
sleigh, there still being snow on the 
ground as far as nine miles west of 
Buflfalo, N.Y., where, snow now disappear- 
ing, they traded their sleigh for a wagon, 
which brought them on to Wellincrton, 
Lorain county, where an older brother, 
Josiah Newell West, a blacksmith, had 
located, in whose shop our subject com- 
menced an apprenticeship. In the fall of 
the same year the parents, with four of 
the remaining children — Washington, 
Jesse, Mary and Jane — - came to Lorain 
county from Massachusetts, making the 
journey with two wagons — a two-horse 
and a single. They made their new home 
in Wellington township, two and one- 
half miles north of the center, on a totally 
unimproved farm then almost all in the 
woods; and after a few years' residence 
there the father moved to Portage county, 
Ohio, where he followed farming. In 
November, 1854, while on his way to 
Pittsfield on business, he stopped over- 
night at a wayside tavern, some ten miles 
southeast of Cleveland, where he acci- 
dentally fell downstairs and was killed; he 
was buried in Pittsfield cemetery. His 
widow died in 1801, and was laid to rest 
beside him. Mr. West in politics was a 
Whig, and in church relationship was a 
Presbyterian till coming to Ohio, when he 
united with the Cougregationalists. At 
the time of his decease he was in comfort- 
able circumstances, and in his earlier days 
he was one of the leading and most 
prosperous farmers of Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts. 

Amasa West, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was educated at the common 
schools of the neighborhood of his home, 
and worked on his father's farm till fifteen 
years of age, whon he commenced to learn 



1140 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



the trade of blacksmith at Wellington, 
serving an apprenticeship of three years. 
He then worked ont, earning various 
wages at different places, at one smithy 
receiving one hundred dollars a year and 
his board, a day's work often being twelve 
or fourteen hours. After his marriage he 
located at Windham, Portage Co., Ohio, 
and tliere followed his trade till Novem- 
ber, 1843, when be moved to Pittsfield, 
Lorain county. Here he bought a farm 
on which he resided till 1853, when he 
sold out, moved back to Windham, and 
bought a farm of 150 acres, where he 
lived till the death cf his wife in Septem- 
ber, 1854; in 1855 he sold his farm and 
traveled for two years. While in Pitts- 
field Mr. West had lieen for one and one- 
lialf years engaged in mercantile l)usiness, 
but failing health caused him to abandon 
it, and in 1859 he bought a farm in 
Henrietta, where he lived till the spring 
of 1879. He then moved to Oberlin in 
order to have his children educated, and 
while there he sold the farm in Henrietta 
township, buying his present one in Rus- 
sia township, on which he has erected a 
modern residence, where he now lives in 
retirement. 

On October 14, 1840, while working at 
bis trade in Portage county, Ohio, Mr. 
West was married in Windham to Miss 
Hannah Lyman, daughter of Jeremiah 
Lyman, the first settler in Windham town- 
ship. Portage county, and bv this union 
there were three children: Martha, who 
died at the age of twelve years; Mary L. 
(now Mrs. Ira D. Bryant, of Spencer, 
Medina Co., Ohio), and Hannah M., living 
at home with her father. This wife died 
in September, 1854, and for bis second 
wife Mr. West married, on May 28, 1858, 
Nancy B. Dudley, a native of Vermont, 
daughter of Jonathan Dudley. By this 
marriage there were five children, three of 
■whom died in infancy, the remaining two 
being Edward D., a plumber by trade, 
and Harriet A., at home with her father. 
The mother of these passed from earth 



November 20, 1885, and lies buried in 
Henrietta township, Lorain county. Polit- 
ically Mr. West was originally a Whig, 
his first Presidential vote being cast for 
William H. Harrison, and he is now a 
liberal Republican. He has been a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church since 1843, and 
has frequently held office in same. 



If S. STRAW. Prominent among the 
thoroughly representative agricultnr- 
_[ ists of Carlisle township is found this 
gentleman. 
He is a native of New York State, born 
April 29, 1830, a son of Ezra and Hannah 
(Colbtath) Straw, of New Hampshire 
birth. In an early day Ezra Straw moved 
to the northern part of New York State, 
and thence, in 1833, to Lorain county, 
Ohio, locating at first in Huntington 
township, afterward in Sheffield township, 
and finally settling in Amherst township. 
He died 'in 1854, his wife in 1887. In 
his political sympathies he was originally 
an Old-line Whig, in later years a Repub- 
lican. Tiie)' were the parents of seven 
children whom they reared to maturity, 
five of whom are yet living, namely: I. S., 
subject of this memoir; Ezra, a farmer of 
Black River township; Selina, widow of 
Sylvester Potter, of North Amherst; 
Marina, wife of W. P. Potter, of North 
Amherst; Sophia, wife of G. W. Barns, of 
Amherst township. On the father's side 
the family are 'German, on the mother's 
they are English. 

As will be seen, our subject was a small 
boy when his parents came to Lorain 
county, and he was here reared and edu- 
cated, receiving a thoroughly practical 
training to farming pursuits under his 
fatiier's tuition. In 1864 he purchased 
his present farm in Carlisle township, one 
of the most fertile and best kept in the 
county. Mr. Straw has been thrice mar- 




<lX-iC 



Cr/c3^-^>^ 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1143 



ried: first time, in Norwalic, Ohio, in 
1854, to Miss Jane Murray, a native of 
Carlisle township, Lorain county, and 
dauirhter of Ahner and Betsey Murray, 
pioneers of that township, where the 
mother died; the father passed away in 
JSIorwalk, Ohio. To this marriage were 
born three children, viz.: Murray A., who 
died in Colorado; Charles (married), resid- 
ing in Elyriafhas three children: Isaac N., 
Earl and Nellie); and Jennie M., wife of 
Harvey Walls, of Elyria. The mother of 
these was called from earth in 1863, and 
for his second wife Mr. Straw married, 
January 8, 1864, Miss Betsey Lawrence, a 
native of Vermont, and daughter of Steven 
Lawrence, a pioneer of Carlisle township, 
Lorain county; she died August 6, 1889. 
In July, 1892, Mr. Straw was united in 
marriage with Mrs. Sarah Penney Willson. 
In his political synipatiiies our subject is 
a straight Republican, active in the inter- 
ests of his party. He has served as justice 
of the peace, and was a director of the 
County Infirmary sixteen years. He is 
highly respected and esteemed as a useful, 
loyal and progressive citizen. 



I[J[ENRY TOWNSEND. This gen- 
\^^ tleman, who r^nks among the well- 
I IJ known farmer citizens of Carlisle 
■^ township, was borji in 1831, ii^ 

Warwickshire, England. His par- 
ents, William and Ann (Darlow) Town- 
send, were natives of the same connty, 
where they passed their entire lives, the 
father dying at the age of seventy-five, the 
mother in about 1863. 

Henry Townsend was reared in England, 
receiving during his youth but limited 
educational advantao-es, and after his 
school days were over followed farming in 
his native country until the age of twenty- 
six. In 1857 he immigrated to America, 
proceeding at once to Elyria, Lorain Co., 

59 



Ohio, where he engaged in aoricultural 
work. He subse(juently went to Sugar 
Ridge, Ridgeville township, and in 1862 
came to Carlisle township, locating on the 
farm where he has since made his home. 
He purchased twenty-nine acres, then in 
the woods, cleared a place to build a 
house, and has made all the improvements 
on the tract with his own hands. He has 
added to the farm from time to tune, and 
now owns one hundred acres, all highly 
improved and cultivated, upon which he 
has erected a good house and barn. A 
sister of our subject, the wife of John 
Smith, who came to Lorain county in 
1857, resides on an adjoining farm in 
Carlisle township. 

In 1862 Mr. Townsend was united in 
marriage, in Eaton township, with Miss 
Ann Roach, who was born in Northamp- 
tonshire, England, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Eames) Roach. Her parents, 
who were also natives of Northampton- 
shire, in 1856 came from England to the 
United States, locating first in Amherst 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where they 
remained one year, thence moving to Ridgp- 
villc, where they resided for two years. The 
family next lived a year at Plum Creek, and 
finally moved to Eaton township, where 
they opened up a farm, and made a per- 
manent home. Mr. and Mrs. Roach were 
the parents of eight children, as follows: 
Mary, wife of Samuel Mattock, of De- 
fiance county, Ohio; Ann, Mrs. Townsend; 
Joseph, married and residing in Hall 
county, Neb.; William, who enlisted, in 
1861, in Company K, Twenty-third 
O. V. I., and was killed November 15, 
1861, at Camp Ewing, W. Va. (he was 
accidentally shot); Thomas, who died in in- 
fancy, in England; Betsey, wife of Henry 
Montague, residing in New Chanute, 
Kans. ; Sophia, wife of Peter Watts, 
of Knightstown, Henry Co., Ind. ; and 
Thomas, a resident of Eaton township. 
The mother of this family died in Am- 
herst township in 1856, the father in 1888 
at the home of Mr. Townsend. 



1144 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



In politics our subject is a Republican, 
takes an active interest in the welfare of 
his party, and has served as trustee and 
supervisor of his township. He has al- 
ways followed farming in the township, 
and he and his wife are among the most 
proTuiiient and highly respected members 
of the community in which they reside. 
To their union have come two cliildren, as 
follows: William, who on April 22, 1886, 
was united in marriao-e with Miss Celia 
Jane Phil pott, of Elyria (he is engaged in 
farming on the home farm); and Martha 
Sophia, at home. 




E. SQUIRES, a well-known mer- 
chant at Turner's Mills, is a native 
of Lorain county, Ohio, born Au- 
gust 16, 1837, in Carlisle township. 
His parents, Abner and Lois 
Squii'es, were natives of Vermont, and in 
1831 migrated westward to Lorain county, 
Ohio, settling in Carlisle, where the 
father, who was a farmer, died in 1851, 
his widow in 1864. He was a Democrat 
in political faith. These pioneers reared 
a family of eight children (four of whom 
are yet living), namely: Emily, widow of 
Abel M. Thorpe, residing in Elyria town- 
ship; Ida. who was married to A. Pang- 
born, and died in Elyria township; Anson, 
deceased in Elyria; Truman, married, and 
residing in Story county, Iowa; Susan, 
wife pf Charles B. Sutliff, both now de- 
ceased; Ezra, married, and residing in 
Michigan; Louisa, Mrs. Halford, who died 
in Pittslield ; and A. E. 

A. E. Squires was reared in his native 
township, receiving his education at the 
common schools of the district. In 1861 
he enlisted, for three years, in Company 
K, Twenty-third Regiment, O. V. I., was 
mustered in at Columbus, Ohio, and 
served with the army of the Potomac, 
participating in the engagements at South 



Mountain and Antietam, besides many 
skirmishes. In 1864 he received an hon- 
orable discharge and returned home, but 
subsequently re-enlisted, this time in the 
Eleventh O. V. I., and was with Sherman 
on his march to the sea, served throughout 
the Carolina campaign, and took part in 
the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. 
He was mustered out of the service at 
Camp Dennison, and immediately returned 
to Carlisle township, where he commenced 
to follow the trade of carpenter and 
builder. 

On January 81, 1860 Mr. Squires was 
married, in Carlisle township, to Miss 
Catherine Cornell, who was born in Pitts- 
field, Lorain county, daughter of George 
Cornell, an early pioneer of the county, 
where he lived and died. To this union 
was born one sou, Orville, whose mother 
died in 1883. On August 1, 1892, Mr. 
Squires was married, in Carlisle township, 
to Mrs. Emma Pember, widow of De Witt 
Pember, of Carlisle; she is a native of 
Summit county. Ohio, daughter of William 
Manning, who removed from Summit 
county to Carlisle township, Lorain county, 
where he died in 1867. In politics Mr. 
Squires is a Prohibitionist, and served for 
one year, 1891, as postmaster at Turner's 
Mills, when the office was discontinued. 
He has been engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness at Turner's Mills since 1890. 




i^ARREN W. BLAINE, owner of 
as fertile and well-conducted a 
farm as can be found in Ridge- 
ville township, is a native of same, 
born in 1837, a son of Richard and Fannie 
(Fuller) Blaine. 

Richard Blaine was born in Genesee 
county, N. Y., a son of Wilson and Han- 
nah (Vannatten) Blaine, who were natives 
of New York and Pennsylvania, respect- 
ively. In 1819, when Richard was a lad 
of six summers, they came from Genesee 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1145 



county, N. Y., to Lorain county, Oliio, 
and made a settlement in Ridj^eville town- 
ship, at tiiat time all woodland. Wilson 
Blaine lived also for a time in Eaton town- 
ship, but the greater part of his life was 
passed in Ridgeville, where he and his wife 
died, the latter in 1861. Grandfather 
Warren Fuller came to Olmsted, Cuyahoga 
Co., Ohio, in an early d&y. 

Richard Blaine, lather of subject, re- 
ceived his education at the common schools 
of Ridgeville township, and at La Porte. 
He made agriculture his life work, and be- 
came prosperous. He was married, in 
Olmsted, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, to Miss 
Fannie Fuller, and they then commenced 
married life on the homestead in Ridge- 
ville township, Lorain county, making 
their home in an old log cabin. The chil- 
dren born to them were four in number, as 
follow.6: W^arren W., subject of this sketch; 
James, who resides in Cleveland; Vesty, 
wife of Noah Peck, of Ridgeville town- 
ship; and Harlon, who died in Ridgeville 
township about 1856. The father of these 
died in 1877, the mother in 1886. He 
was at first a Whig in his political views, 
later a Republican, and served in various 
township otiices. 

Warren W. Blaine, the subject proper 
of this sketch, received liis primary educa- 
tion at the common schools of Ridgeville 
township, which he supplemented with a 
course of study at Berea (^Ohio) College. 
He had a practical training in agricultural 
pursuits under his father's tuition, and has 
made farming his life work. In 1861 he 
was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- 
beth Watson, a native of Ridgeville town- 
ship, Lorain county, daughter of John 
Watson (deceased), who was an English- 
man by birth and an early settler of Ridge- 
ville. Seven children were born to this 
union, as follows: Martin, residing in 
Ridgeville, who is married, and has two 
children, Theodore and Melvin; R. E.,wife 
of Ed. Terrell, residing in Elyria, has two 
children, Orville and Elfa; Elfa, who was 
the wife of John Reed, and died in Cali- 



fornia in 1888, leaving one child, Olive E. ; 
Janie, Harlon, Fannie and Emma. Mr. 
Blaine owns the old homestead in Ridge- 
ville township, aggregating 131 acres of 
well-cultivated land. Politically he is a 
Republican. 




[( DDISON E. LORD, manufacturer 
l\ of cigars, Elyria, is a native of 
1\ Connecticut, born at Warehouse 
Point, Hartford county, October 16, 
1842, a son of Chester Adkins and 
Lucretia (Moran) Lord, also natives of the 
Nutmeg State, and descended from old 
New England stock. The father, who was 
for over forty years a stationary engineer, 
lived to be eighty-two years of age. They 
had eight children (subject being the young- 
est), of whom one son and four daughters 
are vet living. The parents died in 1845, 
on May 17 and July 2, respectively. 

Addison E. Lord received his education 
at the common schools of the yicinity of 
his place of birth, and at the age of four- 
teen (1857) went on a whaling expedition 
to the sea of Ochotsk, east of Russia in 
Asia (eastern Siberia); thence sailed to the 
Pacific Ocean, visiting, among other places 
of importance. New Zealand. In July, 
1861, he returned to his old home, to find 
the country about to plunge into a terrible 
Civil war, and he remained but one short 
month in peaceful quietude, when, tired 
by the spirit of patriotism, he joined the 
U. S. navy as a seaman. He served three 
years and four months, cruising along the 
coast from the Mississippi to Galveston, 
Te.\as. In the winter of 1864 he once 
more returned to the pursuits of peace, 
coming direct to Elyria, Ohio, where he 
had a brother engaged in the cigar-making 
business, with whom he found employment, 
learning the trade. AVith him he remained 
until 1874, when he opened out in the 
same town for his own account, doing an 



1146 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



exclusively wholesale business till 1877, 
in whicl) year he moved into his present 
building, and commenced the retail trade 
in company with F. H. Siidro (abandoning 
the wholesale); he has since done a flour- 
ishing business, keeping a large and choice 
stock, chiefly of his own mannfacture. 

Mr. Lord was married in January, 1866, 
to Miss Louise Ward, a native of Elyria, 
and three children came to brighten their 
home, viz.: Burton H.,died April 17, 1870; 
Ed. G. and Pearl. Mrs. Lord's parents, 
Lyman and Calista Ward, were natives of 
Vermont; the father died August 6, 1872, 
the mother November 8, 1876. Mr. Lord 
is a Republican in politics; socially he is a 
member of the F. & A. M., L O. O. F. and 
G. A. R., and a charter member of the 
K. of H., L. of H., and I. O. F. Of the 
L O. O. F. he has been a member for 
twenty-three years, has fllled the Chairs 
from warden to noble grand, and has been 
a representative to the Grand Lodge. Mr. 
Lord is a useful citizen, popular and pro- 
gressive, and has done his part toward the 
growth and prosperity of his adopted 
county and town. 



D 



R. MOYSEY, the leading veterin- 
ary surgeon of Elyria, was born 
April 19, 1858, in Mansfield, Rich- 
land Co.. Ohio, a son of R. R. and 
Sallie (Dennison) Mojsey, both of whom 
were born in Lincolnshire, England. In 
1852 R. R. Moysey came from England to 
Mansfield, Ohio, where he resided for six- 
teen years, and then moved to Kel ley's 
Island, Ohio, where he has ever since made 
liis home. For twenty-five years he has 
devoted his time and attention to grape 
culture and wine making, and he is one of 
the proprietors of the Sweet Valley Wine 
Company. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
education at the common schools of the 



vicinity of his place of birth, and was 
reared to his father's grape business on 
Kelley's Island in Lake Erie, until he 
commenced the stxidy of veterinary sur- 
gery. In 1885 he entered the Veterinary 
College at Chicago, graduating from same 
in 1887. He then came to Elyria, and 
practiced his profession exclusively till 
about two years ago, when he opened a 
livery stable in connection, having as a 
partner J. L. Reed, and he does an exten- 
sive business in both iuterests. 

On April 24, 1883, D. R. Moysey was 
united in marriage with Miss Sallie D. 
Carpenter (who was also reared on Kelley's 
Island), daughter of Charles Carpenter, 
who was born in Norwich, Conn.; her 
mother was born at Rockport, Ohio, and 
was one of the old Kelley family. To this 
marriage children were born as follows: 
Lyiine, Mildred, Mabel and Florence, (^ur 
subject is a Republican, and is a popular, 
loyal citizen. 



P)HILIP RITZENTHALER, a mem- 
ber of the well-known firm of Breck- 
enridge & Ritzenthaler, merchants, 
Kipton, is a native of Baden, Ger- 
many, born August 14, 1841, a son 
of Philip Ritzenthaler. 

In 1851 the family, consisting of parents, 
three sons and one dancrhter, left the 
Fatherland for the distant shores of Amer- 
ica, sailing frotn Havre, France, for New 
York, where they landed after a voyage 
of thirty days. From there they proceeded 
to Dunkirk, thence to Sandusky, Ohio, and 
in Milan township, Erie county, the father 
bought land. Later he moved to Wake- 
man township, Huron county, where he 
sojourned a short time, and then, on ac- 
count of impaired health, came toNor- 
walk, same county, where he lived a retired 
life, and died in March, 1861. He was 
well-to-do, but having financially assisted 
other German families to come to Amer- 
ica, and failing to be repaid by them in 



LORAIN VOUNTY, OHIO. 



1147 



any shape, lie lost a considerable amount 
of money. He had a family of eicrht chil- 
dren, of whom are yet living: Barnhart, 
a farmer in Baden, Germany; Charles, a 
farmer of Ontario comity, N. Y.; (Tcorge, 
of Erie county, Ohio; Philip, subject of 
sketch; Mary, Mrs. Anthony Sieboit, of 
Erie county, Ohio; and Emma, Mrs. Nahm, 
a widow, of P^remout, Ohio. 

Philip Ritzenthaler, whose name opens 
tills sketch, received a limiteil education at 
the schools of his native place, and at the 
a<je of fourteen, being now in Ohio with 
his parents, left home to do for himself. 
In 1857 he came to Kipton, and worked 
for O. Bowen, who then conducted a hotel, 
and was also ticket agent for the Lake 
Shiire & Michigan Southern Railroad Com- 
pany at that place, and also attended the 
pumping station for the same company. 
Here he remained some four or live 
months, and then went to the farm of 
Hirain Prentice, near Kipton, with whom 
he worked for some years at from four to 
eight dollars per month, and board, in the 
summers, and in the winters for his board 
only, as he attended school a good part of 
the time. From Mr. Prentice he went in 
1861 to live with John P. Lee, but Octo- 
ber 31, same year, he enlisted in Company 
H, Forty-third O. Y. L; he participated 
in the battle of New Madrid (near Island 
No. 10), the Corinth campaign, and second 
battle of Corinth. After serving two years 
and three months, he reenlisted, and was 
with Sherman on his march to the sea, ex- 
periencing all the hardships of that mem- 
orable campaign. He served in all three 
years and nine months. In July, 1865, 
he was discharged from the service at 
Louisville, Ky.. returning to Camden town- 
ship, Lorain county, and for two years fol- 
lowinir again worked for Hiram Prentice. 
In 1867 he went to Moore county, Minn., 
and cultivated a piece of land he had pur- 
chased there, but after a residence of two 
years and three months he returned to 
Kipton. In 1869, after his marriage, he 
and his young wife went into housekeep- 



ing in Ontario county, N. Y., where he 
managed a farm for three years, and once 
more returned to Kipton. In 1880 Mr. 
Ritzenthaler entered the general store of 
William Douglass at Kipton, as partner, 
and after two years served as postmaster 
under C. A. Arthur, at the same time 
clerking in the store of Doiiglass & Rose. 
For some time thereafter he was in the 
creamery business with E. Jones, of Fos- 
toria, Ohio; later became clerk for B. F. 
Breckenridge at Kipton, and in 1890 they 
formed a partnership which has since con- 
tinued. 

In July, 1869, our subject married Miss 
Hattie M. Allen, born in Henrietta town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, a daughter of Rose- 
well Allen. She died in 1875 in Kipton, 
and was buried in Oberlin, the mother of 
two children: Nellie M.. now Mrs. Will- 
iam L. Moninger, of Waynesboro, Penn., 
and Laura M., now Mrs. L. C. Bates, of 
Lorain, Ohio. For his second wife Mr. 
Ritzenthaler married, in 1879, Miss Annetta 
Eddy, who was born in Camden township, 
Lorain county, a daughter of Squire Eddy. 
a pioneer citizen of Camden township. To 
this union were born children, as follows: 
Nettie L. ; Reuben E., who died at the age 
of six months, and Flossie E., all living. In 
his political sympathies our subject has 
always been a stanch Republican, hns held 
various township offices, and is now serv- 
ing as clerk with fidelity and ability. 



IfffENRY PIFER. This representa- 
f!^ tive, prosperous agriculturist of 
I 1 Rochester township is a son of 
^J Christian and Catherine (Garner) 

Pifer, natives of Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania. 

In 1836 the parents came to Ohio, lo- 
cating on a farm in Orange township, 
Ashland county, where the father bought 
thirty acres of wild land, that part of the 
country being entirely new, without a single 



1148 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



road in it, only blazed trees marking a path 
through the woods. A temporary log 
house was built, and in course of time a 
better one; thirty acres were added to the 
first purchase, and, later, still more, until 
the farm aggregated 114 acres. Children 
as follows were born to this pioneer 
couple: Jacob, who resides in Marion 
county, Iowa; Elizabeth, single, who re- 
sides on the home farm; Martha, who 
makes her home in Brighton, Lorain 
county; Mary, who is the widow of Isaac 
Lydick, of Orange township, Ashland 
countj'; Samuel, a farmer of Orange 
township; and Henry, whose name opens 
this sketch. The father of this family 
died in July, 1881, aged seventy-five 
years; the mother on August 20, 1893, at 
the advanced age of eighty-eight years, 
one month, fourteen days, and they lie 
side by side in Orange cemetery, Ashland 
county. They were members of the Dunk- 
ard Church, and in politics Mr. Pifer was 
a Republican. 

Henry Pifer, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was born September 11, 1841, 
in Orange township, Ashland Co., Ohio. 
In 1865 he came to Lorain county, where 
for a year he was employed on the farm of 
Josephus Clark, and then rented land. 
After his marriage he rented a farm in 
Ruggles township, Ashland county, for a 
few years, and in 1873 bought seventy-five 
acres in Rochester township, Lorain 
county, which is embodied in his present 
farm. Hither he i-emoved, and there resided 
until his purchase from Thomas Knapp 
of the piece of land whereon he now has 
his residence, and which lies opposite his 
seventy-five acre farm. He now. owns 
118i acres of excellent land, all gi-eatly 
improved by him, and in addition to gen- 
eral farming he is extensively engaged in 
the dairy business. 

On March 24, 1864, Mr. Pifer married 
Miss Mary A. Krebs, who was born Sep- 
tember 16, 1841, ill Orange township, 
Ashland county, a daughter of Daniel and 
Catherine (Rickett) Krebs, and two 



children were born to this union: Jennie 
M., now Mrs. Henry Barnes, of Rochester, 
Lorain county, and Loran, at home with 
her parents. Politically our subject is a 
stanch Democrat, formerly as stanch a Re- 
publican, his first vote being cast for 
Brough for governor of Ohio. He and 
his wife are both consistent members of 
the Congregational Church at Rochester. 



/George H. BRADNER, prominent 
I w, in the farniing community of Hunt- 
\J^ ington township, was born in 1833 
^|i in Chester, Mass., a son of S. D. 
Bradner, who w-as born in 1800 in 
the State of New York. 

In 1833 S. D. Bradner came to Ohio, 
having secured by trade some 500 acres of 
wild land in Huntington township, Lorain 
county. In Massachusetts he had married, 
a year or two before. Miss Louisa Holland, 
a native of that State, and four children 
were born to them, viz. : Maro-aret, mar- 
ried to S. S. AVarner, of Wellington, Lo- 
rain county; George H., subject proper of 
sketch; Frank, who died at about the age 
of forty years; and John H., in the coal 
business in Cleveland. The parents died 
in Wellington township, the father in 
1875, the mother in 1870. 

George H. Bradner was, as will be seen, 
but an infant when the family came from 
the East to Lorain county, the common 
schools of which he attended, also Oberlin 
College two terms. He was reared to 
agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner 
of a large, highly- improved farm in 
Huntington township, on which he erected 
a comfortable brick residence. Up to 
1888 he lived continuously there, with the 
exception of two years he spent in Michi- 
gan, and he was a resident of Wellington 
some four years. In 1861 our subject 
married Miss Anna M. Benallack, a native 
of Cornwall, England, and six children 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1149 



have been horti to tliein, as follows: Sam- 
uel Denton, residing in Wellington, who 
is married and has two children — Vera 
and Susie; Mary, wife of B. Royce, has 
one child; Mflrgaret and Orrie, at home; 
anil two that died in infancy. Politically 
Mr. Bradner is a Republican; his wife is 
a member of the Baptist Church. 



diOSEPH STORROW, a leader in the 
atrricultural interests of Wellincrton 
^ . . . ^ 

' township, is a native of Upper Can- 
ada (now Province of Ontario), born 
August 7, 1828. 

Joseph Storrow, his father, born in 
Enjcland in 1780, immigrated to America 
wlien thirty years old, and his first voca- 
tion in the New World was in the lumber 
business in Schenectady, N. Y. He made 
frequent visits to friends and relatives in 
his native land, having crossed the ocean 
some tive times for no otiier purpose. He 
married Miss Triphena Freeman, who was 
a native, it is snpposed, of Pennsylvania, 
and five children were born to them, 
namely: Thomas, a farmer in Brighton 
township, Lorain county; Rowena (de- 
ceased), who was married to Miren Merls; 
Louisa, wife of K. Baird; May A., wife of 
Louis Barge, and Joseph. The father died 
in AVellington, Ohio, February 5, 1858, 
the mother on November 27, 1844:. 

The subject proper of this sketch re- 
ceived a liberal education, and was reared 
to farming pursuits. On August 30, 
1854, he was united in marriacre with 
Miss Emily Bunce, a native of New York 
State, daughter of Isaac and Cornelia (Vos- 
burgh) Bunce, of Vermont and New York 
birth, respectively, who in an early day 
came west to Ohio, settling in Brighton 
township, Lorain county, where the father 
died at the age of sixty-one years, the 
mother when forty-five years old; they were 
members of the M. E. Church; their chil- 



dren were as follows: Emily, Mrs. Joseph 
Storrow; Christina, Mrs. Leonard, resid- 
ing in Huntington; Susan, widow of A. 
Twaddle; Elizabeth, Mrs. George Gillett, 
living in Brighton township; and Mary, 
married to Horatio B. Beardsly, of Roch- 
ester township. 

To our subject and wife have been born 
two children: Hubert, born October 20, 
1855, received his education in the district 
schools, and married Miss Eva Willard; 
they have tive children: Emily E., Cyti- 
thiana, Cora Dell, Carrie Bell, and Joseph 
Hubert, an engineer on the Kansas Rail- 
road, residing at Kansas City. (2) Byron 
A., born January 4, 1860, attended the 
neighboring schools, and on January 1, 
18'J1, married Miss Delia Walters, a native 
of Spencer, Ohio. Mr. Storrow came to 
his present farm in Wellington township 
in April, 1838, nearly tifty-si.\ years ago, 
then a boy of ten summers, and has made 
farming his life work. He now owns 150 
acres of land. In politics he is a stanch 
Republican. 



IfJlARVEY M. PEABODY, one of 

p^ the most prominent and prosperous 

I 4l agi'i'iiilturists of Russia township, 

■^ is a native of the Gi-een Mountain 

State, born October 20, 1837, in 

Irasburg, Orleans county, a son of David 

and Sarah E. (TuUer) Peabody. 

David Peabody, father of subject, was 
born July 10, 1812, in Londonderry, N. H., 
a son of Andrew Peabody, born in 1759, 
who followed the dual trades of tailor and 
shoemaker. He was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. He was three times 
married; by his first wife he had no issue; 
by his second he had three children — Elias, 
Daniel and Andrew — and by his third, who 
was a Miss Hannah Beadle (sister to his 
second wife), born in 1777, lie had nine 
children, as follows: Susan, born in 1797, 
married Richard Kelley, and died in Am- 



1150 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



lierst township, Lorain county; Charlotte, 
born in 1801, married K. Bailey, and died 
in Henrietta townsliip, Lorain county; 
Clarissa, born in 1803, married Omar 
Bailey, and died in Russia township; 
Mercy, horn in 1806, married James 
Mitchell, and died in Michigan; Nathan, 
born in 1808, died during the war of the 
Rebellion, in Virginia; Harriet, born in 
1810, married Ciiarles Mitchell and lives 
in Montcalm county, Mich.; David and 
Aaron (twins), born in 1812, of whom 
David is the father of our subject, and 
Aaron resides in Eaton county, Mich.; and 
Mary Maria, born in 1814, married twice, 
iirst to Calvin Briggs, and afterward to 
Elisha Aldridge (she died in Nebraska). 
The father of this large family died July 
4, 1839, in New Hampshire, his last wife 
on July 6, 1842, and they are biiried at 
the head of Lake Memphremagog, in 
Orleans county, Vermont. 

David Peabody was reared on a farm, 
and educated at the common schools of his 
native place. On January 13, 1837, he 
was united in marriage with Sarah Eme- 
line Taller, who Avas born in 1814 at St. 
Albans, Vt., daughter of Samuel Tnller, 
and Mr. Peabody then settled down to agri- 
cultural labor at his home in Vermont till 
September, 1842, when he came to Ohio 
with his family, the journey being made 
by canal and lake to Cleveland. Thence 
they proceeded by team to Russia town- 
ship, Lorain county, where he bought 
twelve acres of land, subsequently adding 
lifty acres, where he has since had his home. 
The children born to David and Sarah E. 
Peabody are Harvey M., the subject proper 
of this sketch; Alonzo, born March 20, 
1840, and Richard (an invalid), born May 
20, 1845. In politics Mr. Peabody is a 
Republican, formerly a Democrat, and he 
(as was also his wife) is a member of the 
First Congregational Chui-ch. His wife 
was called from earth September 9, 1880. 

Harvey M. Peabody, the subject proper 
of this memoir, was, as will be seen, about 
live years old when the family came to 



Ohip. He attended the common schools 
of Lorain county, and was reared to agri- 
cultural pursuits on his father'sfarra, under 
his tuition. AYhen sixteen years of age he 
commenced working for Squire Roberts, 
with whom he remained three years, and 
in part payment for his services he re- 
ceived twenty acres of land, which was his 
first property. Later he and his father to- 
getlier bought a small tract of land, and 
still later our subject traded with his father, 
receiving a tract of seventy acres in e.x- 
change for wliat he then owned, and as a 
result of such trading and later purchases 
he is now the owner of 336 acres, ac- 
cumulated since he was a young man work- 
ing for two shillings a day. 

On December 30, 1866, our subject was 
united in marriage with Martha Petty, who 
was born February 29, 1844, in Henrietta 
townsliip, Lorain Co., Ohio, a daughter of 
Thomas and Mary Ann (Simpson) Petty, 
and five children, as follows, have been 
born to them: William H. and Clayton D., 
farmers in Russia township, Lorain county; 
and Otis E., Mattie B. and Ethel B., all at 
home with their parents. Mr. Peabody is 
a Republican, but is not an active politi- 
cian, as his time is fully occupied with his 
business; he and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Church, of which he is a 
trustee. 



D' 



,AVID L. GIBBS, a prominent 
farmer and stockman of Carlisle 
township, is a native of same, born 
March 15, 1828, a son of Ransom 
and Julia (Pritchard) Gibbs. 

The father of our subject was born in 
Waterbury, Conn., and was reared, edu- 
cated and married in New Haven county. 
After the birth of their first child there, 
he and his wife came to Ohio, and made a 
settlement in Carlisle township, Lorain 
county, Mr. Gibbs cutting two miles of the 
Elyria road, and building a log house at 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1153 



tlie end of the road, where he made his 
new home, the family being among the 
first settlers on Murray Ridge. Tlie father 
died March 17, 1879, at the advanced age 
of eighty-three, the mother when tifty- 
eight years old. Grandfather Obed Gibbs 
came to the county at the same time, ac- 
companied by his wife, Hannah (Scoville), 
and they both died in Carlisle township. 
To Ransom and Julia (Pritchard) Gibbs 
were boru four children, viz.: Jane, who 
was married to George Boughton, and 
died in Nebraska; Lewis, deceased in 
Washington City; Harriet, wife of Alonson 
Wooster, of Elyria; and David L. 

The subject of these lines received his 
education in the public schools of Carlisle 
township, and from early boyhood worked 
on the farm. He is now owner of 204 
acres of highly-cultivated laud, where he 
carries on stock farming. In 1849 he 
married Miss Jane M. Slauter, a native of 
Pennsylvania, and two children blessed 
their union: Carrie, wife of M. L. Chap- 
man, of Denver, Colo, (they have three 
children — Hattie, Nellie and Henry); and 
Hattie V., wife of F. M. Hance, now of 
Oberlin. Politically Mr. Gibbs is a 
Democrat. 



,RSON M. CARVEY. Among the 
foremost of the progressive and suc- 
cessful farmers of Rochester town- 
ship is to be found this gentleman, 
who is a son of William Carvey. 

William Carvey, grandfather of Orson 
M., was born in New York State, near the 
spot where Washington marshaled his 
army in martial array, and in which vicin- 
ity many other noted events of the war of 
Independence transpired. In 1820 he re- 
moved with his family to Goshen, same 
State, and after four years residence there 
made a final settlement in the town of 
Jerusalem (also in New York State), where 



he died March 15, 1832. His son William, 
father of onr subject, was born June 14, 
1809, in Little P.ritain, Orange Co., N. Y., 
and was eleven years old when his parents 
took him to Goshen, and fifteen when they 
removed to Jerusalem. In New York 
State, in 1832, he married Miss Eunice 
Thomas, who was born October 4, 1811, 
and October 15, 1832, they set out for Lo- 
rain county, Ohio, arriving after a tedious 
journey of three weeks. He located on the 
" Dodge farm," adjoining the present 
homestead of our subject, subsequently 
buying the latter (at that time a tract of 
seventy acres), paying twenty shillings 
($2.50) per acre for same. To build a log 
house was no easy task, but the expense 
was comparatively light, as the total cost 
of hauling to the spot all the logs required 
was only eight shillings (11.00). On 
March 1, 1833, the rude cabin was " com- 
pleted " and ready for the family, though 
it had neither door, window nor hearth. 
For two years after coming to Rochester 
township he voted in Huntington town- 
ship, and at the first election held in the 
former there were but seventeen votes cast,; 
his first Presidential vote was cast for An- 
drew Jackson. The record of the children 
born to this worthy old pioneer is as fol- 
lows: Lydia L., now Mrs. W. R. McCon- 
nell, of Rochester township; Nancy L., 
who married James Jennings, and died on 
the home farm; Berton W,, who was a 
soldier in Battery B, First 0, Y. A., and 
died in hospital at Nashville, Tenn., of 
disease contracted in the service; Harriet 
L., Mrs. Frederick Peet, of Rochester 
township; Ellen L., Mrs. Frank Corey, of 
Quincy, Mich.; and Orson M., subject of 
sketch. The father died September 13. 
1886, the mother on January 24, same 
year, and they sleep their last sleep in 
Beckley Cemetery, Rochester township. 
Mr. Carvey was originally an Old-line 
Whig, till the organization of the Republi- 
can party, when he enrolled himself under 
their banner, remaining true to his colors 
until the day of his death. 



1154 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Orson M. Carvey, the subject proper of 
these lines, was born April 28, 1852, inRocli- 
ester townsliip, Lorain county, on the same 
farm he yet owns and resides upon. lie 
received a liijeral district-school education, 
his first teacher being Riioda Close, who 
boarded at his father's house, and was an 
intimate friend of the family. Thoroughly 
trained to agriculture, Mr. Carvey has 
proven himself to be one of the most suc- 
cessful in his vocation in the county. 
After the death of his parents he bought 
out the rest of the heirs, and' has since en- 
joyed the entire ownership of the original 
100-acre farm, where he has carried on 
general agriculture, including dairying. 

On December 30, 1874, Mr. Carvey 
married Miss Mary McConnell, who was 
born November 17, 1846, in New London, 
Ohio, a daughter of William and Martha 
(Rohrback) McConnell, who several years 
ago came from Oswego, N. Y., to Huron 
county, Ohio, making their home iu New 
London. Mrs. Carvey is a cultured lady, 
and at Oberlin University studied vocal 
and instrumental music. One child, Fred 
W., a bright little boy, born April 29, 
1881, completes the happy family circle. 
The lad has succeeded in training a couple 
of sheep to pull him and his little wagon 
about, and they can haul him a consider- 
able distance with the greatest ease. Po- 
litically our subject is a Eepublican, and 
takes an active interest in all elections. 



GS. MILLS. Among the well-known 
and influential citizens of Ridgeville 
^ township, none occupies a more 
prominent place than this gen- 
tleman. 

He was born in Ridgeville township 
December 7, 1829, son of Samuel and 
Sally (Varmatten) Mills, the former of 
whom was a native of Jefferson county, 
N. Y., the latter of Connecticut. In 1818 
or 1820 Samuel Mills came westward to 



Lorain connty, Ohio, locating in the east- 
ern part of Ridgeville township, where he 
purchased 100 acres of land, subseq^uently 
adding thereto until he had a farm of 220 
acres. On January 2, 1821, he was mar- 
ried in Lorain county to Sally Vannatten, 
and they became the parents of children 
as follows: Hiram V., born January 1, 
1822, who died in Jefferson county, N. Y., 
in February, 1859; Alfred D., born July 
11, 1824, who died in Chicago, 111., in 
August, 1850; H. D.; P. Amelia, who 
died in 1834; and C. S., subject of this 
biographical memoir. The father of this 
family served in the war of 1812, partici- 
pating in the battle of Sacket's Harbor. 
In politics he was an active Whig, and 
served as justice of the peace. He passed 
to his long home June 24, 1839, survived 
for many years by his wife, who died in 
Ridgeville, Lorain county. May 5, 1873. 

Grandfather Mills, who was a native of 
Connecticut, settled in an early day in 
northern New York, and later came to 
Lorain county, Ohio, where he passed his 
closing years, dying in Elyria June 26, 
1858, when aged eigl;ty-nine. He was 
married three times, and had children by 
each union; the gratulmother of our sub- 
ject, who was a Woodruff, died in New 
York. 

C. S. Mills was reared in his native 
township, and there received his primary 
education, subsequently attending school 
at Oberlin, Ohio, and Watertown, N. Y. 
When twenty-three years of age he was 
united in marriage with Miss Jane Ter- 
rell, a native of Ridgeville township, and 
their home has been brightened by children 
as follows: Two who died when young; 
Ada, Mrs. Brown, of Grand Rapids, 
Mich,; Jennie, residing at home; and 
Harry, residing on the home farm, who is 
married and has one child, C. S. Mr. 
Mills is a lifelong farmer, and, with the 
exception of eighteen years he resided in 
Eaton fownship. where he bought a farm, 
has made Ridgeville township his home. 
He now owns 155 acres in Eaton town- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1155 



sliip, besides fifteen acres of the home 
fann in Ilidgeville township, where he 
resides. Politically our subject is a life- 
k>tig Republican; he cast his first vote for 
Gen. Scott, and has ever since taken a 
prominent part in public affairs, being a 
wheel-horse of the Republican party in 
Ridgeville township. In 1874 he was 
elected county commissioner, and served 
in'that office nine consecutive years, dur- 
ing which time he was appointed by the 
board of commissioners to superintend the 
erection of the courthouse. 



I W. LEASH ER, a popular citizen of 
w I Russia township, was born August 
%^ 12, 1839, in BuUskiu township, Fay- 
ette Co., Penn., son of John Leaslier, 
a native of Franklin county, Penn., who 
was a shoemaker and farmer. He married 
Martha Doubler, who was born in Ger- 
many in 1800, and four years later came to 
America; she died in 1876, in Mt. Pleas- 
ant, Penn., at the home of her son, J. C. 
Leasher. She was the mother of ten chil- 
dren — five sons and five daughters — of 
whom our subject was the fourth son. The 
father died in 1856, and the children were 
then obliged to take care of themselves. 

J. W. Leasher received a common-school 
education, and when twelve years of age 
hired out as a farm hand at six dollars a 
month, continuing at that occupation for 
years in his native county. He was also 
employed as a miner in the Youghiogheny 
river country, and saw the first coke ovens 
built in that section. On May 18, 1865, 
he married Miss Rachel B. Strickler, who 
was born January 18, 1839, in Tyrone 
township, Fayette Co., Penn., daughter of 
John R. and Esther (Cochran) Strickler. 
The Stricklers are descended from one of 
nine brothers who came from Germany to 
Chester county, Penn., prior to the Revo- 
lutionary war. They were "tall, straight 



and fair, blue eyes and sandy hair, good 
looking." The Cochran family were of 
Scotch-Irish extraction, coming from the 
North of Ireland and locating in Delaware, 
whence they removed to Fayette county, 
Pennsylvania. 

After his marriage Mr. Leasher rented 
property, which he worked on shares, and 
in February, 1868, moved from Pennsyl- 
vania to Russia township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where he had purchased the old 
Carter farm of one hundred acres, upon 
which he has since resided. He has been 
successfully engaged in general farming on 
this place, where he has made a very com- 
fortable home. Politically he is a Repub- 
lican, though not active in party affairs; 
in religious connection he is a member of 
the Disciple Church at Kipton, Ohio. 
Mr. and Mrs. Leasher have no children of 
their own, and their home has sheltered 
many young children. They are most 
agreeable neighbors, and are highly es- 
teemed by all who have the pleasure of 
their acquaintance. 



P)ETER SCHRAMM, one of the most 
extensive farmers of Russia town- 
ship, is a native of Bavaria, Ger- 
many, born September 5, 1836, to 
George P. and Catherine (Berg) 
Schramm, who came to America in IS-tS. 
George P. Schramm died August 8, 1861, 
aged fifty-seven years, four months, three 
days; Mrs. Catherine Schramm died Sep- 
tember 4, 1890, aged eighty-four years, 
five months. 

Our subject attended school in his na- 
tive country until twelve years of age, when 
he came with his parents to the United 
States, where they settled in Russia town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio. He attended school 
four winters in Russia township, and then 
commenced to work. After the death of 
his father, he and a brother took charge of 



1156 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



the home place, and being hard-working 
and industrious they succeeded in paying 
off the other lieirs, continuing to work the 
farm in partnership until 1880. In the 
fall of that year Peter Schramm was united 
in marriage with Mary Kane, a native of 
Germany, who came to America when quite 
young. To this union have been born five 
children, namely: Jacob A., Frederick J., 
Emma D., Franklin G. and Catherine S. 
8oon after marriage Mr. Schramm settled 
on his present farm, which now comprises 
178 acres of land, upon which he has made 
numerous improvements. Pie is a model 
farmer, and one of the best and most suc- 
cessful in Russia township, having, by 
energy, perseverance and strict attention to 
business, risen from a poor boy to his 
present prosperous position. Politically he 
is a Democrat, in religious faith an ad- 
herent of the Congregational Church. 



J 



iOHN SCHEAMM, a successful 
farmer of Rtissia township, was born 
November 1, 1838, in Rhine-Pfalz, 
Bavaria, Germany, son of George Peter 
and Catherine (Berg) Schramm, farming 
people of Rhine-Pfalz. They had seven chil- 
dren — four sons and three daughters — and 
in June, 1848, came to America with six 
of their family, Jacob, the remaining son, 
following four years later. They set sail 
from Bremen, and after a voyage of thirty- 
eight days landed in New York, whence 
tliey at once proceeded, by way of the 
Erie Canal and Lake Erie, to Russia town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio. The father pur- 
chased seventy acres of land at ten dollars an 
acre, then nearly all in the woods, and here 
the parents passed their remaining years, 
the mother dying in 1890, the father some 
years previous; they were buried in Car- 
lisle cemetery. In religion they were both 
members of the Congregational Church. 

John Schramm attended school in his 
native country, and later in Russia town- 



ship, Lorain county, and was reared to the 
arduous duties of farm life, continuing in 
same on the home place until his marriage. 
On January 27, 1870, he married Miss 
Catherine Miller, who was born June 28, 
1850, in Rhino-Pfalz, Bavaria, Germany, 
daughter of Jacob Miller, and came to New 
York August 1, 1868. For some years 
Mr. Schramm had farmed in partnership 
with his brother Peter, but upon his mar- 
riage they divided their interests, our sub- 
ject remaining on the home farm for ten 
years, when, in 1880, he removed to the 
place where he yet resides. By hard work, 
economy and perseverance Mr. Schramm 
has increased his possessions, until he now 
owns a tine farm of 170 acres. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat, and in religious 
faith he and his wife are members of the 
Congregational Church. They have five 
children: George P., Sophia M., Henry 
J., Carrie A. and Albert E. 



D 



J. PECK, representing several fire, 
life and accident insurance com- 
panies, in Elyria, is a native of Ohio, 
born in Olmsted township, Cuya- 
hoga county, December 29, 1825, a son of 
Bueland Sallie (Barnum) Peck, the former 
of whom was born January 20, 1794, in 
Addison county, Vt., the latter born Oc- 
tober 10, 1793. 

Buel Peck was among the many emi- 
grants who left New England in 1817, on 
account of the cold season of 1816, and the 
consequent dearth of food, and he and his 
family passed through Ohio with ox 
wagons, reaching Ridgeville October 11, 
1817. He bought one hundred acres of 
land for five hundred dollars at Ridge- 
ville, and for the same price was offered a 
similar amount of land where the city of 
Cleveland now stands. He was a hard- 
working, honest, industrious man. He 
died August 11, 1864, in Ridgeville, on 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1157 



the farm whereon he settled in 1817. His 
father, William Peck, was born in Con- 
necticut, but spent the greater part of his 
life in Vermont. The mother of subject 
died September 1, 1857. She was a daugh- 
ter of John Barniim, a native of Vermont, 
whose father, Joseph Barniim was also 
from that State. John Bariuim,our sub- 
ject's maternal grandfather, was the sec- 
ond to be buried in the town of Ridgeville, 
Ohio; he was a soldier of the Kevt)lution- 
ary war. At the time when Buel and 
Sallie Peck came to Ridgeville, the latter's 
parents were living 

D. J. Peck received his education at the 
high school in Elyria, and then returned 
to the home farm, where he remained till 
five years after his father's death. In 1870 
he visited Madison, Wis., for one year, and 
on his return to Lorain county lie took up 
his present line of business. Politically 
lie is a Republican, and he is a niember of 
the Royal Arcanum. His wife, who is a 
model woman, noted for her deeds of 
charity, is a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church. She was born March 4, 
1829, in Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y. 
Her father, James S. Anthony, was born 
October 26, 1794, in East Greenwich, 
R. I.; her mother, Lydia (Mason), was 
born December 16, 1802, in Swansea, 
Mass. They were married in Brookfield, 
N. Y., February 3, 1823, and June 9, 
1832, removed to Rockport, Cuyalioga 
Co., Ohio. James S. Anthony died July 
28, 1845, and Lydia, his wife, on July 23, 
1856. They were stanch members of the 
Baptist Church, and excellent representa- 
tives of New England people. 



LE. HASERODT, a prominent and 
I progressive agriculturist of Carlisle 
\ township, was born in Medina coun- 
ty, Ohio, in 1841, a son of Henry C. 
and Margaret (Barz) Haserodt. natives of 
Prussia. 



In 1834 they immigrated to this conn- 
try and to Ohio, locating in the woods of 
Medina county, where they cleared a farm. 
After several years they came to Elyria, 
Lorain county, where the father died in 
1888, at the age of eighty-eight, and the 
mother in October, 1891, aged eighty-four 
years. They had a family of nine children, 
six of whom are yet living, viz.: John G., 
married, residing in Brooklyn, Cuyahoga 
Co., Ohio; J. P., married, a resident of 
Elyria; Caroline, widow of Bernhard Was- 
sermaun, of Cleveland; L. P]., subject; 
Charles L., married, residing in Edison, 
Ohio; and Louisa, wife of John Weidner, 
of Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio. 

L. E. Haserodt received a liberal educa- 
tion at the common schools of Medina 
county, supplemented with one term at 
school in Elyria. In 1860 he came to Lo- 
rain county, locating in Elyria, where he 
clerked for Baldwin, Laundon & Nelson 
three years; then for Stan Bros. & Co., and 
finally for Henry Brucli. In 1864 he en- 
listed in Company K, One Hundred and 
Thirty-fifth O. V. I., one hundred days, 
and was stationed chiefiy at Martinslmrg 
and Maryland Heights, on garrison duty; 
also engaged in the attack on Gen. Early, 
which occupied an entire day. Mr. Haserodt 
received his discharge in 1864 at Colum- 
bus, Ohio, and returned home to Elyria. 
In 1865 he went with a brother to Ken- 
dallsviile, Ind., and there engaged in the 
grocery trade, but being burned out, our 
subject returned to Elyria, and embarked 
in the grocery business, establishing one of 
the first groceries in the jilace. In 1865 
he bought out and partly improved a farm 
of eighteen and a quarter acres of wild 
land, to which he has added until he now 
owns thirty-six and one-half acres, all under 
careful cultivation. 

In 1867 Mr. Haserodt was married in 
Elyria to Catherine E. Fowle, a native of 
Amherst township, and four children have 
been born to them: Edward H.; Cornelia, 
wife of Wilford Maddock, of Elyria; Ru- 
pert W., married to Ruth Cudderbach, and 



1158 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



residing in Vermillion, Ohio; and Cather- 
ine, wife of C. Maddock. The mother of 
these died in March, 1873, and in 1874 
Mr. Haserodt married Miss Anna Herold, 
uf Berea, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, by which 
union tiiere is one child, Henry C. Mr. 
and Mrs. Haserodt are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and he was one of the 
trustees appointed to supervise the build- 
ing of the first church, at whicii time there 
were only seven members eligible to vote. 
Politically our subject is a Republican. 



D~ 



AVID C. FISHER, a prominent 
real-estate dealer and ice merchant 
Lorain count}', is a native uf West 
Virginia, born in June, 1850, a son 
of Robert and Mary (Fowler) Fisher, of 
the same State, where they passed their 
entire lives. 

Our subject when a boy came to Lorain 
county, Ohio, and made his home in Ober- 
lin, whei'e he was educated, attending the 
college at that place for some time. In 
1875 he was in the employ of the Land 
Company, in which he has been more or 
less interested since, buying, improving 
and selling real estate. Since 1884 he has 
been doing business in that line for his 
own account, and in eight years turned 
over as much as fifty thousand dollars 
worth of property, the amount in 1892 
alone having reached eighteen thousand 
dollars. In 1881 he embarked in the ice 
business, the first one in that industry 
in Lorain, and practically the only one. 
The buildings for this purpose were located 
on Black river, and he made a com- 
plete success out of it, as he has done in 
the real-estate business. He at one time 
owned nine residences in Lorain — of which 
he sold two, lives in one, and rents the rest 
— besides other property. Mr. Fisher is 
also engaged in the commission business. 
He is largely interested in the improve- 



ment of the West Side (Lorain), where he 
bought an addition, portions of which he 
has sold on land contracts. 

In 1883 David C. Fisher and Miss Eliza- 
beth Dorsej were united in marriage. She 
is a native of Ashland, Ohio, daughter of 
George and Margaret Dorsey, who at one 
time lived in Elyria. Her father, in 1861, 
in the war of the Rebellion, enlisted at 
Ashland, Ohio, was sent to the front, was 
wounded, and died in hospital, all within 
the year; his widow is yet living. To Mr. 
and Mrs. David C. Fisher have been born 
two children: Arthur Edwin and Ruth 
Anna. Our subject is an active Repub- 
lican, and with his wife is a member of tiie 
Congregational Church, in which he holds 
office, and in the Sabbath-school of which 
he takes a lively interest. For a number 
of years he has been a member of the board 
of health in the village of Lorain, and is 
also constable. 



DAVID KIRKBRIDE, a prosperous 
t'armerof Amherst township, comes 
' on the paternal side from Scottish 

ancestry, as his name clearly in- 
dicates. 

He was born in April, 1833, on Hud- 
son street, New York, a son of David and 
Mary (Phillips) Kirkbride, natives of 
England, the former born January 13, 
1799, in the county of Cumberland, the 
latter in 1800 in Leicestershire, of Eng- 
lish lineage. The father at the age of fit- 
teen moved from his native place to Lon- 
don, where he learned the lace and stock- 
ing weavins: trade. Later he was a sales- 
man for the house of I., W. & J. Kirk- 
bride. He married in England, and in 
1832 the young couple innmgrated to the 
United States, the voyage to New York 
being made in the ship " Roscoe." They 
arrived at that city December 6 following, 
where Mr. Kirkbride engaged in the man- 
ufacturing business for a time; they then 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1159 



proceeded to Philadelphia, and from there 
in 1835 came to Lorain county, settling in 
the woods of Amherst township. Here 
lie died in 1875, his wife in 1889. In his 
earlier days in this country he was a Dem- 
ocrat, later a Free soiler. Gratidfather 
Piiillips was a soldier in the Napoleonic 
wars with England. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk- 
hride had a family of eight children, as 
follows: David, subject of sketch; Mary, 
at home; Elizabeth; Ann; Margaret; John 
(married), deceased in January, 1875; 
Maria, wife of W. S. Biggs, of Elyria; and 
Isaac, a farmer of Amherst township. 

David Kirkbride, whose name intro- 
duces this memoir, received a fair com- 
mon-school education in Amherst town- 
ship, whither he was brought when a 
small boy. and he has been a lifelong 
farmer. Politicallv he has always been a 
strong Kepublican. 



'HARLES S. AIKEN, a progressive 
native-born agriculturist of Lorain 
county, is a worthy representative of 
an old pioneer family. His grand- 
fatiier, George Aiken, who was a native of 
Connecticut, served as a minute-man in 
northern Ohio, and died in Brooklyn town- 
ship, Cuyahoga county. 

Irad Aiken, son of George, was born'in 
1791, in Connecticut, and in 1814 came to 
Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he resided 
until 1835. He took up a farm in the 
midst of the forest, and remained thereon 
until 1863, when he moved into North 
Amherst. Mr. Aiken was married, in 
Cuyahoga county, to Miss Indiana Brain- 
erd, a native of Connecticut, whose parents, 
Ozias and Mary (Strong) Brainerd, also 
natives of Connecticut, came to Cuyahoga 
county in an early day. The journey occu- 
pied some time, being made with an ox- 
team as far as Cattaraugus, N. Y. They 
died in Brooklyn township, Cuyahoga 
county; their farm is now included in the 
city of Cleveland. 



To Irad and Indiana (Brainerd) Aiken 
were born eight children, two of wliom 
died young. Of tlie remainder, Charles 
S. is the subject of tliis sketch; William 
Hanford lives in Black liiver township, 
Lorain Co., Ohio; Laura is the wife of 
Clark Wheelan, of Sliiawassee county, 
Mich.; Marietta is the wife of E. C. Foster, 
of North Amherst, Ohio; Noah B. is mar- 
ried and resides in Caledonia township, 
Shiawassee Co., Mich.; Edwin is married 
and resides in Amherst township, Lorain 
county. Tlie father of this family was a 
man who thought much of his home; he 
died June 9, 1879, in North Amherst, his 
wife surviving him until 1891, when she 
too passed away. 

Charles S. Aiken was born October 16, 
1819, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where 
he received his education in the log-cabin 
schools of the district. In 1835 he located 
in Black River township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
where he engaged in farming, and in 1861 
moved to North Amherst, where he now 
resides. Mr. Aiken was married, in Oc- 
tober, 1846, in Elyria townsiiip, Lorain 
county, to Miss Lucy R. Holmes, a native 
of the county. Her parents, George S. and 
Mary (Lester) Holmes, were natives of 
Connecticut, and in 1840 emigrated to 
Black River township, Lorain county, 
where he followed farming. He afterward 
moved to Berea, Ohio, where he died in 
1875; his widow is now living in Cleve- 
land, Ohio, at the age of eighty-four years. 
They reared a family of five children, viz.: 
Lucy R. (Mrs. Aiken); Marriett, who died 
in i860, in Cuyahoga county; Sarah; 
George Henry, who resides in Canada; and 
Ellsworth, wlio resides in Cleveland. 

In politics Mr. Aiken is an active mem- 
ber of the Republican party. He served 
three terms as justice of the peace in Black 
River township, and one term in North 
Anilierst; has also served as county com- 
missioner, one term, and has been a dele- 
gate to various county conventions. Our 
subject has been a resident of Loi-ain county 
for fifty-eight years, and during tliat time 



1160 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



lias been actively identified with her prog- 
ress and development. Mr. and Mrs. Aiken 
have two adopted children; she is a mem- 
ber of tlie Baptist Clinrch. [Since the 
above was written, we liave received in- 
formation of the death of Mr. Charles A. 
Ail\en, which occurred on September 24, 
1893.— Ed. 



V* 



LEWIS F. WRIGHT, than whom 
tliere is no more enterprising, in- 
\ (iustrious and tlirifty farmer in 

Elyria township, is a native of the 
county, born in the town of Lorain An- 
gu.'-t 9, 1839. 

He is a son of M. P. and Martha 
Miller) Wright, the former a native of 
Vermont, the latter of Ogdensburg, N. Y. 
They were married in tiie State of New 
York, and in 1838 came to Lorain, Ohio, 
where Mr. Wright engaged in the stave 
business, had charge of a gang of men, 
and part of time was employed in the 
shipyard. They afterward moved to 
Nortli Amherst, and from there to Elyria, 
where they lived eight or ten years; then 
removed to the farm, where they lived 
some thirty years, and they now make 
their home in Elyria. 

Lewis F. Wright, subject of sketch, was 
reared and educated in Elyria, and as- 
sisted his father in his business until 
1861, when he enlisted in the three 
months' service, but did not go to the 
front. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fif- 
teenth Ohio Battery of Artillery, for three 
years or during the war, and was assigned 
to the army of Tennessee. He participated 
in the battle of Holly Springs, Miss., and 
then returned to Memphis, Tenn., thence 
proceeding to the siege of Vicksburg. The 
regiment then was with Sherman in his 
march to the sea, moving as far as Me- 
ridian, Miss. ; also participated in the Caro- 
lina campaisn, and took part in the grand 
review at Washington, D. C. In June, 



1865, our subject was discharged at Co- 
lumbus, Ohio, when he returned home. 
Haviiicr once more settled down to the 
pursuits of peace, he resumed farming, 
and, concluding that it was "not a;ood for 
man to be alone," he in 1879 took unto 
himself a wife in the person of Miss 
Catherine Elizabeth Walsh, a native of 
Ireland, daughter of Walter and Catherine 
(Hoolihan) Walsh, wlio many years ago 
left their home in Erin's Isle for a new 
one in the Western World, which they 
first found in Vermillion, Erie Co., Ohio, 
afterward iti Elyria, Lorain county, whither 
tliey came in 1853. Here the father died 
January 1, 1880; the mother, who was 
born in December, 1800, is now living 
with her daughter, Mrs. Wright. To our 
subject and wife have been born three 
children, viz.: Fannie Catherine, George 
F. and Lucy Agnes. Mr. Wright is a 
Republican in his political sympathies, 
and has served on the school board; so- 
cially he is a member of the G. A. R. 
Post, No. 65, Elyria. 



TfffOMER E. BARRETT, a resident 
t^^ of Wellington, is a native of Huron 
I 1[ county, Ohio, born April 2, 1847, 
■Jj a son of Augustus and Clarissa 

(Cochran) Barrett. 
The father of our subject was born Sep- 
tember 21. 1813, in Monroe county, N. Y., 
and in 1826 came to Ohio. On Novem- 
ber 5, 1840, he married Miss Clarissa 
Cochran, and they made their home in 
Erie county till 1843, in which year they 
moved to Clarksfield township, Huron 
county, and there lived the rest of their 
lives. In connection with general farm- 
intr lie was an extensive sheep breeder, 
and at the time of his death, which oc- 
curred June 7, 1886, he was quite wealthy; 
he died in the house he had built in 
Clarksfield township forty years before. In 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1161 



politics lie was originally a Whig, in his 
later years a Republican; and he was a 
ineiuber of the Baptist Church. Ilis wife 
was a native of Cambridge, Vt., born 
September 10, 1814, came witli her par- 
ents to Ohio, and taught t-chool in Erie 
county np to the time of her marriage; 
she died September 5, 1890. Three chil- 
dren, as follows, were born to tliis honored 
couple: Mary L. (Mrs. Beebe), of Clarks- 
iield township, Huron Co., Ohio; Caroline 
M., married to William Minor, of New 
London township; and Honjer E. 

Philander Barrett, paternal grandfather 
of subject, and his wife were both natives 
of Massachusetts, while the maternal 
grandparents were of Vermont birth; they 
were farming people, and after the death 
of the grandfather, the grandmother made 
her home with our subject till her re- 
moval to Grand Haven, Mich., where she 
died. 

Homer E. Barrett, whose name opens 
this sketch, received a liberal education at 
the public schools of Clarkstield township 
and Norwalk, also at Oberlin, eight or nine 
terms, atter which he attended for a short 
time, in 1S66, the Business College of 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In 1867 he married 
Miss Eliza E. Noble, born May 24, 1844, 
a daughter of Gustavus and Harriet 
(Fancher) Noble. Her father was born 
in New York State, whence prior to his 
marriacre he came to Ohio, settling in 
Litchfield, Medina county. He died when 
she was a girl of four summers, and the 
mother (who was born September 21, 
1822) was afterward married to De- 
Gra'^se Thomas, of Rochester township, 
Lorain county, and two children were born 
to them: Alma, wife of Walter Hall, rail- 
road telegraph operator; and Fred, mar- 
ried to Fannie Smith. The mother is now 
living in Rochester, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. 
Noble were the parents of five children, as 
follows: Adelaide, deceased; AUiina, wife 
of George Chadwick, residing in Welling- 
ton; Eliza E., wife of Homer E. Barrett; 
Perry, residing in Sherman, Texas; and 

60 



Mary, deceased wife of Wilbur Hall. Mrs. 
Homer E. Barrett lived for a time with 
her graiulp;irents in New London, where 
she attended school. Grandfather Noble 
and his wife were lifelong residents of 
Litchfield, Medina Co., Ohio. 

To our subject and wife was born No- 
vember 15, 1808, a son named Augustus 
Earl, who graduated at the high school 
and attended the Homeopathic Hospital 
College at Cleveland. graduating from there 
in March, 1893. He is now practicing 
medicine in Detroit, Michio-an. 



IfSAAC KIRKBRIDE is a lifelong, 
well-to-do agriculturist of Amherst 
_[ township, and on his father's side of 
the house comes of Scottish ancestry. 
He was born in 1888 on his present 
farm in Amherst township, a son of David 
and Mary (Phillips) Kirkbride, natives 
of England, the father born January 13, 
1799, in the county of Cumberland, the 
mother in 1800 in Leicestershire, of Eno-. 
lish lineage. The father at the age of 
fifteen moved from his native place to 
London, where he learned the lace and 
stocking weaving trade. Later he was a 
salesman for the house of W. & J. Kirk- 
bride. He married in England, and in 
1832 the young couple immigrated to the 
United States, the voyage to New York 
being made in the ship " Roscoe." They 
arrived at that city December 6 followincp, 
where Mr. Kirkbride engaged in the manu- 
facturing business for a time; they then 
proceeded to Philadelphia, and from there, 
in 1835 came to Lorain county, settling in 
tlie woods of Amherst township. Here he 
died in 1875, his wife in 1889. In his 
early days in this country he was a Demo- 
crat, later a Free-soiler. Grandfather 
Pliillips was a soldier in the Napoleonic 
wars with England. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk- 
bride had a family of eight children, as 



1162 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



follows: David, a farmer in Amherst town- 
ship; Mary, at home; Elizabeth; Ann; 
Margaret; John (married), deceased in 
January, 1875; Maria, wife of W. S. 
Biggs, of Elyria; and Isaac, subject of 
sketeii. 

Isaac Kirkbride received his education 
at the public fchools of his township, and 
was reared to farm life. He owns a good 
farm of 107 acres, all in a high state of 
cultivation. In politics he takes an active 
interest, and votes with the Democratic 
party. He has never married. 




'ARL WANGERIEN. Germany 
has given to the United States a 
host of industrious, frugal, honest 
and loyal citizens, and wherever 
they make tlieir stand, there they 
leave their impi-ess. Of such an one is the 
subject of this sketch. 

He was born Marcli 29, 1814, in tlie 
Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg - Strelitz, 
Germany, a son of John Waiigerien, a 
shoemaker by trade. Our subject was 
educated from the age of six to fourteen 
at the public schools of his native place, 
and then commenced to learn his father's 
trade under him, serving a four-years' ap- 
prenticeship, after which he passed four 
years in tlie regular army. He then served 
one year as a journeyman workman, travel- 
ing from place to place, at the end of which 
time he returned to his native town and 
commenced business for his own account. 
At that time, October 18, 1842, he mar- 
ried Miss Henrietta Naherenst, a native 
of the same part of the country, daughter 
of David Naherenst, by which union two 
children were born in Germany: Amelia, 
now Mrs. John Lindeman, of Cleveland, 
Ohio, and Augusta, who was married to 
Frederick Heist, and died in Russia town- 
ship, Lorain county. 



In the summer of 1852 the family, con- 
sisting of Mr. Wangerien, his wile and 
two daughters, set sail from Hanibi;rg on 
the good ship " Howard," bound for New 
York, where after a voyage of forty-three 
days, they landed in safety. From there 
they proceeded by rail to Dunkirk, N. Y., 
thence by water to Cleveland, where they 
arrived in September following. Here 
Mr. Wangerien worked at his trade two 
months, after which the entire family 
removed to the German settlement in Rus- 
sia township, Lorain county, where the 
lather bought land and lived thereon 
twenty years, employed in farming and at 
his trade; in 1872 he bought another piece 
of land containing 247 acres, in the same 
township, and as an agriculturist he has 
been fairly successful. In the United 
States two more children were born to him, 
viz. : Charles R. and Henry C, both farmers 
in Russia township. The mother died 
June 20, 1884, and was buried in South 
Amherst cemetery. In politics Mr. 
Wangerien is a Republican, though not an 
active worker in his party. In the Father- 
Jand he had united with the Lutheran 
Church, in which he lias faithfully re- 
mained. Since the death of his wife he 
has been making his home with his sons, 
wiio are neighbors, tarrying with them 
alternately. 



HARLES R. WANGERIEN, one 

of the most successful and careful 
agriculturists of Russia township, 
Lorain county, who from the bottom 
rung of the ladder has made his way to 
the top entirely by his own energy, per- 
severance and sf)und judgment, is a native 
of Russia township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
born November 10, 1854. 

Mr. Wano-erien is the eldest born in Lo- 
rain county to Karl and Henrietta (Naher- 
enst) Wangerien. He attended scliool 
eight seasons in Russia township, after- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1163 



ward at Cleveland two seasons, and then 
coinnieuced agricultural pursuits on his 
father's farm, wliero he has since continued 
to reside. On Noveuibt^r 16, 1876, he 
was married to Augusta Dehn, who was 
born in Amiierst township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, June 29, 1855, a daughter of AVill- 
iain and Christina (Hacker) Deiin, natives 
of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany, whence 
tliey emigrated to this country manj' 
years ago. When Mr. Wangerien's mother 
died in 1S84, his wife took charge of the 
household affairs, and has so continued 
since. To our subject antl wife have been 
born three children: Harry A., Karl W. 
and Alma H. 

In politics Mr. Wangerien is a Repub- 
lican, but not an active one, as he wisely 
devotes all his time to his farm and family. 
He is the owner of 225 acres of prime land 
in Russia township, and is considered one 
of the best and most industrious farmers 
in his locality. 



f[J[ENRY C. WANGERIEN, than 
1?^ whom there is no more industrious 
I 1 and painstaking agriculturist in 
■Jj Russia township, is a native of 

same, born October 24, 1857, young- 
est in the family of Karl and Henrietta 
(Naherenst) Wangerien. 

He received a liberal education at the 
common schools of his township until he 
was fifteen years old, when he commenced 
work on the farm under his father, a voca- 
tion he has since continued in with every 
success. On December 7, 1880, Mr. Wan- 
gerien was married to Augusta Dramm, 
who was born in Russia township, Lorain 
county, January 19, 1859, a daughter of 
Karl Dramm, a native of Germany. To 
this union have been born the following 
children: Arthur C, born July 10, 1883; 
lona G., born November 10, 1885; and 
Nelson L., born July 1, 1889. After mar- 
riage our subject built a house near that of 



his father, where he and his bride made 
their new home, and continued to live 
until 1889, in which year they removed to 
their present farm, wliicli Mr. Wangerien 
has substantially improved, having erected 
all the buildings thereon with his own 
hands. He now owns 185 acres of excel- 
lent land, and stands second to none in the 
county as an all-round agriculturist. Po- 
litically he is a leading Republican, and is 
now acceptably tilling the office of town- 
shit) trustee. 



fr^ EORGE W. GIBSON. This gentle- 
man, proprietor of the leading livery 
and hack business in Oberlin, comes 
of ancestry whose home was the 
soil of Scott and Burns — " land of 
the mountain and the flood." 

Our subject was born November 19, 
18-1:5, in Russia township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, a son of Orin and Elizabeth (Free- 
man) Gibson. The parents were natives 
of New York, and in 1833 came to Ohio, 
locating in Browuhelm township till 1835, 
when they moved to Russia township on a 
farm, which at that time was all in the woods, 
but is now one of the best cultivated in 
the township. The father died May 30, 
1884, in Oberlin, where the mother is yet 
living. She was born in Vermont, a daugh- 
ter of Luther Freeman, also a native of the 
Green Mountain State, who in 1824 came 
to Russia township, Lorain county, where 
he passed the rest of his davs. Mr. and 
Mrs. Orin Gibson were the parents of 
three children, as follows: Louisa, wife of 
Nathan R. Nash, residing; in Russia town- 
ship, Lorain county; Anna, who was mar- 
ried to David Brobert, and died in 1886 
in Oberlin; and George W. 

The subject of these lines was reared and 
educated in his native townsliip. and as- 
sisted in the opening up of the home farm, 
working thereon till March, 1881, when 
he came to Oberlin and embarked in his 
present livery business. On December 25, 



1164 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



1870, Mr. Gibson was married, in Russia 
township, Lorain county, to Miss Catherine 
Plain, a native of Broome county, N. Y. 
(daughter of Henry Plain), who came to 
Lorain county in 1861. One of her broth- 
ers, during the Civil war, enlisted in tlie 
Federal army from Lorain county. Two 
children have been born to this union. 
Electa and Raymond. In his political 
sytiipalhies Mr. Gibson identities himself 
with the Republican party, and in 1882 he 
was appointed deputy sheriff, a position lie 
is yet iilling. Socially he is a member of 
the Knights of Honor. He owns the old 
homestead in Russia township, and is a 
well-to-do, popular citizen. 




F. LANGDON,a well-to-do citi- 
zen of Penfield township, was born 
November 16, 1819, in the town 
of Cobleskill, Schoharie Co., 
N. Y., son of Forester and grandson of 
Lewis Langdon, who was a manufacturer 
of cider- mil Is. 

Forester Langdon was married in his na- 
tive State to Hannah, daughter of Moses 
Frederick Delosdernier, who came from 
Nova Scotia, and while living in New 
York children were born to this union as 
follows: Clarissa, who married Perry 
Disbro, and died March 9, 1893, in Iowa; 
Matilda, who married Samuel White, and 
died Feliruary 7, 1890, in Eaton Rapids, 
Mich.; William F., our subject; Hiram 
A., who was a physician of Avon, Lorain 
county, where he died October 9, 1873; 
Maria, who married Lyman Webber, and 
died April 10, 1886, in Van Wert county, 
Ohio; Orilla, Mrs. Samuel Disbro, of Cass 
county, Iowa; Lucinda, who was the widow 
of Horace Cragin, of La Grange, Ohio, 
died December 19, 1898; Washington L., 
of "Van Wert county, Ohio; and LionarE., 
also of Van Wert county, Ohio. Early in 
1834 Mr. Langdon, with his daughter 



Matilda and son William F., set out for 
Ohio, driving the entire distance, and ar- 
riving on February 16, after a journey of 
twenty-one days, in La Grange township, 
Lorain county, where they found a tem- 
porary home with Mr. Langdon's brother- 
in-law, Allen Sheldon. The father re- 
turned to New York State, and in the 
following May brought the remainder of 
the family to Ohio, our subject in the 
meantime living witJi his uncle, Joseph 
Lincoln. Mrs. Langdon died in Lorain 
county April 21, 1835, at the age of forty- 
one, and some years later Mr. Langdon re- 
moved to Van Wert county, Ohio, where 
he is now buried, having passed away there 
at the age of eighty-two years. 

Oiir subject received his education in 
the common schools of the period, and 
came to Ohio when fourteen years old, at 
which time the country was completely 
wild and abounded with wolves, deer, wild 
hogs, turkeys, etc. At the age of twenty- 
one lie left home and went to La Porte, 
where he learned the carpenter's trade 
under a Mr. Bassett, and also acquired a 
knowledge of wagon making, which he 
followed to some extent. In the winter 
of 1846 he went to Louisiana to work in 
the lumber region. On January 22, 1850, 
he was married to Miss Margaret Denham, 
who was born November 9, 1825, in Scot- 
land, whence her parents, Peter and Mar- 
garet (Lyle) Denham, emigrated in an 
early day to the United States and to Ohio, 
locating in Penfield townsliip, Lorain 
county, where both died at the age of 
eighty-six years. 

After his marriage Mr. Lantjdon located 
on the place where he yet resides, purchas- 
ing, on credit, fifty-seven and a half acres 
at ten dollars per acre. The country was 
very swampy and all in the woods, and 
there was not a house in sight. For 
twenty-five years he worked diligently 
at his trades, some of the best wagons in 
the section coming from his workshop; 
and after years of industry and economy 
has amassed a comfortable property, all 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1165 



the result of his own untiring efforts. Mr. 
and Mrs. Langdon have had one child, 
Margaret F., now the wife of M. L. Disbro, 
of Peniield townsliip; Mr. and Mrs. Disbro 
have iiad two children: Munson Langdon 
and James Leverne, the latter of whom 
died in 1881 at the age of ten niontiis. 
In politics our subject is a Republican, 
active in party affairs, and has held various 
local positions of trust, such as township 
trustee, etc. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the M. E. Church, in which he has 
served as trustee. 




a SUTLIFF, one of the best 
known farmer citizens of Carlisle 
township, and a justice of the 
peace, is a native of same, born 
February 28, 1826, a son of Salmon and 
Anna (Beamau) Sutliff. 

The Sutliffs come of English ancestry. 
Tlie father of our subject was born in 
"Washington county, N. Y., in 1786, and 
was there married. He served in the war 
of 1812, under Gen. Harrison. In 1820 
he came to Lorain county, Ohio, first 
locating in Avon township, whence on 
January 1, 1821, he moved to Carlisle 
township. He died here in 1857, his wife 
in 1870, at the age of seventy-eigiit years. 
In religious sentiment they were Baptists, 
and in politics he was an Old-line Whig. 
They were the parents of fifteen children, 
of whom the following is a brief record: 
Lovicia died at the age of six years; Silas 
B., a wagoumaker, was married, and died 
at JoHet, III.; William H. H. resides in 
Wellington, Lorain county; Asa G. was 
married, and died in Minnesota in 1879; 
O. H. P. is married, and lives in Carlisle 
township, Lorain county; Charles B. was 
killed by the cars; Ralph O. is married, 
and resides in Michigan; Lusetta is the 
wife of Eli Wright, of Wood county, Ohio; 
Warren C. is the subject of this memoir; 
Lucinda was the wife of Frederick Lee 



(she died in Cleveland, Ohio); Jesse S., a 
twin, has his home in Saginaw, Mich, (his 
twin brother died when three weeks old); 
Theodore S. also lives in Michigan; Miles 
W. is married, and resides in Pentield 
township, Lorain county; Rosetta is the 
wife of William Gott, of Wellington, Ohio. 
Grandfather Gad Sutliff was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war, and lived and died 
in New York State. 

W. C. Sutliff received a limited educa- 
tion in the public schools of his native 
place, was reared to agricultural pursuits, 
which have been his life work, and he now 
owns a good farm in Carlisle township. 
In February, 1854, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Jane A. Bennett, daugh- 
ter of David and Jane (Galpin) Bennett, 
the former born in Westmoreland, N. H., 
the latter in Waterbury, Cotm. Two chil- 
dren — Ada C. and Louis E. — have been 
born to this union. Mr. Sutliff is an 
active Democrat, and cast his first vote 
for Franklin Pierce. lie served his town- 
ship as constable for about ten 3'ears, also 
as assessor and trustee several terms, and 
for the past twenty-five years has been a 
justice of the peace. 



JOSEPH B. FLICKINGER, than 
whom no citizen of Lorain county 
stands higher in the community, or is 
better esteemed, comes of an old 
Pennsylvania-German family. 

He was born December 29, 1827, in 
Greene township, Wayne Co., Ohio, a son 
of Peter Flickinger, who was born in 
Hagerstown, Md., October 13, 1787, he a 
son of Jacob Flickinger, a native of Ger- 
many. Peter was a stone mason and 
bricklayer by trade. He was married Oc- 
tober 10, 1813, in Brothers Valley town- 
ship, Somerset Co., Penn., to Elizabeth 
Kieffer, who was born June 12, 1793, also 
in Brothers Valley township, daughter of 



1166 



LORAIN COUNTY. OHIO. 



Jacob Kieffer, a well-to-do capitalist, who 
came from Germany, and was married to 
a Miss Eva Fritz, also of Germany, whose 
mother died when crossing the ocean, and 
was buried at sea. One child, Mary Ann, 
•was born to them in Southampton town- 
ship, Somerset Co., Penn., August 1, 1814, 
and died unmarried in Greene township, 
Wayne Co., Ohio. On March 10, 1818, 
Peter Flickinger and his little family, ac- 
companied by his father-in-law, Jacob 
Kieffer, came to Ohio, locating in Greene 
township, Wayne county (he had come out 
the year before, and entered land there). 
The country was very wild, and they had 
to cut their way tiirougii tiie woods, in 
which I'oamed lierce animals, sometimes so 
emboldened by hunger as to enter the very 
house. One night Mrs. Flickinger had 
some meat boiled in a pot, and a bear, 
smelling it from afar, coolly walked into 
the house, ate up the beef, and then took 
his departure with considerably less cere- 
mony tlian would any average nineteenth- 
century tramp. Mr. Flickinger had bought 
160 acres of Government land, which for 
the most part he cleared with his own 
hand, receiving valuable assistance from 
his stalwart sons. At the time of his 
death he was owner of 550 acres of land. 
In addition to farming he did considerable 
masonry work, among other buildings 
erecting his own house. In politics he 
was a Whig, and served in various town- 
ship ottices of trust to the entire satisfac- 
tion of his constituents; in religion he 
was one of the pillars of the Lutheran 
Church. He died May 20, 1849; his wife 
passed from earth August 23, 1843, and 
they are buried in Milton township, Wayne 
county. The children born to them in Ohio 
were as follows: Eli, born July 22, 1816, 
in Greene township, Wayne Co., Ohio, 
now of Kipton, Ohio; Otillia, born May 
24, 1818, widow of E. N. Fowler, of Ben- 
ton county, Iowa; Jacob, born January 24, 
1821. who died October 21, 1846, at 
Matamoras, Mexico, while serving in the 
Mexican war; Jesse, born May 22, 1824, 



now a mechanic and carpenter, of Kansas; 
Peter N. and Joseph B. (twins), Ijorn De- 
cember 29, 1827. of whom Peter N. died 
March 23, 1849, when aged twenty-one. 

Joseph B. Flickinger, the subject proper 
of this sketch, did not attend school till 
he was nine years old, the schoolhouse 
being at too great a distance from his 
home; but he was an apt scholar, and 
learned rapidly. Up to the age of sixteen 
he was reared on a farm, was taught 
agriculture, and then commenced to learn 
the trade of bricklayer and stonemason, at 
first under his father, later under Reuben 
Tressler. On completing his trade he be- 
gan taking contracts for his own account, 
and worked at various places. After his 
marriage he located on a farm in Greene 
township, Wayne Co., Ohio, on the Port- 
age road, on which he remained eighteen 
months, then coniing to Huntington town- 
ship, Lorain connty, he bought 126 acres 
of land, where he made his home two 
years, at the end of which time he moved 
to Camden township and purchased the 
fine fai'ui which he yet owns. In Septem- 
ber, 1880, he came to the town of Kipton, 
where he lias since resided in comparative 
retirement. For twelve years he was en- 
gaged in the sale of farming implements. 

On March 8, 1849, Mr. Flickinger was 
united in marriage with Miss Marv Pow- 
ers, born October 16, 1829. in Canaan 
township, Wayne Co., Ohio, daughter of 
Wiram and Maria (Moulton) Powers, who 
were descendants of some of the early fam- 
ilies of New England. Each of the par- 
ents — Wiram and Maria — came to Wayne 
count}', Ohio, with llieir parents. Thomas 
Powers, father of Wiram, married Olive 
Harvey, who ran bullets for the Conti- 
nental army at Bunker Hill, as four of her 
brothers were participants in that engage- 
ment; in the same army her father was a 
blacksmith, and shod horses for the cavalry. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Flickinger were born two 
children, as follows: Claista C, born Oc- 
tober 9, 1850, in Greene township, Wayne 
Co.. Ohio, and Hiram J., born September 



LORAm COUNTY. OHIO. 



1167 



19, 185-4, ill Caindeii township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, and died September 7, 18(53. Claista 
C. married Otis Kelsey, and three children 
were born to them: Carrie B. (Mrs. L. V. 
Bates), Cora L. and Nettie M. In poli- 
tics Mr. Flickin^er was originally a Whig, 
later a Republican, and for twenty-four 
years he has served as a justice of the 
peace, his last reelection heing in the spring 
of 1893; lie has also been trustee, assessor 
of real estate and personal property, and 
was enumerator of census in 1880 and in 
1890. He and his wife are members of 
the Baptist Church, of which he is a dea- 
con, and of the Sabbath-school of which he 
has been superintendent for twelve years. 



DR. TEN N ANT, one of Lorain 
county's leading farmers, having 
' 234 acres of prime land in Camden 
township, was born August 20, 
1826, in Monroe county, N. Y., a son of 
Selden and Lydia (Allen) Tennant. 

Seidell Tennant, father of subject, was a 
native of Connecticut, born in 1787, and 
in 1793 came to Otsego county, N. Y., 
with his parents. When a young man he 
liouglit land near Buffalo, N. Y., but not 
lonu afterward he removed to Monroe 
county. Ill 1846 he came to Ohio and 
bought wild land in Camden township, Lo- 
rain county, where he became a well-to-do 
citizen, farming being his life vocation. 
In Otsego county he had married Miss 
Lydia, Allen, who bore him children as fol- 
lows: Moses S., who died in Camden town- 
ship aged seventy-eight years; Betsy, who 
married Charles Kingsbury, died in Mich- 
igan; Allen, a resident of Kenton, Ohio; 
Lydia, married to David M. Tennant, died 
in Oberlin in 1892; David li., our subje(!t; 
and Hannah M., married to Moses Hol- 
coinl), now of Cass county, Iowa. The 
mother died in 1835 in New York State, 
the father ou his farm in Camden town- 



ship, Lorain county, in 1871. Politically 
he was first an ardent Whig, afterward, on 
the formation of the party, a stanch Re- 
publican. In religious connection lie and 
iiis wife were zealous Baptists. 

David R. Tennant attended, as circum- 
stances permitted, the common schools of 
the locality of his hirtli, and early in life 
was inducted into the mysteries of farm 
life. He continued to reside with his 
parents, and on November 19, 1846, was 
married in Monroe county, N. Y., to Miss 
Melita Burpee, who was born July 29, 
1827, in Rutland county, Vt., daughter of 
Otis and Dorinda (Pearson) Burpee, who 
iiioveil to Livingston county, N. Y., in 
1830, and in 1842 came to Monroe county, 

same State. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 

... 
Tennant came to Ohio with his father, on 

whose farm in Camden township, Lorain 
county, he resided nine years after coming, 
working for the most part on shares, his 
father raakincr his home with him. In 
about 1855 he bought ninety-one acres, a 
portion of his present farm, which he in- 
creased by additions to 234 acres, and here 
he has successfully carried on farming 
operations. The children born to our sub- 
ject and wife are as follows: Franklin R., 
a farmer of Bay county, Mich.; Emily D., 
married to Albert H. Kennedy, residing in 
Rockport, Ind. (they are both graduates of 
Oberlin College); Ella A., Mrs. H. H. 
Howe, of Medina county, Ohio; Clara M., 
wife of H. F. Bronson, a farmer of Cam- 
den township; George W., a farmer of 
Bay county, Mich.; and Almina M., who 
died at the age of twenty-three years. All 
these children were well educated, and all 
had iieeii school-teachers, except one, who 
had lost health. Mr. Tennant is a Repub- 
lican in politics, formerly a Whig, and a 
Christian man in all his thoughts and acts, 
though not a member of any church. He 
is very precise in his dealings, but never 
"close," rather the reverse; and he has 
been most liberal to his family in the way 
of educational advantages and all tbino-s 
necessary to their advancement in life. 



1168 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Mrs. Tennant, who has nobly acted her 
part in the rearing of her family, and in 
making the home what it is — comfortable 
and home-like — is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church. 



d[AMES CONNOLLY, who for over 
I twenty-two years has been keeper of 
' the lighthouse off Lorain, is a native 
of Quebec, Canada, born November 
9, 1828. 

His father, John Connolly, was a native 
of Queen's County, Ireland, and when a 
young man came to Quebec, where he mar- 
ried Cordelia Bell, a native of London, 
England. He was a ship carpenter, 
caulker and sailor, sailing on the ocean in 
early life, but after his marriage followed 
the lakes, biiilding vessels at different 
ports. In the summer of 1886 he settled 
at Black Biver (now Lorain), Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where he passed the rest of his days, 
dying in 1864; his wife died in Lorain in 
1853. They reared a family of eight chil- 
dren — six sons and two daughters — 
namely: Bartholeniew, who died in Shef- 
field township, Lorain county, Stephen, 
■who also died in Lorain county; Jauies, 
subject of this memoir; Carrie A., wife of 
Henry Volmar, of Cleveland; Elizaljeth, 
widow of F. C. Thompson; William, mar- 
ried and residino^ in Lorain (he served in 
the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth 
O. V. I.); Edwin, married and residing in 
Cleveland; and John, who enlisted, in 
1862, in Company H, Eighth O. V. I., 
for three years, or during the war, and was 
wounded in the battle of Manchester (he 
re-enlisted in Company H, One Hundred 
and Third O. V. L, was taken prisoner, 
and died in Andersonville Prison in 1865). 
In November, 1836, when about eight 
years of age, Jatnes Connolly came from 
Buffalo, N. Y., to Lorain, Ohio, where he 
received his education at the common 
schools. He learned the trade of ship 
carpenter and caulker, and for thirty years 
■was a sailor on the lakes, being captain and 



mate of a vessel during the summer for 
many years, and during this long life he 
had many thrilling experiences. In 1871, 
during Grant's administration, he was ap- 
pointed, by Secretary Boutwell, keeper of 
the lighthouse, in which capacity he is 
still retained. He now has charge of the 
second lighthouse, and the tower building, 
for range lights are erected, and are being 
used. 

On June 21, 1853, Mr. Connolly was 
united in marriage, at Lorain, with Miss 
Alice L. Gillmore, a native of Lorain 
county, daughter of Quartus Gillmore, 
both members of a very early family of 
the county. To this union were born six 
children, namely: Alice, wife of L. H. 
Eddy, residing on Second Avenue, Lorain 
(Mr. Eddy is an engineer on the C. L. »fc 
W. E. R. from Lorain to AVheeling) ; 
James Q., who was killed by lightning 
when ten years old; Eugene, who died at 
the age of sixteen ; Frank Lyotis, who died 
when five years old; and Clara and Carrie 
(twins), who died when seven weeks old. 
The mother of these children passed from 
earth January 5, 1893. In politics our 
subject is a Republican, and served as a 
member of the school board for three 
years, when the public schools were first 
organized here. Socially he is a member 
of Lorain Lodge, F. & A. M., of which 
he is a charter member; he was also a 
member of King Solomon's Lodge at 
Elyria. In religious belief he is a Con- 
gregationalist. During his residence in 
Lorain Mr. Connolly has watched its de- 
velopment, from a village of 500 people, 
to a thriving little city of 6,000. 



OBERT REDFERN. Prominent 
and well-known in the community 
of Columbia township, in both pub- 
lic and private life, is to be found 
this gentleman. 
He is a native of Canada, born in the 
town of White Church, County of Bruce, 




LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1169 



Ontario, August 24, 1837, a sou of Robert 
and Ellen Redferii, natives of Ireland, wiio 
in an early day immigrated to Canada, 
locating in the County of Bruce, Ontario, 
from there removing in 1853 to Olmsted 
Falls, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, and later com- 
ing to Henrietta townshij), Lorain county. 
Our subject received a thorough education 
at the common schools of his native place 
lip to the age of sixteen, at which time the 
family moved to Olmsted Falls, Ohio, and 
lie was twenty years old when they came 
to Lorain county. Here he was engaged 
ill farming and sawinilliiig. For one year 
he was employed in the cheese factory at 
West View, and he was in the milk busi- 
ness in Cleveland seven years. In April, 
1857, he had married, in Columbia town- 
ship, Lorain county, Miss Mary C. Hacket, 
a native of that township, daughter of 
Gain R. and Electa (^Sabin) Hacket, pio- 
neers of Columbia township, who settled in 
the wild woods where they cleared a farm. 
Gain R. Hacket was born in Manchester, 
N. Y., August 13, 1810; his wife. Electa 
A. (Sabin), in Ontario, JM. Y., May 5, 1815. 
They were married September 13, 1832, 
and same year moved to Ohio, settling in 
Columbia township, Lorain county, on a 
farm of seventy-five acres, which he cleared 
up. They were the parents of seven chil- 
dren, namely: Zebina, Mary C, Lafrancis 
E., Stephen, Emily, Sarah and Laura, of 
whom there are yet living: Mary C. Red- 
fern, Lafrancis E. Hacket and Emily Os- 
born. The father of these died in March, 
1855; the mother is now living on the old 
place with Mr. and Mrs. Redfern. 

After marriage our subject settled on his 
present fine farm of 148 acres, all in a good 
state of cultivation (its original size having 
been seventy-five acres), and here carries 
on general agriculture including dairying, 
of which branch he makes a specialty, do- 
ing a large business. Five children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Redfern: Lilly 
Ann, wife of John Richards (they have 
fivechildren — Ciiarles. Robert, Albert. May 
and Lena, all residing in Stronifsville, 



Ohio); Ellen May, who married J. H. 
Culver, and died in 1884; Eva May, who 
died at the age of thirteen years; Elmer 
Dewitt, who died at the age of seven years; 
and one that died in infancy. In politics 
our subject votes with the Republican 
party; has served as township trustee, be- 
ing now in his fourth year, and has been 
a member of the school board several 
years. He and his wife are members of 
the M. E. Church. 



throughout Amherst 
he was born in 



ARDIS N. BARNES, farmer and 
dealer in horses, is well and favor- 
ably known 
township, where 
March, 1838. 

Ezekiel Barnes, his grandfather, was a 
native of Massachusetts, born in 1770 in 
Worcester, whence in 1817 he came to 
Lorain county, Ohio, settling on Lot 43, 
Amherst township, where he died in 1860. 
His children were as follows: Ezekiel G.; 
Sardis D., who died at Upper Sandusky 
before the subject of this sketch was born; 
Paulina, who died in Madison, Lake Co., 
Ohio (she was the wife of Rawson Crocker, 
and their son is now the oldest man in 
North Amherst); Fannie, who married 
David Smith, and became the mother of 
Judge L. B. Smith, of Elyria; Amanda, 
who married Warren Smith, and went 
with the Mormons (he was killed during 
the raid on Nauvoo, 111., and she died re- 
cently in Salt Lake City); Juliet, who 
married Ira Lelie, and still resides in Am- 
herst; and Charlotte, who married Mon- 
ville Wintone, and died in Wood county. 
Grandfather Barnes was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and was well known in political 
circles, first as a Whig and in later years 
as a Republican. His eldest son, Ezekiel 
G., father of our subject, was born in Old 
Becket, Mass., September 1, 179U, and 
came with his parents to Amherst town- 
ship, Lorain county, in 1817. In 1825 he 
revisited the Eiist, and was there married, 



1170 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Bame year, to Miss Elvira Harrington, who 
was born March 5, 1805, in New York 
State. Eeturning to Amherst township he 
settled down to agricultural pursuits and 
became prosperous. He was a great hunter, 
and as in his day the forest teemed with 
game of all sorts, many a deer, pheasant 
and wild turkey fell to his unerring rifle. 
In politics he followed in the footsteps of his 
father. He and his wife were the parents 
of five children, a brief record of them be- 
ing as follows: Gilbert H., born Novem- 
ber 17, 1826, still resides in Amherst 
township; Louisa E., born August 27, 
1828, is the widow of James Gawn, and 
she also resides in Amherst township; 
G. Monroe, born September 3, 1880, was 
married, and died in August, 1891 ; Henry 
D., born August 12, 1836, died April 6, 
1869; Sardis N. is the subject of this 
sketch. The father of this family was 
called from earth December 31, 1881, the 
mother on January 29, 1888. 

Sardis N. Barnes was reared on a farm, 
and received his education in the common 
schools of his township. On September 
10, 1861, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Calista Bemis, who was born Novem- 
ber 7, 1840, and one child, Nellie, has come 
to brighten their home. Mr. Barnes is a 
wideawake, progressive fanner, and for 
the past few years has given special atten- 
tion to trading in fast horses, selling in the 
eastern markets. Politically he votes with 
the Eepublicau party, in M'hich he takes 
an active interest. 



dl H. REED, a prominent and influen- 
tial farmer of Eaton township, was 
_ 1 born July 19, 1847, in Strongsville, 
Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, a son of Joseph 
and Tamar (Lyman) Reed, natives, the 
father of Cornwall, England, the mother 
of Strongsville, Ohio. 

At the age of twenty Joseph Reed emi- 
grated to the United States, and locating 
first in Strongsville, Ohio, from there 
moved to Columbia township, Lorain 



county, where he followed agricultural pur- 
suits during the rest of his life. He died 
in 1882; his widow is yet living. Tiiey 
had a family of nine children, of whom six 
are yet living, viz.: J. L., married, resid- 
ing in Ridgeville township (he has two 
children, Fred and Elsie); J. H., subject 
of sketch; Sopliia L., widow of Chauncey 
Nichols, late of Berea, Ohio (she has three 
children — Lena, Mary and William); Mary 
I., wife of Otis B. Osborne, of Eaton town- 
ship (she has three children — Nellie, 
Charlie and Bayard); F. N., married, in 
the wholesale millinery business in Cleve- 
land, Ohio (has one daughter — AVinifred); 
and Charles T., single, in business with 
his brother in Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. 
Joseph Reed also reared a niece, Lydia 
Ratcliife, now married and living in Cali- 
fornia. 

J. H. Reed, whose name introduces this 
sketch, received his education at the pub- 
lic schools of Columbia township, Lorain 
county, supplemented with a few months 
attendance at Oberlin College. For a 
time he worked at the stone business in 
Berea, Ohio, as well as in Columbia town- 
ship, but farming has been his chief life 
vocation. In 1872 he came to Eaton 
township, and bought a partly improved 
farm of seventy-nine acres, on which he 
erected a house and barn, subsequently 
adding thereto sixty-two acres, aggregat- 
incr one of the finest farms in the town- 
ship. Just after marriage, and prior to 
coming to Eaton township, Mr. Reed and 
his wife lived two years in Ridgeville 
township. 

On Christmas Day, 1871, our subject 
was married, in Ridgeville township, to 
Miss Jennie McNelly, of that township, 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Cave) 
McNelly, the father a native of Whitehall, 
N. Y., who settled in Ridgeville township 
some sixty years ago, the mother of Eng- 
land; both are living in Elyria, Ohio. 
Thomas and Jane (Wilson) Cave, grand- 
parents of Mrs. Reed, were natives of Eng- 
land, whence in an early day they came to 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1171 



America, making a settlement on Chestnut 
Ridge, Ridgeville township, Lorain county. 
To our subject and wife have been Ixtrn 
two cliildren — Claude Thomas and Clyde 
Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are members 
of the Christian Church at Eaton Center, 
of which he is clerk and deacon. In poli- 
tics he is an active Republican, is a mem- 
ber of the school board, and has served in 
Congressional conventions. He takes an 
active interest in the local Agricultural 
Association; is one of the directors of the 
County Agricultural Society, and has been 
a delegate to the County Conventions. 

The mother of our subject is a daugh- 
ter of Elijah and Irene (Whitney) Lyuian, 
natives of Vermont, of English ancestry, 
who in 1814 came to Strongsvilie, Cuya- 
hoga Co., Ohio, where they died, he in 
1828, slie in 1820. Thomas and Mary 
(Hickens) Reed, paternal grandparents of 
J. H. Reed, were natives of Cornwall, 
England, whence about the year 1838 they 
came to Oliio, making their new home in 
Cuyahoga county. The grandfatlier died 
in Columbia township, Lorain county, in 
1876, at the age of eighty-seven years; the 
grandmother had passed away in Strongs- 
vilie, Cuyahoga county, in 1871, when 
seventy -six years old. 



AMUEL ALEXANDER, a prom- 
inent and representative farmer of 
Carlisle township, was born May 9, 
1829, in Gloucestershire, England. 
His parents, Samuel and Sarah (Fran- 
cum) Alexander, also natives of England, 
came to America when Samuel was but 
four weeks old, and located in Grafton, 
Lorain Co., Ohio. The father was a 
farmer, and died at the age of eighty, the 
mother passing away in her eightieth year. 
They were the parents of seven children 
who grew to maturity, viz.: Martha, who 
married Edwin Martin, and died in La- 
Porte in 1886; Samuel, subject of sketch; 



Ann, wife of William Lawson, of Grafton ; 
Sophia, wife of Cyrus Wallace, of Winne- 
bago county. 111.; John, Job and Albert, 
all three married and residing in Eaton 
township. 

Samuel Alexander was reared to farming 
pursuits in Grafton and Eaton townships, 
and received his education in the common 
schools of the district. At the age of 
twenty-five he was married to Miss Eliza- 
beth Stevens, and after residing in Du- 
buque, Iowa, for two years, he removed to 
Michigan, where he married, for his sec- 
ond wife. Miss Laura Tyce. She died, and 
Mr. Alexander was next married to Miss 
Barbara Slaterline, to which union have 
been born six children, namely: George 
(\vho died when fourteen months old), 
Elmer, Mary, Cora. Olie and Ciiarley. 
Mr. Alexander resided for fifteen years in 
Bay City, Mich., but in 1873 he returned 
to Lorain county, Ohio, locating in Eaton 
township, whence he shortly afterward 
removed to Carlisle township. Here he 
has since resided, engaged in general agri- 
culture and dairying, and he owns a tine 
farm of 300 acres, all in a high state of 
cultivation. While residing in Michigan 
he was engaged in the butcher business, 
carrying on a meat market, in which line 
he met with considerable success. lie 
takes a lively interest in politics, voting 
witli the Republican party. 




LFRED HARRIS, one of the best 
known and most highly respected 
farmers of Russia township, is a na- 
tive of Oxfordshire, England, born 
February 6, 1831, a son of John 
Harris, a native of tlie same county, who 
was by trade a miller. He married a Miss 
Lee, and to them were born in England 
children's follows: Thomas L., deceased 
in Brownhelm township, Lorain county, 
while working in a stone quarry; Henry 
L., a physician, deceased in Bellevue, Ohio; 



1172 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Caroline, wife of Dr. James F. Grimes, 
of Mishawaka, Ind.; Jolin, wlio was a 
school-teacher, and died in the West; 
Robert, a physician of South Bend, Ind.; 
Mary, widow of William Purdy,of Indiana; 
Kancy, who married Kichard Longniate, 
and died in Oberiin, Ohio; Arthur, a car- 
penter of St. Louis, Mo.; Alfred; and 
Harriet, who married Philander George, 
and died in Coldwater, Michigan. 

In 1833 the family came to the United 
States, the voyage across the ocean occu- 
pying six weeks. Prior to this the father 
had come alone to the country, and bought 
for one thousand two hundred dollars in 
gold 233 acres of land, which is now the 
farm of the subject of this sketcii. At 
that time such a sum of money could have 
bought a great portion of the town of 
Cleveland, for cholera was raging fear- 
fully, and people were using every endeavor 
to leave the place. After the arrival of 
the family in New York, it was six weeks 
before the husband and father could be 
found. They then came on to Ohio, and 
settled on their new home in Russia town- 
ship, Lorain county, at that time an almost 
unbroken wilderness. In the LInited States 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John 
Harris: Hannah, who married A. A. Tur- 
ney, and died in Wood county, Ohio; and 
George, who was colonel of Sheldon's 
Guards, under Gen. Garfield, during the 
Civil war. and was killed at Fort Gibson. 
After coming to America the father of our 
subject worked at the sawmilling business 
in connection with farming, which latter 
was the chief occupation of his life, but 
his later years were passed in retirement. 
He died in 1868, his wife some time be- 
fore, and they lie buried in Amherst ceme- 
tery. Politically he was first a Whig, and 
afterward, on the formation of the party, a 
Republican. 

Alfred Harris, the subject proper of this 
sketch, received a liberal education at the 
common schools, and sul)sequent]y attended 
Oberiin College, when Prof. Finney was 
president of that institution. When he 



was about twenty-six years old he left the 
paternal roof, and embarked in the cattle 
business — buying and selling — in which 
he was very successful. In 1862 he rented 
the home farm for five years; then bought 
a piece of improved land, which he sold 
six years later, and bought the home farm 
where he now lives, containing 233 acres 
of as good land as can be found in the 
township. 

In 1861 Mr. Harris married Julia Du- 
rand, a native of Henrietta township, Lo- 
rain county, by which union children as 
follows have been born: Viola (now Mrs. 
Daniel Shaeffj; Harriet, Charles H. and 
Garfield, at home. In his political associa- 
tions our subject is a Republican. 



Ii OSEPH J. RICE is proprietor of the 
k. I old-established foundry in Amherst 
^^ township, situated two and one-half 
miles southwest of North Amherst, 
and known far and wide as "Rice's Foun- 
dry." 

Mr. Rice was born Septomber 17, 1828, 
in Westmoreland county, Penn., a son of 
Joseph and Elizabeth (Uhlre) Rice, the 
former of Westmoreland county, the latter 
of Fayette county, Penn., and who came 
to Amherst township, Lorain county, in 
1829. They were the parents of four chil- 
dren, viz.: Henry, born July 18, 1816, 
died in 1849; Peter, born February 19, 
1818, died in 1889; Samuel, born Febru- 
ary 1, 1825, died in 1852 in California, 
and Joseph J., subject of sketch. The 
father died in 1835 in Amherst township, 
the mother in 1865 at the age of seventy- 
nine years. 

Joseph J. Rice received his education 
at the common schools of Amherst town- 
ship, and learned the trade of foundryman 
in his present foiindry, which his brothers, 
Henry and Peter, had built in 1843. They 
themselves knew nothing of the business, 
but employed men to do the work, and 



LORAIN- COUNTY, OHIO. 



1173 



they operated same for several years, until 
onr snl)ject, liaviiio; thorouglily made liim- 
self master of the trade, succeeded to the 
business, and he has since been running it 
constantly every day. He does an im- 
mense trade, antl since his proprietorship 
lias been engaged in tlie manufacture of 
the " Rice Plow," well known in northern 
Ohio. Mr. Rice also owns a good farm of 
140 acres, all in a high state of cultivation. 
In 1857 our subject wedded Miss Emily 
Josephine Cook, who was born Feliruary 
4, 1839, in Delaware county, N. Y., daugh- 
ter of Lewis R. and Emeline Cook, of the 
same county. To this union have been 
born three children: Arthur J., who was 
educated at Oberlin College; Virgil E., 
married and residing in Oberlin, where he 
carries on a florist business; and Tracy J., 
attending the Conservatory of Music at 
Oberlin. in politics Mr. Rice is a stanch 
Republican. 



y\ E. RICE, the well-known florist of 
Oberlin, is proprietor of the most 
extensive business of the kind in Lo- 
rain caunty. He has over one fourth 
of an acre under glass, no less than seven 
hot-houses all connected, in the aggregate 
representing the largest conservatory for 
floricnltnre in his part of the State. A 
visit to his grounds, which he owns and 
which are situated on Lorain street, will 
well repay the lover of flowers, for here he 
will find them in endless variety, beautiful 
and fragrant, and in all stages of growth. 
Summer and winter he Iihs flowers for sale 
— both cut and uncut — and he is always 
to be found at liis post, courteous and 
obliging. 

Mr. Rice is a native of Lorain county, 
horn in Amherst township in 1865, a son 
of J. J. and Emily (Cook) Rice, the former 
of whom is a native of Pennsylvania, the 
latter of New York State. The father 
came to Lorain county, and engaged in the 
foundry business in Amherst. He and his 
wife are now living in Amherst township. 



Our subject received his elementary educa- 
tion at the common schools of his native 
township, which was supplemented with a 
one-year's attendance at Oberlin College, 
after which he took acoursein Oberlin Busi- 
ness College, where he graduated. He 
then embarked in his present line of busi- 
ness in Amherst, which he successfully 
cari-ied on there until 1890, when he re- 
moved to Oberlin. 

In April, 1888, Mr. Rice was married, 
in North Amherst, Lorain county, to Miss 
Lena Merthe, a native of Lorain county, 
and daughter of Henry Merthe, a farmer 
of Amherst township. To this union has 
been born one child, Earl V. In politics 
our subject is a Republican. 



nS. WRIGHT, dealer in stoves and 
tinware, Elyria, is a native of Co- 
' shocton county, Ohio, born in 1830 
He is a son of Lewis and Eliza. 
(Smith) Wright, who were both born in 
the Bine Ridge Mountain region. West 
Virginia. 

They came to Ohio, and were married in 
Coshocton county, where they passed the 
rest of their days, rearing a family of 
children, as follows: Willis (who was shot), 
William (died of consnmptionj, Martha 
(deceased in childhood), D. S. (subject of 
sketch), Charles (drowned in the Cuyahoga 
river), John and Henry (twins, the latter 
of whom was editor of a Kansas paper, 
and committed suicide in 1867), Thomas, 
Robert, Laura, Ferdinand and Frank. The 
father was a farmer, civil engineer, school 
teacher, justice of the peace, and to some 
extent a lawyer. He died at the age of 
forty-eight years, the inother when flfty- 
three years old. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native county, and at the age of six- 
teen became engineer on a canal boat, a 
vocation he followed for some time. After- 
ward he learned bis trade of tinsmith in 
Muskingum county, Ohio, and after a 
residence for a time in Cleveland, he, in 



1174 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1852, located permanently in Elyria, two 
years tliereafter opening out a general 
business in stoves, tinware, etc., in which 
he has been remarkably successful. His 
stock is at all times replete with every- 
thing in his line. He was married to 
Miss Mary Freer, and has three children 
living, as follows: Frances, who married a 
Mr. James F. Thompson, and has five 
children: Ruby, Alice, Bessie, Blossom 
and Don ; Josephine, married to E. P. 
Lord, and has one child, Lawrence; and 
Alice, who married F. H. Quayle, and has 
three children: Mable, Jonas and Milton 
(she keeps house for her father, her 
mother having died January 18, 1891). 



V T( ICHOLAS WILBER, a progressive 

Vll citizen, and prominent in the agri- 

l| cultural interests of Henrietta town- 

fj ship, is a native of the State of New 

York, born January 19, 1827, in 

Preble, Cortland county. 

Tliomas Wilber, father of subject, first 
saw the light in 1793. in Dutchess county, 
N. Y., where he lived until he reached his 
tliirtieth year, when he moved to Cortland 
county, N. Y. At that time the section 
where he settled was for the most part 
wild land, but, commencing life a poor 
man, he became comparatively opulent 
through assiduous industry and indefatig- 
able labor, bought land and lived the rest 
of his life a prominent farmer. He mar- 
ried Marion Filkins, a native of Dutchess 
county, N. Y., and they had a family of 
eleven children. He was a Federal Anti- 
Jackson man, afterward an etitbusiastic 
Whig, then (1844) a strong Abolitionist, 
and, finally, an active Republican. He 
died in 1873 in the town of Cortland, 
N. Y., and was buried in Homer, same 
county. 

Nicholas Wilber, the subject proper of 
these lines, received superior educational 



advantages, attending school until he waa 
thirteen years old, when impaired health 
compelled liira to abandon study. He then 
turned his attention to farming pursuits, 
and worked on the homestead until 1864, 
when he came to Ohio, and bought a small 
piece of land in Henrietta township, Lo- 
rain county, on the Oherlin Road. In 
course of time he came into possession, by 
purchase, of 160 acres prime land, whereon 
he now lives, having a comfortable resi- 
dence and commodious barn and other out- 
houses. Mr. Wilber has always taken an 
active part in politics — first as a Whig, 
then as a Republican, and in later years as 
a Democrat. He has attended several 
State conventions, and has tilled with abil- 
ity various township offices of trust. Mr. 
Wilber had five Itrothers: John, Isaac, 
Jonathan, Daniel W. and George A., two 
of whom are still living: Isaac and 
Daniel W. 

In 1848 he was united in marriage with 
Miss E. J., daughter of Edmuud and Mary 
Miller, and one son. Miller, was born to 
them. The latter married Hattie, daugh- 
ter of S. O. Kellogg, and they had four 
children, all of whom died of diphtheria 
in January, 1893, and were buried within 
five days of each other. 



FETER R. DRAPER, a much re- 
spected and highly prosperous farm- 
er citizen of Brighton township, is 
a native of Huron county, Ohio, 
born in Townsend township. May 
25, 1839, a sou of Sheldon and Clarissa 
(Cole) Draper, the father born in Dutchess 
county, the mother in Chenango county, 
N. Y. They came from the latter county 
to Ohio, first locating in Bionson town- 
ship, Huron county, later removing to 
Townsend township, where they died, the 
father in 1869, the mother in 1879, and 
they lie buried in Townsend township. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1175 



The enhject pri)per of these lines re- 
ceived a fair education at the common 
schools of his native place, and early in lite 
commenced to worlc on his fatiier's farm. 
At the age of eighteen he commenced to 
learn the trade of blacksmith, but at the 
end of twelve hours gave it up, concluding 
that he was better adapted to agriculture. 
After liis marriage he located in Camden 
townsliip, Lorain coimty, on forty acres of 
land he had bought there, on which he 
lived two years, tlien in 1870 came to iiis 
present farm in Brighton township, where 
he successfully carries on general farming 
and stock raising. Here he now has 127 
acres of land, besides some in Townsend 
township, Huron county, and he has 
erected on his Lorain county farm one of 
the linest residences in the locality. 

On March 29, 1868, in Brighton town- 
sliip, Lorain county. Mr. Draper was 
united in marriage with Miss Estella Sellon, 
born in Michigan December 4, 18i9, 
daughter of Major Seilon, and children as 
follows were born to them: Alma Mary, 
Mrs. Gilbert McCord, of South Dakota; 
DeWitt A., a farmer of Camden township, 
Lorain county; Delia L., Mrs. Clarence 
Gibson, of Camden township; and Frank 
A., Altha E., Fred E., Archie P., Seth O., 
Rosella M., Jessie L., Clarence O. and 
Glenn S., all at iiome. In politics our 
subject is a Republican, and has served in 
various township othces; in church asso- 
ciation he and liis wife are Seventh Day 
Adveiitists. 



^j ICHARD WALKDEN, a leading 
^( wide-awake agriculturist of Colum- 



I ^ bia township, is a native of Massa- 
// chusetts, born October 14, 1828, in 

Lowell, a son of William and Mary 
(Blundell) Walkden. 

The parents of our subject were natives 
of Lancasiiire, England, whence in 1826 
tiiey emigrated to tliis country, locating 
first in Lowell, Mass., where they worked 



in factories, in 1833 moving westward to 
Ohio, living in Newbnrgh one year, and 
then settling on a farm in Cuyahoga 
count}'. The father died in Berea, Ohio, 
in April, 1873, aged eighty nine years, the 
mother in September, 1857, in Cuyahoga 
county, at the age of sixty-four years. He 
had been twice married, and l:)y his first 
wife had three children, viz.: John, who 
remained in England; Jane, Mrs. John 
Bainbridge, who died in Ridgeville town- 
ship; and Willialn, who came to Lorain 
county in 1843, died on the ocean in 1879. 
By his marriage with Miss Mary Blundell 
he had children as follows: Alice, who 
died in 1890 in Cuyahoga county; James, 
who died in 1875 in Lowell, Mass.; 
Thomas, residing in Cuyahoga county; 
Ann, the widow of Eastman Bradford, of 
Berea; Mary, widow of Joseph Chevalier, 
of Berea; Arthur, residing in Columbia 
township; Peter, who died in Ridgeville 
township iti 1880 {he had come to Lorain 
county in an early day): Richard, our 
subject; Peggy, deceased; and Margaret, 
widow of Henry Woods, of Cuyahoga 
county. 

Richard Walkden was a small boy when 
his parents brought him from Massachu- 
setts to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he 
received his education in Warrensville 
township, and was reared to practical 
farming. In 1859 he purchased his 
present place in Columbia township, Lo- 
rain county, comprising fifty acres which 
he improved, erected a comfortable dwell- 
ing and commodious barn, etc., and has 
added thereto till now he owns 193 acres 
of as good land as can be found in the 
county. In 1859 Mr. Walkden was mar- 
ried in Columbia township to Miss Matilda 
Litchfield, born in Birmingham, England, 
a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hol- 
den) Litchfiekl, who came from their 
native England to America in 1847, land- 
ing in Prince Edward Island, Canada, 
where the father died ; the mother subse- 
quently came with her family to Lorain 
county, Ohio, locating in Columbia town- 



1176 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



ship, where she married a Mr. Price; her 
death occurred in October, 1872. By her 
first husband she had nine children, as fol- 
lows: Mary, married, living in England; 
Elizabeth, widow of Henry Mitchell, of 
England; Eliza, deceased; John, who en- 
listed in 1861 in the One Hundred and 
Twenty-fourth O. V. I., and was killed at 
the battle of Missionary Ridge; Thomas, 
residing in California; James, living in 
Washington; Joseph, who died February 
24, 1888. in Shiawassefe county, Mich.; 
Matilda, Mrs. Walkden; and William, who 
died in England. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Walkden were born 
thirteen children, as follows: Mary is the 
wife of Henry Hawkins, of Berrien county, 
Mich., and has three children, Arthur, Lula 
and Leroy; Cornelia was a teacher in Lo- 
rain county for a number of years, and is 
now the wife of Robert Bivan, of West 
View; Fred; Frank was killed by light- 
ning at the age of ten years; George, re- 
siding on the farm, is married and has one 
son, Lee Ebenezer; Emma has been a 
teacher in Columbia and Ridgeville town- 
ships, Lorain county; Delilah; Jennie; 
Clayton died at the age of three years; 
Henry, Lena, Chester and Ernest. In 
politics Mr. Walkden takes an active in- 
terest asainemberof the Republican party; 
he has been a member of the school board 
for some considerable time. He and his 
wife are members of the Baptist Church, 
and they are highly respected in the com- 
munity. 



f)ETER SIGOURNEY, retired, hav- 
ing his residence in Kipton, Lorain 
county, where he is much respected, 
is a native of New York State, born 
in Fowler, St. Lawrence county. 
The father of our subject, also named 
Peter, was born in "Vermont, whence he 
moved to New York State, and married 
Miss Wealthy Bates, a native of Massa- 
chnsetts. He died in 1832, the father of 



nine children, of whom the following is a 
brief record: Louisa married Daniel Rus- 
sell, and died in Livingston county, Mich.; 
AVilliam is deceased: Caroline married 
John Kemp, and died at Watertown, N. Y. ; 
Andrew also died in Watertown, N. Y., 
after reaching maturity; Peter is the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Anth(Miy is a resident 
of Lincoln, Neb.; Orin is a resident of 
Westerville, Neb.; Sarah is the widow of 
Nicholas Boshert; Addison is a carpenter 
of Norwalk. After the death of the 
father, the farm, which had only been in 
part paid for, was sold at a sacrifice and 
the family were scattered. Our subject 
went to Watertown, N. Y., to make his 
home with his uncle, Anthony Sigourney, 
and here remained four years, part of the 
time working out on day wages. His 
elder brother, William, had come to Ohio 
in March, 1838, locating in Camden town- 
ship, Lorain county, and the rest of the 
family, including Peter, came to Ohio in 
the following June. Thev lived in Hen- 
rietta township six or eiglit months, and 
then, William having, in February, 1839, 
bought land in Camden township, they 
moved thither in March following. 

Peter Sigourney, our subject, attended 
school until he was ten years old, and 
after the death of his father had to work 
hard to assist in the support of his 
brothers and sisters. After his marriage 
ho made his first permanent location in 
Camden township, Lorain county, where 
he worked around at whatever he could 
find to do, chiefly clearing land, at which 
he did more than any one living to- 
day in Camden township. In 1847 he 
bought out of his hard-earned savincrg 
forty-seven acres uf land at six dollars and 
fifty cents per acre, in Camden township, 
to which four years later he moved, his 
first house being a building 15x24, ten 
feut high, and there made his home until 
1878. In that year he moved into the 
town of Kipton, built a residence which he 
sold some time after, and then erected his 
present comfortable home. On January 7, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1177 



184G, Mr. Sigourney was married to Miss 
Sarah M. Johnson, born in Saratoga 
ciinnty, N. Y., July 15, 1825, a daughter 
of Ezra and Polly (Wood) Johnson, who 
came to Ohio in 1831, and settled in Flor- 
ence. Erie county. The children of this 
union were Bennett, born February 15, 
1847, died July 20, 1851, and Mary E., 
born June 15, 1857, died September 22, 
1858. Our subject is a loyal Democrat, 
during the Civil war voting the Union 
ticket, and he is a member of the Free- 
will Baptist Chui-ch. He is a representa- 
tive self-made man, and what he owns has 
been won by hard work and judicious 
economy. 



QEOKGE SCHOTT, than whom there 
, is no more respected citizen in 
Grafton township, is a representa- 
,1 tive self-made man, and a prosper- 
ous agriculturist. 
He is a native of Bavaria, Germany, 
born January 22, 1817, a son of George 
Scliott, who was a farmer in his native 
land. Up to the age of fourteen our sub- 
ject attended school in Bavaria, and then 
served a two-years' apprenticeship at the 
baker's trade, under two masters. Being 
naturally of a roving disposition, and 
learning, in 1836, of two or three families 
about coming to America from his native 
town, he made up his mind to join the 
party. Receiving sufficient money from 
his father, hs set sail from Hamburir on 
the good sliip " Lucadona," and after a 
voyage of fifty-eight days arrived in New 
York, where he soon secured work at his 
trade. At the end of two years his father 
and the rest of Iiis family emigrated to the 
United States, the port of landing being 
Baltimore, at which time George was ly- 
ing sick with malaria in a certain town on 
the Hudson river. He had written to his 
parents not to come to America, which 
letter never reached them, but they found 
the sick boy, and on his recovery he 

61 



joined them while en route to Logan 
county, Ohio. Here, a few years later, the 
parents died. Our subject had taken a 
trip through that State, lint not being sat- 
isfied with the country concluded to re- 
turn to New York State; and while on his 
journey thither he stopped over at Liver- 
pool, Medina Co., Ohio, where he met 
Miss Margaret Baumann, also a native of 
Bavaria, who had crossed the Atlantic 
with her parents in 1835. Here he was 
married, and having but little money 
wheiewith to commence housekeeping, he 
hired himself out as a farm laborer, and by 
hard work and judicious economy he and 
his wife ere long accumulated sufficient to 
buy a small farm in Medina county, which 
they lived on until 1846. In that year 
they came to Grafton township, Lorain 
county, where for two years they rented 
land, at the end of which time Mr. Sehott 
purchased from Charles Bishop the farm 
where he now lives, at that time compris- 
ing seventy-five acres. To this he from 
time to time added until he had an aggre- 
gate of 325 acres, fifty-five of which he 
gave away, leaving him n(nv the owner of 
270 acres of choice farming land. 

The children born to George and Mar- 
garet (Baumann) Sehott were George W. 
and Peter, both in Indiana; John B., in 
Nebraska; Frank, in Grafton, and a 
daughter that died in infancy. The mother 
of these departed this life in 1861, and 
for his second wife Mr. Sehott married 
Sarah Yncali, now deceased, by which 
union there is no issue. Politically our 
subject is a stanch Republican, and he is a 
member of the Evangelical Church at 
Liverpool, Medina county. 



John smith (deceased) was born 

w I April 12, 1805, in Yorkshire, Eng- 

S^j land, whence when a young man he 

emigrated, in company with a brother, 

William, to Canada. The brothers there 



1178 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



purchased fifty acres of land, but John 
afterward disposed of liis share and went 
to New York State. Some time later he 
returned to Canada, and on August 29, 
1836, was there united in marriage with 
Mary Braithwaite, who was born Kovem- 
ber 9, 1815, also in Yorkshire, England. 
When three years of age she came with 
her parents to Montreal, Canada, in which 
country her father, Edward Braithwaite, 
became an extensive farmer; he also fol- 
lowed his trade, that of carpenter. Before 
returning to Canada Mr. Smith had made 
a visit to Oberlin, Oliio, and while there 
became very much impressed with the 
country, consequently he moved thither 
with his wife soon after bis marriage. 
They drove a span of horses part of the 
way, and then made a part of the journey 
by water, landing at Cleveland, whence 
they again drove to Oberlin, Lorain county. 
Mr. Smith had saved a few hundred dol- 
lars, which he soon invested in forty-tour 
acres of land; he obtained employment in 
Oberlin, running the engine in the grist- 
mill at that place, in which he continued 
until the mill was burned, when he com- 
menced work on his farm. After the mill 
was rebuilt, he was again employed there, 
but returned to his farm (where he first 
lived in a rude cabin), which by his un- 
ceasing industry and energy he was con- 
tinually enabled to increase. He remained 
there until 1869, when he rented the place, 
and moved into Oberlin to educate his 
family. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith came the 
following children: Sarah Ann, born Sep 
tember 27, 1837, who married Lewis 
Breckenridge, an attorney of Cleveland 
(they had one son, Edwin S., a professional 
ball-player); Mary S., now widow of Lewis 
Breckenridge, of Cleveland; Emma J., of 
Cleveland; John Edward, who graduated 
from Aiidover College, Massachusetts, and 
is now a Congregational minister in Cali- 
fornia; Mary S. died in infancy; and Will- 
iam H. died in youth. They had also an 
adopted daughter, Phcsbe Rollinson, now 
Mrs. John Gunn, of Delta, Colo. Alex- 



ander Greenwood, now a young man, has 
also shared their home, but is at present 
residing in Massachusetts. 

In 1879 Mr. Smith returned to his 
farm, and a few years later built a very 
pleasant home, just outside of Oberlin, 
where he led a retired life until his death. 
During his later years his eyes caused him 
considerable trouble. In politics he was a 
Republican with Prohibition tendencies, 
and in religious faith was a leading member 
and supporter of the First Congregational 
Church of Oberlin. He passed from earth 
April 29, 1889, and was buried at Oberlin. 

Mr. Smith was one of the most success- 
ful farmers of his day, and thongh enjoy- 
ing in his youth bnt meager literary ad- 
vantages, he acquired a practical education, 
was a close observer of men and manners, 
and possessed a good memory. He was 
very fond of Scripture reading, was an ac- 
tive worker in the Church, and was a highly 
esteemed citizen of the community in 
which he resided. Since his death, Mrs. 
Smith, who is a well-read, intelligent lady, 
and a most interesting conversationalist, 
has spent part' of her time in the East, bnt 
resides generally at the pleasant family 
home near Oberlin, where she is surrounded 
by hosts of friends. 



LD. GLYNN, a prosperous agricul- 
I tiirist of Lorain county, was born 
\ October 17, 1819, in Berkshire 

county, Mass. His parents were 
Edward and Sylvia C. (TuUer) Glynn, who 
reared a family of three children, all sons, 
namely: Henry, who came westward to 
Ohio, where he died in Clarksfield, Huron 
county; Alfred J., who died in Michigan, 
and Lorenzo D., subject of this memoir. 

The father of this family died when his 
son Lorenzo D. was but six years of age, 
and for a while the latter was cared for by 
others, in the meantime attending school. 
When fourteen years old he was bound out 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1179 



to Elijah Hugliings, a farnier of Great 
Rarriiigton, Mass., and in September, 1836, 
came with his foster-parents to Lorain 
connt}', Oliio, locating near the center of 
Fittsfield township. Some dissatisfaction 
having arisen between them, however, Mr. 
Glynn left Hughings, and returned to 
Massachusetts, making part of the journey 
by canal, and walking the I'emaining dis- 
tance. In the fall of 1S39 he returned to 
Pittsfield township, where he found work 
— thresliing and chopping wood, and in 
fact doing any honest labor he could 
obtain. 

On September 22, 1844, he was married 
to Emeline Carter, who was born June 9. 
1825, in Greene county, N. Y.. daughter 
of Calvin S. and Johanna (Townsend) 
Carter, who came to Pittsfield township in 
1841. To this union were born children 
as follows: Sarah Ann, who married 
Horace G. Bartlett, and died in Pittsfield, 
Ohio; Melvin li., who served in Company 
H, Second Ohio Cavalry, and received a 
wound at Stony Creek, Va., from the 
effects of which he died: Lucy E., who 
married Alexander MayheW, and died at 
Garrettsville, Ohio; Susan D., wife of 
Harvey Norton, of Pittsfield township; 
Mary J., who was first married to Lewis 
Ives, and is now the wife of Alonzo Nor- 
ton; Ellen, Mrs. Horace Bartlett, of Pitts- 
field; Eva E., Mrs. Charles Bryant, of 
Wood county, Ohio; Marion, deceased in 
infancy; James T., a farmer of Pittsfield 
township; Viola, Mrs. Thomas HoUiugs- 
worth, of Pittsfield; and Alice M., Mrs. 
Henry Colston, of Russia township, Lo- 
rain county. After marriage Mr. Glynn 
located on a small farm in Pittsfield town- 
siiip, which he had partly cleared, and 
wiiich he subsequently sold to John Pres- 
ton. In 1848 he came to his present farm, 
purchasing 120 acres, then almost entirely 
woodland, and with no improvements 
whatever. He had to erect a cabin him- 
self, and then went industriously to work, 
clearing off the land, and year by year 
adding thereto, until he now has a fine 



farm of about 231 acres. Mr. and Mrs. 
Glynn are both good business managers; 
startinir in life with nothing, he has met 
with no small degree of success in his life 
vocation, all due to his own exertions. In 
politics he was originally a Wiiig, later a 
Republicati until 1872, when he became a 
member of the Democratic party, with 
which he has since affiliated. Socially he 
is a member of Oberlin Lodge No. 678, 
I. O. O. F. He and his wife are both 
fond of reading. 




ODMANN BROTHERS are pro- 
prietors of the popular flourishing 
grocery in North Amherst, which 
they opened for business November 
9, 1891, having bought out the grocery 
department of Plato Bros. 

Henry J. Bodmann, senior member of 
the firm, was born April 6, 1869, and re- 
ceived a liberal education at the common 
schools of the vicinity of his boyhood 
home. At the age of thirteen he com- 
menced to learn blacksmithing, at which 
he worked until going into the grocery 
business with his brother. 

William J. Bodmann, junior memlier of 
the firm, was born February 4. 1871, and 
was educated at the common schools. At 
the age of thirteen he commenced working 
at home, and one year afterward entered a 
grocery store as junior clerk, where he re- 
mained some years, after which he was on 
a farm three years. He was then in the 
employ of Plato Bros., about one and one- 
half years, at which time he and his 
brother Henry J. bought out the grocery 
of that firm as already related. Mr. Will- 
iam J. Bodmann is a Catholic, and a char- 
ter member of the C. M. B. A. 

Henry Bodmann, father of Henry J. 
and William J. Bodmann, was born June 
11, 1837, in the Kingdom of Hanover, 
Germany, where he received his education, 
and was taught the 



tlour-milling trade. 



]180 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



In 1865 he came to the United States, and 
after lialf a year's residence in New York 
moved westward to North Amherst, where 
he iirst found employment in a brewery, 
in which he remained abont ten years. 
He bought property, and for some years 
carried on a saloon. In 1867 he was united 
in marriage, in North Amherst, Ohio, with 
Margaret Frank, who was born in Hesse, 
Germany, December 29, 1842, and was 
nineteen years old when she came to Amer- 
ica. Eight ciiildren were born to them, 
viz.: Henry J. and William J. (of the 
grocery firm of Bodmann Bros.), Harman, 
Louis, Mary, John, Carl and Joseph. Mr. 
Bodmann is a Democrat, and a member of 
the Catholic Church. 



QEORGE HOLLSTEIN, one of the 
, well-to-do native-born farmers of 
Amherst township, is a son of Henry 
,1 and Elizabeth (Bechstein) Hollstein, 
natives of Hessen-Cassel, Germany, 
where they were married. 

In the spring of 1848 they set sail from 
Bremen for the "Western World, and after 
a voyage of fourteen weeks landed at New 
York, whence they proceeded by rail to 
Buffalo, theuce by water to Cleveland, and 
from there by team to Lorain county, Ohio, 
where they settled on a farm of fifty acres 
the father had bought in Amherst town- 
ship, and on which our subject now re- 
sides. Here Henry Hollstein carried on 
farming until his death, which occurred in 
1890, when he was aged eighty-tbnr years; 
the mother died in 1880, aged sixty-eight 
yeai-s. In his political preferences Henry 
Hollstein was a Republican, and he and his 
wife were members of the Evangelical As- 
sociaiion. They reared a family of five 
ciiildren, as follows: Adam married Lu- 
cinda Ray, a native of Lorain county, and 
settled in Brownhelm township, where he 
died in 1890 (his widow resides in that 
township); Elizabeth, widow of John 



Dreher, live* in Allegan county, Mich.; 
Catherine is the widow of John Hoffner, 
of Oberlin, Ohio; Sophia is the wife of 
Conrad Nuhn, of Vei-million, Ohio; and 
George is the subject proper of this sketch. 

George Hollstein was born on his pres- 
ent farm in 1851, received his education 
at the Union schools of North Amherst, 
and was reared to agricultural pursuits on 
his present farm. For a time he followed 
quarrying and taking out ship timber in 
different counties of Ohio, but he has given 
most of his attention to the farm. 

In 18S1 Mr. Hollstein was married, in 
Lorain county, to Miss Catherine Kolbe, a 
native of Germany, daughter of Henry and 
Elizabeth (Hnessem) Kolbe, also of the 
Fatherland, and who now reside in Black 
River township, Lorain county. One child 
has come to brighten the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Hollstein, named Walter. They are 
members of the Evangelical Church, of 
which he is trustee, and of the Sunday- 
school of which he was superintendent 
some years. Politically he is a Republican. 




\ILLIAM LAPP was born Decem- 
ber 27, 1845, on his present farm 
in Amherst township, a son of 
Henry and Catherine (Able) Lapp, 
who were natives of Hessia, Germany, 
where they were married. 

In an early day they came to America, 
and to Lorain county, Ohio, settling finally 
on the farm whereon our subject now lives, 
in Amherst township. The father was a 
mei'cliant tailor, an occupation that took 
him away from home a good deal, and 
while he was absent his wife attended to 
the farm. On first coming to the county 
he located on the lake shore, wdiere he 
bought seventy -five acres, on which he 
built a tailor shop, and here followed his 
trade; he also worked for a time in Brook- 
lyn, a village near Cleveland. He died in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1181 



1890 iit the age of eighty-nine years; his 
wife ill 1891 wiien au;ed eighty-two. They 
had cliildreii as follows: John, who died 
alioiit the year 1838; Eliza, who Tnarried, 
and died in Lorain county in 1889; t!atli- 
eriiie, wife of Jacob Fowls, who lives in 
Amherst township; Mary, widow of Henry 
ileisuer, who lives in Nortli Atnherst; 
Henry, a resident of Lorain; and William, 
the subject of this memoir. 

"William Lapp, whose name opens this 
sketch, received hi.s education in the com- 
mon schools of his district, and was reared 
to farm life. In 1869 he married Miss 
Eliza Appleman, by whom he had three 
children: John (attending the business 
college at Oberlin), Charles and Frank. 
The mothei- of these died in 1890, and in 
1892 Mr. Lapp was united in marriage 
with Miss Katie Limbaugli. Our subject 
owns a tine farm of 156 acres prime land, 
and carries on general agriculture. In 
1884 he built his present residence at a 
cost of three thousand dollars. In politics 
he is in sympathy with the Democratic 
pai'ty, and in religious sentiment he is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 




H. BRYANT, proprietor of the 
Bryant Channeler Machine Shops, 
North Amherst, was born on his 
present farm in Amherst town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, October 10, 1840, 
a son of Nathaniel and Ann (Wilkins) 
Bryant, who were born in Gloucestershire, 
England, the father in 1799; they were 
married in their native county, and came 
to the United States in 1828. 

The subject of this sketch received his 
primary education in the common schools 
of his township. On October 30, 1861, 
he enlisted in the Forty-second O. V. I., 
and participated in many battles and skir- 
mishes, principal among wiiich were the 
engagements at Vicksburg, Chickasaw 



Bluffs, Arkansas Post, and Vicksburg (2), 
where they camped all winter on the low 
flat marshy point in front of Vicksburg. 
Thence in the following spring they moved 
to below Vicksburg, thence to Grand Gulf, 
tlie mouth of Black river, from which place 
they saw the terrific bombardment of that 
place by U. S. gunboats. The regiment 
then participated in the battle of Thomp- 
son's Hill, where they sustained great loss, 
and were afterward at Champion Hill, 
Black River Bridge, as well as in several 
skirmisiies around Vicksburg. afterward 
taking part in the siege thereof, and its 
final surrender July 4, 1863. They then 
marched to Jackson, Miss., and drove 
Johnson's army from that place; also as- 
sisted in tearing up thirty miles of rail- 
road, after which our subject came home 
on a thirty-days' furlough. Rejoining 
his regiment at Berwick Bay, La., he pro- 
ceeded with it up Bayou Teche, same State, 
and at Placpiemine remained all winter. 
Next spring they were ordered to Baton 
Rouge, thence to the Red river campaign, 
after which they were placed on detail 
duty, to keep the river clear; were also at 
Milliken's Bend, Eagles Point and Du- 
Vall's Bluff, Ark., at which latter place 
Mr. Bryant's term expired. His company 
was one of the best drilled companies in 
the Western army. They took part in a 
prize drill contest at Milliken's Bend, and 
came off victorious. Mr. Bryant remained 
in the river service from Baton Rouge to 
Eagles Point, Ark., till the close of his 
term of service, chiefly on the Mississippi, 
Arkansas and White rivers. At Memphis, 
Tenn., in 1862, he was promoted to orderly 
sergeant. On his return home he attended 
for a time the commercial school at Buf- 
falo, N. Y., of Bryant & Stratton, both of 
whom are related to him. He also learned 
the trade of stone cutter. At Meadville, 
Penn., he taught bookkeeping, and as- 
sisted in establishing a commercial college 
there. From Meadville he proceeded to 
Michigan, and was two years on a home- 
stead in the northern part of that State, 



1182 



LORAIX COUNTY, OHIO. 



where he experienced the hardships inci- 
dent to clearing up a farm in a lieavily- 
wooded country, wiiere he had but one 
neighbor nearer tlian one mile. While on 
the farm he received an oii'er of a position 
in a concern doing a large business in sup- 
plying wood to lake steamers, and shipping 
it to Chicago. After the second year he 
became general manager of the business. 
The company purchased and sold about 
twenty thousand cords of wood annually, 
the bulk of which was chopped by the In- 
dians, who received nearly all of their pay 
in goods and provisions from the com- 
pany's store. After five years spent in the 
northern part of Michigan, Mr. Bryant 
removed to Chicago to take a position as 
bookkeeper, but at the end of a year, hav- 
ing to give up his position on account of 
the climate proving unfavorable to the 
health of Mrs. Bryant, he came to Am- 
herst, Ohio, and shortly afterward went into 
the stone business, which at first was far 
from a grand success, but finally proved to 
be a good venture. In 1889 he invented 
a machine known as "The Bryant Chan- 
neler," for cutting both limestone and 
sandstone, and for the past four years has 
been engaged in manufacturing them. He 
also owns the Bryant Quarries in Amherst 
township, as well as one in Elyria. 

On April 21, 1866, Mr. Bryant was 
married in Meadville, Penn., to Miss Har- 
riet Adelaide "Wykoff, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. In politics he is a Republican; 
socially he is a member of the K. of H. 



FEANKLIN ARNOLD, an upright, 
intelligent citizen of Pittsfield town- 
_^ ship, was born August 20, 1841, in 
Caraden township, Lorain county. 
His father, James Arnold, son of An- 
thony Arnold, was born in 1806 in New 
York, where he was reared to manhood 
and received an education in the common 
schools. He was married in his native 



State toMiss Eliza Carrington, and in about 
1839 came west to Lorain county, Ohio, 
purchasing land in Camden township. 
Here he soon afterward settled, and at that 
time the tract was all woodland, with no 
improvements save an old log house. In 
1844 Mrs. Arnold died, leaving one child, 
Franklin, and was buried in Camden ceme- 
tery. For his second wife Mr. Arnold 
married Jane Ann Powell, a native of New 
York, who bore him three children: An- 
thony; Susan, Mrs. Byron McNeal, of 
Chicago, 111.; and Emma, married, now of 
Council Bluffs, Iowa. They resided in 
Camden township until 1851, when they 
moved to the farm in Pittsfield township 
(where Franklin Arnold now resides), and 
there passed the remainder of their lives. 
In politics he was a Democrat, and he took 
considerable interest in the political issues 
of the day, keeping himself well informed. 
He held various local offices, serving as 
township trustee, assessor, etc., and was a 
shrewd business man and a good farmer. 
He died January 13, 1864, and was buried 
in Camden township by the side of his 
wife. His widow, who was a member of 
the M. E. Church, died in 1878, and was 
interred in Pittsfield cemetery. 

Franklin Arnold was reared to farm life, 
received his education in the common 
schools of his day, and when ten years of 
age moved with his parents to Pittsfield 
township, where he has since made his 
home. On December 21, 1865, he was 
married, in Elyria, Ohio, to Helen M. 
Rawson, who was born December 30, 1844, 
in Pittsfield. Her parents, Ropha and 
Betsey (Fulton) Rawson, came from New 
York State to Lorain county, Ohio, locat- 
ing in LaGrange township; they died in 
Pittsfield township. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Arnold have come children as follows: 
Erwin, born January 30, 1868, who gradu- 
ated from Wellington high school, an'l is 
now teaching in Pittsfield township; and 
George A., born August 30, 1870, a 
farmer of Pittsfield township. Soon after 
marriage Mr. Arnold purchased, from Ara 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1183 



Rawson, fifty acres of land adjoining the 
lionie farm, and here l)egan wedded life, 
living upon that tract until 1892, when lie 
moved to the home farm. Here he has erected 
a handsome new dwelling-house and barn, 
which are models of their kind. In politics 
he is a Democrat, and in 1891 was elected 
township trustee, being the first Democrat 
to hold that office since his father served 
in the same capacity; he has numerous 
friend-s in both parties. Mr. Arnold now 
owns 147 acres of excellent land, where he 
carries on a general farming and dairying 
business. He has hosts of friends, and it 
is safe to say that there is no citizen in 
Pittstield township who holds a higher 
place in the esteem and regard of his 
fellow-citizens. Mrs. Arnold is a member 
of the Methodist Church. 




'lILLIAM PRESTON, one of the 
most successful agricnlturists of 
Pittstield township, was born July 
31, 1823, in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, son of John Preston. The grand- 
father of subject was a tailor by trade, and 
was in the employment of the British 
Government at Gibraltar, where his son 
John was born. 

John Preston was reared on a farm in 
Lincolnshire, England, and there married 
Martha Major, who bore him four chil- 
dren, viz.: William; Eliza, who was mar- 
ried in England to William Colson, died 
in Oberlin, Ohio, and was buried in Pitts- 
field; Caroline, who was married in Eng- 
land, came to America, and died in Phila- 
delphia, Peim., where she was buried; and 
one son that died in infancy unnamed. 
The mother of these children passed away 
in 1831, and Mr. Preston married in Ens- 
land, for his second wife, Rebecca Clark, 
to which union were born six children. In 
1847 he sailed from Liverpool to New 
York, whence he at once proceeded to 
Pittstield township, Lorain Co., Ohio, 



where an English family named Wills had 
previously located. Here he purchased 
fifty-six acres of land for six hundred dol- 
lars, and having a capital of but eighty 
dollars was obliged to go in debt for the 
remainder. He lived in an old log house 
on this tract for some time, and later re- 
moved to the west town line, where he 
died in April, 1877, and was buried in 
East cemetery, Pittstield township; his 
wife had preceded him to the grave. He 
was an active Republican, and took great 
interest in politics. He was a man of 
good proportions, and during his active 
life was an indefatigable worker. 

William Preston attended the common 
schools until ten years of age, and from 
early boyhood worked on the farm, his 
firstduty being to scare thecrows from pick- 
ing the corn off the ground. When thirteen 
years of age he hired out at thirty dollars 
per year, to care for four horses, and was 
later employed in various places and at 
various occupations. On May 15, 1851, 
he was united in marriage with Elizabeth 
Flatters, who was born May 29, 1824, in 
Lincolnshire, England, daughter of Abra- 
ham and Mary (Emerson) Flatters, and on 
May 28, same year, the young couple left 
their early home and friends, taking pas- 
sage for New York on a *' Red Star " 
liner. They landed after a voyage of five 
weeks, and proceeded at once to Cleveland, 
Ohio; on the way thither they happened 
to be in Buffalo, N. Y., on the Fourth of 
July, and witnessed the celebration, but 
did not know the cause of it. From 
Cleveland they came by rail to Welling- 
ton, Ohio, from which place they were 
driven to Pittsfield township, where they 
saw the log house in which his father had 
first lived. There they remained for two 
m(mth8, and then rented a house and later 
five acies of land, where they resided for 
eighteen months. Mr. Preston next rented 
land from Joseph Worcester, of Pittsfield 
township, and subsequently removed to 
Wellington, where he rented a much 
larger place. From Wellington he moved 



1184 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



to Sullivan township, Ashland Co., Ohio, 
wliere he resided for six years. In 1870 
he purchased ninety-six acres in Pittsfield 
township, Lorain county, and resided 
tliereon until 1891, when he moved to 
Pittstield Center, where he now leads a 
retired life. 

Mr. Preston now owns 135 acres of ex- 
cellent land. Coming to America a poor 
man, he has, by patient industry and un- 
tirinsr enercry accumulated a comfortable 
competence, and is one of the most highly 
respected members of his community, 
kind-hearted and generons in every respect. 
Politically he is a Republican, and has 
served as township trustee, and in relig- 
ions faith he and his wife are members of 
the Metliodist Church. To their union 
have come the followiTig named children: 
Elizabeth, deceased at the age of four 
years; Martha, Mrs. Charles Avery, of 
Pittsfield; Eliza, deceased when fifteen 
months old ; Mary L., Mrs. William Pick- 
worth, of Clarksfield, Ohio; Catharine, 
Mrs. John Jordan, of Brighton, Ohio; 
Roderick J., who died at the age of four 
years; and William, a farmer of Pittsfield 
township. 



fl( LBERT FOSTER, who for many 

l/l\ years has been prominently identi- 

Ir^ tied with the interests of Lorain 

•fj county, is a native of the "Green 

Mountain State," born January 30, 

1831. in Windsor county. 

His father, Addison Foster, a farmer, 
and mother, Lizzie (Pease), were both 
born in Weston, Windsor Co., Vt., and 
while living in that State had children as 
follows: Lucy A., who was married in 
Ohio to David Clark, and died in Ne- 
braska; Ira A., of Eaton county, Mich.; 
Albert, the subject of this memoir; and 
Hannah, Mrs. Rufus Ivnowles, of La- 
Grange. In August, 1836, the family 
set out for Ohio, driving three four-year- 
old horses, coming via Troy, N. Y., to 



Cleveland, and thence to LaGrange town- 
ship, Lorain county, where a sister of Mrs. 
Foster, Malinda Dale, resided, at whose 
home they remained for a few days. Mr. 
Foster purchased eighty-three acres in the 
vicinity, on which some clearing had been 
done, and here the family made their first 
settlement, remaining thereon until 1862, 
when Mrs. Foster's failing health induced 

o 

him to change his residence to the center 
of the township. Here they led a retired 
life until their decease, Mr. Foster passing 
away in 1874, Mrs. Foster in 1875; both 
are buried in the Center cemetery of the 
M. E. Church. He was industrious, hard- 
working, a good business manager, and 
one of the most progressive men in the 
county, qualities which brought him suc- 
cess and enabled him from time to time to 
increase his property. He always gave 
liberally to church work, and was the 
largest contribiitor toward the M. E. 
Church building, also donating the land 
upon which it stood. Politically he was 
a Republican, originally a Democrat, hav- 
ing changed during Fremont's administra- 
tion, and served as township trustee and 
in various other local offices. After com- 
ing to Ohio three children were added to 
the domestic circle, viz.: Horatio, who 
died in LaGrange in 1864, of smallpox; 
George, of LaGrange, and a son that died 
in infancy unnamed. 

Albert Foster was five years old when he 
came with his parents to Ohio, and here 
he attended the common schools, which 
were then held in log buildings. He re- 
ceived a thorough training in agriculture 
on the home farm, where he remained until 
his marriage, on February 6, 1852, to Miss 
Betsey Knowles, who was born in the 
East, and came when one year old to Ohio, 
whither iier father, Horace Foster, removed 
in an early day, settling in LaGrange town- 
ship, Lorain county. After his marriage 
our subject located on a piece of the home 
place, near the homestead, and commenced 
farming, remaining there ten years, when 
he exciiansed with his father for the home- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1185 



stead. Here he resitted fifteen years, or 
until April 2, 1877, when he disposed of 
108 acres of the home farm, and came to 
his present place, near the center of La- 
Grange township, where he lias since lived 
retired. To Mr. and Mrs. Albert Foster 
have come four children, viz. : Lyman P. (of 
Pentield, Lorain county), Merritt (of Brown 
county, Kans.), Frank (of LaGrange) anil 
Edward (of Brown county, Kans.), all of 
whom are engaged in farming. These 
children have all had the best of educa- 
tional opportunities, and their father has 
liberally assisted each one to make a start 
in life. In politics he was originally a 
Democrat, but is now a stanch member of 
the Repui)Iican party, and has given uni- 
versal satisfaction as trustee of LaGrange 
township. In the fall of 1883 he was 
elected a director of the county infirmary, 
a position in which he has ever since effi- 
ciently served. Kind-hearted and generous, 
he is recognized as a public benefactor, and 
is looked up to and esteemed as one of the 
leading citizens of his community. He 
has traveled considerably, and has paid 
several visits to his sons in Kansas. Mrs. 
Foster is a member of the M. E. Church. 
[Since the above was written we have been 
informed of the death of Mr. Albert Foster, 
which occurred January 20, 1894. — Ed. 



dj H. TOWNSHEND, a progressive 
and well-to-do agriculturist of Shef- 
' field township, is a native of the same, 
born in 1839, a son of John and 
Hannah (Hurst) Townshend, both of whom 
were natives of England, the father of 
Warwickshire. 

When a young man John Townshend, 
father of subject, emigrated from England 
to the LTnited States, coming in 1831 to 
Lorain county, Ohio, and settling on a farm 
in Avon township. He there married Han- 
nah Hurst, and the young couple then 
moved to another farm, in Sheffield town- 



ship. Mr. Townshend was killed by the 
cars in Elyria, Ohio, in 1875, and Mrs. 
Townshend died some years ago. 

J. H. Townshend was educated in the 
common schools of his native township, 
and was trained to farming pursuits, which 
have been his life work. He assisted in 
opening up the home farm, now a well- 
cultivated piece of land, on which he yet 
resides. In 1875 he visited Pittsburgh, 
Penn., and was there and then married to 
Miss Mary Shober, by whom he has had 
the following named children: Lloyd, 
Leola, Ina and Florence. In politics Mr. 
Townshend is a Republican, stanch and 
true, and he and his wife are members of 
the Baptist Church at Avon. 



P)ETER M. SMITH is a thoroughly 
representative loyal German-Ameri- 
can citizen of Sheffield township, 
where he successfully follows the 
plough. 
Ife was born May 19, 1819, in Prussia, 
Germany, a son of Mathias and Barbara 
(Dohn) Smith, also natives of Prussia, 
where the father, who was a farmer, died 
when his son Peter M. was five years old. 
The widowed mother and her family sub- 
sequently emigrated to the United States, 
and to Lorain county, Ohio, where she died 
in Sheffield township at the age of seventy- 
nine years, the mother of eight children, 
of whom three grew to maturity, namely: 
Mary, Peter M. and Ann Mary. 

Peter M. Smith, the subject of this bio- 
graphical memoir, received his education 
in the schools of the Fatherland, and was 
there married. In 1846 he and his family 
came to America, and to Lorain county, 
Ohio, first locating in Ridgeville township, 
afterward settling in Sheffield township, 
where he bought his present beautiful farm 
of 166 acres of highly cultivated land. A 
brief record of his children is here pre- 



1186 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



seiited: Joseph lias his home in Wisconsin; 
Peter is married, and lives in Cleveland (he 
has six children living); Hubbard is mar- 
ried, and had ten children; Kate, Mrs. 
Schumacher, has had six children; John is 
married, and has nine children. The mother 
of the above named family died in 1883, at 
the age of seventy years. Mr. Smith has 
four living grandchildren, and three great- 
grandchildren. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat, and he is a member of the Catholic 
Church. 



D' 



, AVID MILLER, a well-known resi- 
dent of North Amherst, is an early 
settler of Lorain county. His par- 
ents, Jacob and Catherine (Cook) 
Miller, were natives of Bavaria, Germany, 
and in 1847 emigrated to America, locat- 
ing in North Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
where they passed the rest of their lives. 
They reared a family of seven children, 
viz.:' Jacob, who lives in Brovvnhelm town- 
ship; Catherine, in Mercer county, Penn.; 
Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Miller, of Sheffield 
township; David; Julia, living in Michi- 
gan; Margaret, wife of Adam Baker, of 
Black River township: and Amelia, wife of 
Barney Burke, of Lorain. The father of 
this family followed farming; he died in 
North Amherst in 1889, having been pre- 
ceded by the mother in 1888, when aged 
eighty-eight years. 

David Miller was born in 1827 in Bav- 
aria, Germany, where he was reared and 
educated. He learned the blacksmith's 
trade, which he followed in Germany, Eng- 
land and France, and in 1847 came with 
his parents to North Amherst, Lorain 
county, where he also followed his trade 
for many years. In 1864 he enlisted, at 
Wooster, Ohio, in Company I, First Ohio 
Artillery, for one year or during the war, 
serving as blacksmith; they were stationed 
at Chattanooga, Tenn., and atDalton, Ga., 
at which latter place Mr. Miller received 
an honorable discharge in 1865, and re- 
turned to Lorain county. 



In 1851 Mr. Miller was married in Lo- 
rain county, to Miss Margaret Hildebraiid, 
a native of Germany, daughter of David 
and Gertrude (Reis) Hildebrand, natives 
of Hessen, Germany, whence they emi- 
grated in 1835, settling in Black River 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where the 
father passed away in 1858, and was fol- ' 
lowed to the grave by the mother in 1862. 
They were the second German family to 
settle in Lorain county. A brother of 
Mrs. Miller resides in North Carolina. 
Our subject and wife are the parents of 
seven children, viz.: Lewis, a farmer of 
Sheffield township; Mai-y, wife of George 
Keller, a farmer of Black River township; 
Sophia, wife of Winnie Gawn, of A^nherst 
township; Elizabeth, wife of Roy Leslie, 
of North Amherst; Rowena, wife of Philip 
Klotz, residing in Lorain; Julia; and 
Emma, wife of Irving Chappell, a machin- 
ist, of Cleveland. Ohio. In politics Mr. 
Miller is a Republican, and in religious 
faith he and his wife are members of the 
Pi'esbyterian Church, at North Amherst. 
Mr. Miller is now ensjaijed in fruit farm- 



inof and sardenin 



g- 



dOHN W. GROTE, of North Amherst, 
was born November 25, 1849, in 
' Hanover, Germany, a son of George 
and Nena (Zieranberg) Grote, the 
former of whom was also a native of Han- 
over, where they both died. The father 
was killed by an accident in 1849; the 
mother passed from earth when about fifty- 
three years old. They had four children, 
of whom our subject was the only one to 
come to America. 

John W. Grote received a good educa- 
tion at the school of his native place, and 
in 1872 came to America, setting sail April 
15 and arriving May 15 following. After 
his arrival in North Amherst, Ohio, he 
commenced working in stone quarries, in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1187 



which he continued some fifteen years in 
one place, most of the time in the capacity 
of foreman in the Holdeman quarry (now 
owned by the Cleveland Stone Company). 
After a year's sickness he opened out in 
the retail liquor trade in North Amherst, 
and has been very successful, being a popu- 
lar and much respected citizen. Mr. (.Trote 
was united in marriage with Miss Amelia 
Subears, and four children — one son and 
three daughters — have been born to them, 
viz.: Rosa, Emma. Lizzie and Willie. The 
entire family are members of the Presby- 
terian Church; in politics Mr. Grote is a 
Democrat, and he is a member of the 
I. O. 0. F. and Encampment, and the 
K. O. T. M. 




ZARIAH SMITH ROOT, A. M , 
Librarian and Professor of Bibli- 
ography at Oberlin College, is a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, born in Mid- 
dlefield February 3, 1862, a son of 
Francis and Anna (Smith) Root. The father 
of subject, also born in Middlelield, Mass., 
is now a merchant in the town of East 
Douglass, Mass. He married Anna Smith, 
who died Marcli 24, 1874, at the age of 
forty-five years, eight months, the mother 
of two children, of whom Azariali S. is the 
second. 

The subject of this memoir received his 
preparatory education at the high school of 
Middlefield, and at the Hinsdale and Pitts- 
field schools, all in Massacliusetts. In 1880 
be entered Oberlin (Ohio) College, where 
he graduated in the classical course of 1884, 
after which, in 1885-86, he studied law in 
Boston University, and also in Harvard 
University. In 1887 he was appointed li- 
brarian of Oberlin CoUetje. ami in 1889 
professor of Bibliography, which positions 
he is at present holding. In the year last 
mentioned he took the degree of A. M. at 
Oberlin College. He is librarian for the 
Ohio Church Historical Society. 



On April 30, 1887. Prof. Root was united 
in marriage with Miss A. M. Metcalf, of 
Eiyria, Ohio, and one child — Francis Met- 
calf — was born to them August 24, 1889. 
In politics onr subject is a member of the 
Third Party Prohibitionists, and is a mem- 
ber of the County Prohibition Committee. 
He is of the tenth generation of the Root 
family in the United States. 



DAVID SCHWARTZ, one of the 
prosperous and industrious German 
,' agriculturists of Russia township, 

is a native of Bavaria, Germany, 
born July 7, 1832. 

His father, Jacob Schwartz, was by vo- 
cation a farmer in the P^therland, owning 
a small piece of land, and he labored at 
whatever he could find to do when he had 
no work at his own home. He married 
Miss Catherine Burg, and she bore him 
five children, one of whom, Catherine by 
name, died in Germany. The father passed 
from earth there in Marcli, 1834, leaving a 
widow and five children to be provided for.- 
In the meantime the eldest boy married, 
and the family circle being now broken, 
the widowed mother concluded to emigrate 
to America with her remaining offspring. 
Consequently in June, 1848, they — she 
and four children, Jacob, Margaretta, Eliza- 
beth and our subject — set sail from the 
port of Antwerp for New York, where 
they landed after a passage of forty- two 
days. From there they proceeded by Erie 
Canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to Cleve- 
land, and then by road to Russia township, 
Lorain county, where there already was a 
small colony of their countrymen. The 
son Jacob acted as leader of the party, 
and having among themselves saved about 
three hundred dollars, he (Jacob) ])ur- 
chased a farm therewith, afterward repay- 
ing what he had borrowed. 

At this time David Schwartz was sixteen 
years old. He attended school regularly 



1188 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



in his'iiative country, and but a short time 
in the New AVorkl. He had no trouble in 
securing work, and for his lirst year's 
services received fifty dollars. At the age 
of nineteen he bought sixty acres of land 
on credit, and by tlie time he was twenty- 
one he had paid off the entire sum — five 
hundred and eight dollars — all accumu- 
lated by hard work and rigid econouiy. 
He has now 163 acres of land, all in a 
high state of cultivation. 

In September, 1856, Mr. Schwartz was 
united in marriage witli Christina Baker, 
who was born March 16, 1834, in Boston, 
Mass., a daughter of Nicholas and Eliza- 
beth (Cook) Baker, who came west to Ohio 
in an early day, and settled in Amherst 
township, Lorain county. After marriage 
the young couple commenced housekeep- 
ing in an old log house that stood on his 
farm, which in after years was superseded 
by the more substantial residence, which 
is yet standing. Children as follows have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz: 
Frank E., a farmer of Carlisle township, 
Lorain county; Caroline, Mrs. William 
Shubert, of Russia township; Charles H., 
of Elyria, Ohio; Eliza S., Mrs. Eugene 
Waldorf, of Muncie, Ind.; John A., ot 
Arizona; Lucy S., Mrs. A. F. Renkie, of 
Elyria, Ohio; and Mary F. The mother of 
this family died somewhat suddenly on 
August 6, 1879, after a brief illness, and 
she now lies buried in North Amherst 
cemetery. Politically our subject is a 
Democrat, but though true to his colors 
takes no active interest in the affairs of 
his party, having his time fully occupied 
on his farm. 



JOHN McLaughlin, a popular, 
progressive and wide-awake citizen 
of Oberlin, where he is proprietor of 
a flourishing bookstore, is a native of 
Canada, born November 6, 1849, in Bol- 
ton, Brome county. Province of Quebec. 
He is a son of John and Mary (Mooney) 



McLaughlin, the former of whom was born 
in the Highlands of Scotland, and when a 
child was brought to Canada by his par- 
ents, who died on their farm there. The 
father of our subject, after his marriage 
with Miss Mary Mooney, a native of New 
Hampshire, settled on the old homestead 
in Brome county, Quebec, where he died 
in 1884, at about the age of sixty-two 
years; his wife lived to an advanced age. 
The early life of our subject was passed 
on the farm in Canada, and his education 
was received at the schools of St. Johns- 
bury. At the age of twenty years he came 
to the LTnited States, prior to which he had 
worked at various vocations, saving money 
as he plodded along. Tliis enabled him to 
come west, where there were better oppor- 
tunities for a young man, and locating in 
Lorain county, Ohio, he attended school at 
Oberlin one year. After this, February 
26, 1876, he opened his present bookstore 
in Oberlin. in which business he has met 
with well-merited success. In addition to 
books and stationery he carries a large 
stock of wall-paper, and makes a specialty 
of lamps, particularly the " Oberlin Lamp," 
for which he has tiie exclusive sale in the 
city. Onr subject was married in Oberlin 
to Miss Jennie V. Bunce, and they have 
two children: Helen Irene and Dora Gene- 
vieve. In his political preferences he is a 
Republican. 



EiDWIN A. BIVINS, a well-known 
farmer of Amherst township, is a 
I descendant of one of the earliest 

pioneer families of Lorain county. 
Benjamin Bivins, grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in Connecticut, and was 
reared in Erie county, N. Y., where he re- 
ceived his education in the schools of the 
district. In an early day he came to Lo- 
rain county, Ohio, where he followed 
farming, afterward returning to Erie 
county, N. Y., where he was married to 
Miss Asenath Adams. In 1835 they came 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1189 



to Lorain county, ami settled on a farm, 
where they passed the remainder of tlieir 
lives. The grandfatlier served for many 
years as confutable and justice of the peace 
in liis township. He died at the age of 
eighty-three, and his wife passed away at 
Elyria when ajjed eighty-nine years and 
nine months. He was a soldier in the war 
of 1812. 

Lyman Bivins, son of this old pioneer, 
w^as born January 17, 1808, in Otsego 
county, N. Y., and in 1835 came with his 
father from Clarence, Erie Co., N. Y. He 
married Lydia Greene, a native of Massa- 
chusetts, and they became the parents of 
six cliildren, as follows: Edwin A.; 
Maria, wife of Morris Hecock, of Sheffield 
township, Lorain county; George L., in 
the livery business in Elyria; Eliza, de- 
ceased wife of L. D. Stout; Josephine, 
who mai'ried Leonard Steele, and died in 
Amherst; and Albert, who died in infancy. 
The mother of this family died in 1864; 
the father is still living at the age of 
eighty-five years. 

Edwin A. Bivins was born in 1837 in 
Amherst township, Lorain county, and 
was reared on the farm, receiving his edu- 
cation in the district schools. He learned 
tlie carpenter's trade of his grandfather, 
and for lifteen years was in the employ of 
the Lake Shore Eailroad, at Norwalk, on 
car and cab work. He was afterward en- 
gaged for five years in the milling busi- 
ness at Amherst, and then returned to the 
farm. In 1863 Mr. Bivins was married 
to Miss Mary I. Winton, who was born in 
Amherst townsiiip, daughter of Orrin and 
Mariett (Smith) Winton, natives of Ver- 
mont, wlio came to Amherst township 
about 1834. where he was e-\tensively en- 
gaged in farming. They were the parents 
of children as follows: Eli, who resides in 
Arkansas; Ann, widow of Edward Aikens, 
of Amherst township; Mariett; C. F., 
living in Kansas; O. P., who died in East 
St. Louis, III.; Alferetta, wife of George 
Morgan, of Elyria; Hattie, wife of "Will- 
iam Barnes, of Cleveland; William W., a 



stationary engineer at Sandusky, Ohio 
(his twin sister died in infancy); Nellie, 
who lives in Elyria, and Mary I., Mrs. 
Bivins. The father of this family was 
killed by a falling tree; iiis widow is now 
residing with our subject. Mrs. Bivins' 
maternal grandfather Smith came to Lo- 
rain county in 1834. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Bivins was born one 
child, Frank B., who became a sailor, em- 
barking first at Erie, Penn.; after sailing 
for three years on the lakes, he went to 
Philadelphia, fi-om there sailing to Ger- 
many, and thence to Australia, whence, 
after a stay of nine months, he went to 
London, England. From there he went to 
San Francisco, and then cruised alono- the 
coast to British Columbia. He was killed 
on board the ship " Kennebec," while some 
days out from San Pedro, Cal., and was 
buried at sea. In politics our subject is a 
meml)er of the Democratic party, and he 
has filled numerous political offices; for 
two years he was marshal of North Am- 
herst, and he has also served as constable, 
as member of the town council, and as as- 
sessor of Nortli Amherst. Socially he is 
a member of Stonington Lodge No. 503, 
and in religion he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church at North 
Amlierst. 



J. GAREETT. In the front rank 
of the representative agriculturists 
of Carlisle township is found this 
gentleman, the owner of one of the 
finest 200 acre farms in the county, de- 
voted to general agriculture, in a great 
measure to dairying, liaving thereon an 
average of twenty cows. 

Mr. Garrett is a native of New York 
State, born in Saratoga county, August 10, 
1830, a son of Benjamin and Charlotte 
(Rowell) Garrett, the father a native of 
New York State, the mother of Vermont. 
Thev were married in New York State, 
and in 1834 migrated to Lorain county, 



1190 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Ohio, locating first in Penfield township, 
afterward, in 1836, settling in Carlisle 
township, where they bought a partly-im- 
proved farm of 265 acres. In politics the 
father was first a Democrat, then a Kepub- 
lican, and he served as trustee of his town- 
ship. He died in Carlisle township, June 
29, 1866, the mother in May, 1886, at the 
age of eighty-seven years. The paternal 
grandfather of subject, Joseph Garrett, 
lived all his life in New York State, and 
his wife lived to be ninety years old. To 
Benjamin and Charlotte Garrett were born 
three children, viz.: John, who married, 
and moved to Clinton county, Mich., where 
he died about the year 1884; Jane Eliza, 
wife of George Noble, residing iu Elyria, 
and S. J. 

The subject of this memoir was almost 
five years old when he came with his par- 
ents to Lorain county, and in Carlisle 
township received his education, at the 
same time giving his assistance toward the 
opening up and improving of the home 
farm. In 1854 he was married to Miss 
M. Noble, who was born in Lorain county, 
and reared in LaGrange township, a daugh- 
ter of Herveyand Phcjebe (Wilkinson) No- 
ble, who settled in an early day in that 
township, where they carried on farming 
the rest of their lives. Af the time of their 
settlement in LaGrange, in June, 1827, 
there were only two or three families in 
the township. Mr. Noble died June 16, 
1871, aged seventy-six, his w'ife having 
preceded him to the grave April 23, 1870, 
aged sixty-nine years. They had a family 
of eight children, as follows: Betsy, de- 
ceased at the age of eighteen months; 
Esther, wife of David Parsons, of Akron, 
Oliio; George W., residing in Elyria; 
Amanda, deceased at the age of eighteen 
years; Emily Annette, wife of C. C. Man- 
ville, of LaGrange township, TiOrain coun- 
ty; Mrs. S. J. Garrett; Henry D., who 
was married, and died iti Lorain county in 
1861; and Melissa, deceased at the age of 
four years. To Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Garrett 
were born three children: Frank, who was 



married in 1878 to Miss Mary Martin, and 
has one cliild — Essie Bell; Cora, wife of 
Charles Fuller, who has one child — Carrie 
(they live in Cleveland); and Charles, who 
was married in February, 1887, to Minnie 
Lehman, and has three sons — Leroy, Mark 
Elmer and Roy. In his political associa- 
tions Mr. Garrett is a Republican, and has 
served as township trustee three or four 
terms. 



ffJflRAM WACK, one of the promi- 
IsH nent representative agriculturists of 
I 4. Carlisle township, is a " Green 
■JJ Mountain Laddie." born in Ver- 

mont September 9, 1809, a son of 
Frederick and Hannah (Loomis) Wack, 
natives of Connecticut. 

They were married in their native State, 
and afterward moved to Manchester, Vt., 
thence to Dorset, Vt., when our subject 
was al)out two years old. In 1837 they 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, settling on 
afarni near the Black river, in Carlisle town- 
ship, where Mr. Wack died, when over 
eighty years of age; Mrs. Wack passed 
away in Michigan also aged over eighty 
years. They had a family of children, si.t 
of wiiom are yet living, named as follows: 
Eliza (wife of John Wyman), William 
Albert, Iliram, Charles Chauncey, Caro- 
line Laura, and Clarissa; Erastus died in 
infancy. In politics Mr. Wack was a 
member of the Whig party. 

Hiram Wack, of whom this sketch 
chiefly relates, may bo justly classified 
among the pioneers of Carlisle township, 
as he came here in 1837, at a time when 
wild animals were yet plentiful. On Sep- 
tember 19, 1839, he was married to Miss 
Jane Rickey, a native of Vermont, and 
they had three children, as follows: George, 
who married Miss Diantha Vibber, and has 
one child — Herbert (they live in Russia 
township); Alfred, who married Miss Caro- 
line Bender, and has six children — Ellen, 
Charles, Frank, Cassie, Mary and Mabel; 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1191 



and Mary Jane, wife of Cliarles II. Heigh- 
ton, who has three children — Harry, John 
and Robert (the family reside in La Porte, 
Carlisle township). Our subject learned 
the trade of cai'penter in New York, and 
Worked at same in Oberlin some years, at 
intervals, before his marriage; he was also 
a workman one winter on the steamship 
" Bunker Hill," which lay at the mouth of 
the Black river. After marriage he did 
carpenter work only in his neighborhood, 
and also operated his farm, which is well 
improved and now comprises some 179 
acres. He has taken an active interest in poli- 
tics as a member of the Republican party 
ever since its organization, though his first 
vote was cast for Andrew Jackson. The 
paternal grand lather of subject, who is 
supposed to have been a German, was a 
soldier in the Anierican Revolution, and 
died while on his way home at the close of 
his service. 




^ARREN EARL, assessor and treas- 
urer of Eaton township, who has 
been a lesident of Lorain county 
since December, 1853, is a native 
of Tompkins county, N. Y., born in 1834. 
His parents, Moses and Elizabeth (Fauver) 
Earl, were also natives of New York, and 
there passed their entire lives. The father 
died in New York in 1836. They had 
but one child, AVarren. Some time pre- 
vious to liis death Moses Earl had located 
land in Ohio. 

Warren Earl was reared and educated in 
Tompkins county, N. Y., and in 1853 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, locating in 
Eaton township, and working in Elyria, 
where he learned the bricklayer's and 
plasterer's trades. In 1864 he enlisted, at 
Wooster, Ohio, foroneyear, in Company D, 
One Hundred and Seventy-eighth O. V. I., 
and served with the army of the West. 
He participated in the engagement at 
Murfreesborough, served till the close of 



the war, and 1865 was honorably dis- 
charged at Philadelphia. He returned to 
Lorain county, Ohio, and in 1868 settled 
in Eaton township, where in 1877 he 
bought twenty acres of improved land. Mr. 
Earl has taken considerable interest in 
politics, voting with the Republican party, 
and has served two terms as township as- 
sessor and for twelve years as treasurer. 

Our subject has been twice married, 
first in 1859, in Eaton township, to Miss 
Adelaide Fauver, a native of New York, 
who died in 1871. In February, 1874, he 
was united in marriage with Miss Sally 
Earl, a native of New York, and to this 
union have come two children, namely: 
Minnie A. and Anna B. Socially Mr. 
Earl is a member of Richard Allen Post 
No. 65, G. A. R., Elyria. 



T( O. HUMPHREY, a lifelong farmer 

k. I of Eaton township, comes of a family 

\^i who have been identified with the 

county over threescore and ten years. 

He was born in 1832 on his present 
farm on Butternut Ridge, a son of Orson 
J. and Lucinda (Sutliffj Humphrey, both 
of whom were natives of Connecticut, 
where they were married. Fi-om there 
they came with a one-horse wagon to 
Lorain county. Ohio, the trip occupying 
six weeks, and in 1822 located in Ridge- 
ville township, whence in 1832 they 
moved to Eaton township, to the farm now 
occupied by the subject of tiiis sketch. 
Orson J. Hum])hrey was a taiiner and 
currier by trade, which he carried on till 
he commenced farming. He took a con- 
siderable interest in politics, first as a 
Whig, later as a Republican, and served as 
a justice of the peace fifteen years, and 
county commissioner three terms. He 
died December 5, 1867, his wife in No- 
vember, 1869. They had a family of six 
children, five of whom grew to maturity, 
as follows: Amelia, deceased wife of Joiner 



1192 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Race, of Ridgeville township, Lorain 
County; Fidelia, wife of Lewis M. Pounds, 
of Topeka, Kans.; Orelia, now in Kansas; 
Facelia (widow of William Brust), a resi- 
dent of Toledo, Ohio, and J. O. 

The snbject of our sketch had a thor- 
oughly practical school training in his 
native township, and afterward attended 
select school at LaPorte, Lorain county, 
and college at Berea. On his return 
home he applied himself assiduously to 
agriculture, at which he has since contin- 
ued with well-merited success. He now 
owns a fine farm of 125 acres, all in a 
good state of cultivation. 

In 1856 Mr. Humphrey was married, 
in Carlisle township, to Miss Elizabeth 
Worthington, and eight children have 
been born to tiiem, of whom the following 
is a brief record: Helena is residing at 
home; Elmer E. married Miss Aizina 
Hamlin, and they have two children — 
Hamlin and Blanche; and Mary, Orson, 
Clarence, Mildred, Edwin and Herbert, all 
at home. Mr. Humphrey in his political 
sympathies votes the Democratic ticket. 
Mrs. Humphrey is a member of the M. E. 
Cliurch at LaPorte. Joseph and Betsy 
Humphrey, grandparents of subject, were 
Connecticut people, born of Welsh an- 
cestry, and in an early day came to Kidge- 
ville township, Lorain county, where they 
passed tiie rest of their busy lives. 



\ICHAED MARSH, a farmer of 
^ Eaton township, was born in 1816 
^ in tiie eastern part of the county of 
Kent, England, son of John and 
Eiizabetli (Dean) Marsh. The par- 
ents of our subject were also natives of 
England, where they died, the father at 
the age of seventy, the mother at the age 
of fifty-one. They reared a family of 
seven children, two of whom are still liv- 
ing, namely: Jane, wife of Thomas Spicer, 
residing in England; and Richard, subject 



of this memoir. John, who came to Eaton 
township in 1850, married Louisa Sutton, 
and died in October, 1890; his widow re- 
sides in Eaton township. 

Richard Marsh was reared and educated 
in his native England, and there engaged 
in farming pursuits until 1852, when he 
came to the United States, locating in 
Eaton township, Lorain Co., Ohio. In 
1864 he was married, in Eaton township, 
to Mrs. Harriet Cassell, a native of Eng- 
land, widow of Edward Cassell, by whom 
she had two children: Henry, a resident 
of Missouri, and a daughter, Mrs. Silk. 
Mr. Marsh has devoted his entire life to 
agriculture, and he now owns a good farm 
of forty-two acres, all ir) a high state of 
cultivation. In his j^olitical' preferences 
he is a Republican; in religion he is a 
member of the Disciple Church. 



J 



OHN BERRES, for over a third of a 
century a valuable farmer citizen of 
Ridgeville township, is a native of 
Germany, born near Berlin in 1835, 
a son of Adam and Mary Berres, of the 
same country. In 1856 the family came 
to the United States, settling in Ridgeville 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio, where the 
parents passed the i-est of their lives, the 
father dying in 1892, the mother in 1879. 
As will be seen, our subject was about 
twenty-two years of age when he came to 
America, so that his school days were all 
passed in his native land, where he also 
learned farming (a vocation lie has ever 
since followed), besides, according to the 
customs of the countrj', a trade, his choice 
being carpentry, at which he worked two 
years before crossing the ocean. In 1865 
he bought forty-two acres of partly-im- 
proved land, subsequently adding thereto 
the Taylor farm, and he now owns 103 
acres, all well-cultivated, on which he has 
erected a comfortable modern one-and-a- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1193 



half-story residence 22x28, with an L, 
also one and a half stories, 18. x 24; kitchen 
14x16; vvoodsiied 12x14; horse l)aru 
22x28. He has also put up a commodi- 
ons barn 40 x60, and a second one 30x40. 
Mr. Berres confines himself to general 
farming, and by untiring energy, sound 
judgment and judicious economy has made 
a7i enviable Success. 

In 1861 our subject was married, in 
Eidgeville township, to Miss Anna Stouber, 
a native of Germany, daughter of Peter 
and Barbara (Conrad) Stouber, also of 
Germany, who in an early day immigrated 
to tlie United States, making tlieir final 
home in Avon township. Mr. and Mrs. 
Berres are the parents of four children, as 
follows: Emma, married to George Often, 
of Ridgeville township (they have two 
children, Mathias and Katie); Katie, wife 
of Mathias Diedrick, of Ridgeville town- 
ship; Mary and Caspar. They have also 
adopted a boy named Tony Stouber. Some 
time ago our subject spent seven years in 
the Lake Superior country among the 
copper mines. He is an active member of 
the Republican party, and has served his 
township as supervisor and member of the 
school board. He and his wife were born 
and brought up in the faith of the Roman 
Catholic Church. 



H. JACKSON. Among the pros- 
perous and most respected of the 
representative, native-born agricul- 
turists of Eaton township, is to be 
found this gentleman. He is a son of Bar- 
nabas and Martha (Farni)am) Jackson, and 
first saw the light of day in 1851. 

Barnabas Jackson, fatiier of subject, was 
born in Maine, whence when young he 
came to Liverpool, Medina Co., ()hio, with 
his parents, Abel and Sarah Jackson, who 
were also natives of Maine. He married 
in Portage county, Ohio, Miss Martha 

63 



Farnham, who was born in that county, 
near Ravenna, and for some time there- 
after they lived in Medina connty, where 
he conducted a sawmill. Later lie followed 
building and contracting in Grafton town- 
ship, Lorain county, and among the build- 
ings he put up may be mentioned the 
roundhouse and two hotels. In 1853 he 
moved to Eaton township, same county, 
and bought an improved farm from. Ira B. 
Morgan, where he passed the rest of his 
days in agricultural pursuits, dying Au- 
gust 8, 1889. He was a Republican, 
originally a Whig, and served his town- 
ship as trustee; during the dark days of 
the war of tlie Rebellion he gave all tiie 
assistance in his power to preserve the 
Union. His own parents died, the father 
in Iowa, the mother in Eaton township, 
Lorain county, aged eighty-nine years. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Barnabas Jackson were born 
seven children, all of whom are yet living, 
viz.: Ellen, wife of Albert Bingham, of 
Eaton township; C. H., our subject; 
Sarah, wife of Charles Kettner, of Cleve- 
land: Frederick Henry, married to Celia 
Nichols, and residing in Cleveland; An- 
drew, married, and living in Eaton town- 
ship; Byron W., married to Blanche Nich- 
ols, and living in Cleveland; and James 
E., married to Sarah Aubrey, also in Cleve- 
land. The mother of this family is yet 
living on the old homestead. 

C. H. Jackson, whose name opens this 
sketch, received his elementary education 
at the schools of Eaton township, which 
was supplemented with a two-years' at- 
tendarce at Oberlin College. He was 
reared to agricultural pursuits, but in early 
life turned his attention to the manufac- 
ture of cheese, which industry he carried 
on in Ridgeville township, Lorain county, 
some thirteen years; he was also interested 
in a cheese factory in Eaton township. In 
1881 he purchased an improved farm of 
125 acres in Eaton township, where he has 
since resided, carrying on general farming. 

In 1877 Mr. Jackson was united in mar- 
riage, in Berea, Ohio, with Miss Eva E. 



1194 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Emmons, a native of Columbia township, 
Lorain county, daughter of Francis and 
Cordelia (Smith) Emmons, of Connecticut, 
and pioneers of Columbia township, Lo- 
rain county; the mother is deceased, the 
father yet living. To this union has been 
born one child — Grace G. In his political 
associations Mr. Jackson is a Republican, 
and for five years served as township trus- 
tee; in 1888 he was elected a justice of 
the peace. 




A. BAINBRIDGE, one of the 
wideawake, go-ahead, native-born 
agriculturists of Ridgeville town- 
ship, is owner of 140 acres of as 
good land as can be found in the county, 
being mostly the old homestead of the 
family. 

Mr. Bainbridge was born in 1837, a son 
of William and Elizabeth (Ford) Bain- 
bridge, natives of England, the father of 
near Hull, Yorkshii-e. They were married 
in their native country, and subsequently 
immigrated to the United States, and in 
1832 they made for themselves a new 
home in Ridgeville township, Lorain 
county, the locality at that time being all 
woodland. William Bainbridge first 
bought twenty-five acres, to which he 
added sixty acres, and, later, fifty acres, ag- 
gregating 185 acres of fine farm land, where 
he successfully carried on general agricul- 
ture till his death; his widows passed away 
at the age of eighty-one years. Mr. Bain- 
bridge in his political views was first a 
Whig, in later years a stalwart Republican, 
casting his first Presidential vote for J. C. 
Fremont, and ho held many township 
ofiices of trust. To this honored couple 
was born a family of children, the follow- 
ing being a brief record of them: George 
died in Ridgeville township at the age of 
thirty-three; Mary Jane died young; Jabez, 
married, resides in Olmsted township, 
Cuyahoga county; W. A. is the subject of 
this sketch; Hester is the wife of Thomas 



Hollister, of California; Rachel is the wife 
of Augustus Tilliurg, of Ridcreville town- 
ship; Pletcherdied in Ridgeville township; 
William B., who was married, died in 
Ridgeville township. 

The subject of these lines received such 
education as was afforded in his early boy- 
hood by the primitive schools,' held in 
some old log shanty, whose ' furnishings 
and "dominie," alike, smacked of "the 
sere and yellow leaf." In politics he is a 
straight Republican, and has served his 
township as road commissioner. In 1891 
he visited California, spending six months 
in the southern portion of the State, part 
of the time in San Jose. Mr. Bainbrido-e 
has not yet enlisted in the courageous army 
of " Benedicts," preferring an Arcadian lite 
of single bliss. 



CHARLES W. BOMMER, a repre- 
sentative, progressive citizen of 
Avon township, where he has re- 
sided since child hood, was born August 
30, 1861, in Olmsted township, Cuyahoo-a 
Co., Ohio. 

Joseph Bommer, father of Charles W., 
was a native of Baden, Germany, whence 
in an early day he came to the United 
States and to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, 
where he worked by the month. He mar- 
ried Sophia Muche, who was born in 
Hesse, Germany, and in 1867 they came 
to Avon township, and opened np a farm 
on which he remained until his death, 
which occurred in 1881; his widow passed 
away in Avon township in 1885. They 
reared a family of seven children, as fol- 
lows: Louisa, wife of P. Nagle, of Avon 
township; Ed., married, residing in West 
View, Cuyahoga county; Frank, a resident 
of Ridgeville township, Lorain count}'; 
Eva, who died at the age of twenty-two 
years; Gertie, living in Lorain county; 
Willie, who died when three years old; and 
Charles W., whose name introduces this 
sketch. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1195 



Charles W. Bommer came with his par- 
ents to Avon townsliip when six years 
old, and here obtained his literary educa- 
tion in the common schools. He was 
trained from early boyhood to agricultural 
pursuits, in which he has always been en- 
gaged, and he now owns a half interest in 
the homestead and a farm in Ilidtreville 
township. He was united in marriage, in 
1886, in Avon township, with Miss Anna 
Engels, a native of the township, daughter of 
Peter Engels, and to this union have been 
born four children, viz.: Frank, Clara, 
Willie and Anna Bertha. In his political 
preferences Mr. Bommer is an ardent 
worker in the ranks of the Democratic 
party; in tlie spring of 1893 he was 
elected trustee of Avon township, where 
he has also served as supervisor and school 
director. In religious connection he and 
his wife are members of the Catholic 
Church at French Creek. 



rEEDERICK DAGUE, a self-made, 
representative agriculturist of Pen- 
^ field township, is a son of Frederick 
and Catherine (Harsh) Dague, and 
was the second child born to them after 
their removal to Ohio. 

Our subject first saw the light January 
23, 1822, and received a limited education 
in the subscription schools, the only ones 
then afforded at that time and place. From 
early boyhood he was inured to the arduous 
duties of pioneer farm life, and he remained 
at home until several years after his mar- 
riage. On August 29, 1844, he was wedded 
to Miss Maria Smith, born December 
9, 1824, in Berks county, Penn., daughter 
of Jeremiah and Rowena (Arnold) Smith, 
who came to Ohio in 1826, settling in 
Stark county, where Mr. Smith died, the 
family subsequently removing to Tticliland 
county, where Mrs. Dague resided until 
her marriage. The young couple took up 
their residence on the farm of his father 



until 1851, when they removed to their 
present farm in Pentield township, then 
comprising 100 acres, all in the woods, 
which he purchased at five dollars and a 
half per acre. The cabin in which they 
lived was built of logs, had a white 
ash floor, and was a very comfortable, 
though rudely-furnished, home. Soon 
after coming here Mr. Dague built a 
barn, which is still standing, he and his 
brother John, who were neighbors, assist- 
ing each other in their work. To Frede- 
rick and Maria Dague were born children 
as follows: John, of Litchfield, Ohio; 
Levi, of Harrisville, Ohio; Maretus, of 
Chatham, Ohio; Frederick, of Spencer, 
Ohio; Sarah M., the widow of Robert 
Everhart; Homer, who died at the age of 
thirteen years; Jeremiah, of Spencer; 
Jonathan, a farmer of Litchfield, Ohio; 
Mary Jane, Mrs. Orrin Meade, of Michi- 
gan; Emerson, a farmer, at home; Charles, 
a farmer of Spencer; Ella, Mrs. Grant 
Hull, of Litchfield, Ohio; and Anna, who 
married Grant Hull, and died at the age 
of twenty-two years. Mr. Dague has been 
a lifelong farmer, and for a short while 
carried on a dairy in connection with 
his agricultural work. He now owns a 
fine farm of 190 acres, all accumulated by 
his own energy and unceasing industry, 
for he began life with comparatively noth- 
ing. In his political predilections he has 
always been a stanch Democrat, and in 
religious faith he and his wife are meo^- 
bers of the German Baptist Church at 
Chatham, Ohio. 



/GEORGE T. DEEG, a highly success- 
( _ ful farmer and grape-grower of 
\J Avon township, is a native Wurtem- 
^^ berg, Germany, born in 1826. 

He is a son of Christopher and 
Elizabeth (^Lautenschlager) Deeg, of the 
same locality, who were married in Ger- 
many, and in 1842 set sail from the port 



1196 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



of Le Havre-de-Graee, France, for the New 
World, their family accompanying them. 
After a voyage of thirty-three days they 
landed in JSew York City, whence they 
came direct to Cleveland, ()hio, arriving in 
Avon township, Lorain county, in October, 
same year. Here they settled on a farm 
near the lake shore, and here the 'father 
died in 1847, tlje mother in 1846. They 
were the parents of six children, as follows: 
Catherine, who married John Upwright, 
and died in 1859 in Eaton county, Mich.; 
Margaret, first married to Christian Seifred, 
who was killed in Cleveland, and now the 
widow of Christian Brandt (she resides in 
Covington); Dorothea, who married Treat 
Titus, and died in 1874; George T., onr 
subject; Mary, widow of Christian Schorn- 
hurst, of Chicago, 111.; and Caroline, wife 
of Daniel S. Green, of Avon township. 

George T. Deeg was sixteen years old 
when the family came to America from 
Germany, and a portion of his education 
was received in each country. After 
leaving scliool he, in 1852, shipped before 
the mast on a vessel sailing; the lakes, and 
for fourteen years followed that vocation 
in various capacities, such as common 
sailor, cook, mate, etc.; in 1858 he bongbt 
a vessel which he sailed for his own account 
till the fall of 1862, when be sold her and 
in 1863 navigrated her for others. In 1861 
he had bought his present tine farm of 
sixty-eiglit acres, and has since erected a 
commodious and comfortable residence 
thereon. In 1849 Mr. Deeg was united 
in marriage, in Avon township, with Miss 
Maria Diederich, daughter of Peter and 
Gertrude Diederich, who came to Lorain 
county in 1847, and are now both deceased. 
To this union were born four children, 
to wit: William G., a resident of Detroit, 
Mich., who is married and has three chil- 
dren: Sailor, Bell and Anna; Joel T., mar- 
ried and residing in Elyria (has three chil- 
dren: Nellie, Nina and Josephine); Au- 
gusta, widow of William Moon, of Avon 
township (has three children: Stella, Guy 
and William); and Julia, in Detroit, Mich. 



The mother of these died in 1879, and in 
1882 Mr. Deeg married Miss Elnora Corn- 
well, a native of Columbia township, Lo- 
rain county, a daughter of Elson Cornwell, 
an early pioneer of the county. Politically 
our subject is a Republican, and has been 
a member of the scliool board. He and 
his wife are associated witii the M. E. 
Church of Avon township. 



TF^LISHA JACKSON, one of the 

1^ earliest and best-known pioneer 
IL^i citizens of Penfield township, was 
born October 8, 1818, in Champion, 
Jefferson Co., New York. 

Our subject received his education in 
the common schools of the period, attend- 
ing whenever possible, as he took more 
pleasure in study than in play, and was a 
very apt scholar. When but a young man 
he entered the employ of a man named 
Poole, who made fanning mills, while 
engaged in this displaying considerable 
liking and natural ability for carpentry, 
and later working at tiie business in Phila- 
delphia, Jefierson county, N. Y. He 
remained in his native county until 1841, 
when he started for the then Far West, pro- 
ceeding tirst to SHcket's Harbor, where he 
took the boat for Lewiston, thence travel- 
ing by stage-coach to Niagara Falls. 
From the latter place he came to Buffalo 
on the tirst railroad he had ever seen, and 
there took the lake l)oat for Cleveland, his 
destination being Pentield, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where his eldest brother, Pliny, re- 
sided. Having missed the stage-coach to 
Elyria, and having but a few dollars with 
him, not suthcienl to hire a private convey- 
ance, he walked from Cleveland to Pen- 
tield, arriving there June 3. Here he 
worked at his old occupation, the manufac- 
ture of fanning mills, meantime making 
his home with his brother until July 4, 
1843, when he married Miss Eleanor A. 
Rowland. She was born November 22, 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1197 



1820, in Oneida county, N. Y., daughter 
of Joel and Lucy (Wood) Rowland, fanning 
people, and was in Pentield townsliij) on a 
visit to her sister, Mrs. Pliny Jackson, 
when she met our subject. For a sliort 
time after iiis marriage Mr. Jackson lived 
in Pentield township, then removed to 
Pittstield township, where he bought land, 
and later took up his residence in Monroe, 
Mich., wliere he was employed as pattern- 
maker in a foundry, his knowledge of car- 
pentry being sufficient to enable him to 
perform such work. After four years he 
returned to Penfield township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, locating on his present farm, for 
which he had previously negotiated. At 
that time a dense forest covered the land, 
on which no improvements whatever had 
been made, and all the clearing on the 
tract, 137 acres in extent, has been done 
either by hiui or under his direction. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been 
born children as follows: Joel R., a farmer 
of Pentield township, who was first married 
to Mary Bradstock, by whom he had two 
sons — Harley (now deceased) and Judson 
C (the mother of these died and he was 
married, for his second wife, to her sister 
Lydia); Charles E., farmer of Pentield; 
Charille H., deceased wife of John Brad- 
stock; Lucy, wife of Horace Palmer, now 
of Pe:itield; Milo T., a farmer of Pentield, 
wiio has four children — Oga Eveline, 
Altha Leona, Margaret Irene and Carl; 
and Sally E., residing with her parents. 
"With the exception of the time spent in 
working at his trade, Mr. Jackson has 
given his attention to farming. He and 
his wife have seen great changes in this 
section of the country ; panthers, bears, deer, 
wolves, turkeys, and other wild animals 
which once abounded have now disap- 

f)eared from the region ; the dense forest 
las given place to smiling farms; and tiie 
rude hut which first sheltered the family 
is now supplanted by a substantial brick 
residence. Mr. Jackson has performed 
much arduous labor in his day, and by his 
untiring energy and industry has amassed 



a very comfortable competency. On July 
4, 1893, he and his wdfe celebrated their 
"golden wedding," an occasion which will 
ever be remembered by those present. In 
his political preferences our subject has 
been a Republican since 1856. prior to 
which time he was an ardent Whig, cast- 
ing liis first Presidential vote for William 
H. Harrison. He takes a lively interest in 
the success of his party, and, while not an 
office-seeker, has served several terms as 
township trustee, with credit to himself 
and satisfaction to his constituents. 



ri( II. WITBECK, who during his 

l/V lifetime was a well-known and uni- 

Ifl^ versally respected member of the 

^J farming community of Pentield 

township, was born May 20, 1827, 

in Schoharie county, N. Y., son of Henry 

G. and Freelove (Welton) Witbeck. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to 
farm life, and received his literary educa- 
tion at the common schools of those, early 
days, which he attended a few weeks in the 
winter season; and the only year he spent 
the entire winter at school was while work- 
ing for his board for William L. Hayes. 
When he was four years old, in the fall of 
1831, he had been brought by his parents 
from New York State to Pentield town- 
ship, Lorain Co., Ohio, where he grew to 
manhood, and being the eldest of six sons, 
the bulk of the duties on the home farm 
fell on his shoulders. As soon as he was 
old enough he worked principally away 
from home, doing various kinds of farm 
labor in various districts, and receiving for 
his services from six to eight dollars per 
month, all his earnings going to assist his 
father to pay for some land which the 
latter had purchased. For one year he 
was in the employ of Talcott Starr, of 
Elyi'ia township, and he also spent one 
winter in Michigan, in the pineries, cutting 



1198 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



timber and working in one of the lumber 
camps so numerous in those days. He 
received thirty acres as his portion of the 
tract of one hundred acres he had helped 
his father to pay for, and this formed the 
nucleus of the fitje property he accumulated 
before his decease. 

On November 27, 1851, Mr. Witbeck 
was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
Damon, of Litchfield, Ohio, who died less 
than one year afterward, and on March 20, 
1855, he wedded, for his second wife, Miss 
Jane A. Goodyear, who was born March 
27, 1838, in New Haven county. Conn., 
daughter of Street and Susan (Jones) Good- 
year, who came to Penfield, Lorain county, 
in 1846, locating on the place where Mrs. 
Goodyear yet resides; Mr. Goodyear died 
in 1884. After marriage Mr. Witbeck 
took up his residence on the farm where 
he passed his entire wedded life, and which 
at that time, with the exception of one 
small clearing, was all in tlie woods. The 
young people first lived in a log house, 
which was some time afterward supplanted 
by a frame one, and in 1875 the latter 
gave place to a commodious brick resi- 
dence, one of the most expensive and un- 
doubtedly one of the most substantial in 
the township. By purchases made from 
time to time the extent of the original 
farm of thirty acres was gradually in- 
creased until there was a fine tract, com- 
prising 250 acres of excellent land. Mr. 
and Mrs. Witbeck had children as follows: 
Mary Jane; E. F., who married Anna 
Walker, of Ellsworth, Kans., and now has 
charge of the home farm; Ansil, a farmer 
of Penfield township; Susan A., a school- 
teacher of Elyria; Sarah H., deceased at 
the age of nine years; Leon G., a fanner 
of Penfield township; and Lucinda May, 
who resides at home, and attends school 
in Wellington. Mr. Witbeck was a 
thoroughly self-made man, for from a start 
of almost nothing he accumulated his fine 
property and earned for himself a com- 
fortable competence. During his active 
life he was one of the foremost agricul- 



turists of Penfield township. He died 
February 26, 1893, after a short illness 
from heart disease, and was buried in Pen- 
field cemetery. In politics he was a stanch 
Democrat, and, while not an active poli- 
tician, took aTi interest in the welfare of 
his party and was a regular attendant at 
the polls. For a great many years he was 
an ardent member of the Penfield M. E. 
Church, and at the time of his death was 
class-leader; he had served in various other 
positions with credit to himself and satis- 
faction to all. Mrs. Witbeck is also a 
member of the M. E. Church, having made 
a cotifession when eighteen years old. 
Since her husband's death she has man- 
aged the affairs of the home farm, where 
she resides with her son, Erving F. 



P)ETER OSTEANDER, a typical self- 
made man, a representative success- 
ful agriculturist, and a respected, 
honored citizen of Pochester town- 
ship, is a native of New York State, 
born August 17, 1826, in the Mohawk 
Valley. 

Peter Ostrander, father of subject, was 
married to a Miss Wolcott, who bore him 
children as follows: John, Amos, Mary 
J. and Peter. The father of these, when 
the youngest was five years old, died of 
yellow fever, which he had contracted 
while attending a horse race at Long Island ; 
the widowed mother subsequently married 
a Mr. Winchell, and died in New York at 
an advanced age. 

The subject of this sketch, after the 
death of his father, was "bound out" to 
one Anson Pierce, whose wife, Jane, had 
partly reared Peter's fatiier, and a strong 
attachment had sprung up between her and 
our subject. After a time Mr. and Mrs. 
Pierce, bringing young Peter Ostrander, 
came to Ohio, via canal to Buffalo, thence 
by lake to the month of Black river, from 
where to Rochester township, Lorain coun- 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1199 



ty, the rest of the journey was made on 
foot tlirough an unbroken forest. There 
were but few roads in the county in those 
early days, and land was worth, on the 
average, one dollar and fifty cents per acre. 
In Rochester township Mr. Pierce made a 
settlement on a piece of wild land that is 
now a part of Mr. Ostrander's farm. Their 
first dwelling was the traditional log cabin, 
and the nearest mill where they had their 
gristing done was Wooster, a week's trip 
with on oxsled in sleighing time. Here 
onr subject when old enough assisted in 
the clearing up of the dense timber anil 
undergrowth, and in whatever else on the 
farm he was able to put his youthful hand 
to. During the winter months for a sea- 
son or two he attended school at Meach's 
Corners, one mile south of his home, his 
path lying through the forest, and many a 
wild animal did he see as he plodded his 
way onward. His first teacher was Squire 
Conaut, and he has lived to see some 
wonderful changes in the county, not the 
least being the educational system gener- 
ally, particularly the establishment of the 
common schools. He was thoroughly in- 
ducted into the mysteries of farm life, and 
has made agricultural pui-suits an unquali- 
fied success. After his marriage he located 
on fifty acres of land he had bought near 
where his foster-parents resided, but later 
sold this, purchasing elsewhere in Roches- 
ter township. Subsequently he moved to 
Huntington township, whence after a resi- 
dence of some years he came, in 1(S60, to 
where he now lives in Rochester township, 
having bought the Pierce homestead. 

In 1852, during the "gold fever," Mr. 
Ostrander set out for California along with 
a party of five other fortune hunters from 
his neighborhood. They proceeded by rail 
to Cincinnati, thence by river to St. Joseph, 
Mo., where they equipped themselves for 
their long journey, and then set out via 
the Plains, at the end of three months 
reaching Placerville, Cal. Mr. Ostrander 
remained at the " gold diggings " two 
years, and then returned to his home via 



Aspinwall and Isthmus of Panama, thence 
by steamer to New York City, and from 
there to Ohio by rail. 

On May 4, 18-48, Mr. Ostrander married 
Miss Sarah A. Gilmore, who was born 
August 17, 1833, in P.ecket, Mass., a 
daughter of Darius Gilmore, an early set- 
tler of Rochester township, who at one 
time owned a farm near Rochester Sta- 
tion. Two children were the result of 
this union, to wit: William L., born 
February 1, 1849, now a resident of Co- 
lusa county, Cal., and Mary J., born 
September 28, 1851, now the wife of 
Darius Segar, of Rochester township. 
This wife died and was buried in Roches- 
ter, and on April 26, 1856, our subject, 
for his second wife, married Mrs. Cath- 
erine St. Peter, widow of Joseph St. Peter; 
she is a native of near Harrisburg, Penn., 
born November 10, 1832, a daughter of 
Samuel and Catherine (Goodman) Long, 
who, when Mrs. Ostrander was an infant 
came to Ohio, locating in Wayne county 
for a time, thence moving to Illinois; and 
finally returning to Huntington township, 
Lorain county. Mr. Ostrander is the 
owner of seventy-five acres excellent land, 
one of the best tracts in Rochester town- 
ship, and for over thirty-seven years his 
faithful wife has assisted him in the eco- 
norTiical management of the farm. She is 
a member of the Methodist Church at 
Rochester Station. He is a stanch Demo- 
crat, though not a strict partisan, and, be- 
yond recording his vote regularly at the 
polls, takes little active interest in politics. 



\^{ H. FELTON, merchant, Rochester 
Vj Station, has the reputation of con- 
l| ducting one of the best- kept coun- 
fj try stores in the county, which is 

enjoying an ever-increasing pat- 
ronage. 

Mr. Felton was born April 18, 1820, in 
Prescott, Hampshii'e Co., Mass., a grand- 



1200 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



son of Samuel Felton, and a son of Nathan 
Felton, who was by occupation a mer- 
chant and hotel-keeper. He, Nathan, mar- 
ried Mary Hiues, a daughter of Dr. Ne- 
hemiah Hines (a very prominent physician 
of more than local reputation), and the 
.children born to this union were: N. H. 
(subject of sketch); Nathan, who died in 
Worcester county, Mass.; and Harrison, a 
farmer and raercliaat, who died in North- 
ampton, Mass. The parents both passed 
to their rest in the last named place, and 
were buried there. 

N. H. Felton, whose name opens this 
sketch, received his elementary education 
at the common schools of his native place, 
which was supplemented with two terms 
at Amherst College. "When fifteen years 
old he entered the general store of Clark 
Bros, at Northampton, Mass., at a salary 
of forty dollars per annum and his board. 
At the end of two years he left this posi- 
tion to accept another as salesman in the 
hardware store of W. A. Arnold, of the 
same county, and here remained eight 
years. Some time after his marriage Mr. 
Felton commenced a hardware business 
for his own account in Northampton, suc- 
cessfully conducting same three years, at 
the end of which time, in August, 1856, 
he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he 
■feecured a position as traveling salesman 
for Webster, Spencer & Mellen, wholesale 
boot and shoe dealers, his route being 
along the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern Railroad, between Cliicago and 
Cleveland. After five years experience 
at this Mr. Felton embarked, in part- 
nership with George W. Cady, in the 
shoe business on Water street, Cleve- 
land, Ohio, the style of the firm being Fel- 
ton & Cady, which continued three years, 
our subject disposing of his interests at the 
end of that time. Later he was in the 
same business in Cleveland as manufact- 
urers' agent, afterward, until moving to 
Lorain county, handling the bulk of the 
product of the Auburn (N.Y.) State Prison 
shoe factories. In 1892 he came to Roch- 



ester Station, Lorain county, and in 
August, same year, purcha.sed the general 
store of Philip Kessler, which he has since 
successfully conducted; and during his 
brief residence here he has, by his courtes}', 
fair and honorable dealing, surrounded 
himself with hosts of friends. 

In July, 1844, Mr. Felton married Miss 
Eliza J. Hooker, a native of Massachusetts, 
born in March, 1820, at Watertown, a few 
miles west of Boston, daughter of Denny 
P. Hooker, at one time a hotel-keeper, in 
later life a stone mason and contractor. 
Two children were born to this union be- 
fore the removal of the family to Cleveland, 
viz.: Clarence H., of Rochester Station, 
Ohio, and Mary E., wife of H. B. Cham- 
berlain, of Chicago, 111. On November 
23, 1891, Mrs. Felton was called from earth, 
and her remains were interred at Cleve- 
land. In his political associations our sub- 
ject, as was his father before him, is a 
stanch Democrat. 



^'EORGE M. BILLINGS, a lifelong 
agriculturist of LaGrange township, 
of which he is a native, was born in 



h 



1845, a son of Orson Billings. 
John Billings, grandfather of our 
subject, was a Methodist preacher, but 
lived on a farm and was principally en- 
craged in agricultural pursuits. His son 
Orson was born May 10, 1809, in Smyrna, 
Chenango Co., N. Y., received a meager 
education in the common schools, and 
then attended select school a couple of 
terms. He learned the trade of wagon 
maker, but being a natural mechanical 
genius, also manufactured musical instru- 
ments. On September 4, 1831, he mar- 
ried Miss Sophronia Buell, who was born 
March 20, 1810, in Chenango county, 
N. Y., daughter of Darias (a farmer) and 
Sally (Craw) Buell. Having received five 
hundred dollars from his father's estate, 
Mr. Billinss was able, with what he had 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1201 



saved, to buy a farm in the Black River 
country, and be resided thereon for two 
years, and then traded it for a farno in 
Ohio, wliither he migrated in the fall of 
1834. When he traded the farm he owed 
about one hundred dollars, and this fact 
delayed his migration to Ohio about a year 
after leaving tlie Black River country, but 
he paid it off by carpenter work, and left 
New York free from debt. He came to 
Ohio with a brother, John, who returned 
to New York after assisting his brother to 
look up the land, and in September, 1834, 
the family, then consisting of the wife and 
two children — Mary Jane (now Mrs. 
George Staples, of Pittsfield) and William 
M. (a farmer of Pittstield township) — 
arrived here. They came by way of the 
Ei-ie Canal to Conestoga, and thence to 
Buffalo, down Lake Erie, where they en- 
countered a storm which lasted five hours, 
during which their household goods were 
all thrown overboard. After the storm 
al)ated they proceeded to Erie, Penn., and 
not caring to continue their journey on 
the boat hired a conveyance, in which they 
were brought to Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, 
from which place Orson Billings came on 
foot to LaGrange township, and hired a man 
named Kelner to bring the family to their 
new home. Thev remained over night at 
the Kelner home, and the following day 
Orson Billings attended a town meeting, 
and found work, moving his family for a 
few weeks to the center of the township. 
They next lived in a schoolhonse a short 
distance north of the farm, and later moved 
to a private schoolhonse, owned by a Mr. 
Kellog, where they passed the winter of 
1834-35. Mr. Billings had traded for 
300 acres, which, with the exception of a 
small clearing, was a dense forest, through 
'which roamed numerous wild animals — 
deer, wolves, turkeys, etc. The following 
year a cabin was erected (which still stands 
near the present home of the family), and 
although the floor of this house was but 
rudely constructed, Mrs. Billings took as 
much pride in its neatness as she did later 



in her more modern home. The table- 
cloth was hung before the window to keep 
out the wind, and the only ornaments were 
a pair of brass candlesticks. This place 
they occupied for ten years, when Mr. 
Billings himself erected the present resi- 
dence. 

While living on the farm Mr. and Mrs. 
Billings had children as follows: Thomas 
J., now of Kansas; Sophronia, who married 
George Baldwin, of Monroe county, N. Y., 
where she died; Orson B., who died when 
nearly thirty years old, in Elyria, where he 
is buried ; George M., subject of this sketch ; 
and Channcey T., who died in Elyria, 
and was buried there. Mr. Billings was 
engaged in various kinds of labor, making 
musical instruments, among these an 
organ; he invented a corn planter, the first 
one to work successfully, and a new mowing 
machine was also the result of his genius. 
He had acted as sales agent ior a mower, 
and seeing a chance for an improvement 
he made it, and also many others fur the 
same class of machinery. Most of his 
farm work was done by hired hands, as his 
love for invention and mechanics would 
not permit him to be contented with the 
life of a farmer; his workshop still stands. 
Like most geniuses of his class he did not 
realize much from his inventions, which 
are now being successfully and profitably 
utilized on various kinds of labor-saving 
machinery. His death occurred March 
12, 1875, the result of a lingering illness; 
he had never been robust, and the inces- 
sant activity of his brain undermined his 
health; he was buried in Elyria, whither 
he had removed some time before. In 
politics he was a Democrat, and being a 
constant reader was well posted on the 
issues of the day. After his death his 
widow made her home in Elyria till 1891, 
and then came to the home farm, where 
she resided until her death, which oc- 
curred February 10, 1894. She was a 
member of the Church of Christ, Elyria. 

George M. Billings, the subject proper 
of this sketch, received his primary educa- 



1202 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



tion in the common school;', and later at- 
tended two terms at Oberlia. He has 
always been engaged in agriculture, and 
remained on the home farm till his mar- 
riage, April 24, 1869, to Miss Mary E. 
Ingersoll, who was born September 28, 
1851, in Grafton township, daughter of 
Edwin and Amelia (Kingsley) Ingersoll. 
He then came to his present farm, where, 
with the exception of a year spent on an- 
other farm in LaGrange township, he has 
ever since made his home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Billings have two children: Pearl A. and 
Frank C. In his political affiliations he is 
a stanch member of the Democratic party, 
and he has served as clerk and director of 
the school board. 




B. ADAMS, justice of the peace for 
Columbia township, now serving 
his si.xth term, his first election to 
the office taking place in 1872, is a 
native of the township, born in 1846, a son 
of B. B. and Uranis (Hoadley) Adams. 

The father of our subject was also a na- 
tive of Columbia township, and his par- 
ents — Benoni and Sally (Twichell) Adams 
— came to that township in about 1810 
from Connecticut, Mrs. Adams being the 
first white woman to cross the Cuyahoga 
river. They died here, heon August 1, 1876, 
she on July 5, 1865. B. B. Adams, Sr., was 
a farmer all his life, and accumulated a snug 
competence; politically he was a Whig, and . 
for years served as a justice of the peace. 
He died in September, 1848, his wife sur- 
viving him till 1874. Tiiey were the par- 
ents of four children, as follows: Sarah, 
widow of A. S. Slade, an attorney of Cleve- 
land; Mary, wife of "W". B. Follansbee, of 
Wellington; Nellie, wife of C. E. Parmc- 
lee, of Lodi; and B. B. 

B. B. Adams, whose name introduces 
this sketch, received his education at the 
common schools of his native place, and 
also attended Oberlin College six years, 



after which he commenced agricultural 
pursuits, and he now owns a fine farm of 
fifty- two acres (the old homestead), all 
under a high state of cultivation. In 1884 
he was married to Miss Alice Nichols, a 
native of Columbia township, Lorain 
county, and daughter of William and 
Amanda (Watson) Nichols, of Vermont 
and Connecticut birth, respectively, who 
came many years ago to Columbia town- 
ship, where the father died in May, 1869, 
and the mother is still living. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Adams have been born two children: 
Lou and Chauncey. Politically our sub- 
ject votes the Republican ticket, and has 
been a delegate to County, Congressional, 
Senatorial and StateConventions. In addi- 
tion to his office of justice of the peace, he 
has served his township as clerk thirteen 
years. He and his wife are members of 
the Congregational Church. Lemuel and 
Chloe (Tyler) Hoadley. maternal grand- 
parents of our subject, were natives of 
Connecticut, whence about the year 1810 
they came to Lorain county, settling in 
Ridgeville township, where they passed 
the rest of their pioneer lives. 




lILLIAM HAWKE, a well-known 
and prosperous citizen of Colum- 
bia township, of which he has 
been a resident since 1864, was 
born in 1839, in Cornwall, England. 

He is a son of Richard and Grace 
(Hugglow) Hawke, also natives of Eng- 
land, the former of whom died in his 
native country, and in 1856 his widow 
came to Lorain county, Ohio, subsequently 
removing to Jefferson county. Wis., where 
she passed away in 1884. They were the 
parents of seven children (all of whom 
came to Lorain county), as follows: John, 
married, living in Eaton; Richard, mar- 
ried, a farmer in Jefferson county, Wis. ; 
Lavinia, wife of Abram Cornish, of Eaton 
township; William, subject proper of this 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1203 



sketch; Harriet, who died in Missouri; 
Elizabeth, wife of Tlichard Pivoclc, of 
Wisconsin; and Amelia, who died in Wis- 
consin. 

William Ha%vke was reared in his native 
country, and there received an education 
in tlie common schools. In 1861 he mar- 
ried, in England, Miss Margaret Curry, 
also a native of Cornwall, and in 1804 they 
left England for the United States, coming 
at once to Columbia township, Lorain Co., 
Ohio, where he engaged in farm work. 
He at first purchased thirty acres of land, 
which he improved, and in 1873 bought 
another tract, adding to iiis possessions 
from time to time until he was owner of 
161 acres in Columbia and Eaton town- 
ships. At one time our subject and his 
brother were joint owners of a farm in Co- 
lumbia township, which they sold. To 
Mr. and Mrs. William Hawke were born 
six children, namely: John, residing in 
Columbia townsliip, who is married and 
has one child, Floyd; Mary, who is mar- 
ried to A. Peck, of Ridgeville, and has 
three daughters; William, married, living 
in Eaton; Annie, who is married to K. Perry 
Bainbridge, of Ridgeville, and has two 
daughters; Frank and Fred. The mother 
of these children passed from earth in 
1882. In his political connections Mr. 
Hawke is a Republican, and takes an 
active interest in the welfare of his party; 
he is a member of the school board. 



JOHN LAHIFF, a well-known enter- 
prising and influential farmer and 
contractor of Carlisle township, is a 
native of Ireland, born in Limerick 
April 13, 1839. 

Lawrence Lahiff, father of subject, born 
in Limerick April 14, 1811, was there 
married to Mary Cahill, and in 1845 they 
came to the United States with their 
family, having their residence in Con- 
necticut till 1849, in which year they 



moved to Kockport, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. 
There the father continued to live till the 
summer of 1898, when, being old and 
feeble, our subject took him to his home 
in Lorain county, in order the better to 
care for him in his declining years. He 
still owns a farm near Rockport. He was 
twice married, his first wife dying at or 
near Rockport, Ohio, in 1877, aged sixty- 
four years, after which he wedded Mrs. 
Shea, a widow lady, now deceased. 

Thomas Lahiff, grandfather of John 
Lahiff, was also born in Limerick, Ireland, 
near which city he followed farming. In 
1844 he came to the United States, mak- 
ing his first home in the New World in 
Connecticut. When eighty-five years old 
he went to California to see his four sot)s 
and four daughters living there. He was 
thrice married, and was the father of 
twenty-eight children — thirteen by each 
of his first two wives, and two by his last 
— and they nearly all lived to be forty or 
fifty years old. Of these children Law- 
rence Lahiff" is the fourth in order of 
birth. Thomas Lahiff owned forty acres 
of land in Ireland, and hardly knew what 
manual labor was till coming to America. 
He was a remarkably robust, healthy 
man, a prevailing characteristic in the 
entire family, and at tlie age of one hun- 
dred and four years he built a stack of 
hay, from bottom to top, the weight of 
same being twelve tons, our subject pitch- 
ing the hay to him. He was a soldier in 
the Irish brigade that served with the 
French under Napoleon. He died July 
16, 1882, in the one hundred and seventh 
year of his age, wonderfully well preserved 
for his years, being able almost to the day 
of his death to ride horseback, and he 
never wore glasses. There were three 
children in his father's family, he being 
the only son. One of his sisters, Hannah 
by name, was married, in Schaghticoke, 
N. T., to a Mr. Witherick, and she is now 
one hundred and sixteen years old, but this 
great age did not prevent her walking 
three miles in the fall of 1892. One of 



1204 



LORAIJSr COUNTY, OHIO. 



our subject's uncles was a pioneer of Pitts- 
Held township, Lorain county, but most of 
the uncles settled in Nevada City, Cal., 
and a daughter of one of them was the 
first woman to live in the place. 

John LahifE, the subject proper of this 
sketch, came with liis lather to America, 
and remained in Connecticut while the 
latter was visiting in California. On his 
return the entire family moved to Rock- 
port, Ohio, as already related, and here 
our subject remained till he was eighteen 
years old, receiving a liberal education. 
At this time he proceeded to California, 
where he made the acquaintance of his 
numerous uncles and aunts. Here he 
mined three years, and then went to Rus- 
sian America, where he mined for about 
six months, after which he returned south 
to Nevada Territory, via San Francisco, 
making a stay in Virginia City. For ten 
months he worked in one shaft in the 
Utah mine, from the top down 1,800 feet. 
Leaving there, he set out for Utah Terri- 
tory, where he wintered about thirty miles 
from Salt Lake City; then went back to 
the mountains, thence to British America, 
to the Courtney mines, in the Courtney 
Mountains. P>om there he moved soutli- 
ward to Idaho, tarrying there till the fol- 
lowing September, when he went to East 
Lannack, where thirty-six men were hung 
in one day, including Judge Hines and 
Sheriff Pluinmer, for being concerned in 
alleged robberies of gold from the miners, 
who did the hanging. From there Mr. 
LahifE proceeded to north of the Salmon 
river, where he remained about four 
months, and then started for the United 
States on horseback with three companions, 
their route being right across the plains 
to near Fort Benton. Here they camped, 
but in the morning they were attacked by 
some Indians, who had been camping 
over night near them, and two out of the 
party of four were slain, our subject's 
horse being also killed. Mr. Lahiff and 
the remaining member of the original 
four, by name McQuade, now employed in 



the Union Depot, Chicago, 111., succeeded 
in effecting their escape, reaching the 
woods, and were two days in reaching 
Fort Benton, having nothing to eat in the 
meantime. Here they procured fresh 
horses, and at once resumed their journey, 
going home via Chicago. 

Our subject was married to Miss Mary 
Welch, of North Amherst, Lorain county, 
who was born January 8, 1847, in Albany, 
N. Y., and they then made their home on 
the Braman farm, in Carlisle township, 
five years, at the end of which time he 
sold that property, buying the Vincent 
farm of 280 acres prime land, which he 
still owns. Mr. Lahiff has been farming 
since his marriage, also engaging in con- 
tracting, butchering (first five years), and 
trading in horses (next twelve years) — 
having one team that twice took the pre- 
mium at the county fair. For the past 
few years he has done an extensive dairy- 
ing business, keeping from eighteen to 
forty cows. He has done contracting on 
the B. & O. R. R. and other corporations, 
including the grading of the road from 
North Amherst. He has served as trustee 
for Elyria township twelve years, and was 
a candidate for the position of infirmary 
director, but was defeated by a majority of 
only sixteen votes in a constituency over- 
whelmingly Republican. The names of 
the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Lahiff are as follows: Thomas Francis, 
Mary Annie, John Edward, Lawrence, 
Emmet, and Emma M. In religion the 
entire family are Catholics, and in politics 
our subject is a Democrat, as his father 
was before him. 



dACOB SWARTZ,an upright, highly- 
esteemed citizen of LaGrange town- 
' ship, is a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many, born March 15, 1827." His 
father, Frederick Swartz, came to the 
United States in TSSO, and settled in 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1205 



Liverpool township, Medina Co.. Ohio, on 
Rocky river. Three years, later, however, 
ho died of typhoid fever, as did also his 
eldest dan>>;hter, and both are buried in 
Liverpool township. 

Jacol) Svvartz was but a young boy 
when hie father died, and he tlien found a 
home with Justice Warner, who died after 
Jacob had lived there five years, and the 
latter then remained for years with Mrs. 
Warner. He received but a common- 
school education, attending school only a 
few weeks in the winter season, as he 
was "put into the harness " young, and 
always had plenty of work to occupy his 
time. He received a small start in life, 
and took charge of a farm at the juvenile 
age of ten years. On January 30, 1864, 
our subject married Miss Hannah Purdy, 
who was born October 8, 1837, in West- 
chester county, N. Y., daughter of Will- 
iam W. and Olivia (Dean) Purdy, and 
came to Medina county, Ohio, in 1845, 
settling in Liverpool township. 

After his marriage Mr. Swarfz pur- 
chased iifty-five acres of land in Grafton 
township, Lorain county, going into debt 
therefor, and on November 15, 1864, came 
to his present farm, which he bought of 
James Brown, contracting a debt of si.x 
hundred dollars. This place comprises 
112A acres of excellent land, upon which 
he has erected a number of good out- 
buildings and made many other substan- 
tial improvements. Though his property 
and buildings have been several times 
damaged by tire, he has never allowed this 
to discourage him, invariably rebuilding 
better than he had before. Mr. and Mrs. 
Swartz have children as follows: Don A., 
a farmer of LaGrange; Jane A., wife of 
Levi Johnson, of LaGrange; Cora I. and 
Sarah L. Mr. Swartz has had much suc- 
cess in agriculture, and for seventeen years 
carried on in connection therewith the 
manufacture of cheese for parties in Wel- 
lington, Ohio, milking from eighteen to 
twenty cows. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz have 
accumulated a handsome competence, he 



by hard work and systematic management 
on the farm, she doing her sliare in the 
supervision of the household affairs. He 
has acquired among his fellow citizens an 
enviable reputation for square, honest deal- 
ing, which he fully deserves. In politics 
he is a Democrat, thougli not active. 
While not a member of any church, he 
believes in doing unto others as he would 
have them do unto him. 




(ELLINGTON VARNEY, a well- 
known prosperous farmer of Co- 
lumbia township, is a native of 
Ohio, born in 1843, in Geauga 
county. 

His father, William Varney, a native of 
Massachusetts, and a wagon maker by 
trade, came in an early day to Geauga 
coutity, Ohio, and married Miss Elizabeth 
Reed ; he was killed in a mill in 1850, and 
his widow subsequently married Pardon 
Wells, and removed to Wisconsin, where 
she died in 1889. Mr. Varney had four 
children, two of whom are living, viz.: 
Wellington, subject of sketch, and Sarah, 
wife of Reuben Wescott, residing in Black 
River Falls, AVisconsin. 

Wellington Varney was eight years old 
when he came to Lorain county, making 
his tirst home here in Henrietta towtiship, 
where he I'eceived his education. He was 
reared to farm life, and has always followed 
agricultural pursuits. In 1862 he enlisted 
at Oberlin in Company F, One Hundred 
and Third O. V. I., for three years or 
dui'ing the war, and was mustered into the 
service at Frankfort-, Ky. His regiment 
was attached to the army of the West, and 
he participated in the battles of Atlanta, 
Buzzard's Roost, Armstrong Hill and 
Nashville under Gcti. Thomas; he was 
also in the Carolina catnpaign, and in 
1865 he was honorably discharged at 
Cleveland, Ohio, and returned to Lorain 



1206 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



county, after seeing three years' active 
service. After about three years' stay in 
Henrietta townsliip, lie moved to Colum- 
bia township, where he has since resided. 
In 1869 Mr. Varney was united in mar- 
riage witli Miss Caroline Heaiey, who was 
born in Columbia township, a daughter of 
John and Sarah (Ruple) Heaiey, early set- 
tlers of same, where the former died in 
1S89; the mother, who is still living in 
the township, was born there, a daughter 
of Dr. Boltis and Clara (Osborne) Ruple, 
the former of whom came from the East, 
being among the first settlers of Columbia 
township; he died at the age of ninety- 
one years; his widow is yet living, now 
aged ninety-two years. Four children 
have bten born to our subject and wife, 
viz.: Sarah, wife of Clayton Cooley, of 
Cohiinbia township; Fannie, residing at 
home; Frank, and Elbert, married, living 
in Copopa. Mr. Varney is a Republican 
in politics, and has served on the school 
board; he is a member of Richard Allen 
Post No. 65, G. A. R., at Elyria. He is 
the owner of a neat and fertile farm of 
thirty-three acres. 



fr^ EORGE GILLMORE, a representa- 
I y, tive and prosperous farmer of Black 
Vol River township, was born on his 

^|i present farm February 28, 1837, a 
son of Truman and Levina (Mes- 
senger) Gillmore. 

The father of subject was born in Berk- 
shire county, Mass., whence when aged 
about thirteen years he came to Lorain 
county, Ohio, with his father, Edmund 
Gillmore, of whom mention is made else- 
where. Truman was married in Lorain 
county to Miss Levina Messenger, also a 
native of Berkshire county, Mass., born in 
1810, and she is still living in Lorain 
county. Truman Gillmore before mar- 
riage was a sailor, and afterward a ship 
caulker. Politically he was originally a 



Whig, and then, on the formation of the 
party, a stanch Republican. He died De- 
cember 25, 188s, the father of two chil- 
dren — Angel ine (now Mrs. David Wallace, 
of Black River township) and George. 

The subject of these lines received his 
education at the common schools of Black 
River township, and was reared to agricul- 
tural pursuits on his father's farm, the 
same one he now owns and lives on, and 
which is situated on the outskirts of the 
town of Lorain. Mr. Gillmore is a strong 
adherent of the principles embodied in the 
platform of the Republican party, and has 
always identified himself with the pro- 
gressive interests of Lorain county. He 
has never married, but with true filial 
piety is caring for his mother in her de- 
clining years. 



dOLINSON OGILVIE, a resident of 
Lorain, comes of ancient Scottish 
' stock, the clan Ogilvie, from which 
he descends, being one of the oldest 
in history. 

Tliomas Ogilvie, grandfather of subject, 
was born in London, England, of Scotch 
parents, and in boyhood was apprenticed 
to a London tradesman, but in company 
with another boy he ran away and gut on 
board a vessel sailing in a few days for 
America. About the third day after they 
had effected their escape tliey saw an adver- 
tisement calling for their arrest. On their 
arrival in the New World young Ogilvie 
settled in Hampshire county, Ya. (now W. 
Va.), where lie worked at his trade as long 
as health and strength permitted him, and 
then came to Coshocton county, Ohio, 
where he passed the rest of his life with 
his children, dying in 1841 at the patri- 
archal age of one hundred and two years. 
He married a Miss Jane Taylor, and nine 
children were born to them — eight sons 
and one daughter — all of whom lived to be 
over fifty years of age. The mother died 
at the birth of her youngest. 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



1207 



James Ogilvie, father of subject, was 
born in 1788 in Virginia, on the south 
brancli of tlie Potomac river, and in 1810 
came to Ohio, settling on a farm in Co- 
shocton county, becoming one of the 
wealthiest agriculturist of tliose parts. lie 
died in 1883, his death being the result of 
an accident. Politically he was first a 
Whig, afterward a Republican and one of 
the old Abolitionist school. He had mar- 
rieil a Miss Justina Johnson, born at Pat- 
terson's Creek, Hampshire Co., Va., and 
they had a family of seven children, three 
of whom grew to maturity, viz. : Johnson; 
Thomas, who was a farmer in Coshocton 
county, Ohio, and dit'd in the spring of 
1883, and Eliza, wife of William Court- 
wright, of Lorain. The mother of these 
passed from earth at about the age of si.xty 
years. 

Johnson Ogilvie, the subject proper of 
this memoir, was born in Coshocton 
county, Ohio, February 7, 1813, and re- 
ceived such education as was then obtain- 
able at the subscription schools. He has 
been twice married: first time, in Coshoc- 
ton county, to Margaret Norman, also a 
native of that county, to which union chil- 
dren as follows were born: William is a 
farmer in Franklin county, Ohio, west of 
Columbus (he has three children: Charles, 
Frank and Daisy); John died at the age 
of fourteen months; Melond is the wife of 
Thomas H. Clover, a grain merchant at 
Jeflersonville, Fayette Co., Ohio; James is 
in Los Angeles. Cal. (he has one son, Paul, 
in the real-estate business); Benjamin 
Hairison went to California, where he died 
at the age of thirty years; Anna, un- 
married, lives in Los Angeles, Cal. ; Albert 
is a resident of Alhambra, Cal. The 
mother of this family died in August, 
1857, and April 12, 1860, Mr. Ogilvie was 
again married, and by this union has one 
child, Oscar. Up to 1883 our subject 
carried on a o-rain and stock farm in Co- 
shocton county, and then retired from active 
life. In 1884 he came to Lorain county, 
and has since made his home in Lorain. 



In politics he has always been a Republi- 
can, his first Presidential vote being cast 
in 183G for W. II. Harrison, and his last 
one in 1892 for Benjamin Harrison. He 
is a member of the M. E. Church. 



EiZRA STRAW, Jr., one of the most 
successful and progressive agri- 
I culturists of Black River township, 

is a native of the State of New 
York, born in 1831, at the four corners of 
Chadagee, twenty-five miles from Lake 
Champlain. 

Our subject is a son of Ezra and Han- 
nah (Colbath) Straw, both of whom were 
natives of New Hampshire, and moved to 
New York State early in life. Ezra 
Straw's first wife was a Miss Clough, by 
whom he had two children, and after her 
death he married Hannah Colbath. In 
1833 the family came west to Ohio, and 
after a residence in Dover moved to Hunt- 
ington township, Lorain county, whence 
after a time they proceeded to Vermillion 
township, Erie county, finally settling in 
Amherst township, Lorain county, where 
they died. The father was born October 
11, 1788, and died on Thanksgiving Day, 
1855: the mother was born April 21, 
1798, and died in 1887. They were the 
parents of seven children, five of whom 
are yet living, and the following is a brief 
record of them: Charles A. died when 
about seven years old; Isaac S. is in 
Carlisle township, Lorain county; Emily 
died February 20, 18-48; Ezra, Jr., is the 
subject proi)er of this sketch; Selina was 
born March 17, 1833, and is the wife of 
Sylvester Potter, of North Amherst, Ohio; 
Maria was born July 2, 1834, and is mar- 
ried to W. P. Potter; Hannah S. was born 
April 13, 1836. The father was a very 
active man, progressive and successful in 
his life vocation — farming. He was a 
member of the M. E. Church, and in 
politics was a Republican. 



1208 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



Ezra Straw, Jr., whose name opens this 
sketch, was reared from boyhood to man- 
hood in Vermillion township, Erie Co., 
Ohio, and in Amherst township, Lorain 
comity. After leaving school he learned 
the trade of blacksmith, and worked in a 
stone quarry, but for the past seventeen 
years he has been operating iiis farm of 
135 acres of choice land. In 1855 Mr. 
Straw was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary M. Foster, who was born in 1836, a 
daughter of Elisha and Maria (Mason) 
Foster, the latter of whom is now one of 
the oldest residents in Amherst township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Straw have two sons; Ed- 
win (married to Lizzie Newsbury, and has 
one child. May) and Parks (farming with 
his father). 




[( H. BABCOCK, a prominent rep- 
resentative citizen of Lorain, who 
has been a resident of that city for 
the past twenty years, is a son of 
Daniel A. and Harriet (Dubois) 
Babcock, natives of New York, who in an 
early day removed to Dundee, Mich. The 
mother died in 1886. in Nebraska; the 
father, who was a Baptist minister, is now 
living in the West. 

A. H. Babcock was born September 15, 
1843, in Dundee, Monroe Co., Mich., 
where he was reared and educated. In 
1861 he enlisted, in Monroe county, Mich., 
in Company F, First Regiment Engineers 
and Mechanics Corps, for three years or 
during the war, being assigned to the 
army of the West, and was tirst engaged 
in Ijuilding blockhouses, repairing bridges, 
etc. He was on the march to Atlanta, 
Ga., and participated in the engagements 
at Mill Springs (Ky.), Champion Hills, 
and Murfreesboro. In 1864 he was hon- 
orably discharged at Atlanta, Ga., return- 
ing to his home in Monroe county, Mich. 
He then took a business course in Oberlin 
College, and subsequently embarked in 
the general merchandise business in Lena- 



wee county, Mich., continuing in same 
until 1873, when he removed to Lorain, 
Lorain Co., Ohio. Here he engaged in a 
grocery business, which he carried on 
until elected mayor of Lorain, in which 
position he served during the years 1889 
and 1890. 

In 1868 Mr. Babcock was married, in 
Oberlin, Lorain county, to Mary S. Hill, 
a native of the county, daughter of Uriah 
and Sarah Hill (both now deceased), who 
were born in the East, and came westward 
in an early day. settling near Oberlin, 
Lorain county. To Mr. and Mrs. Babcock 
have been born two children: Sadie, wife 
of Alexander Hodgins, of Conneaut, Ohio, 
and A. H., who carries on a tobacco and 
confectionery business in Lorain, in con- 
nection with which he also owns a news 
depot. Socially Mr. Babcock is a member 
of the K. O. T. M., in which he is treas- 
urer, and he is past chancellor of Wood- 
land Lodge, No. 226. He is a progress- 
ive, enterprising citizen, and has ever 
taken an active interest in everything per- 
taining to the prosperity and welfare of 
his community. Mrs. Babcock is a mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church. 



DR. C. H. FREDERICK, a rising 
young physician and surgeon of 
^ Lorain, was born in 1868 in Am- 
herst, Lorain county. His father, 
Peter Frederick, was a native of Germany, 
and when a young man emigrated to 
America, settling in North Amherst, Lo- 
rain Co., Ohio, where he married Cassie 
M. Jacobs, a native of Lorain county. Mr. 
Frederick, who was a foreman in the 
stone quarries, at this writing is residing 
in Michigan; his wife makes her home in 
Amherst. 

C. H. Frederick was reared in North 
Amherst, and received his primary educa- 
tion at the union schools of that place. In 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



rjo<j 



1888 he entered the Medical Department 
of the Western Reserve University, Cleve- 
land, iiradiiating therefrom with tiie class 
of 1891, and after graduation received the 
appointment of house physician and sur- 
geon in the Lakeside Hospital, Cleveland, 
in which capacity he served for nearly two 
years. In Novem1)er, 1892, he came to 
Lorain, and since his location here has 
built up quite an extensive practice. Before 
practicing medicine the Doctor was en- 
gaged for eight years as a pharmaceutist, 
in North Amherst, Cleveland and Lorain, 
Ohio, and has always been identified with 
the interests of Lorain county. Politically 
he is a Republican, and in religious faith 
has for the past ten years been a member 
of the M. E. Church at North Amherst. 



dlOIIN COGHLAN, one of the pro- 
gressive, representative agriculturists 
I of Carlisle township, is a native of 

King's County, Ireland. 
James C'oghlan, father of subject, and a 
native of the same county, was married in 
Ireland to Miss Mary Hector, also born in 
King's County, and about the year 183.j 
they came to America with their family, 
making their first settlement in Sheffield 
township, Lorain Co., Ohio. From there 
they moved to Elyria townsiiip, and after 
a residence of some years came in 1867 to 
Carlisle township, where tiiey opened up 
a farm and made tiieir final home. Eight 
children came to them, of whom the fol- 
lowing is a brief record: Dora is the wife 
of John Kenedy; Nora is the wife of 
William Freeman, of (Cleveland; John is 
the subject of this sketch; Dan, who was 
married in 1874- to Miss Anna Howen, re- 
sides in Carlisle township (they have four 
children: May S., Etta Rose, Mary and 
Anna. He enlisted in August. lsn2, in 
Company II, One Hundred and Third 
O. V. I., for three years or during the war. 



and receivedan honorable dischargein 1865. 
He has been townsiiip assessor for twelve 
or thirteen years); Ann is the wife of 
Eugene Swift, of Marquette, Mich.; Eliza- 
betli is unmarried; Sarah is deceased; 
James, who married Margaret Dowd, re- 
sides in Carlisle township. The parents 
are yet living on the homestead in Carlisle 
township with their son John. They are 
members of the Catholic Church, and in 
politics Mr. Coghlan is a Democrat. 

The subject proper of this sketch re- 
ceived his education partly in his native 
land, and partly in the schools of Elyria, 
Lorain county, where he arrived when he 
was yet a youth. After leaving school he 
went on the lakes as a sailor, a vocation he 
followed several years, and then returned 
to Carlisle township and engaged in farm- 
ing, in which he has met with well-merited 
success. He now owns the old homestead 
of 121 acres. Mr. Coghlan follows in the 
footsteps of his father in both politics and 
Church association. He has never married. 



f)ETER JACOBS. No one of the 
honest, industrious agricnlturists of 
Black River township deserves bet- 
ter place in the pages of this book 
than the honored old pioneer whose 
name here appears. 

He is a native of Sa.xony, Germany, 
born February 22, 1822. Having heard 
and read much of the vast Western Hem- 
isphere, with its unlimited advantages to 
the man willing to work, he concluded to 
bid adieu to the Fatherland and seek a 
new home on the boundless prairies of 
America. Accordingly in 1845 he set out 
with a light heart but an empty pocket for 
the land of promise. After landing he 
came direct to Ohio, and to Black River 
township, Lorain county, being among the 
very first German settlers of that section. 
With naught in the world save a clear 
head and a willing imir of hands, he n'>«- 



1210 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



looked about hiin for work, and it was not 
long before he secured the friendship of 
Heman Ely, Sr., vvlio gave liini twenty 
acres of wild land to clear. Ilei'e he pnt 
up a log honse. and by liard labor suc- 
ceeded in converting the forest wild into a 
pretty good farm. This he soon succeeded 
in paying for. Nut long afterward lie 
bought one hundred acres more at ten dol- 
lars per acre, which he paid for in four in- 
stallments. Tlio many and varied difficul- 
ties Mr. Jacobs iiad to encounter cannot 
be appreciated by the present generation, 
but in spite of all obstacles, and they were 
not a few, he succeeded by industry and 
perseverance in becoming a comparatively 
wealthy and prosperous fanner, having 
now 150 acres of prime laud. 

Mr. Jacobs was married in July, 1S42, 
to Miss Dora Smith, also a native of 
Saxony, and six children were born to 
them, of five of whom the following is a 
brief record: (1) "William lives in Lorain, 
Ohio, and has one child, Ermie; (2) Mag- 
gie is the wife of Elias Baumhart, and 
they had six children: Delia, Ben will, 
Nelson. Arniiua, Kobert, and Edward, who 
died when seven months old; (^3) Rosa is 
the wife of George Roth, and has four 
daughters; (4) Emma is yet living at 
home; (5) Hattie was killed by lightning 
July 27. 1887. 

Mr. Jacobs is a Republican in politics, 
and he and his wife are members of the 
Evangelical Church. They celebrated their 
golden wedding in July, 1892. [Since the 
above was written we have received notice 
of the death of Mr. Jacobs, which occurred 
October 28, 1898, when he was aged 
seventy-one years, eight months and six 
days. — Ed. 



E' II. ALTEN, junior member of the 
wideawake business firm of M. J. 
!; (fe E. H. Alten, merchant tailors 

and dealers in full lines of gents' 
furnishings, was born in Avon township, 
Lorain Co., Oliio, July 10, 1870. 



Mr. .VI ten received his education at the 
parochial and high school, working at 
times on his father's farm, after which he 
taught for eighteen months. lie then at- 
tended the Jesuit College at Buftalo, N. Y., 
takinor a scientitic and business course, and 
graduating June 21, 1890. He next pro- 
ceeded to Tiffin, Ohio, where he was book- 
keeper for the Belgian Glass Works, six 
months, or till the assignmetit of the firm, 
at which time he went to Cleveland and 
took lessons in merchant tailoring at the 
Cleveland Cutting School, and graduated 
therefrom. Then returnincr to Lorain he 
entered into partnership with his brother 
M. J. in their present business. Mr. Alten 
is a man of superior education, and pos- 
sessed of good business qualifications. He 
has an advantage in being able to speak 
German equally as well as he does English. 
He is a member of the Catholic Church. 




J\ILLIAM HONECKER, proprie- 
tor of one of tlie leading drug 
lf|' stores in Lorain, is a son of Rev. 
John Honecker, a retired minis- 
ter of the German Evangelical Church, 
and a native of Germany. He married 
Miss Christina Jordan, and twelve 
children were the result of their union, of 
whom our subject is one of twins, the 
other (Abraham) being a druggist in 
Cleveland. It is said the twin brothers 
resemble each other very strongly. 

AVilliam Honecker, whose name intro- 
duces this sketch, was born in Columbus, 
Ohio, in 1862, and received his literary 
education in the public schools. In 1887 
he graduated from the Cincinnati (Ohio) 
College of Pharmacy, after which he at 
once located in Cleveland, in company 
with his twin brother, they having estab- 
lished a drug store there, which they car- 
ried on till 1888, when William sold out 
liis interest therein to his brother, and re- 
moved to Lorain, where he opened Jiis pres- 
ent drugestablish)nent, in theconductingof 



LORAiy COUNTY, OHIO. 



1211 



which he has met with more tliaii average 
success. To some extent he is interested 
in real estate. 

Mr. Honecker was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary Stone, and he and liis 
wife are members of the German Evan- 
gelical Church. In his political predilec- 
tions our subject is a Republican. 



^J 



tjjf ES. SARA E. GIBSON, a highly 

\^ respected lady of Ridgevilie town- 

1] ship, was born in Louisville, 

. X. Y., daughter of Wright and 

Betty (^Holmes) Lewis, who were 

married iu New York State, where they 

passed the rest of their lives. The Lewis 

family are of Scottish ancestry. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
her native State, and attended school at 
Binghamton, N. Y., where she was mar- 
ried, in 1865, to Henry B. Gibson, a na- 
tive of Meadville, Penn., where he was 
educated. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Gibson moved to Pittsburgh, Penn., thence 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they resided a 
number of years, during which period he 
was engaged in the sewing machine busi- 
ness. Later he became manager of the 
Hall Safe and Lock Co., and he was also 
connected with the Chicago Safe and Lock 
Co. for some time. He was maiiacrer of 
several different companies, being a shi'cwd 
business man, and commanded a salary of 
ten thousand dollars a year. He died 
March 16, 1891. In politics he was a Re- 
publican. A few years ago Mrs. Gibson, 
while on a visit to Lorain county, Ohio, 
purchased an improved farm of thirty-si.\ 
acres, where she now makes her home. 



W 



A tiLLIAM KRESS. The beautiful 
YJI Fatherland, the country of mag- 
llj niticent mountains, rivers, for- 
ests and plains, has given to the 
United States a vast population of honest, 



toiling, frugal citizens, now the loyal sons 
and daughters of the greatest Republic on 
earth. In the state of Ohio there are 
many thousands, in Lorain county not a 
few, and prominent among them is num- 
bered the subject of this sketch. 

William Kress was born July 17, 1826, 
in Hessia, Germany, where he received a 
liberal education. In 1855 he set sail for 
the shores of America, and after arrival at 
the port of destination proceeded west- 
ward at once to Ohio, and to Lorain 
county, where he commenced farm life in 
Black River township. In 1875 he 
bought his present farm of ninety-eight 
acres, one of the finest to be found in 
Amherst township, and he enjoys the dis- 
tinguished reputation of being one of the 
wealthiest and most successful German 
agriculturists in his section of the county. 

Mr. Kress has been tv/ice married: 
First time, in 1855, to Miss Catherine 
Voegler, who was also a native of Ger- 
many. She died in 1889, and Mr. Kress 
subse(|uently married his present wife. He 
has no children, but he has a step- 
daughter. His political sympathies are 
with the Democratic party. 



DAVID CITRTK 
the past si.xty y 
dent of Lorain 



iTICE, who for almost 
years has l)eon a resi- 
county, is a native 
of the "Empire State," born May 4, 
1812, in Cayuga county. 

His father, Hosea Curtice, was born 
February 13, 1774, in Massachusetts, and 
was married, in 1794, in his native State 
to Catherine Moore, who was born May 7, 
1770. Shortly afterward they moved to 
New York, locating near Syracu-se, where 
four children -all sons — were born to 
them, and from there moved to Cayuga 
county, where they remained forty-two 
years on one farm. Here they had eight 
more children — five sons and three daugh- 
ters — making twelve in all, eleven of whom 
lived to rear families, and of whom o\ir 



1212 



LORAm COUNTY, OHIO. 



subject is the oldest one now living. The 
father migrated to Ohio in ISiS, the 
mother shortly afterward, and here tiiey 
passed the remainder of their days at the 
home of their son David, where she died 
in 1850, he in 1863; they lie buried in 
Center cemetery. The first of the family 
to locate in Ohio was a son Joel, who came 
in May, 1833, and settled in LaGrange 
township, Lorain county. On July 14, 
1839, Joel Curtice was married, in Cayuga 
county, N. Y., to Malissa Allen, who died 
in LaGrange township in 1871, leaving 
four children, viz.: Catherine, now Mrs. 
Charles Hastings, of LaGrange; David A., 
a farmer of LaGrange; Morton B., of 
Florida; and Barton E., a farmer of La- 
Grange. 

David Curtice came to Lorain county, 
Ohio, in October, 1834, and hired out as 
a farm hand, after working at coal burning 
near Elyria. Some time later he returned 
to New York State, where he was married, 
and in 1839 he and his wife came in a 
buggy to the home he had prepared in 



Ohio, where his parents also passed their 
declining years. On their arrival in Ohio 
Mr. and Mrs. Curtice had just seventy-tive 
cents \vith which to begin housekeeping, 
lie had purchased one hundred acres, for 
which he was obliged to go in debt, but 
he bravely set to work, and from a start of 
nothing prospered; lie cultivated and im- 
pi'oved his land, and his hard labor and 
unceasing industry l)rought their reward, 
for he has added to his property until he 
now has 3()5 acres of excellent land, be- 
sides a pleasant home in the village of 
LaGrange. 

On March 16, 1873, Mr. Curtice was 
married in Kendall county, 111., for his 
second wife, to Mrs. Annie Pooler, widow 
of Otis Pooler, who had moved to Ken- 
dall county. 111. Mr. Curtice is one of the 
best-known citizens of LaGrange, well-pre- 
served and active for a man of his years. 
Since 1883 he has lived retired. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat, and has served as 
township trustee, but is not particularly 
active in party affairs. 



iriDEX. 



HlJf^OH COUHTV, 



PAGE. 

Adams, Henry 261 

Allen, Nelson 147 

Anderson, Alviu 108 

Andrews, W. S 510 

Arnert, Henry S 230 

Arnert, Uriah T 330 

Arnold, Charles W., M. D.. 91 

Arnold, D. J. C 358 

Arnold, James 91 

Arthur Family 148 

Arthur, Robert 148 

Arthur, William H 149 

Ashley, Allen T 305 

Ashley, Dennis 426 

Ashley, Leonard 305 

Ashley, Lyman 426 

Atherton, George W 414 

Atherton, Samuel 414 

Austin, Lyman 486 

Baker, Hon. Timothy 482 

Bargus, Lieut. George 338 

Barker, L. E 110 

Barnhart, Edgar 377 

Barnharl, Steven 377 

Barre, Dwight M 484 

Beamer, ilathias 399 

Beattie, A. iM 135 

Beattie, J. H 467 

Beebe, Martin, M. D 191 

Beechy, Prof. A. D 132 

Beelman, J. F 53 

Beers, Nathan 381 

Bell, David S 402 

Bell, John 402 

Bell, Walter E 307 

Bellamy, James 174 

Benedict Family 129 

Benedict, Piatt 129 

Berry, Stephen 473 

Bishop, Mrs. Mary A 389 

Bishop, William A 389 

Blackman, Joel 70 

Blaser, Kev. Joseph 137 

Bogardus, Hon Evert 283 

Bogardus. Mrs. Louisa. .. . 283 

Boise, S. W 383 

Boise Family 383 

Bores, David 470 

Boughton, Elon G 321 

Bramley. William E 225 

Brooke, William 61 

Brooks, Irving J 60 

Brown, Henry F 147 



PAGB. 

Brown, J acoh 500 

Brown, William 425 

Burdue, George 241 

Burdue, Moses W 243 

Burdue, William 241 

Burton, Leroy 398 

Cahoon, James M. . . . 203 

Calhighan, C. U 220 

Campbell, Frank 4')y 

Campbell, Lorenzo Q 459 

Carothers, John 314 

Carothers, Mathias 420 

Carpenter, D. N Ill 

Chandler, Isaac H 93 

Chapman, Judge 67 

Chase, Frank 489 

Chevraux, Rev. Charles V. 298 

Childs, Mrs. Ann M 271 

Childs, George L 371 

Clark, Charles S 507 

Clark, D. Stiles 507 

Clarke, Stephen F 107 

Clary, Daniel 380 

Clary, Homer C 380 

Cleveland, D. Pitt 34 

Cleveland, G. M 33 

Coe, Almon B 41 

Coe, Bela 42 

Cole Family 440 

Cole, Asher M 444 

Cole, Levi L 444 

Coleman, M. R 200 

Conger, Elijah 386 

Conger, Lewis 386 

(!orwin, Rev. Ira 483 

Corwin, Mrs. M. A 481 

Coullrip, James 176 

Crawford, David 379 

Crawford, John H 379 

Crawford, Hon. S. E 232 

Creech, William S 304 

Crosby, Mrs. Adeline 261 

Crosby, Francis B 200 

Culp, Sherman 429 

Curtiss, Joseph C 454 

Curtiss, Samuel W 454 

Curtiss, W. P 183 

C;ushman, Austin 483 

Cuykeudall, W. B 479 

Uangeleisen, Joseph 362 

Dangeleisen, William A... . 363 

Davis Family 485 

Davis, Bartlelt 465 



PAGE. 

Davis, John S 513 

Day,EdwardM 156 

Day, Ephraim 156 

Dean, Jacob 306 

Denman, Edward 203 

Denman, John 158 

Denman, William 158 

DeWitt, Isaac 206 

DeWolf, Samuel P 79 

DeWolf, Airs. Sarah 79 

DeWolf, Whitman 79 

Dillon, George M 208 

Dole, Edwin L 337 

Doud, Leander L 30 

Doud, Samuel 31 

Drake, Hiram D 240 

Drennan, James 336 

Drennan, William W 236 

Drury, John 227 

Drury, Jonathan M 327 

Dunmore, Thomas 256 

Easter, Archibald 154 

Easter, Ellas 154 

Eastman. E. G. E 437 

Easton, J. D 499 

Eggert, J. George 401 

Ehrman, G. A 332 

Ellis, Eli 435 

Ellis, John 428 

Ellis, John R 428 

Ellis, Lyman 435 

Emerson, R. H 168 

Erdricb, William H 463 

Erf, Gustavus 52 

Erf, J. Eduard 51 

Erf, Philip 324 

Fancher, Thaddeus 285 

Fancher, Thaddeus S 285 

Fanning, Benjamin G 212 

Fanning, H. S 211 

Fast, Christian 400 

Fast, Ephraim W 400 

Felton, Asa G 391 

Felton, Ephraim 391 

Ferver, Wilber G., M. D.. . 218 

Fewson, Michael E ,. 336 

Fiesinger, Louis ; 357 

Filkins, John S 281 

Fish, Charles Homer 303 

Fish, Sydney D 364 

Foster, J. Whitbeck 257 

Fox, David 152 

Francis, W. T 338 



1214 



HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 



PAGE. 

Franklin, Edmund 419 

Friend, A. C, M. D 503 

Fuller, George D 196 

Gage, Albert 174 

Gallup, Caleb H 124 

Gallup Family 124 

Gamble. William 366 

Gardiner Family 7 

Gardiner, John 7 

Geiger, Rudolph 452 

Geyer, Edward 381 

Gibbs, James G 214 

Gieseck, David L 499 

Gieseck, Mrs. David L 499 

Gill, William E, M. D 266 

Gilson, Arza B., Sr 281 

Gilson, Naum 284 

Godden, William H 189 

Gove, C. H 53 

Grabill, J. F., M. D 464 

Graham, William 417 

Graham, W. W 136 

Greenleaf. Israel 193 

Gregory, George 224 

Gregory, Matthew 224 

Grieve, David 457 

Griffin, Hialmer 337 

Griffin, Riley 431 

Gross, Martin 364 

Gurney, John F 471 

Hachenberg, Frank 371 

Haensler, R 203 

Hagaman, John 422 

Hagaman, Thomas 422 

Hales, Levi 157 

Haller, J. H 491 

Harkness, J. M 171 

Haskell, George 397 

Haskell, George E 397 

Hauxhurst, Philip 293 

Hauxhurst, Samson 293 

Hawkins, John W 376 

Hawkins, Sheldon J 376 

Hawley, Charles L 311 

Hayes, Bradley 151 

Hayes, Sturgis 151 

Head, Mrs. Annie M 456 

Head, Orren W 456 

Heal, Enoch 469 

Hedrick, C. W., M. D 389 

Helfriuh, Rev. N. C 136 

Heller, J. L 282 

Heller, Leroy S 312 

Herman, F. J 71 

Herman, Peter 71 

Hershiser, A. E., M. D 503 

Hester, John S 335 

Hester, Martin .336 

Hettel, John A. 472 

Heyman, William A 363 

Heymann, W. C 453 

Hevmann, William F 347 

Hibbard, J L 267 

Hibbard, Marvin 266 

Hildreth Rev. T. F., D. D. 104 

Hill.H.E 89 

Hillman, Mrs. Jane 376 

Himberger, William 258 



PAGE. 

Hoffman, H. W 235 

Hofman, G. W 485 

Hohler. Peter 228 

Hood, Ilosea M 355 

Horn, Philip 476 

Hoeruer, Vitus 487 

Houfstater, George 302 

Houfstater, Jacob P 302 

Houle, William H 483 

House, Hon. H. K 495 

Howe, Chester 8 430 

Hoyt, Elmon 48 

Hoyt, LeRoy 48 

Hoyt, William B 255 

Humphrey, William 341 

Hurst, John 185 

Hurst, Thomas 245 

Husted, Edward E 93 

Husted, William M 93 

Ingler, H. M 2.59 

Jacobs, G. P 478 

Jacobs, W. H 260 

Jenney, Abraham D 496 

Jenney, Charles A 497 

Jennings, Ezra S 188 

Jennings, Walter 188 

Jetter, Jacob 384 

Johnson, Gilbert L 170 

Johnson, Ralph C 4i6 

Johnson, William 416 

Johnston, Hon. AVatson D... 120 
Johnston,William H., M. D. 120 

Joiner, George 226 

Joiner, Ralph 226 

Jones, F. H 239 

Jones, Lucian 466 

Joslin, Augustus 492 

Justice, D. L 212 

Justice, Peter 212 

Keefer, W. B 102 

Keesy, John 447 

Keesy, Rev. W. A 447 

Kendeigh, Hugh 475 

Kimmel, Henry 456 

King, Cyrus T., D. D. S.. . . 276 

Knapp, W. A 368 

Knoll, John P aOS 

Knoll, Philip J 306 

Kohlmyer, H. P 265 

Krieder, C. L., M. D 497 

Eiais, Anthony 308 

Lais, Henry 308 

Lamoreux, Hendrick W... 208 

Laning, Jay F 268 

Lanterman, G. S., M. D.. .. 4.53 

Latham, Alexander W 462 

Latham, Hiram 462 

Latham, Thomas W 229 

Lawrence, George 514 

Lawrence, Josiah 514 

Lawrence, Timothy 515 

Laylin, John 77 

Laylin, Hon. Lewis C. .. . 74 

Laylin, Theodore C 372 

Lazell, Joseph T 506 

Lee, John P 166 

Lewis, Alexander 332 

Lewis, Philip 332 



PAGE. 

Leydorf, Capt. F. J 322 

Linder, George 367 

Loney, Daniel W., M. D 484 

Loomis, Hon. F. R 59 

Love, Andrew, Sr 334 

Love, Andrew, Jr 334 

Lovell, Ethan C 292 

Lutts, Conrad 274 

Lutts, Frank M 274 

McCague, Eugene L 182 

McCammon, Mrs. Phileua. 313 
McCammon, Samuel, M. D.. 313 

McCullow, C.A 1(19 

McDonald, Angus 353 

McDonald, John 165 

McDonald, Roger 353 

McElHinney, J. H., M. D .. 177 

McGlone, John James 192 

McKesson, Elmer E 470 

McKesson, Isaac 504 

McKnight, Joseph R 138 

JIcLane, James 445 

McLane, John. 382 

McLane, Robert 382 

McLane, Thomas A 307 

McMahon, James 297 

Manaban, Charles W 196 

Manahan, Thomas 196 

Martin, Edgar, M. D 83 

Mead, Calvert A 433 

Mead, J. L 301 

Mead, Luther 325 

Mead, Thomas L 325 

Meade, William Gail 408 

Menges,JohnE 220 

Menties, Mrs. Lydia F 220 

Mesnard, Eri 112 

Mesnard. Maj. L. B 112 

Meyer, John George 305 

Meyer, John P 365 

Miles, Daniel 449 

Miles, Rufus S 449 

Miller, Samuel (Richmond) 479 
Miller, Samuel (Bellevue). 378 

Miller, Thomas 494 

Minard, Hon. O.T 72 

Mitchell, William Henry.. 80 

Monteith, William 323 

Moore, Benjamin 444 

Moore, Mrs. Benjamin. . . . 444 

Moore, Hartwell R 72 

Moore, H. L 413 

Morehead, Andrew J 217 

Morehead, George 218 

Morrill, E. C, M. D 265 

Morse, Daniel 3.i4 

Morse, Samuel D 254 

Myers, Mark 167 

STicolls, J. A 143 

Niver, Charles M 144 

Niver.John B 494 

Noble, Harvey 427 

Noble, William P 427 

Norton, De Witt C -'87 

O'Dell, Daniel 512 

O'Dell, N. W 511 

Ordway, Martin 458 

Osborn, W. W 324 



INDEX. 



1215 



PAGE. 

Ott, Lawrence 394 

I'almer, John C 476 

Palmer, Preston 433 

Palmer, Samuel 433 

Park, James 508 

Park, Joseph 508 

Parker, George C 486 

Parker, Nelson 487 

Parrott, Frederick 462 

Parrott, Mrs. Uosa M 463 

Patrick, James J 303 

Patrick, Jarman 303 

Paul, Charles A 333 

Pease, VV. H 184 

Peat,E. J 264 

Peck, Adelbert E 466 

Peck, Warren M 185 

PenfieUl, Samuel 249 

PenfieUl, William C 249 

Perrin, William 296 

Perry, C. O. H 110 

Perry, Edwin L 192 

Perry, Joseph 192 

Peters, Eli 82 

Peters, Willis H 82 

Ptriinklin, Paul W 184 

Pierce, Lemuel B 446 

Pierce, Harvey 393 

Pierce, William H 446 

Pinney, Henry C 244 

Pinney, Hollibert 244 

Pittsford, John A 134 

Post, C. C 257 

Pray, Ethan A., Esq 32 

Price, Elijah 497 

Price, William H 84 

Prosser, Edwin S 159 

Ransom, Miss Eunice A. .. 23 

Kansora, Oliver 23 

Head, Albert N., M. D 44 

Read, Ira 44 

Reed, David H., M. D. . . . 418 

Reed, Shadrach H 418 

Remele, Joseph 404 

Reynolds, Theodore M 409 

Reynolds, Warren 409 

Richard. Frederick 256 

Riggs, E. C 356 

Riggs, Simeon 356 

Robinson, Aaron 316 

Robinson, Wesley 348 

Robinson, William 316 

Roe, A. G 352 

Roe, Barnett 210 

Roe, Joseph B 352 

Roorback, John W 146 

Roscoe, Gilbert L 343 

Roscoe, Jeremiah 344 

Ross, Joel 169 

Rounds, George F 273 

Rounds, George X 272 

Rowland, Daniel 190 

Rowland, Elmer E 190 

Rowley, Charles 250 

Rowley, E. F 254 

Ruffing, Anthony 411 

Ruffing, Frank J 176 

Ruffing, Joseph 421 



PAGE. 

Ruggles Family 492 

Ruggles, Alonzo J 493 

Ruggles, Daniel VV 493 

Ruggles, Henry 417 

Rupert, Rev. Frederick 373 

Ruse, A 273 

Ryerson, George M 287 

Rynn, ,Iohn A 63 

Sage, John W 395 

Sage, Roswell 395 

Salisbury, B. W 122 

Salisbury, Percival B 123 

Sanborn^ G. M. S 304 

Sandmeister, Dr. Charles. . 88 
Sandmeister,William, M.D. 88 

Sanger, Washington 151 

Sawyer, Charles 488 

Sawyer, Charles A 390 

Sawyer, Gen. Franklin 63 

Schneerer, F. W., M. D... 235 

Schulz, Rev. Frederick 163 

Schuster, George 490 

Schuyler, P. H 488 

Seel, Philip 239 

Severance, Elisha 318 

Severance, R. A,, M. D 351 

Severance, Warren 318 

Seymour, Rev. J. M 113 

Shedd, William H 480 

Sheffield, George 248 

Sheffield, G. W 248 

Shelton Family 460 

Shelton, Charles R 461 

Shelton, Henry S 461 

Shepherd, F. M 119 

Shepherd, John 119 

Shepherd, M. W 120 

Sherck, Joseph 473 

Sherman, John G 103 

Silliman, Horace B 227 

Silliman, Solomon 377 

Simmons, Alonzo L 18 

Simmons, ('harles B 101 

Simmons, Eliphalet B 101 

Simmons, George N 69 

Simmons, Harlon E 18 

Simmons, John N 103 

Simmons, L. 109 

Simmons, S. E., M. D 207 

Sisson, L. P 436 

Sisson, San ford 436 

Skilton, Alvah S 231 

Skilton, Mrs. Amanda J... 331 

Skinner, Edward I{ 375 

Slagle, J. L 295 

Sly, Robert 1S6 

Smith, A. B 364 

Smith, Charles S 403 

Smith, Frank J 3:^8 

Smith, Hiram 178 

Smith, H. A 1.54 

Smith, John 38 

Smith, Joseph 38 

Smith, Joseph F 438 

Smith, Major 153 

Smith, William T.. 363 

Smith, Willis K 262 

Smilhla, Joseph 396 



PAGE. 

Snook, Norman 407 

Snyder, Jesse 317 

Spear, Sol 491 

Sprague, Col. James H 68 

Sprague, Thaddeus 489 

Stapf, M.J 474 

Starbird, B. F 178 

Steiber,Michael,Jr 501 

Stentz, Henry P 94 

Stewart, C. F 133 

Stewart, Charles Hill 98 

Stewart, George Swayne.. . 29 
Stewart, Hon. Gideon T. . . 34 
Stewart, Hon. Harlon L. . . . 100 

Slickuey, Charles B 21 

Stimson, Garner 407 

Stoner, Charles D 234 

Slotts, A. D 195 

Strimple, Aaron 392 

Strimple,John 392 

Strong, Timothy R 13 

Stultz, J. M 187 

Sturges, Maj. William B.. . 50 

SullitT, George 309 

Sutter, Rev. Henry G 438 

Sutton , Aranson 222 

Sutton, Charle.s A 333 

Sykes, Daniel 408 

Sy kes, Otis 468 

Taylor, Cephas 73 

Terry, A., D. D. S 329 

Terwilliger, W. E 375 

Thomas, Uri B 388 

Thompson, Thomas 500 

Tillson, Perry 141 

Tillson, Rufus 141 

Todd, Ed win D 508 

Todd. George 508 

Tough, Samuel C 181 

Townsend, Hosea 345 

Townsend, Ira S..., 415 

Townsend, Justice 467 

Townsend, John T 345 

Tudor, C. B 354 

Tuitle. E. S 495 

Twaddle, Ale.\ander, Sr... 204 

Twaddle, Alexander 205 

Twaddle, Dorr 1,50 

Twaddle, John J J,50 

Twaddle, William W 149 

Vail, D. W., M. D 114 

Van Dusen, Frank W 1(!3 

Van Dusen, James L 160 

Van Gorder, William Wells 474 

Van Horn, George 435 

Van Liew, William C 412 

Vickery Bros 373 

Vickery, Jesse 373 

Vickery, Willis 372 

Waddell, Robert F 503 

Walter. Joseph 344 

Ward, J. Cal 477 

Ward, Samuel 381 

Ward, Samuel A 281 

Washburn, D. S 164 

Washburn, Elijah 315 

Washburn, Joseph 315 

Weber, J. II 342 



1216 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



PAGE. 

"Wheaton, Daniel 375 

Wheeler, Calvin 451 

Wheeler, Jason A 450 

Wheeler, Jesse E 219 

Wheeler, Kev. John 31!) 

White, David A 481 

White, J. S 37ti 

White, Hon. O. A 122 

Whitney, Calvin 144 

Whiton, John M 194 

Wickham, Hon. C. P 54 

Wicliham, Judge Frederick 14 



PAGE. 

Wilcox, F. E 261 

Wildman, F. E 172 

Wildman, William H 173 

Wilhelm, Andrew 385 

Wilhelm. Christopher 885 

Willey, K. M 294 

Williams, Captain John 485 

Williams, J. S 486 

Williams, Louis 478 

Williams, Oliver W 117 

Williams, Theodore 34 

Williamson, Hon. John A... 40 



PAGE. 

Willoughby, Arthur 439 

Willoughby, Charles L. . . . 440 

Wilson, John 43 

Wood, D. A., M. D 498 

Wood, George E 91 

Woodward, Dr. Amos 64 

Woodworth, Chauncy 231 

Woodworth, Jonathan P... . 231 

Young, Gardner 142 

Young, Josiah. ... 142 

Young, Downing H 247 

Young, Stephen M 347 



Portraits. 



PAGE. 

Arnold, D. J. C 359 

Bargus, Lieut. George 339 

Chevraux, Rev. Charles V. . 299 

Cole, Asher M 441 

Conger, Lewis 387 

Davis, John S 513 

Crawford, Hon. S. E 233 

Francis, W. T 329 

Gallup, Caleb H 125 

Gardiner, John 6 

Gibbs, James G 215 

Hagaman, John 423 



PAGE. 

Hildreth, Rev. T. F., D. D. 105 

Knapp, P 369 

Lais, Henry 309 

Laning, J. F 269 

Laylin, Hon. Lewis C 75 

McKnight, Joseph R 139 

Manahan, Charles W 197 

Price, William II 85 

Read, Albert N., M. D 45 

Remele, Josepli 405 

Robinson, Wesley 349 

Rowley, Charles 251 



PAGE. 

Severance, Warren 319 

Smith, Hiram 179 

Stentz, Henry P 95 

Stewart, Hon. Gideon T.... 25 

Thomas, Uri B 289 

Van Dusen, James L 161 

Vail, D. W., M. D 115 

White, J. S 279 

Wickham, Judge Frederick 15 

Williams, Theodore 35 

Woodward, Dr. Amos 65 



liOHfllfl COUl^TY 



PAGE. 

Abbe, Eleazer 878 

Abbe, Norman 881 

Adams, B. B 1203 

Adams, D. M 821 

Adams, Rowell C 899 

Aiken, Charles S 1159 

Alexander, Jol) 1119 

Alexander, John 833 

Alexander. Samuel 1171 

Alteu, B. H 1210 

Andress, Carlo 709 

Andress, George H 709 

Andress, H. M 877 

Arnet, G. H 931 

Arnet, James S 931 

Arnold, Franklin Ilb2 

Auble, Daniel 935 

Avery, F. A 728 

Babcock, A. H 1208 

Bacon, Edwin H 10.50 

Bacon, F. H lOOH 

Bacon, William 885 

Bainbridge, W. A 1194 

Baker, A 9.58 

Baker, Edgar D 1030 

Baker, Gordon W 746 

Baker, Orrin T 1029 

Baker, Richard 564 



PAGE. 

Baldauf, Joseph 881 

Baldwin, Charles C 560 

Baldwin, David C 562 

Baldwin, James S 1039 

Baldwin, Joseph H 749 

Baldwin, Seymour VV 554 

Ballantine, W. G., D. D.... 587 

Bardwell, Mrs. C. C 855 

Bardwell, Rev. J. P 855 

Barnes, Henry A 1024 

Barnes, L. A., M. D 1041 

Barnes, Moses 1024 

Barnes, Sardis N 1169 

Bariett, H omer E 1 160 

Barrows, Adnah 826 

Barrows, Heman 826 

Barrows, Henry J 739 

Barrows, J. R 876 

Barth, Jacob 693 

Bassett, Henry 603 

Bates, Francis 1104 

Battle, George 1077 

Baumhart, Elias 1103 

Beal, Samuel 1138 

Beaver, CUiarles 1073 

Beckley, H. O 611 

Beckley, Lyman 610 

Bedortha, W. B 909 



PAGE. 

Beebe, Artemas 993 

Beese, Henry F 1070 

Belden, R. B 963 

Bell, Clayton J 797 

Bell, John 797 

Bemis, Uriel M 1012 

Bennett, CD 544 

Bennett, David 543 

Bennett, Frank W 670 

Bennett, Isaac 670 

Bennett, Lewis 671 

Bennett, M. R 544 

Berg, John 869 

Berres, Adam, Jr 977 

Berres, John 1193 

Bickel, Henry 990 

Biggs, J. C 1069 

Biglow, Daniel 1109 

Biglow, E 1109 

Billings, Geo. M 1200 

Billings, Orson 1300 

Billings, Sophronia 1200 

Bivins, E. A 1188 

Blaine, Warren W 1144 

Blantern, Joseph 819 

Bodmann Brothers 1179 

Bommer. C. W 1194 

Bonsor, Frank E 1134 



TXDEX. 



1217 



PAGE. 

Booth, Capt. John 854 

Bowen, Obediah 571 

Bowen, Mrs. Obediah 573 

Bowers, Charles 1011 

Bowers, Sylvester (113 

Bradford, Henry 1002 

Bradford, Hiram N 1002 

Bradley, Kraslus 825 

Bradley, Mrs. Orpha 1 825 

Braduer, George H 1 148 

Branian, Anson 594 

Braman, G. J 925 

Branian, R. E G61 

Braman, William A 594 

Brand, Rev. James, D. D.. 551 

Breckenridge, A. L 1044 

Breckenridge, B. F 1045 

Breckenridge, Jacob P.... 884 

Breckenridge, Justin 884 

Breckenridge, Norman. . . .1044 

Bricknell, David S)51 

Brooks, W. E (i87 

Brown, Liva 886 

Bryant, George 787 

Bryant, H. B 787 

Bryant, John 787 

Bryant, W. H 1181 

Bunt, D. C 959 

Bunt, George 959 

Burge, E. C 1055 

Burge, E. L 898 

Burge, John Y 1056 

Burke, David 932 

Burlingame, Thomas C. . . .1012 

Busby, Samuel 861 

Bush, Benjamin T 688 

Bush, Daniel T 688 

Byrd, J. P 848 

Cahoon, H.J 622 

Cahoon, O. B 622 

Cahoon, W. E 1137 

Carter, O. F 926 

Carvey, Orson M 1153 

Carvey, William 1153 

Case, Deacon John S 894 

Chamberlain, Rev. W. B. . . 573 

Chapin, Herbert 885 

Chapin, John 903 

Chapman, Abner 678 

Chapman, C. B 1059 

(;hapman, Clayton 1 136 

Chapman, Harlan P 795 

Chapman, Mrs. Isabel L. . . 730 

Chapman, James W 592 

Chapman, John Austin. . . . 729 

Chapman, J. B 1046 

Chapman, Thomas G 621 

Chapman Family 790 

Chester, R 745 

Chope, Thomas 783 

Churchill, Rev. Charles H.. 599 

Clark, H. E 925 

Clark, Horace J 8.59 

Clark, Thompson 1133 

Claus, Jacob H 1125 

Clifford, Daniel C 1000 

Clifford, John 1060 

Clifford, L. F 1060 



PAGE. 

Clifton, George 888 

Clifton, S. Q 888 

Close, Benjamin 569 

Clough, Baxter 865 

Clough, Henry H 8i)5 

Coates, Frank A S40 

Coates, Stephen 840 

Coghlan, John 1209 

Cole, C. J 1011 

Cole, S. G 943 

Cole, W.A 043 

Comings, A. G 661 

Cone, Milan 1071 

Cone, Mrs. M 1071 

Connolly, James 1168 

Cook, Chapman M 1116 

Cooley, Charles.. . . 679 

Corn well. Dr. N. H 653 

Cotton, Charles W 815 

Cotton, George W 815 

Cotton, N. L 1031 

Couch, George L 803 

Cowles, Rev. Henry 690 

Cowles, Robert 1137 

Cowley, Robert J 1048 

Cox, Thomas 1019 

Cragin, Benjamin 804 

Cragin, C. C 804 

Cragin, Harrison A 1047 

Crawford, J. S 1090 

Crowell, D 1087 

Cummings, D. S 568 

Cummings, Mrs. E. C 569 

Currey, John 731 

Curtice, David 1311 

Cuyler, E. A 717 

Dague, Frederick 1195 

Dague, John 937 

Daniels, Theodore F .549 

Dawley, A. G 1120 

Day, James 641 

Day Family 641 

Deeg, George T 1195 

De Lloyd, Henry 1098 

Deming, H. A 915 

Diederich, Nicholas 1039 

Disbro, Ernest L 618 

Doane.J. W 766 

Douglass, Robert 771 

Douglass, William 771 

Drake, David 1091 

Draper, Peter R 1174 

Dunning. John 1080 

Durkee, Oel 1065 

Eady, HenryJ 800 

Earl, Warren 1191 

Eckler, John H 1127 

Edgerion, William 1116 

Edison, F. W 826 

Eldred, Francis N 899 

Ellis, Rev. John M 588 

Ely Family 524 

Ely, George H 679 

Ely, Hon. Heman 524 

Ely, Heman, Jr 524 

Emmons, Lorrin 971 

Ensign, Charles C 621 

Eppley, Michael 997 



PAGE. 

Eskert, William F 913 

Everitt, A. B., M. D 590 

Everitt Family 590 

Fairchild, Grandison 634 

Faircbild, Prof. James H. . 634 

Fancher.Thaddeus W 732 

Farr, .Airs. Phebe L 988 

Fauver, Alfred 929 

Faxon Family 614 

Faxon, Isaac D 618 

Faxon, John Hall 617 

Faxon, Theodore S 618 

Fay, W. L 872 

Fav Family 872 

Feiton.N. H 1199 

Ferguson, Charles S 941 

Finley, Charles A 1062 

Finney, Rev. Charles G 691 

Fisher, David C 1 158 

Fisher, O. L 1048 

Fitch, Edwards 978 

Flickinger, Josejih B 1105 

Folger,"Thomas 723 

Follansbee, Herbert S 866 

Follansbee, W. B 630 

Foot, Amos 753 

Foot, G. D 753 

Forthofer, Peter 1110 

Foster, Albert 1184 

Foster, E. C 1041 

Foster, F. H 778 

Foster, LB 778 

Foster, Parks 544 

Fowl, Henry 973 

Fowler, C. A 928 

Fowler, Mrs. C. A 928 

Fox, Thomas 987 

Frederick, Dr. C. H 1208 

French. AVilliam M 811 

Fuller, W.J 1128 

Oannelt, Joseph 1043 

Garfield, Halsey 871 

Garfield, Milton 871 

Garford, Arthur L 756 

Garford, George 756 

Garrett, S. J 1189 

Garver, A. N., M. D 798 

Gates, Col. Nahum B 519 

Gawn, Henry J 951 

Gawn, James 951 

Gawn, Mrs. Louisa E 951 

Gawn, Thomas 040 

Gibbs, David L 1150 

Gibbs, Ransom 1150 

Gibson, George W 1163 

Gibson, Mrs. Sara E 1211 

Gillmore, Alanson 532 

Gillmore, Edmund 710 

Gillmore, George 1206 

Gillmore, Quartus 702 

Gillmore, Quincv A 711 

Glenn, Charles H 993 

Glynn, L. D 1178 

Goodman, Charles 750 

Goodman, Jacob 750 

Goodwin, Robert N 1000 

Goss, David 1007 

Goss, Maurice 1007 



1218 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



I 



PAGE. I 

Grabenstetler, Nicholas. . ..1022 ' 

Green, William 838 [ 

Greeoe, F. A 949 

Griffin, Frederick A 1014 

Griffin, Frederick E 1014 

Griswold, E. C 834 

Griswold Family 834 

Grote, J. W 118U 

Hagemann, Conrad 583 

Hale, Alfred E 998 

Hall, Avery 538 

Hall, Edwin.... 1038 

Hall, Dr. H. L 745 

Hall, Orrin 537 

Hamilton, Leonard G 828 

Hamillon Family 828 

Hance, Ed 938 

Hance, Grove 1118 

Hance, Hiram 938 

Harmon, .1. Francis 750 

Harrington, C. W 919 

Harris, Alfred 1171 

Harris, George M., M. D. . 731 

Harris, .Tosiah 738 

Harris, Mile 738 

Harris, Royal 1031 

Hart, Flavius A 839 

Hart, Hawley 1001 

Hart, Jay 1124 

Hart, L. J 819 

Hart, Willard 1001 

Harvit.John 713 

Haserodt, J. F 1040 

Haserodt, L. E 1157 

Hastings, Curtis H 1034 

Hastings, Elizer G 833 

Hastings, E. H 1034 

Hastings, Wesley 1105 

Hathaway. John M 1117 

Haven, Raymond 953 

Hawke, John 1045 

Hawke, William 1202 

Hawkins, Charles E 554 

Hawkins, William 553 

Hecock, H. L 877 

Heldmyer, William tt67 

Henderson, J. T 964 

Herrick, Hon. Lucius 714 

Herrick, Oscar G12 

Hildebrand, Edward 870 

Hill, Charles W 1117 

Hill, George E ... 957 

Hill, J. C 584 

Hinman, Judge Edgar H. . 762 

Hitchcock, Henry 999 

Hitchcock, Henry H 853 

Hitchcock, Samuel 999 

Holcomb, R. E 1066 

Holiday, E. R., M. D 528 

Holiday Family 528 

Holladay, D. 961 

Hollstein, George IISO 

Honecker, William 1210 

Hopkins, C. F 1003 

Horn, Lorenz, 937 

Horr, C. W 050 

Horr Family G47 

Horton, Charles H 916 



PAGE. 

Howard, S. V. R 954 

Howk, David 630 

Howk, Hiram H 630 

Howk, John 922 

Hulberl, John W 537 

Humphrey, J. 1191 

Husted, D. S 933 

Husted, H. G 931 

Ives, Cyrus 703 

Jackson, C. H 1193 

Jackson, Daniel 796 

Jackson, Elisha 1196 

Jackson, Ernest S 1080 

Jackson, Ezra S 767 

Jackson, George 1083 

Jackson, James 796 

Jackson, Pliny 1082 

Jacobs, Peter 1209 

Jameson, Joseph B 1123 

Jameson, M. B 1123 

Jameson, William 1136 

Jaycox, George 983 

Jaycox, James M 983 

Jefferies, George C 713 

Jenue, Ansel 905 

Jewell, James 809 

Johnson, Adelbert C o81 

Johnson, David D 579 

Johnson, Hon. E. G 574 

Johnson, Frank D 1009 

Johnson, John H 579 

Johnson, Mrs. Mary E 579 

Johnson, Hon. Nathan P.. 962 

Johnson, William H 962 

Johnston, Charles W 638 

Johnston Family 638 

Jones, Mark 1068 

Jones, Thomas H 1068 

Joy, A. D 981 

Jump, Mrs. Julia C, M. D. 900 

Jump, R. E 900 

Juugbluth, Anton 875 

Keep, Rev. John 689 

Kelling,N 783 

Kelner, S. W 1017 

Kelner, William 1017 

King, Thomas 1076 

King Family 1076 

Kirkbride, David 1158 

Kirkbride, Isaac 1161 

Knellmer, Jacob. ! 788 

Kolbe, Adam 897 

Krebs, W.J 817 

Kress, William 121 1 

Krohn, H.H.J 1085 

JLahiff, .John 1203 

Lampman, M. II 978 

Lampman, M. Z 978 

Lang, J.H 631 

Lang Family 631 

Langdon, William F 1164 

Lantsbery, John 1090 

Lapp, William 1180 

Law, Jacob 843 

Law, Mathias . 842 

Leasher, J. W 1155 

Lee, C. F 6SS 

Lee, George 688 



PAGE. 

Lehman, J. C 863 

Lersch, John 740 

Levagood, Moses H 768 

Lincoln, Mrs. Hannah N.. 702 

Lincoln, Joseph H 701 

Line, Thomas 1009 

Loomis, E. F 862 

Loomis, Richard N 862 

Lord, Addison E 1145 

Lord, Dr. Asa D 599 

Lord, Mrs. E. W. R 598 

Loveland, Leonard H 755 

Lyon, George 1046 

McCollum, Alexander 601 

McConnell, James 960 

McConnell, AV. R 960 

McLaughlin, John 1188 

McPhail, Capt. Alexander. 941 

McRoberts, Henry 720 

McRoberts, Peter 719 

McRoberts, Pitt 788 

McRoberts, Volney 721 

Mahan, Rev. Asa 691 

Manley, Fredrick B 694 

Manley, Josiah B 694 

Manville, Jerome 883 

Marsh, Lucius R 1115 

Marsh, Richard 1192 

Martin, F. W 1055 

Martin, Jeremiah, Jr 10S8 

Martin, Nathaniel 774 

Martindale, H. B 992 

Masten, Mrs. John 1 571 

Jlasten, John 1 570 

Mathews, George 1087 

Maynard, O. T., M. D 671 

Meredith, J. A 1020 

Meredith, William 1021 

Merriam, Robert 699 

Merriam, William A 699 

Metcalf, L S 805 

Meyer, Peter 1096 

Miller, David 1186 

Miller, Glover 1114 

Miller, John A 1126 

Miller, J. R 973 

Miller, Peter 1126 

Mills, C. S 1154 

jNIills, Samuel 1154 

Mole, Henry 798 

Monroe, James 644 

Monteith, Rev. John 521 

Mooers, Alton H 856 

Mooers, Phineas 856 

Moore, A. C, M. D 638 

Moore, Oreu 1096 

]\loore, Theron 1114 

Moore, Truman 1114 

Morehouse, Max 799 

Morgan, Rev. John 698 

Morse, Levi 533 

Mountain, John 633 

Moysey, D. R 1146 

Mull, Joseph H 774 

Mumford, T. H 842 

M ussey , Henry E 663 

Myers, Jacob 977 

Myers, Mathias, 982 



IXDEX. 



1219 



PAGE. 

JFaylor, Samuel 1072 

Nelson, Mrs. Frances H... o37 

Nelson, 'I'liomas L. . 534 

Nicholl, E. H 1065 

■• Nichols, A. W '"IS 

Nichols, Arthur W 803 

, Nichols, D. C 781 

Nichols, George E 581 

Nichols, .Tames 761 

Nichols, Nathaniel 743 

Nichols, Mrs. Nettie 805 

Nichols, O. S 820 

Nichols, Ueuben .581 

Noble, George AV 1037 

Norton, E 982 

Norton, George H 613 

Norton, Hiram 613 

Nuhn, Malhias 907 

Nuhn, Peter 907 

Nye, .Judge David J 004 

Ogilvie, Johnson 1206 

Oi'msby, Rev. Caleb 673 

Osboru, Andrew 1099 

Osborn, Joseph 1099 

Osborne, Henry A 1010 

Osborne, Mr."". L. A 1010 

Ostrander, Peter 1198 

Parker, H. E., M. D 1033 

Parker, H. M., A. M 664 

Parker, J. B 1101 

Peabody, Andrew 810 

Peabody, Elnathan 8:0 

Peabody, Harvey M 1149 

Peck, D. J 1156 

Peck, Harmon 980 

Peck, Noah H 980 

Pelton, Alvin 597 

Pelton, David C 775 

Pelton, Floyd M 775 

Perry, Richard DeWitt 822 

Pfeil, Rev. Nicholas 968 

Phelon, Tasso D 1028 

Phelps, Joseph 1130 

Phelps, M. W 1130 

Phillips, AVilliam H 752 

Pierce, F. W 893 

Pifer, Henry 1147 

Pitts, E. W 717 

Pitts, William 717 

Plato, Henry A 974 

Plato, John E 984 

Pomrov, Richard W 891 

Pond, Martin W 629 

Pond Family 624 ' 

Porter, Alexander 1137 

Porter, John 944 

Porter, William 944 

Pounds, M. A 683 

Powell, Calvin 847 

Powell, William S 847 

Pratt. L. B 818 

Prentice, Hiram 1050 

Prentice, William 105] 

Preston, Chester A 988 

Preston, William 1183 

Rawsoii, David A 942 

Rawson, Grindall 942 

Reamer, C. A 989 



PAGE. 

Redfern, Benjamin 1004 

Redfern, James H 788 

Redfern, Robert 1168 

Redington, H. G 994 

Reed, J. H- 1170 

Reed, J. L 1095 

Reefy, Frederick S 806 

Reefy, P. D.. M. D 784 

Remington, J. H 1007 

Rice, Abram 711 

Rice, Fenelon B 080 

Rice, George W 711 

Rice, J. J 1173 

Rice, V. E 1173 

Richmond, A. J 1020 

Richmond, Lester J 950 

Riley, John, Jr 999 

Rimbach, Henry 701 

Rininger. William 910 

Riizenthaler, Philip 1146 

Roach, John 936 

Roach, Thomas 936 

Bobbins, G. H 663 

Robson, Edwin 906 

Rockwood, David 841 

Rockwood, F. W 841 

Rockwood, Henry S 728 

Rockwood, Samuel S 727 

Root, Azariah S., A. M 1187 

Root, H. D 816 

Root, Legrand 953 

Root, Oresten 816 

Ross, Isaac B 1089 

Rowland, Aaron 572 

Rowland, S. W 572 

Rowley, F. A 690 

Sage, Calvin 1078 

Salisbury, Joseph 921 

Salisbury, Robert 921 

Sampsell, Mrs. E. C 657 

Sampsell, J. V., M. D 642 

Sampsell, Paul W., M. D. . 6.54 

Sanders, Allen 1049 

Sawver, D. L 992 

Saxton, Elisha 929 

Saxton, Williiim H 929 

Saye, John 970 

Sayles. William A 1086 

Schaible, Jacob 1102 

Schaible, Jacob E 1103 

Schmidt. Rev. J. A 781 

Scholt, George 1177 

Schramm, John 1156 

Schramm, Peter 11.55 

Schuler, E. C 1081 

Schuller, Peter 843 

Schwartz, David 1187 

Schwartz, Jacob 1135 

Schwarz, Christian 948 

Scott, John 598 

Scott, Walter .593 

Sears, George L 904 

Sears, L. L 1043 

Seely, Cornelius 7.54 

Seelv, Humphrey S 754 

Seely, Morell E 7.53 

Seelye, Cornelius 1024 

Seelye, J. M 1023 



PAGE. 

Semple, H. W 1033 

Shadford. J 1088 

Sharp, William G 669 

Shaw, .S. H 971 

Sheahan, J. B 980 

Sherbondy. A. W 860 

Shipherd, Rev. John J 539 

Shoop, William N 782 

Sigourney, Peter 1176 

Sippel, Philip 1108 

Slater, ("laience H 804 

Smith, Allien H 1008 

Smith, Dr. Cliailes 619 

Smith, Chiliab .530 

Smith, E. A 979 

Smith, F. C 81! 

Smith, Fred Norton 812 

Smith, Geor^'e E , M. D 019 

Smith, Ira W 1010 

Smith, Joel B 1058 

Smith, John 1177 

Smith, J. B 608 

Smith, J. C 1058 

Siniih, Judge Laertes B 530 

Smith, Levi 1057 

Smith, Mrs. M. B 1178 

Smith, Peler M 1185 

Smith, Walt-r 10.57 

Smith, \\ illiaui .548 

Snow. C. H 919 

Snyder, A. J 1100 

Spicer, Henry 920 

Spicer, Richard 920 

Sprague. E. G WIS 

Sprague, William G 1013 

Squires, A. E 1144 

Squires, T. J 987 

Stang, John 936 

Slarr, Gideon L 653 

Starr, Heman E 608 

Starr, Rev. Matthew L 531 

Starr, Orrin 668 

Starr, O. K 728 

Starr, Talcott 653 

Starr, William 728 

Steele, H N 673 

Steele, Col. J. W 8.54 

Steele, John 673 

Steele, Smith 072 

Stetson, II. D 1124 

Stetson, Randall 1124 

Stewart, Philo P ,543 

Stiwald, A. E 1135 

Stocking, CD 1092 

Stocking, Jonathau S 1093 

Stone, Charles 789 

Stone, Reuben 789 

Storrow, Joseph 1149 

Straw, Ezra 1207 

Straw, I. S 1140 

Sturlevant, C. A 886 

Slurtevant Family 886 

Sumner. Charles W 892 

Sntlill", Charles E 603 

Siilliir, Salmon 657 

Sntliir, W. C 1165 

Sutliti; William U. H 657 

Swartz, Jacob .1204 



1220 



LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO. 



PAGE. 

Tennant, D. K 1167 

Ten n ant, Mrs. Mary J 624 

Tennaiit, Moses S (>2:i 

Tennanl, Selden ^i'6 

Teny, Eleazer 837 

Terry, Walker S 827 

Thew, E 892 

Thomas, Ue Grasse 849 

Thomas, Fred F 850 

Thomas, Harriet 849 

Thompson, J. B 870 

Thompson, Hon. H. B.. . .551 
Tiffany, Hod. Joel. . ... 522 

Tillcitson, Hiram 64S 

Tillotson, Thomas 0-13 

Tinis,Henry 1115 

Tolhurst, Mrs. Amelia 1062 

Tolhurst, Daniel 1061 

Tompkins, Nathaniel 891 

Tompkins, S 914 

Townsend, Henry 1143 

Townshend, J. H 1185 

Townshend, John S 1129 

Tucker, Charles E 697 

Tucker, William H 697 

Turley, Joseph 1018 

Turney, E. A 1107 

Twining, Charles A 773 

Van Wagnen, G. H 1110 

Van Wagnen, Henry 1113 

Vantilburg,J. M., M.D.... 969 

Varney, Wellington 1205 

■Wack, Hiram 1180 

Wadsworth Family 704 

Wadsworth, Benjamin 887 

Wadsworth, David L 704 

Wadsworth, Francis S 651 



PAG E. 

Wadsworth, Horace 682 

Wadswortli, Lawton 051 

Wadsworth, L. U 1079 

Waite, Dorastus 1119 

Walkden, Arthur 958 

Walkden, Richard 1 175 

Wallace, Henry 789 

Wangerien, C. K 1102 

Wangerien, H. C 1163 

Wangerien, Karl 1162 

Warburtou, Charles H 998 

Warner, Henry 973 

Warner, Sidney S 724 

Warren Family 733 

Warren, H. E.', M. D 734 

Washburn, Clarence G ...1079 
Washburn, Hon. George G. 523 

Waugh, C. M 609 

Waugh, Gideon 609 

Webber, A. K 844 

Webster, Russel B 582 

Weeks, G. C 733 

Weeks, Henry H 723 

Weeks, Thomas T 722 

Weller, George L 602 

Weller, John (deceased). . 601 

Weller, Wesley <101 

Wesbecher, Joseph 913 

West, Amasa ...1139 

West, Edward 677 

West, Roger 677 

Whipple, James 703 

Whitney, Joseph 777 

Whitney, Joseph S 777 

Whitney, Milton 552 

Whitney, Silas D 5.J2 

Whiton, Joseph L 674 



PAnK. 

Whiton, Joseph L., Jr 674 

Whittlesey, Cyrus L IHil 

Whittlesey. Solomon 991 

Wickens, George 989 

Wiegand, Conrad 1 139 

Wight, H 906 

Wight, Reuben 900 

Wilber, Nicholas 1174 

AVilber, J. W 765 

Wilber, John Walson 765 

Wilder, D. G., M. D 603 

Wilford, John 795 

Willbrd, Thoma"* 795 

Wilford, Capt. Thomas ... 914 

Willard, J. E 623 

Williams, Everett E 737 

Williams, Henry H 734 

Williams, John 734 

Wilson, Charles E 673 

Wire, W. A 1031 

Wise, Fred 983 

Wise, Henry 770 

Wise, Lewis 882 

Wise, Peter 883 

Witbeck, A. H 1197 

Witbeck, Mrs. Jane A 1198 

Wolf, John 1053 

Woodworth, Mrs. C. L 084 

Woodworth, Hiram 684 

Worthington, Elden 1097 

Worthington, Jonathan B..10ii7 

Wright, AloDzo 908 

Wright, D. S 1173 

Wright, George F., D. D. .. 589 

AVright, Lewis F 1160 

Wurst, Henry 6S(I 

Wyatt, James 1030 



Portraits. 



PA«E. 

Baker, Gordon W 747 

Baker, Richard 565 

Baldwin, Seymour W 555 

Barnes, Henry A 10^5 

Braman, William A .595 

Burke, David 933 

Case, Deacon John S 895 

Chapman, H. P 791 

Clifton, George S89 

Dawlev, A. G 1121 

Eady, Henry J 801 

Ely, Heman 525 

Fairchild, Prof. James H. 635 

Faxon, J. H 615 

Fay, W. L 873 

Finley, Charles A 1063 

Follansbee, Herbert S. . .. 867 

Foster, Frank H 779 

Foster, Parks 545 

Garford, Arthur L 757 

Gates, Col. Nahum B 518 

Gibbs, David L 1151 

Griffin, F.E 1015 



Griswold, E. C 

Hamilton, Leonard G 

Hance, Ed 

Hastings, E. H 

Henderson, J. T 

Herrick, Hon. Lucius 

Hill, J. C 

Hinman, Judge Edgar H. . 

Horton, Charles H 

Howard, S. V. R 

Howk, John 

Jackson, George 

Johnson, Hon. EG 

Jump, Mrs. Julia C, M. D 

Lersch, John 

Levagood. Moses H 

Manley, Fredrick B 

Monroe, James 

Mooers, Alton H 

Naylor, Samuel 

Nelson, Thomas \j 

Nye, .Judge David J 

Parker, H. M., A.M 



AOE. 

835 



939 

1035 

905 

715 

585 

763 

917 

955 

923 

1083 

575 

, 901 

741 

769 

(i95 

(i45 

. 857 

1073 

535 

. 005 

(i(;5 



Perry, Richard De Witt. . . 

Phelps. M. W 

Plato, Henry A ■. 

Plato, John E . 

Pond, yi. W 

Porter, John 

Redfern, Benjamin 

Redington, H. G 

Reefy, Fredericks 

Reefy, P. D, M. D 

Rininger, William 

Sampsell. Paul W., M. D. 

Smith, Fred N 

Stocking, CD 

Straw, Isaac S 

Thomas, Fred F 

Van Wagnen, G. H 

Wadsworth, David L 

Warner, Sidney S 

Webber, A. R 

Whiton, Joseph L. 

Williams, Henry H 

Wolf, John 



'\GE. 

823 

1131 

, 975 

985 

625 

945 

,1005 

, 995 

, 807 

, 785 

911 

, 055 

, 813 

.1093 

.1141 

. 851 

.1111 

, 705 

. 735 

. 845 

075 

. 735 

. 1053 



Woodworth, Hlrara 685 



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